Percy Rawlings, an 82-year-old retired engineer who spends his spare time leading tours through the damp, cold tunnels of Poldark Mine, admits that settling down in front of a romantic television costume drama isn’t his normal way of unwinding after a tough day underground.

But every Sunday for the next seven weeks Rawlings will join the millions tuning in to the BBC’s swashbuckling series Poldark. “I’ll have to check they do justice to Cornwall,” said Rawlings. “They filmed here in this mine so I’d like to see how the old place looks. It’s got to be good for Cornwall and especially for the mining areas like this that could do with a boost.”

Poldark certainly does seem to be good news for Cornwall. In the wake of last weekend’s first glimpse of heart-throb (no other word seems to fit) Ross Poldark and the equally handsome landscapes he brooded over, hits on Visit Cornwall’s website have soared by 65%. The last time they saw such a spike in traffic was when another moody and magnificent all-British action hero, sailor Ben Ainslie, trotted through Cornwall carrying the Olympic torch three years ago.

Hotels, B&Bs and campsites also report that potential visitors are making sure they did not miss the chance to follow in Poldark’s footsteps. Businesses ranging from horse-trekking stables – tousle-haired Ross did seem to do an awful lot of galloping in episode one – to kayaking companies are plotting special Poldark-themed events.

It is also a terrific boost for Visit Cornwall, which has recently had its £850,000-a-year council funding pulled. Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, said the sort of exposure Poldark had given Cornwall could have a huge impact. “The opportunity is there to be seized,” he said. “Poldark looks set to be a massive hit and with 12 novels in the series there is potential for it to run and run.”

A much-needed fillip for Poldark mine in particular. Originally named Wheal Roots, the mine was re-named to cash in on the success of the original and much-loved 1970s BBC series. It used to buzz with visitors. Cast members of Poldark and the writer of the source books, Winston Graham, would turn up regularly for special events.

Recent times have not been so kind. Two years ago the place went into administration and there were fears that it could be turned into a housing estate. It re-opened last year under new management and survived. But the arrival of film crews to film in the mine proved a huge boost.

“They used things like bells and tools from the museum here during the filming,” said David Edwards, the new custodian. “They didn’t use our lovely original ladders, which are hundreds of years old. I suppose there were health-and-safety concerns. I’m hoping that the series will have a profound effect on the mine and this whole area.”

A few miles down on the south coast, National Trust ranger Greg Cross was to be found overseeing improvement works in the car park at Gunwalloe in anticipation of the crowds that will head here to drink in the scene of a night-time shipwreck that was filmed here. “We’re expecting big interest,” he said. “I must admit I didn’t see it. My girlfriend did – she’s a fan of Aidan Turner [who plays Poldark]. I suppose I ought to watch it for homework.”

Cornwall already does rather nicely out of television dramas. The Germans flock here when Daphne du Maurier adaptations hit their screens; the Antipodeans make Doc Marten pilgrimages to Port Isaac; even the Isles of Scilly do pretty well out of Michael Morpurgo’s use of the archipelago in many of his books.

But it doesn’t always work. Visit Cornwall braced itself for a boost when the BBC screened its version of du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn last year. It never happened. Poldark, however, looks like a winner.

The real Poldark country is, arguably, a section of the north coast, where at St Agnes the mining buildings and chimneys cling to the rocky coast. Koru Kayaking is offering Poldark paddles around St Agnes Head, though so far canoeing has not featured in the re-make, but Koru argues their tours give a “unique perspective” of Poldark-world. Tom and Hetty Wildblood, who run Koru, insist they are not bandwagon-jumpers. They watched the whole of the original series when they moved to Cornwall in 2012 and called their Land Rover Demelza, after the earthy servant girl Poldark champions.

But there is a little dissent. Jane Bellamy, who was walking along the coastal path, was not overly impressed by the opening episode. “It seemed to me a lot of racing around on horses and not a lot else. Not my thing. The scenery was lovely and I suppose it will bring more visitors in but we’re pretty packed as it is around here anyway.”

Stained glass maker Ian Hamilton said he got a bit bored with Ross Poldark smouldering away. “I’d rather watch Top Gear frankly.” Hardly a backlash – but a reminder that not absolutely everyone is a fan of the Poldark brand of Sunday night drama.

And not all places are leaping on to the bandwagon as swiftly as they might be.

Tracey Pooley, landlady of the Poldark Inn at Delabole – another place that changed its name following the success of the original series – said she had tried but so far failed to encourage her staff into breeches and bodices.

“I haven’t had much luck so far but it’s got to happen. People keep telling me that I’ve got to cash in. I’ll have to get some memorabilia in.”