Truro makes sense since it's central and they have a hertz desk right at the platform so if you arrive during office hours it'll be a breeze.

I think they have an out of hours process but not sure how it works. Drop them a line.

If you wanted to stay seaside then most places are a reasonable drive from there Eg. Falmouth.

Good Luck

Hi there

Cornwall has few railway lines these days but you can get to Truro via the main line and Falmouth via the branch line from Truro. You can easily do the Tate and St Michael's Mount in a day. One suggestion would be to see the Mount in the morning, then drive the wonderfully scenic B3306 road from St Just which is a few miles west from Penzance to St Ives after the Mount. This route twists and turns along the rugged north coastline and takes you through granite villages, great scenery and old tin mine engine houses and the like. Obviously the views are pretty spectacular too.

Also, if scenery is you thing, take a couple of hours out to see the fabulous open air Minack Theatre which is at Porthcurno, again, southwest from Penzance and around 30 mins drive time from the town. It overlooks the stunning beach at Porthcurno and is entirely carved into the cliffs high above the water.

Archaeological sites! - wow, where to start in southwest Cornwall?

Lanyon Quoit

The Nine Maidens of Boskednan

Chysauter ancient village

Men-an-Tol

Men Scryfa

and many more. All these are within a few sqwuare miles and are etailed exactly on the Ordnance Survey Explorer Sheet 102.

When you go to see Eden, do also make an hour to visit the tiny harbour at Charlestown, just outside St Austell where you'll find square rigger sail ships undergoing repair.

Thank you so much for your prompt replies. If we take the train into Truro and rent a car there, in what town would you suggest I look for accomodation? We're looking for a pretty base.

Truro itself is an OK place and the only City in Cornwall as it has a cathedral. Plenty of accommodation possibilities from motel type to full service hotels.

If you're catching the train to Truro, I would suggest looking in Falmouth or St Ives for somewhere to stay. Both are picturesque and you should find plenty of availability for good seafront places at the beginning of October. Falmouth would be about a 20 minute drive and St Ives no more than 40 minutes.

I would look at places in the Falmouth area as it will save you an hour or so on your journey by stopping here and not going onto St.Ives. Falmouth is a very pretty harbour town with a Castle, boat trips along the Helford River home to the famous Daphne du maurier - Frenchmans Creek novel. Check out Trip Advisors insider section on Falmouth for more info on the Falmouth area - but you won't be disappointed.

:) Caz