North Cornwall - The Perfect Holiday Destination...
Welcome to our Guide to North Cornwall – the ultimate holiday destination!
Here you’ll find picturesque fishing villages around every corner. World-class food and drink. Wide sandy beaches. Secret hidden coves. Rugged headlands and wild moorland. Historic castles perched on clifftops. And an abundance of beauty, space and fresh sea air.
Sound tempting?
Whether you’re looking for some family fun, a romantic weekend away or some quality time with friends, our Guide to North Cornwall has plenty of ideas to help you plan the perfect holiday…
Family Holidays
There’s so much to see and do in Cornwall it’s no surprise that many families return year after year. The following is just a snapshot. We’ll send you a tonne of ideas when you book that will keep even the most jaded teenager or fractious toddler entertained.
Discover the amazing Eden Project, home to the largest rainforest in captivity – they’ll be learning without even knowing it.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a magical day out. There are acres of space to run and explore and lots to keep children entertained. A highlight is the rare breed lambs in the spring.
Mystical Tintagel Castle, birthplace of the legendary King Arthur, is close by and ideal for firing imaginations. Wooden swords from the gift shop are optional but highly recommended!
The Camel Trail‘s 18 flat and traffic-free miles gently wend their way along the pretty River Camel all the way to Padstow. It begins at nearby Wenfordbridge. Tag-along bikes, trailers, and even electric bikes, make it easy and enjoyable for all ages. They can be hired at many locations en-route.
Catch the little foot ferry that chugs back and forth between Rock and Padstow. Catch crabs on the harbour – we have buckets and lines here at the farm. Visit the gorgeous sandy beaches just a 10 minute walk from town – they’re largely empty even in August. Pasties and ice-cream on the harbour are essential.
No family holiday is complete without a day at the beach and there are plenty to choose from all along the North Cornwall coast. They’re almost all sandy so are perfect for building sandcastles. Rock-pooling and body-boarding are perennially popular (we provide bodyboards). Our nearest beach – and it’s a stunner – is Trebarwith Strand. Polzeath is also very popular with families. Surfboards and wetsuits can be hired by the day, hour or week.
Bude has a fantastic sea pool for safe swimming. Whilst nearby Port Gaverne has plenty of options for any thrill-seeking teenagers in the family. Choose from kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and coasteering.
And in a circus-style tent on Bodmin Moor you’ll find the unique Sterts Theatre. A perfect afternoon of entertainment.
Activity Holidays
Being so close to the sea means there’s plenty of opportunity to get active in or on the water.
For a unique view of the coastline try kayaking, coasteering or stand-up paddle boarding. All are on offer at nearby Port Gaverne.
The rugged Atlantic coast of North Cornwall is perfect for surfing too. Lessons are available at nearby Polzeath and Trebarwith Strand. Or just hire a board and a wetsuit and have a go! We have some traditional Cornish wooden bellyboards too that you’re welcome to take to the beach. There’s no skill required – just wait for a wave and jump on. It’s great fun!
For the really adventurous there’s wake-boarding and water-skiing available at Rock. Or, if you like being on the water rather than in it, both sailing and powerboating are available with Camel Sailing.
If you prefer to get your kicks on dry land, follow in Poldark’s hoofprints with a hack across Bodmin Moor from nearby St. Breward. Or enjoy a bucket-list gallop along the beach at Perranporth.
And for thrill seekers there’s the UK’s longest and fastest zip wire at the Eden Project near St. Austell.
Walking & Cycling Holidays
There are some fantastic opportunities for walking and cycling in North Cornwall.
The South West Coast Path runs for 630 miles. Passing through hidden coves and picturesque fishing villages, there are some spectacular sections near Tredarrup. Many of our guests walk the path in sections. You can easily reach the whole of the North Coast, from North Devon down to West Cornwall. And the South Coast sections are doable too. Charlestown for instance is less than 30 minutes from your holiday cottage.
In the other direction we have the wide open spaces of Bodmin Moor. Its twin granite peaks of Rough Tor and Brown Willy are just waiting to be conquered. Or there’s the iconic Cheesewring rock formation to explore.
The Camel Trail is popular with both walkers and cyclists and runs for 18 miles from Bodmin to Padstow along the estuary. Flat and largely traffic-free, bikes can be hired at many points along the route. There are some wonderful attractions to visit along the trail.
For mountain bikers, trails of varying difficulty can be found at both Lanhydrock and Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin.
There’s a fabulous website and app called, iwalkcornwall, that we use a lot for discovering new walks. It’s well worth downloading for your holiday. There are over 200 really well-detailed walks of all lengths.
Beach Holidays
We re so lucky to have so many fabulous sandy beaches in North Cornwall. So whether you like to read a book and sunbathe, wild swim, or build sandcastles with the kids, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Polzeath, and its neighbour Baby Bay, is popular with families, surfers and dog-walkers.
Trebarwith Strand is our closest beach. It’s a stunner, backed by dramatic cliffs and with a conveniently situated pub perched above the beach.
Port Gaverne is a great spot for wild swimming. Neighbouring Port Isaac is good for rock pools and sitting, people-watching, with a pint of Cornish ale from the pub next door in hand.
Daymer Bay, tucked just inside the Camel estuary, is sheltered and ideal for toddlers and dog-walkers. Neighbouring Rock is great for waterspouts and is a foodie hotspot.
Tregirls’ large expanse of golden sand is just a short walk from Padstow harbour but is, amazingly, always empty.
Padstow’s 7 Bays for 7 Days are all drop-dead gorgeous and perfect for families. Only 1 of the 7 has dog-restrictions during the summer.
And lastly Widemouth Bay, near Bude, has amazing rock formations formed 300 million years ago. It’s a popular beach with surfers, families and dog-walkers (restrictions apply on one half of the beach during high season).
And there’s more!
Foodie Holidays
Where do we start! Cream teas, pasties, clotted cream ice-cream, Michelin starred fine dining and everything in-between. Its no wonder North Cornwall is renowned for being a great destination for food-lovers. Here’s just a snapshot:
Rick Stein offers some fabulous places to eat in and around Padstow. There’s something to suit all budgets, from fish and chips, to pubs, to his famous Seafood Restaurant.
Nathan Outlaw has two amazing bucket-list restaurants, one of them Michelin-starred, in nearby Port Isaac.
Paul Ainsworth has two great restaurants in Padstow. No. 6 is Michelin starred. Rojano’s is a more modestly priced Italian restaurant.. Plus there’s a fabulous gastro pub across the water in Rock.
In our neighbouring village, the St. Tudy Inn features in the Good Food Guide. It offers amazing local seasonal food in welcoming surroundings.
And for good old pub grub and local ales there’s our super-friendly local, the White Hart at St. Teath. It’s just a mile and a half from your cottage and a 25 minute walk.
For a meal with a stunning view we recommend the Port William. It has a huge terrace (and conservatory for inclement weather) overlooking Trebarwith Strand and Gull Rock.
Golfing Holidays
If you like golf with a stunning scenic backdrop then there’s plenty to choose from in North Cornwall, whatever your ability.
The following all welcome visitors:
St. Enodoc, Trevose, The Point at Polzeath, Lanhydrock, St. Mellion, Perranporth, Bowood Park, St. Kew and Newquay.
Fishing Holidays
Sea-fishing trips are available from many locations in North Cornwall.
Try reef and wreck trips, mackerel fishing trips or shark fishing from Padstow.
For coarse fishing by the hour or by the day there’s nearby Ferndale Lakes in Delabole.
Whilst in the area you might also like to have a look at the fascinating National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow.
Sightseeing Holidays
The farm’s holiday cottages are conveniently located for sightseeing in Cornwall. The following just scratch the surface.
Padstow with its pretty harbour, estuary walks and sandy beaches.
The breathtakingly beautiful Tintagel Castle.
Picturesque Boscastle, with its pretty harbour and fabulous walking opportunities.
The lovely fishing village of Port Isaac, made famous as the setting for TV’s Doc Martin.
Or visit the Poldark filming locations at Bodmin Moor and Charlestown.
Inland, there’s the iconic Eden Project and the magical Lost Gardens of Heligan.
The popular sailing towns of Fowey and Falmouth are within easy reach on the south coast, as are Looe and Mevagissey.
Or for something a bit different, spend a day at the fascinating china clay museum at Wheal Martyn.
Slightly further afield there’s the iconic St Michaels Mount, the stunning clifftop Minack Theatre and the Telegraph Museum at Porthcurno.
And no trip to Cornwall is complete without a visit to St. Ives, well known for its lovely harbour, beach, art galleries and shops. Whilst there be sure to visit the newly revamped Tate Gallery on the seafront and the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Garden Lovers' Holidays
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Cornwall has some fantastic gardens to visit.
There’s nearby Lanhydrock House and Garden, Pencarrow House and Garden, Pinsla Garden and Nursery, the Eden Project and Pinetum Gardens.
Slightly further afield but still within easy reach are the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Or put that National Trust membership to work and visit Cotehele House and Gardens, Antony House and Gardens and Trelissick .
We have some lovely nurseries in the area too, Bodmin and the Duchy of Cornwall being our favourites.
Wildlife Watching Holidays
There’s an abundance of wildlife to be seen in Cornwall. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and dolphins whilst walking near the coast and for wild ponies on Bodmin Moor.
You can take an exciting RIB ride from Padstow to spot basking sharks, dolphins and puffins.
Spend an afternoon up on the cliffs with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, recording and monitoring sealife for their Seaquest Project.
Or visit the Seal Sanctuary at Gweek or the Monkey Sanctuary at Looe.
The Screech Owl Sanctuary and the Cornish Birds of Prey Centre at St. Columb have flying displays.
Or there’s the Tamar Valley Donkey Park, Newquay Zoo and the aquariums at Newquay and Plymouth to see.
And, finally, for rainy days...
There are some great places to visit when the weather doesn’t play ball.
Visit the fascinating National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow or the Shipwreck Museum at Charlestown.
There are the aquariums at Newquay and Plymouth.
The not-to-be-missed Eden Project is a great option out of the main holiday season.
Or take a trip on the Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway.
The fascinating underground Carnglaze Caverns are the other side of the moor.
Or enjoy a leisurely boat trip from Padstow on the Jubilee Queen, enjoying a pint of Doom Bar as you cross the doom bar!
Take a trip through the past with a tour of the National Trust’s Lanhydrock House near Bodmin.
Or visit spooky Bodmin Jail.
Wherever you find yourselves, you can always dodge any showers by ducking into a cosy cafe for a cream tea. You’re never far from one in North Cornwall.
