Earlier this year the general public voted Falmouth, Cornwall the most depressing place to live in the UK. With 50% of the team here at Mosevic having lived in Falmouth for the last 10 years, and the other 50% living in the town next to Falmouth, we strongly disagree with this statistic (As would every other Falmouth resident).

Falmouth itself is largely known for its Harbour, being the 3rd largest natural harbour in the world. So with that in mind, this journal article is going to delve into our top 3 favourite coffee spots, beaches, pubs, hidden gems (let’s keep these between me and you) and interesting facts about our wonderful town. 

1. As previously mentioned Falmouth is the 3rd largest natural harbour in the world, and deepest in Western Europe at 34 meters! This makes it the perfect place to host boat races and sailing events, in which there are plenty throughout the year. My personal favourite spot to watch these races is at Pendennis Point, next to Pendennis Castle that was built in 1539 as an Artillery Fort (with another fort across the estuary in St Mawes). 
2. If you’ve been to Falmouth you may have noticed a palm tree or two dotted around town. This is because Falmouth has an unusual sub-tropical climate for the UK. A great place to see this is at the Princess Pavilion, head to the Gyllyngdune Gardens to see this for yourself! 
3. If you’re an aspiring writer then this fact is for you! The Wind and the Willows began its life in Falmouth. The two original letters that the book is based off having been written at the Greenbank Hotel in 1907 where Kenneth Grahame stayed as a guest.

Next stop is a particular favourite of mine…and that’s coffee shops! Most of you might not know this but aside from working for Jack, I also work at a coffee shop in the lovely little village of Porthleven (Another must visit place in Cornwall!) I enjoy nothing more on my days off than starting the day with a good coffee. So here we have my top 3 favourite coffee spots in Falmouth!

1. Starting strong with Espressini, based in Killigrew Street and close to the moor, this coffee shop/Kitchen has been going strong for 12 years and it’s not hard to see why! Their coffee is made with a personal favourite of mine, Yallah (also based in Falmouth) and a dark chocolate mocha is my go to. They have a selection of homemade bakes which change daily, and a breakfast menu that makes choosing what to have impossible. One of our favourite things about most cafes in Cornwall is that dogs are always allowed, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to see Beau the beautiful Cornish Whippet whilst you visit.                    
2. Next on our whistle stop tour of Falmouth coffee shops is Dark Pony, situated just across the road from Espreseini. A speciality coffee shop serving up some of the most visually appealing coffees you’ll see in Falmouth, not just beautiful to look at but delicious too! These 3 friends met whilst working at another well known coffee roastery in Cornwall, and are soon to start roasting their own coffee. Moving a 500kg coffee roaster from central Paris, all the way back to Cornwall. They also have a rather adorable pup that lives rent free in the coffee shop most days.
3. Picking just three felt like an impossible task in itself, as there are so many friendly coffee shops in Falmouth, but I had to pick this one as it is one of Jack's favourites, and I have been known to enjoy a coffee or two from there in my time. Three Little birds, situated out of town and next to the gym project. This little coffee shop serves up a delicious menu which changes weekly with some of the most amazing local produce! They have had a tasty pizza pop up every Friday night in June and we are excited to see what’s to come for the rest of summer!

Falmouth’s sub-tropical climate makes the idea of going to the beach heavenly. So that is where we move onto next. There are so many amazing beaches around Cornwall, but Falmouth is blessed with three along the South West Coastal path. 

1. The first and possibly my favourite beach in Falmouth is Castle Beach, this small family friendly (and dog friendly for 10 months of the year) beach is determined by the tide but is the perfect hideaway on a hot summer's day. If you can nestle yourself between the rocks you really do feel like you’re on a secluded greek island! It's a great spot for diving due to the vast amount of rock pools. If you’re lucky you’ll spot the wartime wreckage of several U-boats amongst the rocks. There is a great dive school ‘DiveUK’ run by a man named Dan, who runs sessions for complete beginners to explore the magnificent marine life that can be found in Falmouth, all the way through to expert PADI diving courses. This beach is also a short walk up to Pendennis point or into town!
2. Next stop is another small beach, Swanpool beach. A lovely half an hour stroll from Castle beach Swanpool has crystal clear waters and is the perfect place for a refreshing dip. There is a small cafe there which does the tastiest ice-creams with Cornish clotted cream and tasty toppings, a firm favourite of mine is the Hedgehog!
3. The third and final beach in Falmouth is the biggest and often the busiest Gyllyngvase Beach. This beach is a firm favourite and one I’ve been visiting since I was little. It is the perfect place for paddle boarding (If you don’t have your own don’t worry you can hire one when you’re there!), rock pooling and beach games. Grab a group of friends and get down here to watch the sunset!

Next up probably Jack and Wills favourite…Pubs! Falmouth is not short of a good pub or two and picking just three really was impossible.

1. The front starts us on our pub tour of Falmouth. As the name suggests, this award winning ale house is located at the front of the Custom house quay with views across the harbour. It serves a wide range of cask conditioned Cornish ales, ciders and spirits and is a BYOF (Bring your own food), which means you can enjoy a fish and chips, ale and some live music all in one place! The pub boasts regular live music and a weekly quiz night on a Sunday. It is well worth a visit.
2. Next up we have Beerwolf books. My particular favourite due to this also being a bookshop! It’s the perfect place to buy a book, drink a tasty Cornish ale and play some fun board games (don’t forget to check out the pinball machine). It’s a quirky fun place to grab a drink, and still a hidden gem in Falmouth, you could easily walk by as it is hidden between some shops on Market Street. Be sure to check this one out next time you’re wandering through town.
3. The final pub that made it into our top 3 is The Moth and Moon. Just down the road from Espressini this quaint pub is full of character (and a great place to watch sport on the big screen!). It has a great rooftop garden to enjoy the wonderful summer nights Falmouth has to offer! With a quiz night every monday, Folk sessions on a Tuesday, Open mic night on a Wednesday and 10% off all draught beers and ciders before 7pm you’d be silly to pop down for a drink or two.

If you didn’t agree before this article that Falmouth wasn’t the most depressing town in the UK then I hope this has changed your mind! There is so much more to love about Falmouth so keep an eye out for Part 2 of this article!