Ollie And Katie's Guidebook to Cornwall
Beaches!
A list of our favourite beaches
This is our nearest and most easily accessible surf beach. It has a big car park on the beach and lots of restaurants and shops. It's a great place to hang out as there is masses of room for everyone, great surf and also good walks around the headland. There is a dog ban on Polzeath Beach from 15th May to 30th September between 10am and 6pm. If you want surf lesson's this is the place to do it. We recommend George's surf school. A visit to this part of Cornwall isn't complete without a surf (or paddle) at Polzeath.
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Polzeath Beach
South West Coast PathThis is our nearest and most easily accessible surf beach. It has a big car park on the beach and lots of restaurants and shops. It's a great place to hang out as there is masses of room for everyone, great surf and also good walks around the headland. There is a dog ban on Polzeath Beach from 15th May to 30th September between 10am and 6pm. If you want surf lesson's this is the place to do it. We recommend George's surf school. A visit to this part of Cornwall isn't complete without a surf (or paddle) at Polzeath.
One of the most dramatic beaches. If you are exploring the coast further south then this is a great beach to visit. To get to it you have to follow some very steep steps down the cliffs but on a sunny day it is one of the most beautiful beaches. There is also a great little National Trust cafe at the top near the car park. Best visited at low tide.
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Bedruthan Steps
One of the most dramatic beaches. If you are exploring the coast further south then this is a great beach to visit. To get to it you have to follow some very steep steps down the cliffs but on a sunny day it is one of the most beautiful beaches. There is also a great little National Trust cafe at the top near the car park. Best visited at low tide.
Harlyn Bay is a good family beach. There is easy parking, food and drinks available and surf schools. The bay is a bit more protected than some of the other beaches so generally has smaller waves.
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Harlyn Bay Beach
Harlyn Bay is a good family beach. There is easy parking, food and drinks available and surf schools. The bay is a bit more protected than some of the other beaches so generally has smaller waves.
A big and exposed surf beach. There is a small car park by the beach but a much bigger one half way down the hill after the surf shop. Great walking and dog friendly. There is a cafe by the beach. Great on a sunny day with rock pools and lots of space. Less good on windy/rainy days.
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Constantine Bay
A big and exposed surf beach. There is a small car park by the beach but a much bigger one half way down the hill after the surf shop. Great walking and dog friendly. There is a cafe by the beach. Great on a sunny day with rock pools and lots of space. Less good on windy/rainy days.
Trevone is a pretty and very family friendly beach. It has a cafe and surf rental shop. There is a nice easy walk round the headland to Harlyn. Make sure you visit the Blow Hole on the hill to the north of the beach.
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Trevone
Trevone is a pretty and very family friendly beach. It has a cafe and surf rental shop. There is a nice easy walk round the headland to Harlyn. Make sure you visit the Blow Hole on the hill to the north of the beach.
Trebarwith Strand (different to Trebarwith Village) is a great beach and one of the closest to Port Isaac. It also has the Port William Pub which has a large beer garden looking out to sea. The beach disappears at high tide, so try and time your trip with low tide if you can. There is also a little cafe and a shop to rent wetsuits and surf boards. At low tide you can pick delicious mussels from the rocks towards the far end of the beach. Good surfing! Trebarwith is a dog friendly beach all year round. There is two car parks, bring coins.
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Trebarwith
Trebarwith Strand (different to Trebarwith Village) is a great beach and one of the closest to Port Isaac. It also has the Port William Pub which has a large beer garden looking out to sea. The beach disappears at high tide, so try and time your trip with low tide if you can. There is also a little cafe and a shop to rent wetsuits and surf boards. At low tide you can pick delicious mussels from the rocks towards the far end of the beach. Good surfing! Trebarwith is a dog friendly beach all year round. There is two car parks, bring coins.
Food scene
A moments walk from Geranium Cottage. The Fish Kitchen serves a tasting menu of local seafood, cooked by one of Cornwall's best chefs. Book in advance!
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Outlaw's Fish Kitchen
1 Middle St A moments walk from Geranium Cottage. The Fish Kitchen serves a tasting menu of local seafood, cooked by one of Cornwall's best chefs. Book in advance!
Our favourite restaurant. Prawn on the Lawn started as a small restaurant in a fishmongers. It only had about 6 tables. When Covid struck they were too small to allow guests to continue to come so they relocated to a marquee on a farm just outside Padstow and its been a huge success! The food is delicious. Sharing plates of seafood often with an asian twist. Book in advance but if you can't get a table give them a ring the day before as they might have had a cancellation. If you plan a visit to Padstow tag Prawn on the Farm on if you can.
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Prawn on the Lawn
11 Duke StOur favourite restaurant. Prawn on the Lawn started as a small restaurant in a fishmongers. It only had about 6 tables. When Covid struck they were too small to allow guests to continue to come so they relocated to a marquee on a farm just outside Padstow and its been a huge success! The food is delicious. Sharing plates of seafood often with an asian twist. Book in advance but if you can't get a table give them a ring the day before as they might have had a cancellation. If you plan a visit to Padstow tag Prawn on the Farm on if you can.
This is a laid back cafe serving delicious simple breakfasts and lunches. There is also a gallery and shop. Closed in the winter
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The Mowhay Cafe
This is a laid back cafe serving delicious simple breakfasts and lunches. There is also a gallery and shop. Closed in the winter
If you walk up the hill, through the village and down into the next cove you will get to Port Gaverne and this excellent pub. It serves great food in a cosy old pub. It takes about 20 minutes to walk there and if you are lucky you can catch the free tuk tuk back up the hill to Port Isaac.
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Port Gaverne Hotel 5 Star
Port GaverneIf you walk up the hill, through the village and down into the next cove you will get to Port Gaverne and this excellent pub. It serves great food in a cosy old pub. It takes about 20 minutes to walk there and if you are lucky you can catch the free tuk tuk back up the hill to Port Isaac.
This is a hidden gem. For the best cream teas, served out of the window of the owners front room, this is the place to be. Stunning views and great to incorporate in a walk around Stepper Point.
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Rest A While Tea Garden
7 Coastguard HousesThis is a hidden gem. For the best cream teas, served out of the window of the owners front room, this is the place to be. Stunning views and great to incorporate in a walk around Stepper Point.
Part of The Pig Hotel group. This Pig is a short distance from Harlyn beach and has a fun restaurant called the Lobster Shack serving Lobster and chips. Best to book.
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The Pig at Harlyn Bay
Part of The Pig Hotel group. This Pig is a short distance from Harlyn beach and has a fun restaurant called the Lobster Shack serving Lobster and chips. Best to book.
A bit further north is the village of Boscastle it is new and delicious. Small plates of fresh seafood
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The Rocket Store
A bit further north is the village of Boscastle it is new and delicious. Small plates of fresh seafood
A busy pub on water looking out over the Helford River. It serves good food and has tables outside for people watching. If you want to explore the creeks of the Helford river then this is a good place to rent a boat.
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Ferry Boat Inn
A busy pub on water looking out over the Helford River. It serves good food and has tables outside for people watching. If you want to explore the creeks of the Helford river then this is a good place to rent a boat.
A laid back beach front restaurant serving delicious food and wine. Always a winner and heaven on a sunny day.
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Porthminster Beach Cafe
A laid back beach front restaurant serving delicious food and wine. Always a winner and heaven on a sunny day.
One of the closest pubs to Port Isaac. This historic Inn is a great cosy choice in Winter and in the summer its got a great beer garden. It serves a delicious and interesting menu all year round.
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St Kew Inn
One of the closest pubs to Port Isaac. This historic Inn is a great cosy choice in Winter and in the summer its got a great beer garden. It serves a delicious and interesting menu all year round.
An exciting addition to Port Isaac and 1 min from the cottage. Fee's sells really good bakery items, homemade frozen ready meals, teas, coffee, wines and beer. The cinnamon buns are delicious. Open from 9am
Fee's
4 Fore StreetAn exciting addition to Port Isaac and 1 min from the cottage. Fee's sells really good bakery items, homemade frozen ready meals, teas, coffee, wines and beer. The cinnamon buns are delicious. Open from 9am
Walks
If you fancy doing a big walk and experiencing the dramatic Cornish coastline then this is a good one. It takes about 4 hours and is a circular walk leaving from Geranium Cottage. This is a strenuous walk including some very steep climbs but it's well worth it if you enjoy walking. You leave Port Isaac up Roscarrock Hill passed Doc Martins House. You then follow the South West Coast Path all the way to Port Quinn. This takes around 3 hours including stops for snacks and to take pictures. Once you arrive in Port Quinn you can follow the inland footpath cross country back to Port Isaac. It takes about an hour to get back. 4 hours in total. There is nowhere to buy food or drinks, so take your own. You''ll be needing a pasty by the end!
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Port Isaac
If you fancy doing a big walk and experiencing the dramatic Cornish coastline then this is a good one. It takes about 4 hours and is a circular walk leaving from Geranium Cottage. This is a strenuous walk including some very steep climbs but it's well worth it if you enjoy walking. You leave Port Isaac up Roscarrock Hill passed Doc Martins House. You then follow the South West Coast Path all the way to Port Quinn. This takes around 3 hours including stops for snacks and to take pictures. Once you arrive in Port Quinn you can follow the inland footpath cross country back to Port Isaac. It takes about an hour to get back. 4 hours in total. There is nowhere to buy food or drinks, so take your own. You''ll be needing a pasty by the end!
Daymer Bay is a huge beach that runs along the Camel Estuary. It is a great place for sunbathing or long beach walks. It is not a surf beach. If you park at Daymer bay car park you can walk across the beach and up Brea Hill. This is the big hill you will see from the beach. It is quicker to walk up than it looks and on a good day will give you one of the most spectacular views in Cornwall. Well worth it!
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Daymer Bay
Daymer Bay is a huge beach that runs along the Camel Estuary. It is a great place for sunbathing or long beach walks. It is not a surf beach. If you park at Daymer bay car park you can walk across the beach and up Brea Hill. This is the big hill you will see from the beach. It is quicker to walk up than it looks and on a good day will give you one of the most spectacular views in Cornwall. Well worth it!
St Ives to the Gurnards Head Pub. This is a beautiful coastal walk following the South West Coast Path. There are spectacular cliffs, beautiful bays and white sand. It is around 8.5 miles and will take 4-5 hours. The Gurnards Head a brilliant pub serving delicious food. Make sure you prebook if you want to eat. A taxi will be able to come and get you to take you back to St Ives.
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St Ives
St Ives to the Gurnards Head Pub. This is a beautiful coastal walk following the South West Coast Path. There are spectacular cliffs, beautiful bays and white sand. It is around 8.5 miles and will take 4-5 hours. The Gurnards Head a brilliant pub serving delicious food. Make sure you prebook if you want to eat. A taxi will be able to come and get you to take you back to St Ives.
This is a nice easy but scenic walk.
If you drive to Rock Quarry Car Park (PL27 6LD), then once you have parked walk to the back of the car park you will see the public toilets. Take the steps to the left if the building and it will take you into the dunes running along the edge of the estuary. From here you can walk out onto the sand bar or do a circular loop through the dunes, up onto Brea Hill and then back along the beach. It is all dog friendly all your round and a great place for kids and dogs to run around.
You can pay for parking using the Ringo App. Afterwards, there are several cafes and pubs in Rock to have a coffee or a pint.
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Rock
This is a nice easy but scenic walk.
If you drive to Rock Quarry Car Park (PL27 6LD), then once you have parked walk to the back of the car park you will see the public toilets. Take the steps to the left if the building and it will take you into the dunes running along the edge of the estuary. From here you can walk out onto the sand bar or do a circular loop through the dunes, up onto Brea Hill and then back along the beach. It is all dog friendly all your round and a great place for kids and dogs to run around.
You can pay for parking using the Ringo App. Afterwards, there are several cafes and pubs in Rock to have a coffee or a pint.
This is circular walk from Polzeath. The first section is steep walking along the coast path. It has great views.
You can park in any of the Polzeath car parks but if you follow signs to New Polzeath you can park either in the car park or looking out to sea and be right next to the start of the walk. From here follow the footpath north up the headland. Its about a 2 hour walk to walk around the whole of Pentire Point, although there are various different footpaths cutting back to Polzeath should you want to do a shorter one. You can also walk back via Pentireglaze National Trust Cafe.
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The Rumps
This is circular walk from Polzeath. The first section is steep walking along the coast path. It has great views.
You can park in any of the Polzeath car parks but if you follow signs to New Polzeath you can park either in the car park or looking out to sea and be right next to the start of the walk. From here follow the footpath north up the headland. Its about a 2 hour walk to walk around the whole of Pentire Point, although there are various different footpaths cutting back to Polzeath should you want to do a shorter one. You can also walk back via Pentireglaze National Trust Cafe.
Sight Seeing
No trip to Port Isaac is complete without a visit to Padstow. Padstow has masses to offer and is always a fun day out. There are lots of delicious places to eat (including all of Rick Steins restaurants) plus good pubs or just fish and chips on the Harbour. From here you can take speed boat rides, go deep sea fishing, visit the Lobster hatchery or pick up bikes and cycle the camel trail. It is always busy during the summer so best to park in the top car park and walk down. If you are unsure which Rick Stein restaurant to visit we would recommend The Seafood Restaurant for a real treat and top end cooking and the Bistro if you want something a little less expensive and more relaxed but still delicious.
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Padstow
No trip to Port Isaac is complete without a visit to Padstow. Padstow has masses to offer and is always a fun day out. There are lots of delicious places to eat (including all of Rick Steins restaurants) plus good pubs or just fish and chips on the Harbour. From here you can take speed boat rides, go deep sea fishing, visit the Lobster hatchery or pick up bikes and cycle the camel trail. It is always busy during the summer so best to park in the top car park and walk down. If you are unsure which Rick Stein restaurant to visit we would recommend The Seafood Restaurant for a real treat and top end cooking and the Bistro if you want something a little less expensive and more relaxed but still delicious.
If you want to visit Padstow but don't fancy driving round the estuary or cycling the Camel Trail from Wadebridge then you can drive to Rock and park and then get the ferry over to Padstow. The ferry runs all day and you don't need to book. As the tide goes out the location of the ferry moves further down the beach, so there is sometimes a few minutes walk along the beach to get to it. Just make sure you don't miss the last ferry in the evening.
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Rock FERRY
Ferry SlipIf you want to visit Padstow but don't fancy driving round the estuary or cycling the Camel Trail from Wadebridge then you can drive to Rock and park and then get the ferry over to Padstow. The ferry runs all day and you don't need to book. As the tide goes out the location of the ferry moves further down the beach, so there is sometimes a few minutes walk along the beach to get to it. Just make sure you don't miss the last ferry in the evening.
This is another great day out. The Camel Trail used to be a train line running from Wadebridge to Padstow. The disused train line has now been turned into a cycle path and tourist attraction. You can rent bikes in Wadebridge and cycle along the very scenic edge of the estuary all the way to Padstow. Enjoy your day in Padstow and then cycle all the way back again. The path is very flat, so easy for all ages to cycle. The rental places in Wadebridge have all sorts of bikes including electric bikes, kids bikes, trikes, child seats and dog trailers. There are no cars on any of the route. It is about 6 miles or half an hour from Wadebridge to Padstow but you might like to take your time and stop off along the way. You can prebook bikes and there is plenty of parking in Wadebridge. You can lock up your bikes in Padstow at a designated bike park.
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Camel Trail (Cycle Way)
This is another great day out. The Camel Trail used to be a train line running from Wadebridge to Padstow. The disused train line has now been turned into a cycle path and tourist attraction. You can rent bikes in Wadebridge and cycle along the very scenic edge of the estuary all the way to Padstow. Enjoy your day in Padstow and then cycle all the way back again. The path is very flat, so easy for all ages to cycle. The rental places in Wadebridge have all sorts of bikes including electric bikes, kids bikes, trikes, child seats and dog trailers. There are no cars on any of the route. It is about 6 miles or half an hour from Wadebridge to Padstow but you might like to take your time and stop off along the way. You can prebook bikes and there is plenty of parking in Wadebridge. You can lock up your bikes in Padstow at a designated bike park.
If you've not been to Cornwall before then a trip to the Eden Project should be on your list. Book in advance. Works well with a trip to the pretty town of Fowey.
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Eden verkefnið
If you've not been to Cornwall before then a trip to the Eden Project should be on your list. Book in advance. Works well with a trip to the pretty town of Fowey.
A spectacular ruined castle accessed by a bridge. The castle is steeped in history with links to King Arthur.
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Tintagel Castle bridge
South West Coast PathA spectacular ruined castle accessed by a bridge. The castle is steeped in history with links to King Arthur.
Shopping
Small collection of shops. Homewares, clothes, great deli and good cafe. Worth popping in if you are driving to Padstow. A great place to buy food and wine.
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Hawksfield Cornwall
A39Small collection of shops. Homewares, clothes, great deli and good cafe. Worth popping in if you are driving to Padstow. A great place to buy food and wine.
Wine! and lots of it. A great place to go if you want to pick up something special to have with your lobster.
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Wadebridge Wines
Eddystone RoadWine! and lots of it. A great place to go if you want to pick up something special to have with your lobster.
Rick Steins fish mongers sells a good selection of local fish plus everything else you will need to go with it.
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Rick Stein's Seafood Bar & Fishmongers
Unit 1 Station RdRick Steins fish mongers sells a good selection of local fish plus everything else you will need to go with it.
This is a great little cafe & deli and wine shop. It serves great cakes but also has a brilliant freezer full of delicious home made ready meals. Its the perfect place to go if you've had a long day surfing and you can't be bothered to cook. They can also make feasts to order if there are lots of you and you like to plan ahead.
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Fee's Food
Rock RoadThis is a great little cafe & deli and wine shop. It serves great cakes but also has a brilliant freezer full of delicious home made ready meals. Its the perfect place to go if you've had a long day surfing and you can't be bothered to cook. They can also make feasts to order if there are lots of you and you like to plan ahead.
This new farm shop is a great place to buy meat. They have a big freezer of local beef as well as a cafe serving very good Cornish pasties. It also has a great view!
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Farm Shop / W C Mably Farming / Sustainable Beef and Lamb production / Conservation Grazing
This new farm shop is a great place to buy meat. They have a big freezer of local beef as well as a cafe serving very good Cornish pasties. It also has a great view!