Padstow
Located on the North Cornwall coast, Padstow is a beautiful, working fishing port. It boasts the most picturesque harbour, coastline and spectacular scenery. Its charm lies in its unique setting, nestling on the west side of the Camel estuary, well sheltered with quaint individual houses, cottages and shops all surrounding the busy harbour which draws visitors like a magnet. The surrounding area is designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB) with lovely cliff and country walks and a choice of several superb sandy beaches.
Padstow Harbour
The harbour is definitely the town’s main attraction. Fishing and pleasure boats are moored side by side, children fish for crabs from the slipway and a wealth of cafes and restaurants overlook the water. Traditionally a fishing port, Padstow is now a popular tourist destination. Some of its former fishing fleet remains, but it is now mainly a welcome yachting haven situated on a dramatic coastline with few easily navigable harbours. The influence of restaurateur Rick Stein can be seen in the port, and tourists travel from long distances to eat at his restaurant or cafes. From the harbour a regular ferry will take you across the estuary to Rock and its beautiful beaches (see below).
Padstow Town and Streets
Don’t spend all your time at the harbour though. Walk around the quaint corners and crooked byways of Padstow and you will find the historic Parish Church, Prideaux Place, The Deer Park, several welcoming pubs and inns, a choice of restaurants including the famous Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, plus a variety of shops to potter about in.
Padstow and Surrounding Beaches
Padstow and the Camel Estuary have some beautiful sandy beaches, and with the addition of the wonderful Seven Bays centred around the nearby village of St Merryn just 3 miles from Padstow, you really are spoilt for choice. All beaches allow dogs (except for Georges Well, and Trevone) and the Seven Bays have parking facilities.
- Padstow: Georges Well, Tregirls and Hawkers Cove
- Across the Estuary (by ferry): Rock, Daymer Bay and Polzeath
- Seven Bays: Treyarnon, Porthcothan, Constantine, Booby's, Mother Ivey's, Harlyn and Trevone
Walking and Cycling
The Camel Trail (200 yards from Sandbanks). The Camel Trail provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. Running through both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) the Camel Trail is an 18 mile largely traffic free, surfaced and virtually level multi use trail which passes through some of the most spectacular countryside in the south west. Great local Padstow walks can be found at iWalk Cornwall.
The South West Coast Path (www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk) Come to the beach anywhere in the South West of England, turn left or right and you’ll be on the South West Coast Path and on the edge of an amazing experience. Where else can you walk along 630 miles of such superb coastline which makes up the longest National Trail in the UK? The heritage, wildlife, geology and scenery along the way are truly inspirational and every day walking it brings stunning new experiences.
Cycle Hire:
Golf
There are several local golf clubs which are easily reached from Padstow, from parkland to challenging links:
- St Enodoc One of Golf World's Top 100 Courses (across the Estuary in Rock with spectacular views of the Estuary)
- Trevose (3 miles with views of Harlyn and Constantine Bays)
- Merlin (7 Miles near Mawgan Porth)
- Newquay (14 miles)
- Bowood Park (16 miles near Camelford)
For beginners and non-handicap players there is a 9-hole course at St Kew (between Wadebridge and Camelford)
Gardens, National Trust Properties and other Attractions
The Eden Project, an educational charity, connects us with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future. Our visitor destination in Cornwall, UK, is nestled in a huge crater. Here, massive Biomes housing the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions and stories serve as a backdrop to our striking contemporary gardens, summer concerts and exciting year-round family events.
The National Lobster Hatchery (in Padstow)
The Hawker’s Cove and Crugmeer Area
Hawkers Cove is a small hamlet situated about two miles from Padstow consisting of two terraces of cottages, a few detached dwellings, a coastguard station and a boathouse with a slipway which once housed the Padstow lifeboat and has now been converted into a holiday home.
The first lifeboat, built by the Padstow Harbour Association, was kept at Hawker’s Cove and in 1855 the Padstow branch of the RNLI was formed. A new boathouse with a roller slipway was built in 1931. By the 1960s, silting was becoming a problem and in October 1967 the Padstow lifeboat relocated to a new boathouse and slipway at Trevose Head, a few miles to the west. The row of Pilot Cottages opposite the Old Lifeboat Station are also historic, having originally built as cottages for the crews of the pilot gig boats.
Art Galleries
Padstow and the Seven Bays Tourist Information
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