'Quaint' fishing village with impressive castle dating back to Henry VIII

Hidden in Cornwall’s beautiful Roseland peninsula is St Mawes, boasting a crystal clear cove, castle and streets of colourful houses, this village has all you could want for of a day trip.

Recently named among 'the most beautiful places to visit' in England by The Times, the average house price is an eye-watering £2.2million according to Rightmove.

But with its 16th Century castle steeped in the history if Henry VIII’s chaotic rule, a host of beautiful hotels and some stunning walks it is hard not to see the pull of this fishing village.

St Mawe’s Castle is a unique round shape, using a cloverleaf plan with a four storey tower to protect the Fal estuary. Looking out from the castle’s grounds you can see over to Falmouth on a clear day.Rating it five stars, one Trip Advisor reviewer said: “St Mawes is a small round castle some might even say picturesque, situated on a headland above the village of St Mawes with unrestricted views of the Fal estuary to Falmouth itself.

"The castle is essentially one big gun emplacement with cannon on the foreshore in front of the castle and on the battlements. Inside the castle there are plenty of information points so you get a really good picture of what life was like.

"There are a number of circular stairways that allow you to get to the top of the castle and down to the kitchen and troop living areas.

"The views of the Fal from the top of the castle are great. Which gives you the clear picture of why it was such a great defensive portion and twinned with Pendennis covered the entrance to Falmouth."

If you want to build up anticipation to the castle, there is a picturesque, circular walk on the Roseland peninsula to the castle at St Mawes from the Celtic Holy Well and the gardens of St Just's Church. These lush sub-tropical gardens are filled with palm trees and granite paths, with the unusual plant life benefitting from the mild local climate.

You will then walk along Carrick Roads past Europe's last fishery to catch oysters just with sailing boats. Then you will end the sixth mile at the castle. If water is your preferred terrain, you can catch a ferry to St Mawes, and see the sighs by sea..

There are regular ferries across to Falmouth throughout the year and in the summer a small ferry crosses to Place on the south side of the Percuil River. From Falmouth you can also get a boat upriver to the National Trust’s Trelissick estate, according to Visit Cornwall.

For boat lovers, St Mawes sailing club is a huge part of local culture. Arranging racing events and evening functions inviting other clubs up and down the Fal and on the Roseland Peninsula, there is often an event you can go and see. The town’s historic regatta also takes place in late July or early August and dates back over 120 years.