The full guide
Read straight through, or use the planning notes above to shape an easier coastal day.
Helford Village & Helford Passage
Helford village and Helford Passage are situated on opposite sides of the Helford River. The river provides great shelter from the southwesterly prevailing winds, however is not so pleasant in an easterly wind. Helford has a sailing club with a slipway so is a good launch point to explore the river by boat. There is a ferry that travels to and from Helford village and Helford Passage.
Along the river from Helford is Frenchmans Creek which was made famous by Daphne du Maurier.
There are commercial fishing boats working from Helford but the majority of boats in the river are pleasure craft.
St Anthony in Meneage
St Anthony is a small village situated in Gillan Creek, a creek at the entrance to the Helford River.
St Anthony is an ideal sailing location and is home to a variety of yachts and small boats.
Gweek
Gweek is at the head of the Helford River. It was once a very busy port both during the pilchard fishing era and also as an export point for the local ores mined nearby. Nowadays Gweek is still an important centre for boat building and repairs.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is situated at Gweek, a tourist attraction whose main aim is to rescue injured seal pups and when possible to return them to the wild.
Durgan
Durgan is a small hamlet situated on the north bank of the Helford River.
The beach at Durgan is great for families and as a base for watersports.
Porth Navas
Porth Navas creek is home to an oyster farm where Cornish oysters and mussels can be bought. Porth Navas is very picturesque.
Sea Fishing in Helford area
The Helford River produces good sized mullet, big bream on lower stretches of the river. You can also catch various flatfish with good sized plaice being amongst them. Bass, pollack and mackerel can also be caught in the river. However, if catching bass beware that Helford is a spawning area for bass and there is a size limit on estuarine bass of 36cm - you are not allowed to keep bass caught in the river under this size.
Useful for your next visit
A few useful Down The Cove picks connected to this read.
Common questions
- Where is the Helford River?
- The Helford River lies on the northern side of the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall, winding inland from the sea towards Gweek at its head. Helford village and Helford Passage sit on opposite banks, linked by a seasonal foot ferry.
- What is Helford known for?
- Helford is known for its wooded creeks, sheltered sailing waters and native oysters, which have been grown in the river for centuries. It's also famous for Frenchman's Creek, the wooded inlet that inspired Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name.
- What is there to do around Helford?
- You can take the ferry between Helford village and Helford Passage, walk the wooded path to Frenchman's Creek, explore the river by boat or kayak, and visit the family beach at Durgan. At Gweek, the head of the river, you'll find the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
- Can you buy oysters on the Helford?
- Yes. The Helford has a long history of oyster cultivation, with an oyster farm at Port Navas where Cornish oysters and mussels are produced. Helford oysters appear on menus across Cornwall and beyond.
- Is the Helford worth visiting?
- Yes. For peaceful creekside walks, sheltered boating and a real sense of old, unhurried Cornwall, the Helford is hard to beat, especially for visitors who prefer quiet scenery to busy resorts.
