Flushing is a small fishing village situated on the Penryn estuary in Cornwall. The village sits on the water front and runs high up into the hills. It is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has lovely views of the surrounding area and of the town of Falmouth across the river.
Flushing is picturesque and peaceful but is conveniently not overrun with tourists in the summer months; this may be to do with its small size and the difficulty of access, there being only one road into the village. However, making the effort to get to Flushing is worth it for its beautiful situation, pleasant walks and beaches, as well as the relaxed atmosphere.
Pubs and Restaurants
Quay Cafe is a great little seafood restaurant situated, as the name suggests, on Flushing Quay. The restaurant is low ceilinged and cosy with individual booths, there is also outside seating right on the quay with great views across the river. The food is excellent, locally caught seafood. During the day they serve lighter meals and it’s also a good place to have a quiet cup of coffee and watch the boats.
There are two pubs in Flushing, The Seven Stars sits right on the water front and has lovely views of the colourful houses of Falmouth. It’s more of a drinkers’ pub but they do serve typical pub food at affordable prices.
The Standard is just around the corner from The Seven Stars, set further uphill, with similar pretty views. It provides a relaxed atmosphere with a small but delicious menu of traditional pub fare and fresh seafood.
Beaches
The main beach in Flushing, the Kiln beach, is a five minute walk from the centre of the village. A relaxed sandy beach, it’s a great place to swim and sunbathe in summer and take a walk in winter. Follow the shore and it becomes rocky with an abundance of rock pools to explore. This beach can get quite busy in summer months, but not as much as most tourist beaches in Cornwall. Note there is limited parking and there are no facilities at the beach, though there are facilities in the main village.
A quieter spot is Jericho beach just around the corner from Kiln Beach. This is more popular with locals, as it is diffcult to get to unless coming by water or from the nearby houses.
Bowling Green
The Bowling Green is a communal green area which sits atop the village, commanding the best views of Falmouth and the surrounding area. It is popular for games, such as cricket, and with dog walkers. There are benches to enjoy the views and a playground, with a fitting pirate theme, to keep children amused.
Walks
As part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Flushing has stunning walks. A good route is the footpath from Flushing to the neighbouring village of Mylor; this has the best of both worlds, as the path takes in coast and countryside and has beautiful views out to sea. It is approximately three miles long, six miles return trip.
Going the opposite way, and about the same distance, is the route further inland to the small town of Penryn. This again follows the shore but is a winding footpath going through woodlands, meadows and the occasional field of friendly cows.
For a shorter route just explore the village; with its narrow streets and pretty, whitewashed houses it provides a pleasant short walk.
Sailing/Water Sports
Being on the water is a way of life in Flushing, most people choose to get about by boat rather than car, there being more mooring spaces than parking spaces.
The quickest way to get to the nearby town of Falmouth is by boat. Miranda, the ferry, does the 15 minute trip to Falmouth and back several times a day.
There is a sailing school in the next village of Mylor, The Mylor Sailing School, which provides RYA (Royal Yachting Association) courses for all levels.
There are also clubs for watersports in Flushing including The Flushing Sailing Club, Nankersey Rowing Club and Flushing and Mylor Pilot Gig Club.
The village has abundant mooring for boats.
Stay
There are several Bed and Breakfasts in Flushing, such as An Chy Coth, a relaxed Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Flushing, and Trefusis Barton, a quiet bed and breakfast set on a 400 acre farm between Flushing and Mylor.
There are several more places to stay in Flushing which provide the perfect base to explore the village as well as the surrounding area.
Victoria Richman - An experienced, versatile writer with particular focus on the topics of conservation and travel.
