BBC's Poldark has had millions tuning in to follow a soldier who returns from the American War of Independence to his native land of Cornwall, where scenes provide a glimpse of the beautiful coves, rugged landscapes and historic mines that are dotted along the windswept Cornish coast.
Irish actor Aidan Turner, who plays tortured Captain Ross Poldark, recently told HELLO! magazine that he enjoyed filming in Cornwall so much that he wants to live there. He explained that, among other stunning locations, the crew spent "a few days on this private beach in St Just, which is near St Ives", which he described as simply "gorgeous". As the first series draws to a close, we take a look at the key places and, as Aidan puts it, "epic landscape" where the West Country-set series was filmed…
Porthgwarra BeachA small, sandy beach nestled in a secluded cove on the Penwith peninsula in west Cornwall, just around the corner from Porthcurno, this was once a picturesque fishing hamlet in West Cornwall where today just a few boats launch. Two man-made tunnels running through the cliffs make exploration easy, and if you look out to sea, you might be lucky enough to spot dolphins, which often swim in these waters.
PadstowThis charming working fishing port surrounded by glorious sandy beaches, at the head of the Camel River, is home to a range of Cornwall’s famous eateries including Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant. Its situation at the start and end point for the Camel Cycle Trail means it's not just foodie heaven, but great for sports lovers too.Bodmin MoorThe Poldark cast and crew were lucky enough to spend a lot of their time in Cornwall on the rugged Bodmin Moor, which is a World Heritage Site and has been recognised for its beauty by being named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you'll find two of Cornwall's highest peaks, Rough Tor and Brown Willy, where breathtaking vistas stretch across the moor and its ancient buildings, standing stones and medieval farms.
Church Cove, GunwalloeThe sandy beach at Church Cove, Gunwalloe, takes its name from the tiny church St Wynwallow that is located to the north side of the beach. One of Poldark's most dramatic scenes took place here.CharlestownCharlestown, about a mile outside the town of St Austell, is an amazingly pristine, unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port. The original Grade II Listed harbour is famed for its collection of ships and traditional appearance and stood in for Cornwall's city of Truro in the series.
BotallackNaturally, Poldark's location managers couldn't resist the beauty and rich mining heritage of the stretch of west Cornwall coast linking Botallack, just north of St Just, and Levant. Levant Mine played the role of the fictional Tressiders Rolling Mill while Owles and Crowns near Botallack starred as Ross Poldark's Wheal Leisure.
