Ahhh....the divine Poldark. This BBC dramatisation took the UK by storm (and the rest of the world a little later) in spring 2015, and excitement has barely gone below a simmer whilst we wait for the next instalment to come along. Based on Winston Graham’s novels, it recounts the life of Ross Poldark, played by Aiden (is he handsome? We hadn’t noticed...) Turner.
The only other character to outshine one of Cornwall's most famous (fictional) sons is perhaps Cornwall itself.
Returning from the American Civil War, Ross finds that the love of his life, Elizabeth, has married his cousin after believing him dead. He then goes on to marry his rather feisty maid, Demelza (the brilliant Eleanor Tomlinson) but continues to hold a flame for Elizabeth. The series follows the trials and tribulations of being a man of honour who speaks his mind.
The only other character to outshine one of Cornwall’s most famous (fictional) sons in this recent dramatisation is perhaps Cornwall itself. From watching Ross canter along the cliff tops to Demelza gazing forlornly out at sea, Cornwall looks absolutely beautiful. Many Cornish villages and beaches were used for filming (causing much excitement with the locals) and if you’ve been wondering where they were, here’s a pit-stop guide to some of the places used in series one.
Remember the shipwreck scene in which the villagers show their true colours? Church Cove in Gunwalloe was the spot in which cast and crew filmed this exciting scene during the night. It’s a very pretty spot on The Lizard which is the most southerly point in the UK. Wild and woolly, it’s unspoilt and it’s not hard to believe you’ve stepped back in time to the 18th century. There’s the very pretty and tiny church of St Wynwallow tucked away almost on the sand itself (hence the cove’s name).
Porthgwarra, once a bustling fishing cove, was also used for filming. Located in the far West of Cornwall, it’s part of the St. Aubyn Estate and has exceptional wildlife and flowers and the South West Coast Path also passes through here making it an ideal place to take a break on a walk. It’s also great for rock pooling and swimming due to a tunnel being cut through back when it was used by fishermen. The nearby fishing village of Mousehole is a perfect base from which to explore – why not pack a picnic with goodies from the lovely Hole Foods Deli before you head out for the day?
Charlestown, located close to St Austell, was used to portray 18th century Truro as it is still complete with its original Grade II listed harbour. With Tall Ships in the harbour you can see why the location managers choose this untouched spot. It’s a lovely area with Fowey, much loved by the yachting Set and Falmouth, a lovely seaside town, nearby so there’s plenty of other things to see and do in the area.
Cornwall is dotted with old mines which are obviously central to the Poldark story. The coastline from Botallack to Lelant in the West of Cornwall has many old mines still standing and coupled with the impressive coastal views were perfect for filming. Levant Mine was used for the fictional Rolling Mill whilst Owles and Crowns near Botallack became the legendry Wheal Leisure. Between these two lies the lovely town of St Ives and is a great base from which to explore this area of the coastline.
Other areas used for filming include the cliffs and Camel Estuary around Padstow and St. Agnes. In fact our very own Seven Stippy Stappy in St. Agnes lies on a terrace featured in all seven of Winston Graham’s novels!
Take a look at our lovely luxury cottages in Cornwall for some inspiration.
