Private Tour
Private Tour of West Cornwall - Highly Varied Full Day Experience
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Run by passionate Cornish local tour guides, this experience weaves a magical combination of iconic Cornish landmarks, majestic and expansive beaches and idyllic fishing villages and harbours.
But that's not the whole story...
We are driven by wanting to share with visitors some of the harder to access and 'off the beaten path' locations that make Cornwall so unique.
Neolithic stone circles and underground burial chambers, medieval churches that contain ancient wooden carvings within, engine houses signifying tin mines underneath - and parts of the 'hidden Cornwall' that many locals never get to see...
Cornwall’s history and culture examined in a lively way with SO much to see and learn!
PLUS : very many points of interest en route – some visible from vehicle, others just moments from the car. There is so much to take in on this circular Cornwall tour. An absorbing tour of West Cornwall that gives a vibrant understanding of this part of the world in a relatively short space of time.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We can pick you up from anywhere in Cornwall AND transfer you to Cornwall from ANY where in the UK!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Newlyn
One of the U.K.’s largest fishing ports-not in terms of size as it’s a relatively small port but in the tonnage of catch : Newlyn really punches above its weight in the story of fishing in Cornwall. We'll have the opportunity to drive right amongst the beam trawlers and learn of the fishing history of Cornwall and the industry involved to put food on people's tables. As with any location that we pass through on this 'Best of the West' Tour, there is so much history all around us and your Tour Guide will ensure that you have a true insight into the character of the area and a selection of fun facts and anecdotes to take home with you!
Penzance
Penzance - (Cornish : Pen Sans - the 'Holy headland') so much history to learn of and so little time! The arrival of the London bound train station in 1859 enabled the wealthy Victorians to visit the 'English Riviera' and Penzance is a fine old town steep in history with piratical tales and Maritime connections aplenty! Your guide will point out smuggling haunts, wonderful pieces of Georgian architecture with literary connections, as well as marvelling at the promenade (Cornwall's only one) and the art deco open air Lido-geothermally heated and the largest in the UK... While stepping out onto the promenade with one another, we will consider the art history of the area generally and the Newlyn School of art in particular before moving on with purpose!
What‘s Included
Car parking fees
Free Cornish gifts and photo Montage included
Lively and informative historical information
Chilled mineral water available on board
Air conditioned and fully licensed vehicle up to 6 passengers
Passionate, local tour guide with qualified educational background
Food and additional beverages
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private Tour of West Cornwall - Highly Varied Full Day Experience
Pickup included
Reviews
106 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Superb Tour of Cornwall--the Highlight of Our Vacation
richardmG8464LV,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I did the Best of the West (of Cornwall) with Kernow Tours. The tour was superb! Conrad is extremely knowledgeable about the entire area. In addition to taking us to beautiful spots, he gave us the history, economics, background, important people, folklore and culture of each location. He was pleasurable to spend the day with. We laughed and sang Cornish folk songs together, and by the end of the tour we felt like we had made a friend Conrad provided other services for us as well. We were in Cornwall for 4 days, and he gave us several spot-on recommendations of things to do and places to eat on the other three days. Further, when we didn't know how we would get to the Minack Theater, Cornwall's open-air theater in a remote location by the sea, he offered to drive us there and pick us up after the performance. Our time with Conrad and Kernow Tours was the highlight of our 10 day trip to England.
Truly personal tour
Anna Nystrom,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took the "Best of the West" tour with Conrad, who is certainly a "character" with a real gift for storytelling—and even the occasional song. We thoroughly enjoyed his deep knowledge of Cornish history and culture. The tour felt truly personal, offering unlimited opportunities to ask questions and dive deeper into subjects that interested us. If you are looking for the hidden gems of Cornwall, Conrad is the man to call. We highly recommend the services of Kernow Tours.
Best tour/guide of cornwall. Highly recommended.
carolmT2156AB,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful time with Conrad of Kernow tours. He tailored our tour to satisfy all the places we wanted to see and more. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all things Cornwall. I highly recommend a tour with him. My cousins and I had a great time. One of the best tour guides I have encountered.
Great private tour!
dmr1234567,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! Very knowledgeable tour guide who was familiar with Cornish history as well as local sites. Conrad took the time to understand the reason for our visit and adjusted the tour accordingly. Highly recommend his services.
A perfect day.
TrulyTassie,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Apologies for a late review, but busy life takes over after every holiday! This was our second visit in two years to Cornwall, on a six week visit which included some favorite parts of England, a cruise down the Iberian Coast and a week in Barcelona. On this second visit to the County I was determined to find a way to get to some of the prehistoric sites and I eventually came across Kernow Tours when looking for a guided day tour, having given up on planning to get to the sites under our own steam . After contacting Conrad and sharing a few emails explaining what we wanted Conrad came up with a 5 hour private tour for Helen and I, which would show us some of the current important sites of SW Cornwall as well as seeking out some of the ancient monuments that we had read about; all easily done with good booking communications. We were staying in Falmouth again, and had arranged to meet Conrad at the Penzance railway station to start the tour, rather than for him to come and pick us up from our hotel, giving us the chance of another train journey as well as a tour. Exiting the station, Conrad was there to meet us and we quickly felt at ease in his company as we confirmed the day's itinerary. He is a great communicator, very knowledgeable and imparts this knowledge in a professional yet relaxed and easy way; because of this, the day flowed smoothly and surprisingly quickly. The vehicle for the day was a roomy, very comfortable and clean passenger van, which Conrad drove with skill and great passenger comfort along Cornwall's varied road widths. We had a historical tour of Penzance, Newlyn and the Mousehole area before embarking on the ancient monument experience, which included half a dozen sites I had identified as must sees to which Conrad nicely added a few more. The day was divided by a sit down lunch with a Cornish pasty, one of the best of many that we had eaten over the last few days. The tour was perfect; we saw and learnt about the sites that we were interested in, plus many more. We shared a little about each of our lives seeing how Cornish life compared with life in Tasmania, we received a small gift to remind us of our day and Conrad, in quality voice, sang us one of his shanty songs. At the end when a five hour tour turned into nearly a six hour tour, we were returned to the railway station and we caught the train back to Falmouth, enriched with new knowledge, a wonderful day of lifelong memories and the enjoyment of the company our quality guide, Conrad. Thank you.l
Wonderful experience in Cornwall
Anjan S,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Conrad of Kernow Tours was super impressive. We were interested in visiting scenic beaches, so the tour was tailored for us. Conrad took us to all the nice beaches in West Cornwall. He is very knowledgeable and very helpful. When I go back to Cornwall, I'll definitely take another tour through Kernow Tours.
The best tour co in Cornwall
Tour16891144355,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Conrad put together a custom tour for my group- a mashup of the best of the west, stones and bones, and some of my special requests. We spent the whole day with him and it was probably the best day of our entire year! There were tons of magical moments and gorgeous sights but the highlight of our trip was visiting Men An Tol with our baby. Conrad really is an excellent guide: knowledgeable, considerate, passionate, and entertaining. He has the knowledge and perspective that can only come from being a local. The van was comfortable and Conrad is an excellent driver too! I can’t recommend Kernow Tours highly enough!
The best way to see Cornwall
667vanyad,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the very first moment I contacted Conrad to enquire about a tour, it was clear this was not a standard, off-the-shelf experience. He took the time to speak with us personally, getting to know our interests and what we hoped to get out of our first visit to Cornwall. That initial conversation shaped an entirely bespoke itinerary that felt thoughtfully designed just for us. The day itself was the perfect balance of history, folklore, and breathtaking scenery, seamlessly woven together with Conrad’s deep local knowledge. Every stop felt intentional, including hidden gems and places we would never have discovered on our own, alongside all the must-see locations we had hoped to visit. What really set this tour apart was the flexibility. Visiting in July, we somehow experienced all four seasons in one day, but Conrad adapted effortlessly—reordering the itinerary, adding extra stops, and ensuring we made the most of every moment regardless of the weather. Nothing felt rushed or rigid; it was entirely tailored to our pace and preferences. I would recommend this tour to absolutely anyone. Conrad doesn’t just guide you around Cornwall—he designs a completely personalised experience that reflects who you are and what you want to see. Already looking forward to booking my next trip with @kernowtours.
Fascinating Tour of West Cornwall!! - Not to be missed!!!
Cagi2013,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I spent the day with Conrad of Kernow Tours on the West Cornwall Tour! Well worth it! Conrad is personable, easy to talk to and passionate about his Cornish home and heritage! He picked me up at my lodging in Penzance and we spent the cold, rainy and windy day exploring West Cornwall. We made all the stops on the itinerary, and Conrad’s knowledge of the area’s history and legends is amazing! I learned so much! There was no way we could go to and see everything that is in this fascinating area! He willingly adjusted the itinerary to account for the weather, and to add a couple of things he thought I would enjoy seeing! Before I arrived in West Cornwall, Conrad was very generous in sharing his local knowledge making recommendations on local transport, places to stay and restaurants. I’m so glad I booked with Kernow Tours and will book again if I ever return!
A wonderful and wondrous day in West Cornwall
danalG6225RY,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked this as a shore excursion from our cruise ship docked for the day in Falmouth. We were looking for a way to see as much of Cornwall as we could within our ship's time constraint. We were not disappointed. Conrad is a fantastic tour provider. He kept in touch by e-mail and WhatsApp. Although we were constrained by our tight schedule, he did manage to some fine-tuning of the itinerary according to our tastes. He picked us up right on schedule and dropped us off at right at 4PM as promised. The car was clean, comfortable, and plenty spacious for our group of 4. Conrad shared nice photos taken (with our permission) of us enjoying our visit. We got quite a whirlwind tour of West Cornwall. We stopped at St. Michael's Mount, churches in Penzance, walked through remains of tin mines, and touched ancient stone circles. At every location (except for Land's End) we had space all to ourselves which made for a most serene and magical experience. We had a brief lunch stop (Cornish pasties of course) but otherwise kept moving because there was so much to see! Conrad has an infectious passion for his homeland and we felt privileged to share his enthusiasm and energy. He kept us immersed in the local flavor by entertaining us along the drive with stories, music, and song. At each turn in the road Cornwall is a beautiful land to behold -- having a brilliant guide like Conrad was the perfect "pairing" which enhanced the overall experience. One day was not enough to fully explore this beautiful countryside. Someday I hope to return and enjoy one of Kernow Tour multi-day offerings.
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