Simon L
09 March 2018
Although Aidan Turner may melt hearts with his portrayal of Captain Ross Poldark, there's something even more alluring that catches the eye of those who watch popular BBC drama tv series Poldark: Cornwall.
The 18th century period drama is based on The Poldark Novels by Winston Graham and tells the story of Capt. Poldark. Returning from the American Revolutionary War he discovers his life has been thrown into disarray, everything and everyone he loved has been lost, so Poldark must start again amongst the Cornish countryside.
Whilst the acting and the story are excellent, it's the stunning countryside of Cornwall that really steals the show. Filmed throughout the South West but predominantly on location in Cornwall, Poldark highlights the beauty of the area and shows how many of the historical ruins and old buildings that are scattered across Cornwall.
A number of Cornish locations have been used for the filming of Poldark and are on grand display throughout the series. We've put together a list of the towns, villages and beaches which appear in the show and dived a little deeper into exploring the Poldark filming locations. When in Cornwall take some time to visit these locations for a deeper understanding of the history and beauty of the county, because without it Poldark would not be possible...
St Breward
In St Breward a cottage was used as Poldark's home, and some other old properties were used for inside filming. A duel was also filmed here, with the sun creating a spectacular backdrop to the dramatic action. One of the first locations used by the crew, this little village is on Bodmin Moor where the views can only be described as excellent. The moorland area of the St Breward parish is notable for its prehistoric remains, including the earthwork known as King Arthur's Hall.
Porthgwarra
Porthgwarra is a relatively small and unknown cove, with a tiny beach being revealed at low tide and a cave running through a section of the cliff face that can be accessed when the waters are right. Visitors are attracted to the cove because it is said to have crystal clear waters and a little beach café provides amazing views. The area is a must visit for walkers, explorers and nature lovers who wish to visit somewhere quieter.
Gunwalloe
Gunwalloe has a long history of shipwrecks, therefore the beach here was the perfect place to shoot shipwreck scenes. In fact filming took place near to Dollar Cove, site of many famous shipwrecks and apparent location of lost Spanish treasure. Scenes were filmed during the early hours and fires were lit as they would have been back in the 18th century, aiming to lure in unsuspecting vessels to be pillaged.
Charlestown Harbour
An unspoilt, original Grade II Listed Harbour, set within the World Heritage Site around Charlestown, this harbour is steeped in history and still holds a number of classic ships that demonstrate to visitors how ships once looked. A number of other films and TV shows have been filmed here, using the harbour and the ships including Dr Who, the latest Alice in Wonderland film and now Poldark. It is still a working port and is a fascinating place to visit.
West Wheal Owles Engine House
Along the stretch of West Cornwall coastline between Botallack and Levant a rich mining heritage can be found, combined with some beautiful scenery. Levant Mine was used as the setting of Tessiders Rolling Mill in Poldark, while Wheal Owles depicted Wheal Leisure in the show. Several changes were made to Wheal for filming, but the original building can be visited by walking the Botallack to Levant coastal path. The scenic 3.7 miles cliff top route takes walkers past other mining history sites and the views are picture perfect.
Poldark Mine
Filming in the aptly named Poldark Mines was used for all the underground scenes and a variety of the museum’s artefacts were used as props including a unique 1844 Mine Bell that weighs three hundred pounds. When near Helston do as the Poldark cast and crew did and head down the mines. Pop on a hard hat and take an underground tour of this disused mine and learn more about the conditions the miners worked in during the 18th and 19th centuries, the time in which the Poldark novels and series were set.
When planning your next Cornish holiday be sure to take a look at one of the many cottages that we have in our collection. Many of them are located near to the Poldark themed attractions listed above, as well as other filming locations in Cornwall, and many more Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - perfect for any and all Cornwall holidays. Continue your journey back in time and visit some of these amazing Cornish castles as well!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.