Pirates, Poetry and Prosperity: An Audio Tour of Fowey

Overview

Fowey has earned its living from the sea for over a thousand years. On this self guided audio tour, you’ll discover how this Cornish harbour town prospered through trade, survived brutal attacks, and developed a talent for brandy smuggling. The tour starts at the Bodinnick Ferry near Caffa Mill Car Park, where China clay was loaded onto ships bound for the world. You’ll walk along Fore Street’s historic merchant quarter, and along the Town Quay where deep water still allows cruise ships to anchor. Along the way, you’ll find out how the River Fowey connected inland Cornwall to global trade routes, and why controlling this waterway meant controlling wealth and power. The tour ends at St Catherine’s Castle, a fortress built by Henry VIII to ensure this strategic harbour would never fall again.