If you’re a Poldark fan like me, you’ve probably wondered where the scenes for the popular PBS Masterpiece series were filmed. Who can blame you? Cornwall, in all its wild and captivating beauty, has been, without question, one of the show’s brightest stars.
From the majestic coastlines to the haunting moorlands and quaint villages, the world of Poldark is seemingly magical. So, if you’re thinking about planning a trip to visit Cornwall, here are 10 locations, straight from the series to help guide you along.
Porthgwarra Beach – Lands End
If you remember in Episode 2 of Season 1, Ross went skinny-dipping in the Cornish sea. You may have been a bit distracted, so I’ll forgive you if you didn’t notice the strikingly beautiful cove he was swimming in. The water here is just as clear and blue as in my native Aruba. But alas, the scene was filmed on location at Porthgwarra, a picturesque fishing hamlet in West Cornwall. The beach at Porthgwarra is very secluded and was also the location used for the pilchard fishing scene.
Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor is home to the Copper Trail, 60 miles of trails passing through breathtaking windswept landscapes and villages. Abandoned copper mines can be seen along the route, especially at the Minions, a Cornwall World Heritage site. Bodmin Moor is also home to Poldark’s Nampara, an old farmhouse in the village of St. Breward.
Charleston Harbor
Charleston Harbor was used as the location for the Truro harbor where the Charlotte, a Warleggan cargo ship, was seen being loaded and where Kitty and Cecily boarded the ship to Jamaica. Charlestown harbor was built between 1790-1810 and is one of the few places in the UK where one can see a classic fleet of square-rigged ships lie waiting at dockside. Still fully operational and sea-worthy, they might have just brought Ross home from the revolutionary war.
Botallack to Levant
The Cornish rich mining history fits in perfectly with the Poldark world. The Botallack mines of Owles and Crowns played the part of Wheal Leisure and Grambler, while the Levant Mine played the role of the Tressiders Rolling Mill. These locations are owned by the National Trust and are worth a visit.
Kynance Cove
With its pure white sand and turquoise waters, Kynance Cove has been dubbed one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. This popular beach is only two miles from Cornwall’s Lizard Point, mainland Britain’s southernmost point.
Memorable scenes at Kynance Cove include cliffside horseback riding, Ross being marched off to jail at the end of Season 1, and Demelza’s ill-fated fishing expedition while in labor.
Hollywell Bay
This location is perhaps one of the most iconic of the entire series, after all, it is “The best beach in Cornwall!,” according to Geoffrey Charles. This huge beach of golden sand is backed by grass-tufted dunes and is owned by the National Trust. It is a must-see!
Gunwalloe Church Cove Beach
Gunwalloe on The Lizard relived its past as a smuggling cove when Ross and the villagers descended on the beach to pilfer the Charlotte’s wreckage. Gunwalloe is owned by the National Trust. The church of St. Wynwallow is located on the north side of the beach.
Porthcothan Bay Beach
Porthcothan beach is a northwest-facing cove backed by grassy dunes popular for sunbathing and a favorite with families. The sandy beach opens out at low tide, connecting up with small coves to the north and south and at high tide, the beach becomes very sheltered from swell and winds due to the cliffs. Porthcothan beach was used as Nampara land along with shots of Hendrawna Beach.
Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps
Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps is one of the most popular places to visit on the North Cornish coast and is an absolute must-see. The landscape is synonymous with shipwrecks and smugglers and spectacular clifftop views look out over Bedruthan Steps, where a rank of colossal, pointed stacks march out of the Atlantic waves against a dramatic backdrop.
The cliff tops at Park Head offer stunning views across to the towering sea stacks at Bedruthan Steps – an unforgettable view of north Cornwall’s dramatic coast. It’s these very views that appealed to the team creating Poldark, so keep an eye out for scenes featuring Ross on horseback galloping across this very headland.
The Poldark Mine
Believe it or not, the Poldark Mine really exists. In fact, it is the only true and complete tin mine in Cornwall open to the general public. The mine was last worked in 1800. The public can delve deep underground into the subterranean passageways just like the Poldark cast. Be sure to add this gem to the list when visiting Cornwall.