Few authors are as entwined with a landscape as Daphne du Maurier is with Cornwall. From hidden creeks to wild moors, this windswept county inspired her most famous novels—and still carries her spirit. If you’re a fan of Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, or Frenchman’s Creek, here are five unforgettable ways to experience du Maurier’s Cornwall for yourself.
1. Cruise Through the Pages of Frenchman’s Creek
Set sail on an adventure straight out of Frenchman’s Creek, a story of pirates, passion, and escape. You can cruise or paddle the very waters that inspired du Maurier’s tale with Koru Kayaking or cruise lazily along the banks with Helford River Cruises.
Kayaking along Frenchman’s Creek, Helford River
Frenchman’s Creek, a secluded inlet off the Helford River, was not just her fictional setting—it was part of her reality. Daphne honeymooned here with her husband, Tommy, and may have crossed paths with Percy “Powder” Thurburn, the real-life recluse who owned the Iron Duke ship and lived much like her heroine, Lady Dona.
Du Maurier would often visit her best friend across the fields in a manor house—later fictionalised as “Navron,” Lady Dona’s home.
Helford River Cruises who offer trips up Frenchman’s Creek
Experience it: Glide past overhanging oaks, hear birdsong echoing off the water, and feel the enchantment that made this spot immortal in fiction.
2. Have a Pint at the Real Jamaica Inn
High on Bodmin Moor, the real Jamaica Inn still stands, steeped in the atmosphere of du Maurier’s smuggling saga. Here, howling winds, misty moors, and tales of shipwreckers come alive.
Du Maurier was inspired after being stranded here one night during bad weather—and the story practically wrote itself.
Experience it: Enjoy a drink or hearty meal at the inn, explore the surrounding moorland, and imagine yourself in the shadowy world of Mary Yellan and the ruthless Joss Merlyn.
3. Spot the Real Manderley in Rebecca
Although Manderley was fictional, its real-life counterpart—Menabilly—is nestled behind trees on the coast between Porthpean and Pentewan. This was du Maurier’s beloved home, where she lived in relative seclusion, drawing inspiration from its mystery and grandeur.
Nearby, you’ll also find Kilmarth, featured in The House on the Strand.
While neither house is open to the public, stunning coastal walks nearby give you glimpses into her secret world.
Experience it: Take the cliff path and feel the echoes of Rebecca’s timeless opening line:
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”
4. Visit Her Home Base: Fowey
This charming port town was du Maurier’s writing sanctuary and where she spent much of her life. Her former home, Ferryside, still watches over the estuary.
Every May, The Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature celebrates her legacy with talks, walks, exhibitions, and performances.
You can see where she wrote, walked, and drew inspiration from the sea.
Experience it: Attend the Fowey Festival (10–18 May) for a deep dive into her life and work, or enjoy a peaceful walk through town, imagining her at her desk, watching the tide roll in.
5. Read Where She Wrote – With a Local Coffee in Hand
There’s something special about reading Rebecca in the landscape that shaped it. Stop by a local bookstore in Fowey, St Ives, or Truro, pick up a copy of her novels, and settle into a café with a view.
Experience it: Buy the book, order the coffee, and let the Cornish breeze turn the pages for you. You’re on du Maurier’s turf now.
Daphne du Maurier didn’t just write about Cornwall—she lived it. Her stories were born from its rivers, moors, and houses, and the good news is: you can still explore them today. Whether you’re kayaking down Frenchman’s Creek or sipping coffee in Fowey, you’ll find yourself wrapped in her world.
