Fowey Museum

The Fowey Museum sits just across the water from Polruan, crammed into a former Victorian schoolhouse that somehow still feels like it's bursting at the seams. Inside you'll find the sort of local history collection that rewards proper attention - old maps of the harbour, ship models, photographs of the town from when it was actually a serious port rather than a picturesque tourist spot, and the kind of quirky domestic objects that make you realise how different life was even fifty years ago.

It's worth an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you read everything and chat to whoever's on the desk - they usually know the stories behind the objects, which frankly makes the visit. The museum itself is free, though donations are gratefully received and seem fair enough given the upkeep of a place like this.

History types will get the most from it, particularly anyone interested in Cornwall's maritime past or the writers and artists who've gravitated to Fowey over the decades. Young children might find it a touch quiet and static, though there are usually a few interactive bits dotted about. The real draw isn't the museum itself but the excuse to spend time in Fowey proper - wandering the narrow streets down to the quay, grabbing a pint, watching the boats.

If you're staying at Tremeer Farm or Par Sands, you're close enough for an easy morning visit. Pair it with a riverside walk or a proper lunch and it becomes part of a decent day out rather than a standalone tick-box.