TODAY we have left the coast behind and are firmly inland - at Launceston - as the Voice continues its serialisation of the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County.

Voice journalist Andrew Townsend, the author of the book, says: “Our tour started in South East Cornwall on the Rame Peninsula and followed the superb south coast of Cornwall, taking in places such as Looe, Fowey, Charlestown, Mevagissey, the Lizard and Penzance.

“Then, on the magnificent north coast, we visited several towns and villages, including St Ives, Perranporth, Newquay, Polzeath, Tintagel and Bude.”

The sound of the sea has now been replaced by the noise of the A30 main road which sends visitors speeding past the historic border town of Launceston as they head for destinations further west.

These visitors are missing out because Launceston has much to offer. The town, in Norman times, was the capital of Cornwall - and it has a castle to prove it!

Launceston Castle is looked after by English Heritage. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Launceston Castle is looked after by English Heritage. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

The well-preserved remains of the fortification, looked after by English Heritage, stand above the narrow medieval streets of the town centre.

Launceston is surrounded by glorious rolling countryside, and the wilds of Bodmin Moor are only a few more miles away.

The Launceston Steam Railway operates on a two-and-a-half mile narrow gauge track in the Kensey Valley, while the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail long distance walk to Plymouth starts in Launceston. Many local people refer to the town as “Lanson”.

The remarkable parish church in the centre of Launceston. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
The remarkable parish church in the centre of Launceston. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

Next time, we will be visiting Callington in a beautiful part of South East Cornwall.

Our lovely tour around the county, taking in well-known spots but also lesser-known locations, offers something for everyone, from brilliant beaches, wild moorland, storm-beaten cliffs and scenic rivers to welcoming towns, pretty villages, mining heritage sites and visitor attractions.

*Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. More details of Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is also available as an ebook, can be found via this link to Andrew’s author page on Amazon - https://bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor

Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as an ebook on Amazon.
Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, providing a lovely tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)