Visitors to the UK have long admired the picturesque scenes and rugged coastline of Cornwall, and the popular BBC series Poldark has only increased our appreciation of the English county. To celebrate the end of the TV epic, here’s a look at Poldark’s Cornwall and the real-life locations you can explore.

The Grade II-listed harbour of Charlestown is a filming favourite, with its famous collection of old shops being used in movie and TV projects the world over, including Alice in Wonderland, Dr Who and, of course, Poldark.

Just outside St Austell, on the south coast of Cornwall, there’s plenty to do: gaze at the picturesque quays and harbour buildings, eat at the many bars and restaurants in the area, browse the gift shops and enjoy wonderful views over St Austell Bay.

The first series of Poldark saw the leading man taking a dip in the cool, clear waters of Porthgwarra, and you can’t blame him: the tunnel cut through the rock makes the peaceful place the perfect spot for a swim.

Having once been a thriving fishing cove, Porthgwarra is now a picturesque place to relax, with birds, flowers and a secluded beach to flop onto. There’s also the Porthgwarra Cove Cafe to enjoy, and Poldark super fans will be glad to know it was a regular refuelling spot for both cast and crew during filming.

Poldark enthusiasts will no doubt recognise Porthcurno as the beautiful Nampara Cove in the series. 

Recognised as one of Cornwall’s most outstanding beaches, the white sands, high cliffs and sparkling sea aren't just beautiful in the series, but are stunning to walk along in real life too.

The cast of Poldark spend a great deal of time on horseback, with Bodmin Moor one of the most popular horse riding spots on the series.

But if you don't have your own horse to hand, you can still enjoy the rugged moor: brave Bodmin Moor’s challenging 5.2-mile circular walk to Rough Tor and Brown Willy, the two highest peaks in Cornwall. It won’t be easy, but you’ll have wonderful views of both the north and south coasts.

Many of the dramatic cliff scenes filmed in Poldark took place in Padstow, thanks to its spectacular views and rugged coastline.

The working fishing port surrounded by beaches is a great place to indulge in Cornwall’s finest food offering: seafood. There are plenty of popular restaurants, including Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant.

An important part of Cornwall’s mining history, and part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, west Cornwall’s mines at Botallack play an important role in Poldark.

They feature in the series as Wheal Leisure, Grambler and Wheal Grace, and act as the scenic backdrop for some dramatic clifftop conversations.

The stretch of coast linking Botallack and Levant was chosen by producers not only for its beauty, but also for its rich mining heritage.

Levant Mine doubles for Poldark’s fictional Tressiders Rolling Mill. Visitors to the real-life mine can interact with living mining history by watching the 1840s beam engine worked by steam, join a guided tour to learn about the site’s history, and listen to the fascinating tales of Edwardian miners.

One of Cornwall’s most popular beaches, Perranporth boasts three miles of golden sands, a busy village full of cafés, bars and restaurants, coastal footpaths with great walks, and plenty of surfing opportunities.

Perranporth is also home to the memorial bench of author Winston Graham, who wrote the original Poldark novels.

The picturesque sandy cove of Gunwalloe, which is overlooked by the church of St Winwaloe, might look familiar to Poldark fans as the location of the night-time shipwrecking scenes in series one.

The small fishing cove has a small, charming beach to explore, as well as a pub, the Halzephron, which offers great views right across Mount’s Bay.

Near Newquay, Porthcothan Bay Beach is a firm favourite with families and sun-seekers, with swimming and board sports on offer, beautiful views of both the north and south, and a variety of wildlife too.

The beach may look familiar to Poldark fans, as it was used for scenes of Nampara.

St Agnes Head is not just historically significant as a reminder of Cornwall’s mining heyday, but also plays the part of Nampara Valley in the series and, of course, has been the backdrop to a number of horse riding scenes.

In St Agnes, make the most of the dramatic coastal walks on offer, as well as taking in the picturesque village, striking scenery and wide choice of galleries, restaurants and craft workshops.

One of Cornwall’s most famous beaches, Kynance Cove’s pretty white sands, glistening waters and dramatic rock towers make it a gorgeous location for Poldark.

The cove doubles up as Nampara, with the striking clifftop location even providing the opening sequence for the show’s second series.

If you take the lengthy, challenging, seven-mile walk from Constantine Bay to Mawgan Porth, you’ll cross the dramatic clifftops and pass secluded caves along the rocky coastline.

Constantine Bay beach is known as one of Cornwall’s best surfing spots, but if you’re not a surfer, you’ll still enjoy it: the beach has plenty of rock pools to splash about in, and is also a popular place for swimming.

The enormous beach of Holywell Bay, complete with golden sands and wide open bays, acts as a backdrop to many Poldark scenes, including the horse races between Dwight and Caroline.

There’s plenty to do on the gorgeous beach: there are two ancient wells which gave the area its name, as well as a small cave accessible at low tide.

Plus, to add to the sense of adventure, the wreck of an old Argentinian coaster can be seen just offshore when the tide is out.

If you're keen to tour all of Cornwall's Poldark locations, Visit Cornwall have created a new Poldark experience app, which has essential travel tips, public transport information and this handy map of all the areas featured in the TV series.