Most visitors enter Cornwall via the A30, which takes the traveller down the spine of Cornwall. Within a couple of miles of crossing the border with the County of Devon, the ancient town of Launceston is reached. For the first-time visitor to Cornwall, Launceston is a good place to start - good shopping; excellent tourist information; a castle under the guardianship of English Heritage and even a steam railway! The town has road access to Bude in North Cornwall, Bideford in North Devon, Dartmoor and of course Bodmin Moor.

The A30 boasts scenic views spanning across well across Bodmin Moor and eventually winds its way past the famous Jamaica Inn.

Bodmin

Bodmin, the former County town, lies on the opposite side of Bodmin Moor. Here, until the last century, operated Cornwall County Jail - now a major tourist attraction. From the old cells - the harsh regime can be easily imagined! The town has lost much to Truro including the County Courts but still remains attractive. The Cornwall Light Infantry museum stills exists in the old barracks and a lovingly restored steam railway runs from the mainline to the Camel Trail - one of thebetter known routes on the National Cycle network.

Lostwithial

Another historic town - Lostwithial - lies to the south of Bodmin and is well worth a visit.

Truro

Truro - the young pretender! Although only recently the county city, Truro has been in existance for many years.
Truro's development into a city had began many years earlier, with a recorded settlement situated at the head of a then deep, navigable river as early as 1070 when Earl Moreton took Moresk Castle on behalf of William the Conqueror. Indeed both Moresk and Polwhele Castles were mentioned in the later Doomsday Book of 1086, as well as suggesting that there were two settlements - Great Truro and Little Truro - positioned under a fortress.