Our Guide to North Cornwall
Our top places to visit, eat and swim...
Cornwall has been in our founders’ blood for a long time, with Rose’s school holidays spent at her grandparent’s house from day dot.
Claire’s introduction was somewhat less bucolic; with her first taste being the teen rite of passage trip to Newquay… But, since marrying into a family from the Southwest, she has become our North Cornwall correspondent.
Despite its inaccessible location, notoriously tiny roads with the annual inpouring of Range Rovers to contend with, and more-often-than-not, rain, Cornwall remains one of our favourite places to go on holiday.
Whether you’re a seasoned Cornish devotee, or you’re not sure what all the fuss is about, then read on for our top tips.
Our first top tip, is to break up the journey with a stop at Teals. Ideally located halfway between London and Cornwall, we often stop here for breakfast or grab a bacon bap to go.
A Day in North Cornwall
Our favourite things to do
Camel Valley Trail
Hire bikes (or trailers for kids) and enjoy this trail running between Padstow and Bodmin with views over the estuary. We challenge you to get past the Atlantic Coast Express (barely 1 mile outside Padstow) without stopping for one of their infamous crepes…
Sauna by the Sea
Enjoy the sea the Scandinavian way with a session in a glass-fronted, wood-fired sauna followed by a refreshing dip in the sea. Top tip: check the tide times or you may find you have a long way to walk
Taste local wine at Trevibban Mill
Trevibban Mill is an award-winning working vineyard known for its Cornish wines and cider. Be sure to take away a few bottles of their ‘Harlyn’ wine. On site is also Barnaby’s, one of our favourite restaurants from the team behind Prawn on the Lawn.
Go for a wild and windy walk
One of our favourite walks is around Trevose Head, on the Southwest Coast Path. This (short-ish) walk takes you up over the headland and past the Lighthouse. Particularly lovely on clear days where you have a perfect view of the rugged coastline and Booby’s Bay where you can watch the surfers. Enid’s Ices is perfectly positioned for a post walk treat.
Treat Meals Out
Booking essential options for special evenings out
Four Boys
A quick hop on the ferry (which children love..) from Padstow over to Rock, this café and restaurant has stunning views over the estuary. With daily changing menus and relaxed, floppy-haired service, this is the place for a long lazy lunch.
Prawn on the Lawn
A tiny outpost of London’s Islington branch down a side street in Padstow. Serving up a daily changing menu focusing on locally sourced seafood.
Rick Stein The Seafood Restaurant
King of Padstow, Rick Stein’s restaurant is the OG and still the best. The place to go for a celebration. Just remember, they don’t welcome children under 5.
The Best Beaches
Best for learning to surf… Harlyn Bay
Best for watching surfers… Booby’s Bay
Best for a walk… Watergate Bay
Best for a day out… Polzeath Beach
Best for Children… Mother Ivy’s Bay
Taking the Children Out to Eat
Easy options to delight all ages
Trevose Golf Club
Bear with us here… With unrivalled views over Trevose Head, this is our favourite place for a drink. With no rules and delicious crab sandwiches, children are welcome to (literally) roll around on the grass verges while you can while away the afternoon with pints.
Trevose Head Embers
A family favourite pizzeria with an expansive children’s menu and super friendly staff. Huge portions so go with an empty stomach. Booking essential.
Beach Box Cafe
This Harlyn Bay cafe is our top spot for a coffee (with or without a walk). They do excellent food throughout the day, with the added bonus of a bar in summer evenings for those partial to a sundowner. We can’t visit without having one of their Paddle Power Smoothies.
Things to do with Children
That don't involve sand, sand and more sand...
Giant Slip and Slide
Hard to know if this is more popular for the grown-ups or the children, but everyone is certain to have a good time!
Lappa Valley
A wonderfully quaint kids theme park that is reached via a miniature train ride. Aimed more towards younger children but still fun for all. We recommend getting there for the first train at 10am.
Newquay Zoo
If you’re hoping for lions and tigers you may be disappointed, but Newquay zoo is a perfectly-sized day out and is a firm family favourite.
Save our list to your Maps.
Save our favourite spots to your Google Maps so you can easily find them when you visit the area. We threw in a couple of extras not written about above…