Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

Whilst visiting Cornwall you should certainly head for Falmouth and Penryn on the south coast of the county, two well known harbour towns, both have long and interesting histories. Falmouth along with Carrick Roads is the deepest natural harbour in Western Europe and also the third deepest in the world. Now a popular holiday destination, Falmouth has 5 excellent beaches and numerous guest houses. Penryn situated on the River Penryn near to Falmouth is one of the oldest towns in Cornwall, it has many historic buildings, some dating back to Tudor times. During the 19^th century Penryn was important for the production and export of granite, with granite works being established beside the river. To the south-west of Falmouth and Penryn is the small fishing port of Porthleven, a notorious black spot for ships, many of which were wrecked during storms in the area. Facing south-west into prevailing winds, Porthleven has always been a difficult harbour to negotiate, its situation has however lead it to being a renowned surfing location, attracting many exponents of this sport. Not far from Porthleven and the largest village on The Lizard peninsular, Mullion is a popular area for tourists, with some spectacular scenery and some isolated beaches. Just offshore from Mullion Cove is a tiny island owned by the National Trust, it is an important breeding ground for many varieties of seabirds.