TRURO, CORNWALL – A fresh perspective on Cornwall’s hidden waterways is just a click away, thanks to a new webcam mounted aboard the sailing barge Drifter. Broadcasting still images from its journeys on the River Truro and Fal Estuary, the camera invites viewers to follow the tide and experience the beauty of river life—from Malpas and beyond.
Whether moored at Malpas or gliding past wooded creeks and quiet anchorages downstream, Drifter offers a unique, ever-changing view of this tranquil and often overlooked part of Cornwall. The webcam doesn’t livestream, but instead captures still images every few seconds throughout the day—offering a slow, meditative way to stay connected with the natural world.
“This isn’t a city-centre view—it’s something wilder,” says a spokesperson for the project. “You’re watching the tide breathe, the trees shift in the breeze, maybe even catching a heron lift off the mudflats. It’s peaceful, and very real.”
Locals and river lovers alike can check in from anywhere to see how the weather rolls through the estuary, how the light hits the hills above Malpas, or what boats are passing by. It’s a digital postcard that updates constantly, offering moments of calm and connection throughout the day.
Drifter’s floating camera is part of a wider effort to reawaken the city’s bond with its river—celebrating not just the historic port, but the wild, working, and wonderful waterway that winds beyond it.
This isn’t your typical city-centre livestream. Instead, Drifter captures the peaceful, tidal rhythm of the river: birds skimming the surface, reflections flickering through morning mist, boats passing in and out with the changing light. As the barge shifts location with the tides and seasons, so does the view—always fresh, always real.
Whether you’re nearby or far away, you can tune in to see what the river’s doing right now. It might be quiet. It might be stormy. It might just be the perfect light. But every image is a gentle reminder of Truro’s bond with its water—historic, living, and beautifully tidal.
You can follow Drifter and see the river for yourself by visiting:
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