Helford Area Guide

Helford is an idyllic village located within one of Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Helford in Cornish simply translates to ‘estuary’ as the village is set on the south bank of the Helford River. The quintessential village has a pub, little shop and a sailing club. During the busier summer months, a pedestrian ferry runs between Helford and Helford Passage on the opposite side of the river.  Renowned for its scenic beauty and marine ecology, the Helford River is fed by seven creeks.  The best known of these is Frenchman’s Creek, made famous by Daphne du Maurier in her novel of the same name.

Those who take the ferry across to Helford Passage can explore the beautiful gardens of Trebah and Glendurgan. Both are full of sub-tropical plant species, tree ferns, rhododendrons and much more. These gardens continue to flourish due to both the mild climate and warming effect of the sea.  There are several little villages and hamlets along the Helford River including Durgan, Mawnan and St Anthony-in-Meneage. The Gweek Seal Sanctuary is only a few miles away too, where you can visit seal pups which have been rescued and rehabilitated before their release back into the wild.