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Polruan is based on the south coast of Cornwall on the river Fowey.  If you are looking at a map you will find this wonderful village opposite Fowey.  It is a small village with only one road in or out.  The road goes through the middle of the village and ends up on the village quay, where you will find the Lugger Inn, which like most houses in the village has its own interesting history.  There are, however, two pubs in the village, the second being the Russell Inn, which is literally just up the steps from the Lugger Inn.  Both pubs offer an excellent range of food at very reasonable prices.  From the quay you will find a passenger ferry that will take you across to Fowey.  The journey taking about 5 - 10 minutes.    At the top of the village itself there is a camp site should you feel hardy, but they have mobile homes available to rent.  
The beauty of either visiting or coming to stay in Polruan is that it is unspoilt.  Being built on the side of a hill it has, thankfully not allowed too much expansion and commercialisation and as a result has retained much of its charm.  In the main street itself (Fore Street - as you will find in most Cornish villages) you will find the Polruan Stores and the Harbour Cafe, on the Quay is The WinklePicker Shop (which is also the Post Office) .  
Polruan has something to offer everybody.  August bank holiday is a must if you enjoy a carnival.  Fowey starts the festivities off with their carnival usually a week before bank holiday, with activities every night ending with the candle lit processesion down the river which is followed by a firework display.  This has to be seen to be believed.  The following week Polruan has its carnival with a band and fancy dress for all ages.  On the quay itself you will find a wide variety of stalls with lots of goodies to purchase.  One stall will allow you to buy a ball for the ball rolling competition.  They have over a thousand numbered balls that they roll down the main street, which is a rather steep hill.  What you do, is to pay to put your name against a particular number ball, and if that ball is the first to reach the bottom of the hill then the prize is yours.  The carnival procession starts on the quay and goes to the school field at the top of the village and then parades all the way round the village, collecting money for charity on the way.

POLRUAN and district

A very old fishing village and where most of the fishing boat building took place (and today there is still an active boat yard, building and repairing boats of all types). It is said that St Ruan was the first to occupy the top of Polruan Hill, which is where St Saviours ruin stands today. Polruan is very steep and well protected from the prevailing winds and Polruan Pool is a haven for small boats. Polruan is part of the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey and many of the residents are artists and writers who are attracted to the quiet nature of the village. The Polruan Ferry crosses the river to Fowey every 15 minutes every day of the year and is still the best way in and out of the village, as the alternative is either a drive to the Bodinnic Ferry or via Lostwithiel, a 40 minute journey.

Blockhouse
This blockhouse is comparatively well preserved due to the efforts of various enthusiastic councillors and conservationists on the Polruan side of the river. There were two (the Fowey side being ruined beyond hope) which were built end of the 14th century to protect the harbour from pirates and the French. A chain was pulled up across the river between the two blockhouses to stop vessels entering the harbour and conversely, to stop them leaving if they had the temerity to "cross the line".

St Saviours Ruin
Standing high on the hill overlooking Polruan, St Saviours chapel was built long before any of the surrounding churches and dates from the 8th century. The remaining buttress indicates that the chapel was solidly built and was a prominent landmark for ships. It would have been a good lookout point for checking on approaching enemy vessels and the first monks would have been effective coastguards providing a warning by ringing the chapel's bells. St Saviours was enlarged by Sir Richard Edgcumbe in 1488.

Punche's Cross (or Paunches. Pontius. Ponts. or the French Ponce' Cross)
Lying at the eastern tip of the Fowey River below the cliffs to the south-west of St Saviours Point, this cross is said to be associated with Pontious Pilate as well as Jesus' uncle, Joseph of Arimethea, who it is said passed this way with the young Jesus to inspect his tin mines. It is marked on very early charts and if the cross was damaged by storms, it was reinstated by monks from Tywardreath. It is today under the responsibility of the Fowey Harbour Commissioners. The true origin of the name is unknown but it may be a corruption of Pontius. Whatever its real history, it is an important warning, as when the tide is high, only the top of the cross is visible, indicating that there are some very dangerous rocks below!

Brazen Island
Originally an isolated rock (hence the name) which is now incorporated into the main building, which was a sardine factory in 1883 but liquidated shortly after in 1887 (presumably through the lack of sardines). The Freehold of the factory was purchased by the Fowey Harbour Commissioners in 1926. The transition from sail to steam and later, diesel engines, created the need for an engineering works and from this time, the present complex, slipway and works was gradually built. The Lantic Bay Dredger was built here in 1953 and is still working full time.

Ferryside
This is the du Mauriers ' family home bought in 1927 and where Daphne du Maurier wrote her first book 'The Loving .Spirit in l928/9, (published in 1931). It is also where she met her future husband Boy Browning whom she married in 1932 and who was then a Major in the Grenadier Guards and later became Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Browning. Daphne du Maurier was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1969. The house has, until recently, been lived in by Angela du Maurier and is now occupied by Daphne du Maurier's son and his family. It was a boat-builders yard and had water running right through what is now an impressive sitting room, with magnificent views across the harbour out to the sea. The back wall of the house is the rock cliff face and has been incorporated marvellously into the house.

Bodinnick
A unique and pleasant way to enter or leave Fowey, is to take the Bodinnick vehicle ferry and cross the river. Bodinnick is on the east side of the river, and, a short steep climb up through the village beyond 'The Ferry Inn', on the right-hand side, can be found the start of the Hall Walk, which takes you over Pont Creek and ends in Polruan, where a passenger ferry returns you to Fowey. Along this pathway will be found the 'Q' memorial and at Pont, the old wharf is still there and is part of a delightful cottage which is now a National Trust property which can be rented for holidays.