Roughly 90 minutes from Exeter, on Cornwall's south coast, Fowey sits where a deep river estuary meets the sea — and it packs a surprising amount into a few cobblestone streets. Once a medieval trading port and a hotbed of privateering (the infamous Fowey Gallants seized French ships during the Hundred Years' War), it's now a calm harbour town of fishing boats, yachts and gift shops. Henry VIII's St. Catherine's Castle, built in the 1530s to guard against the French, still stands at the harbour mouth.

Fishing is the headline activity. The estuary's deep waters make it popular with anglers year-round — seabass and mackerel are reliable catches, while winter brings cod and whiting. A licence is needed for river fishing, which also covers salmon and trout. Prefer to stay on dry land? Readymoney Cove, a small sandy beach a short walk from the centre, is good for a swim and doubles as the starting point for visits to St. Catherine's Castle, with estuary views as a bonus.

For a longer leg-stretch, the Hall Walk is a 4-mile circular trail with harbour and village views — the scenery has drawn writers for generations. On the water, you can kayak or paddleboard, or catch a passenger ferry across the harbour to Polruan or Bodinnick, two historic villages on the far bank.

Fowey has a literary streak, too. Daphne du Maurier lived and wrote here, and the Daphne du Maurier Literary Centre celebrates her work; each May the town hosts the Du Maurier Fowey Literary Festival. Nearby you'll find the Fowey Museum, covering the town's seafaring past, and St. Fimbarrus church, whose construction began in 1336 and is still active. If your taste leans retail, the quay is lined with independent shops — the family-run Webb Street Store for coastal-inspired gifts, the Fowey River Gallery in a Georgian merchant's house, and Shrew Books, a cosy successor to the town's much-loved old bookshop.

One more easy win: the Eden Project, with its famous biome domes, is about 15 minutes away by car near Par — simple to bolt onto a Fowey stay.

Who it suits: anyone after a low-key English coastal break with actual things to do — walkers, anglers, swimmers and readers especially. Fowey is compact enough for a weekend but sits close to other Cornish spots like Charlestown and Polperro if you want to extend the trip.