A pretty, quintessential harbour town, Padstow has it all. Lovely beaches, ice cream shops, cafes and art galleries. Expect somewhere to buy a Cornish pasty at every turn. Imagine a pretty harbour filled with colourful bobbing small fishing boats, surrounded by quaint little buildings housing café’s and gift shops. From Padstow it’s easy to visit many nearby coves, bays and beaches.

Charter a boat for a trip or maybe even for a sea safari to visit the local wildlife, from her you may see dolphins, Seals and many different sea birds. If you’re lucky you might even happen across one of the elusive basking sharks that can sometimes be seen near the coast in the summer. You can even visit ‘Puffin Island’, on of the few places in Cornwall where these birds nest.

A short walk from the harbour takes you to stepper point (the sleeping dragon), where you will find fantastic views across the estuary, Rock and Daymer Bay.

If you’re looking for a place to eat then you won’t be disappointed here. Rick Stein has several restaurants and there are also a couple of options from celebrity chef Paul Ainsworth. The lobster hatchery is an interesting place to visit. Although small it’s good to visit to help support this local conservation charity.

If you’re not staying in Padstow then it’s worth planning an early visit to the town if you want to find somewhere to park. Although the town boasts a huge car park, it’s almost always full very quickly in the summer months (and outside of season) due to the huge popularity of Padstow. Alternatively, if you don’t mind a little walk, you may want to take advantage of the out of town car parks you will see on your way into town.

Rock is located a ferry ride away and for a few pounds, you can get there directly from the Padstow harbourside (the schedule is quite regular throughout the year but can be disrupted by choppy waters). Here you’ll find another eatery by celelbrity chef Paul Ainsworth, The Mariners at Rock.

It's all about the food

Well…. Where to start……

We recommend a visit Rick Stein’s Sea Food restaurant for a fantastic (if a little pricey) meal. This should be top of your list if you love seafood. We recommend the fish and seafood soup! Alternatively, if you’re up for something a little more relaxed, try out Stein’s Fish and Chips. It may not be as up-market but you will still get some fantastically cooked local fish. Maybe eat in or take away and enjoy whilst looking out over the harbour or seafront.