One unending trip of discovery, far more than even a town or even a holiday town, Fowey is a river and estuary where the creeks, in Carew's phrase, "fold about the land with many embracing arms" and provide astounding variety to yachtsmen, fishermen and walkers. Prehistoric man visited here. The Romans found it already a port. In 1380, the Spaniards and in 1457 the French, tried to destroy it. But it lives on to revenge itself on both. Drake, Raleigh and Frobisher all departed from Fowey. Lieutenant James Cook saw the harbour and a map was published in 1786, the original of which now hangs in the Harbour Commissioner's Office. Queen Victoria visited in 1846, and Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch and Daphne Du Maurier made it a literary byword.

Near the coastland, antique shops, restaurants, chandlers and historic inns jostle for room. There are engineered gems in the tiny streets that twist and tumble along the hillside close to the river mouth.

St Fimbarrus Church, established in the 6th century, and Place, after hundreds of years still the position of the Treffry clan.

Although it is Fowey's all-inclusive family - the association of little towns and villages linked to it by the waterway - that its perennial fascination lies. These allow for Lostwithiel and adjacent Restormel Castle, Lerryn, Golant, Bodinnick, Pont at the head of its wooded "pill" and Polruan. All these regions, either side of the estuary, are linked by boat, and by walks, the most notable of which, the Hall Walk, experienced an attempt on the life of Charles I. Discover the golden seafront of Readymoney Cove and Polridmouth and the landmarks of St Catherine's Point and the Gribben.

Find out more about the woods of Station and Covington and, elsewhere, uncover antiquate churches and developments barely touched by modern times. As you consider the town unfold from every aspect, you will be happy you came and enthusiastic always to come again.