Welcome to Falmouth

Falmouth is an historic port with a rich maritime history and a flourishing holiday destination.  The harbour is the third deepest natural harbour in the world and is a regular port of call to naval vessels, liners and tall ships in addition to a great number of leisure boats.

Falmouth is a town that thrives independently of the influx of visitors each year, with a quite varied local economy and the burgeoning University College Falmouth providing a recent influx of younger town inhabitants studying everything from Art to Media Studies, Drama and Design.  Falmouth plays host to a variety of town events and festivals throughout the year including the Cornwall Film Festival, Falmouth Oyster Festival, Falmouth Week and the Tall Ships. 

Falmouth has quite a varied history starting from when it sprang into being and later superseded its neighbour Penryn. Under the Killigrew family Falmouth saw more than its share of smuggling and skulduggery with the wealthy Mary Killigrew being one of the UK's most brazen and notorious pirates.  In later years Falmouth's importance grew for more legitimate reasons, as a packet ship harbour for carrying mail across the globe to the far-flung corners of the empire and as a trading port.

It was to Falmouth that official news of the victory at Trafalgar was brought, though the news that Nelson had died was far less welcome!  The messenger undertook an epic coach journey to London from the waterfront at Falmouth and a memorial still stands commemorating the arrival of the news.

The sea still plays a strong part in the town's economy with the docks undertaking major ship refurbishment and repairs on commercial vessels and also winning a number of long term MOD contracts. The RFA Argus now calls Falmouth it's home port when not on deployment and is a familiar sight in the harbour.  The sacrifices that our armed forces may be called upon to make on our behalf are very much part of the town's consciousness. The monument commemorating the WW2 commando raid on St Nazaire was refurbished and dedicated this year and in the Mewrchant Navy association Chaple is a plaque commissioned by local youngsters in memory of the Arctic Convoy campaign - one of very few such commemorative plaques in the UK. 

Out on the water, Falmouth's recent maritime events are no less dramatic, if more peaceful in nature.  Gig racing is a popular sport in the area and with both Penryn and Falmouth having thriving gig clubs old rivalries are still played out in fierce competitive racing.  The tall ships are regular visitors to the local waters, drawing large crowds to vantage points along the coast to watch the start of the tall ships race and to the docks when visitors are allowed onboard.  The Maritime Museum pays homage to the complex relationship between humans and the sea in terms of food, the evolution of boat design and the spirit of adventure, discovery and personal challenge that the sea evokes in people.  This was perhaps most dramatically brought home when Dame Ellen MacArthur arrived back at Falmouth at the end of her record-breaking solo circumnavigation of the globe.

Falmouth's climate, though not immune to the English rain, is relatively mild due to the sea's influence. For this reason Falmouth's many public spaces have a rather exotic appearance with Dracaena Palms and other plants not usually seen in the UK flourishing.  This theme extends to many of the local gardens open to the public like Trebah and Glendurgan. Overall, Falmouth is a town full of character with a welcoming atmosphere, pleasant climate (mostly) and excellent attractions and facilities.

Some Local Businesses in Falmouth

Life on the Ocean Wave!

Sub Marine Services

Sub Marine Services (SMS) are a specialist marine firm located in Falmouth Docks. Though Falmouth is equipped with dry docks, these can be well booked and dry-docking a vessel is not a small or cheap undertaking. SMS offer a range of underwater ship repairs and surveys using specialist equipment and skilled divers.  They can undertake routine hull surveys and reports as well as survey and minor repairts to damaged hulls.  Hull cleaning is an important aspect of ship husbandry, since it preserves the condition of the hull and reduces drag - so improving fuel economy. Propeller polishing achieves similar results and Sub Marine Services have specialist equipment for carrying out propeller polishing in-water.  They can even carry out propeller blade replacement alongside other underwater ship repairs.

Other specialist services are in the field of marine civil engineering.  SMS have their own specialist floating marine plant, such as crane barges, for land reclammation and underwater repairs to marine structures like lock gates and pontoons. They also service, maintain and lay commercial moorings.

Coastline Surveys

Coastline Surveys is another of Falmouth's marine related businesses. This specialist firm conducts coastal and riverine surveys around the UK. The types of survey the firm can carry out are quite broad and include route surveys for cables, pipelines and outfalls, marine resource prospecting and evaluation, environmental monitoring, marine civil engineering and harbour development.  Another important aspect of the company's work is sea defenses and flood protection schemes.

Coastline surveys operate with specialist vessels fully equipped with the latest in marine surveying technology. Their specialist vessels include two inshore surveying craft and the MV Flat Holm dive support ship for deeper surveys. Flat Holm can be chartered to support marine surveying operations and diving activity such as for marine archaeology and wreck surveying.

Motor Cruiser Instruction

 With Falmouth a popular choice of harbour for boating enthusiasts it is not surprising that at least one local RYA qualified instructor has gone into business to offer personalised tuition aboard your own boat.  Nick Fletcher offers motorcruiser handling, navigation and safety instruction to the requirements of his clients aboard their own boats, helping to ensure that they get the most from their craft with confidence and in safety.

Life Ashore

Spiraclimb

Much of Falmouth's business community is well and truely land-based in locatiuon and focus!  One such business is Spiraclimb, which is a GIMA Award-winning garden product that allows climbing plants to be supported from a standard garden cane. This innovative product allows climbing plants to be grown in pots and tubs without the need for trellis support. The topiary style spiral supports up to three meters of lateral growth producing an attractive spiral of foliage and colour in virtually any setting.  Spiraclimb is a real Cornish success story starting from a humble beginning it now supplies the product to the USA and Canada as well as having a loyal uk following.  The website offers full instructions on how to use Spiraclimb as well as a uk order form and an international order form.  The site is packed with advice about growing climbing plants including the ever popular clematis and even climbing vegetables.

Eflo International

Eflo International is a leading company in the field of waste water management and treatment. The company has a global reputation for producing well engineered water treatment solutions covering a wide range of applications including maritime and grey water recycling.  Eflo have developed MBR and SAF technologies to produce their unique range of treatment plant including the constant transfer system which is modular in design for flexible applications even in relatively low technology parts of the world.

Mitchell and Webber

Another well-known company, located a short distance from Falmouth but closely tied to the town, is Mitchell and Webber. This company is practically a Cornish institution being one of the county's leading suppliers of domestic heating oil, indsutrial fuel oil and lubricants and fuel storage solutions.  The company's distinctive tankers are a familiar sight on the roads of Cornwall (they even have a "mini tanker" specially designed for Cornwall's more challenging roads!).  Mitchell and Webber are key suppliers to the agricultural community, offering diesel, lubricants and fuel oil for heating. They supply Titan tanks and fuel distribution solutions that meet the latest relevant legislation.

On the domestic front, in addition to oil storage tanks, Mitchell and Webber offer full boiler and heating servicing and sell and install new heating systems and stoves including well known brands like Aga and Rayburn.  The company is the main distributor for RIX Bio Diesel in Cornwall.

Absolute Software

Absolute Software are specialists in Embedded Programming and development. The company is based local to Falmouth and offers bespoke embedded solutions to a very wide range of projects and applications. The products and development solutions offered by Absolute Software cover several industries including automotive, scientific and consumer. Platforms commonly worked with by the firm include embedded Windows, embedded Linux and Apple Mac OS. The company has considerable experience of microchip PIC, dsPIC, 8051 and Nordic. Programming languages used by the firm include Embedded C, C++, Assembly and Adobe Flash. Absolute Software work to industry standards for Dolby, SD Card and MISRA-C products.

The diverse range of services is highlighted by Absolute Software's impressive portfolio and the website contains a section of the latest company news - which on occasion can be quite quirky (as in the case of programming the animatronics for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!).

Randle Thomas

Are a modern legal practice based in Helston in the south of Cornwall, working with a highly professional and dedicated team of legal and support staff. Their clients include private individuals, small and medium size businesses and farming families and the practice is growing - mainly by recommendation from existing clients and professional colleagues. 

They have a team who specialise in a range of legal related matters and include members of recognised specialist panels such as the Law Society's Family Law Panel. Normal office hours are 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday (not shutting for lunch), but if these times are difficult they will do their best to arrange an interview at a time to suit you.

Robinson Reed Layton

Robinson Reed Layton are an independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers occupying modern offices on the banks of the river in Truro.  They have roots in Cornwall going back to the early 1920's, and  provide top quality advice to their broad range of clients.

Robinson Reed Layton act for businesses from sole traders turning over £15,000 a year to household names with turnovers in excess of £30 million. They also deal with many charities and other prominent institutions in the County.

The firm aims to provide the best possible service to their clients, and they believe this is best achieved by good communications and by ensuring they have the best qualified staff possible. Every one of our clients knows that the partner who deals with them can call on the appropriate expertise within the firm to provide speedy, relevant and practical advice on all their business problems.

Robinson Reed Layton offer a range of accounting services and are also a  sage software support specialist.

Cnx Web Solutions

Cnx are one of Cornwall's longest established web design firms with an enviable track record of customer service and innovative web design.  Cnx Web Solutions offers a comprehensive range of internet services to get businesses and organizations onto the web.  Cnx handle all aspects of this from domain name registration, through hosting, website design and finally marketing, working with clients to get their web presence up, running and found so that it can begin generating revenue.

Websites generate income in a variety of ways, whether its channeling enquiries that lead to purchases/bookings or through direct online sales through E Commerce. Cnx have experience of producing bespoke E Commerce websites with secure online payment facilities.  The best websites are flexible and put the client fully in control. Cnx Web Solutions create special dynamic sections of website which the client manages through an easy to use secure login.  Dynamic elements include photo galleries, newsletters and news/events web pages and special offers pages.

Web marketing is a key service offered by Cnx Web Solutions.  Getting websites found by the search engines requires a flexible, specialist approach. Whilst many firms offer quick fixes and "guaranteed" rankings, Cnx operate within the terms of service of the search engines, avoiding "black hat" techniques that can get sites permanently banned in favour of steady, sustained improvement over time.  Cnx have a number of long term marketed websites on the books many of which enjoy very strong search engine visibility.

For additional information see the Cnx portfolio.

 SEO Computers

SEO Computers offer a comprehensive range of PC sales, upgrade and support services for business and domestic customers. For domestic home customers SEO Computers offer full pc repairs and virus removal, maintenance to keep PCs running at their best and upgrade options.  SEO operate a drop-in service for PC repairs at their workshop in Waterside House between Penryn and Falmouth. If more convenient they have an engineer who will call to your property (call out service covers south west Cornwall from falmouth to Truro, Helston, Redruth, Camborne, Newquay and St Ives). Most problems can be fixed on site but on occasion the PC will be brought back to the workshop for more detailed work.

 Business IT Support is also available from SEO Computers. A call out to premises can be booked to quickly assess and rectify problems with business PCs and networks. SEO Computers recognize how important IT is to businesses and will quickly address any issues that arise to ensure your business remains up and running - including use of a loan PC if needed.  In addition to PC repairs and upgrades, SEO Technicians can support, create and maintain business IT networks to maximise the efficiency of your workplace. SEO offer good deals on bespoke built PCs.

SEO Computers are now able to offer REMOTE SUPPORT for both domestic and business clients. No special technology skills are required to access this service which offers great value for money by being instantly available and saving on call-out fees.  Remote support is available on functioning PCs with a working broadband connection. Many software and internet/email issues can be resolved remotely as can, under some circumstances, infection by computer virus.

Contact SEO Computers or call 01326 378424

Local Accommodation

 There is a good choice of local accommodation in Falmouth and some excellent websites listing local accommodation providers.  Useful websites include Cornish Connexions, which lists a range of accommodation in the area and across Cornwall and the Eden Project Accommodation website, which features hotels, B&B and self catering accommodation within easy range of the Eden Project (including Falmouth).

 This page is owned and maintained by CNX Web Solutions and SEO Computers.