Falmouth (a Cornish town with a deep harbour)
Falmouth is a Cornish town with a maritime history, that also is home to the world’s third deepest harbour. The only two deeper are in Sydney (Australia) and Minorca (Spain). Popular with sustainable sailors, the town was once controlled by a female pirate!
When her husband was away, Lady Mary Killigrew (who was married to the local magistrate) using their staff as her crew – who seized ships, steal cargo and even murdered a merchant. She was arrested but pardoned by Queen Elizabeth I, due to her son apparently paying bribes.
Always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and toxic plants/trees) and on leads near birds, barnyard friends and wild ponies.
At the coast, keep away from nesting birds and never walk on sand dunes. Learn how to keep dogs safe by the seaside (check beach bans before travel).
Three railway stations
For those of you who lament that your railway station closed down, the folks here are more fortunate. They have three train stations: Falmouth Docks, Falmouth Town and Penmere. All three are on the same short branch line from Truro, Cornwall’s only city.
Full of sub-tropical plants.
Due to the mild climate, Falmouth can grow exotic plants that would not grow in many other places in England. If you live here (or anyway), read up on pet-friendly gardens, to know flowers (including all bulbs) to avoid near animal friends.
A town that sings sea shanties!
Falmouth is home to the world’s largest sea shanty festival, held each June. These songs were sung to maintain the rhythm of sailing work, like hauling ropes. Today, the even raises money for the local RNLI and Cornwall Air Ambulance.
The sea shanty you likely know is ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor?‘ This was created in the 19th century, to detail punishments for sailors who were drunk on duty (reflecting strict naval discipline at the time, which was however tempered with a daily rum allowance!)
