Poldark: Visit Cornwall and walk in the footsteps of Ross and Demela
BBC Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson star in BBC drama Poldark
Since the BBC series exploded onto our screens back in 2015, Poldark has done wonders for the tourism industry in the area with figures increasing by 20 per cent to those going to the Visit Cornwall website. With more and more tourists flocking to Poldark country, Visit Cornwall have put together a handy app marking out the key locations featured in the television series that any die-hard fan must see in the region. We've gone to some of the top spots that all Poldark fans should visit when holidaying in Cornwall as well as other locations that will transport you to the 18th Century and let you walk in the footsteps of Ross and Demelza.
VISIT CORNWALL The Levant Mine played Tressiders Rolling Mill in Poldark season 1
Levant Mine Poldark charts the boom and bust of the Cornish miming industry, and there's no better place to explore this fascinating period of history than at Levant. Levant is one of the oldest mines in Cornwall and stood in for Tressiders Rolling Mill in season one of Poldark. There are free tours that offer an in-depth insight into the lengthy process to mine tin that saw whole families working away. Visitors can down into the mine and see some of it including where the miners kept their hats, however they are unable to venture too far into the labyrinthine caverns -some of which go out under the sea. There is also the opportunity to dress up in Poldark clothes such as a tricorne hat and Demelza's dress, should the fancy take you. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/levant-mine-and-beam-engine
VISIT CORNWALL The region of Botallack in Cornwall was featured in Poldark
Botallack & St Agnes mining district Abandoned mines are littered across the landscape of Cornwall, chimneys poking out of the green hillside like so many grave stones marking the end of an illustrious era for the region. The area of Botallack has a number of mines that featured in the BBC drama including the real-life Wheal Owles which stood in for Ross' Wheal Leisure in Poldark series three as well as Wheal Grace the year before. Francis Poldark's Grambler Mine is also visible from St Agnes Head, which offers breath-taking views of the rugged landscape. With the wind whipping through your hair, standing on the cliffs covered with gorse and heather, it’s hard not to be struck by the sheer natural beauty of Cornwall. There is also a tumbledown building that was used in the 1970s original version of Poldark starring Robin Ellis and played Ross and Demelza’s home Nampara. For keen ramblers, Botallack sits along the South West Coast Path and runs 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset all the way to Cornwall, making it the longest national trail in Britain. www.cornish-mining.org.uk/areas-places-activities/st-agnes-mining-district www.nationaltrust.org.uk/botallack
NC Visitors can venture down into the pits of the Levant Mine
NC Charlestown stood in for the port on Poldark
Charlestown If you've had enough of mines, visit the sleepy seaside village of Charlestown which stood in for the harbour in season two. For a small admission fee, tourists can visit the ships docked there and recreate some of those scenes. Fans may also be able to spot Captain Blamey's house in a row of cute cottages by the side of the harbour. Charlestown was built between 1791 and 1801 by entrepreneur Charles Rashleigh as part of his China Clay business. To learn more about the history of seafaring at the Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage centre, which has artefacts from some of the most famous vessels including the Titanic. Consisting of around 50 houses, a few shops, pubs and a small beach, it makes for a picturesque postcard half-day trip. Stop off for lunch at the Rashleigh Arms, a family-friendly establishment with a reasonably priced menu which boasts an impressive selection of locally-sourced lobster and crab dishes as well as traditional pub fare. They also have rooms for those looking for a place to stay and is close to other attractions in the area such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. www.visitcornwall.com/places/charlestown www.rashleigharms.co.uk
BBC Poldark fans can now walk in the footsteps of Ross thanks to a new app
NC Bodmin Jail is an imposing and gloomy structure
Bodmin Jail An imposing and grand building with a sense of foreboding, Bodmin Jail now is a derelict prison with a museum documenting its fascinating history. It was built in 1779 and functioned as a jail for centuries before it was shut in 1929. As Poldark fans will remember, Ross went to the aid of this friend Jim and visitors too can go down into the dank cells and even visit the chilling execution pit. Those of a supernatural inclination, there are tours after dark where guests can wander through the corridors with a psychic medium. www.bodminjail.org
VISIT CORNWALL Bodmin Moor has been used in Poldark with one cottage playing Nampara in season 1
Bodmin Moor No trip to Poldark country would be complete without a visit to the brooding Cornish moors, where Ross and Demelza rode on horseback in the BBC series. Tourists can explore the moor on foot or on horseback. The links to Poldark don’t end with rugged shots of moorland either, Nampara in series one was based here and author Graham Winston was inspired by a small village called Warleggan, which serves as the surname of the villainous banker George in the novels. In fact, the crossroads next to the Bodmin Moor and the village of Minions featured in the first-ever episode of Aidan Turner's Poldark, and saw the hero getting out of carriage and returning to his ancestral home. www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/bodmin-moor-aonb-section
NC The Lost Gardens of Heligan transport visitors to another world
Lost Gardens of Heligan While not strictly a Poldark location, these exotic and sprawling gardens are a must-see. They once belonged to the Tremaynes, one of the wealthiest families in Cornwall. However, at the outbreak of the First World War, the house and gardens were abandoned to grow wild. It was only the 90s a project was started to restore the gardens to their former glory with work still undergoing. The richest families in the region would compete with one another to create the most tropical garden with the rarest plants and flowers from overseas to mark their standing in society and flaunt their wealth. The likes of the Warleggans would have had impressive tropical gardens like Heligan. Although the grand house has been sold off, the gardens are well worth a visit. Walk through the landscaped gardens, carefully designed before venturing into tropical jungle area with bamboo, giant fern and palm trees that have flourished here thanks to Cornwall’s warmer micro-climates. heligan.com
First Look: Cast of 'Poldark' film Season 3 Tue, September 6, 2016 Actress Heida Reed who plays Elizabeth Poldark and Jack Farthing who plays George Warleggan pictured on set filming the hit show "Poldark" in Cornwall, England Play slideshow FameFlynet.uk.com 1 of 11 Actress Heida Reed who plays Elizabeth Poldark and Jack Farthing who plays George Warleggan pictured filming a scene from the hit show