What is there to do in Falmouth? Enough for how many people?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the Western Daily Echo

“You then had 6,000 people who could not get around Falmouth – there is not a lot there.

[eightonedee]

Well, 6,000 is a lot of people for what is not a large town centre, confined to a peninsula, but if you don't have that many the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle are both well worth a visit. I would imagine both would be absolutely overwhelmed by that number of visitors, and cannot imagine it is remotely possible to arrange a large number of visits to Cornish sites at short notice to absorb them.

I have some sympathy with the cruise line operators having to find something to occupy that number of people for a day. Do they simply go back to Southampton and offer a refund of most of the cost? With the benefit of hindsight, that might have been better, albeit guaranteeing spoilt holidays for all.

[old original]

I'm in Falmouth most days and whilst I noticed it was slightly busier than normal for mid week, late October, it was nowhere close to what there is mid summer. I tend to gauge it by how far you can walk in a straight line without having dodge people and it wasn't really a problem.

I think the "nothing to do" people are use to having things laid out for them, as you would probably expect on a cruise. Sometimes you just have to think for yourself.

I doubt that all 6000 came ashore anyway as due to the MSC Virtuosa's size it had to be moored out in Falmouth Bay and the passengers tendered ashore in the ships lifeboats. Due to the weather, it would not have been a pleasant trip.

[LiskeardRich]

A colleague was on that cruise.

His Facebook post said that he had a great day in Falmouth, with a nice walk, a pasty, and a trip to a local pub for a beer.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many years ago - well, on 12 August 2010, to be exact- Coffee Shop forum member / FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff member Ollie and I enjoyed a 'line bash' down to Falmouth.  We travelled on his FGW Staff Promo One Day Ranger - which cost just £5.00.  I have that ticket in front of me as I type.

We had a grand day out: fairly smooth journey down and we both enjoyed opening the droplights to get a whiff of sea air going over the Royal Albert Bridge on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).  Changed at Truro for the Falmouth Line, had a bit of a nose around the Penryn passing loop (which was very new, then) and went on to Falmouth.

There, we strolled around the town, found an excellent fish and chip shop to buy lunch, then we walked up to Pendennis Castle. That is fascinating, going back to the time of Henry VIII and being significant as the departure point for 'the greatest raid of all' - the attack on St Nazaire - during the Second World War.

We then returned to the trains for our homeward journey. The only slight delay was at Par, due to rail delays, but we found an excellent pub there, while were waiting.

Fair enough, there were only two of us, but we found plenty to fill our time constructively in Falmouth during our brief visit.

CfN.

[Kernow Otter]

My favourite day out locally. Great food options, followed by an afternoon enjoying waterside hosteleries.

Can thoroughly recommend https://www.bodegaeighteen.com/ for tapas fans !

[Clan Line]

We went into Falmouth some years back on a cruise. Much smaller ship, 400 pax^▸ (passengers), and went alongside. Had a great day..........got the train to St Ives 

[RailCornwall]

Cruise passengers are usually bussed to sights around Cornwall using Tamar Coaches of Plymouth for transporting the visitors around, arranging them to get to Falmouth in the circumstances outlined would have been difficult if not impossible. I have sympathies for all involved but some leeway should be given. An explanation of the limited opportunities open on arrival in the port, given on board, might have given passengers an expectation and numbers might have decided to stay on board whilst in Falmouth Bay.

[chuffed]

I was on the Ambassador Ambition cruise ship that docked in Falmouth on 14th July this year. I walked the 5 minutes to Falmouth docks station and really enjoyed a day in Truro where jacquie Parsons had her tapestry exhibtion Creations, first stop on a nationwide tour. I always do my research and homework before I visit a place, even if it is familiar. I do not expect to be spoon fed by the cruise lines at extortionate costs !

[John D]

Visited couple of years ago on Fred Olsen cruise ship (think Falmouth was more just convenient place to dock to pad out a Scilly Isles itinerary) got the open top service bus (£2 then) for a scenic tour. 

I don't remember anything memorable that wouldn't find in multiple other harbour towns.