Penrose is the National Trust estate wrapped around Loe Pool, the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, two miles south-west of Helston. The pool is cut off from the sea by Loe Bar, a broad shingle dam across the River Cober where the South West Coast Path crosses the estate. Seventeen miles of paths and multi-use trails run through ancient woodland, parkland and farmland, including a 10km circuit of the lake, a level, well-surfaced woodland route from Helston to the Stables Cafe that suits wheelchairs and pushchairs, and bridleways open to horses and bikes. The cafe occupies a 1780s stable block with a second-hand bookshop, and volunteers are restoring the 18th-century walled garden, where picnics are welcome. Reviewers praise the choice of routes, the accessible paths and how dog friendly the estate is. The Trust asks that dogs stay on a short lead around livestock; swimming, boating and fishing are banned at Loe Pool and off Loe Bar. Parking at the estate car parks is by donation.
