Whitsun fun at Cornwall's Fal River Festival

Those heading for south-west Cornwall for the May Bank Holiday can enjoy even more than the usual attractions of the region by spending time at the Fal River Festival which runs from 23 May for nine days.

The variety of activities and entertainment includes not just the town's maritime heritage but also covers music, food and drink, plus arts and crafts exhibitions, open studios and workshops.

The full programme of events can be found on kingharryscornwall.co.uk/festival but to mention but a few:

- Free guided tours of Falmouth Lifeboat station
- Wartime weekend at Pendennis Castle (to mark 65th anniversary of D-Day)
- Free family fun at the National Maritime Museum
- Tall ship open days on the gaff-rigged sailing ship, Ruth
- 'Spy Quest' puzzles at Pendennis Castle
- Weather Workshops at the National Trust's Glendurgan Garden

For accommodation in south-west Cornwall, Cornish Cottages offers a good selection of properties of all sizes.

For example, Waterfront is a ground-floor apartment (sleeps two) across the road from Falmouth Harbour with great views of the Fal estuary. A week's rental from 23 May is £407.

Also close to the action is Trewince House, a converted Edwardian mansion set in three acres of grounds and home to one of the earliest Japanese gardens in Britain. The house (sleeps four)is just a few minutes from the creek-side village of Porth Navas, five miles from Falmouth, and costs £465 for the week starting 23 May.

For more information, log on to Cornishcottagesonline.com.