iKnow Cornwall
All North Cornwall Accommodation
Rick Stein Restaurants Padstow
Take a Boat Trip around Padstow Bay
Tintagel Castle Remains North Cornwall Coast
Bude Surfing on the North Cornwall Coast
John Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge
Museum of Witchcraft, Boscastle North Cornwall
Padstow Harbour, Padstow North CornwallBude Tintagel King Arthur John Betjemen North Cornwall Coast
The sky widens to Cornwall. A sense of sea Hangs in the lichenous branches and still there's light. "The tide is high and a sleepy Atlantic sends Exploring ripple on ripple down Polzeath shore, And the gathering dark is full of the thought of friends I shall see no more". (Old Friends, John Betjeman)
From Bude, moving down the coast to Padstow, Wadebridge and the estuary, and nearby surfing hotspots Constantine and Harlyn Bay, you're in outdoor holiday leisure heaven, North Cornwall style. Something for everyone in this area of North Cornwall, with a superb choice of particularly seafood restaurants in chic Padstow (home of the Rick Stein empire), as well as a choice of contemporary art and chic specialist shops. Hook into the family friendly Camel Trail (for walkers and cyclists) taking you through glorious Cornwall estuary country and ancient woodland, spot the celebs in 'wanna be seen' Rock with it's many yacht clubs, and sailing and windsurfing opportunities. Take the kids on a great day out to Crealy Adventure Park near Wadebridge, or enjoy one of the many golf courses and clubs in the region.
Bude
Bude is prime North Cornwall Coast surfing territory, less rugged than further down the more distinctive Cornwall coast, and with a Devon cream tea flavour. We're talking some of the cleanest beaches in the UK here in Bude, with the superb family beach plus natural made seawater pool when the tides out at Summerleaze and excellent surfing at Crooklets Beach, Bude is perfect for family holidays and weekend breaks with a choice of B&Bs and other Bude Accommodation. Bude golf is also excellent, with Bude and North Cornwall Golf Club, plus pitch and putt at Summerleaze Leisure.
Bude has come a long way from it's industrial heritage, and now offers a host of outdoor leisure activities including surfing, golf, walking along the spectacular South West Coast Parth, cycling, windsurfing and a renowned annual jazz festival. Beaches maketh the resort, and Bude has natural assets with a choice of beaches from top surfing beaches to family favourites.
Explore the history of Bude's industrial past and it's canal (still offering great canal towpath walking) at the Bude & Stratton Museum. Bude was a key trading port in the early 1800s and it's all explore here in this museum. Less commercial than Newquay, Bude offers excellent beach holiday facilities at a slower pace, with lots of outdoor activities to choose from.
Bude Tourist Information Centre, The Crescent, Bude Cornwall. Tel: 01288 354240. From Nov-Mar 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm Saturdays. From April-October 9.30am-5pm Mon-Saturdays, and 10am-4pm on Sundays.
Rick Stein & Padstow
Padstow is probably one of the most popular, and growing, holiday location on the North Cornwall Coast. You can see why, it has many flavours! From Rick Stein's seafood restaurant base, to the benefits of being both at the heart of the Camel Estuary and the beginning of the new Camel Trail, and being close to many superb beaches and surfing beaches. Crammed with a choice of accommodation, an attractive harbour and the remains of much medieval architecture Padstow is a most attractive North Cornwall holiday base.
Rick Stein, now internationally renowned chef, and his passion for seafood are legendary and Padstow on the North Cornwall Coast is not exactly a surprise location if you've a passion for seafood. Padstow offers a daily superb choice of fresh seafood, with still a local thriving fishing industry and scene.
Padstow Tourist Information Centre, Red Brick Building, North Quay, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8AF. Tel 01841 533449.
Tintagel & Tintagel Castle
The three villages of Tintagel, Boscastle and Crackington Haven (the latter is known for it's great surfing beach) are conveniently close together, but all quite distinctive in their flavour. Tintagel of the three has a more 'holiday' feel, with perhaps a bit of a kitsch edge with it's focus on the King Arthur legend and the favourite for kids, the King Arthur's Great Halls medieval attraction. Not for the diehard historians perhaps, but holiday makers love the Tintagel area!
Tintagel proudly proclaims it is the birthplace of King Arthur, and Tintagel pays due homage, although some say it's gone King Arthur crazy. King Arthur's Great Halls attraction is well worth a visit for a family outing especially, with it's laser light show and storytelling approach to the King Arthur Legend, emphasis on the legend! The highlight of Tintagel however has to be it's idyllic castle, situated on a small island just off shore. Unmissable is Tintagel Castle, as is this stretch of wild North Cornwall coastline. Hook into the South West Coast Path and explore the many unspoilt beaches and steep cliffs - magic!
Tintagel Visitors Centre, Bossiney Road Car Park, Tintagel.Cornwall, PL34 0AJ. Tel: 01840 779084.
Wadebridge & John Betjeman
Wadebridge on Cornwall's North Coast again blends the holiday benefits of superb surfing and family beaches at nearby Polzeath, Rock and Port Isaac with a traditional rural Cornwall flavour. Annual festivals including Wadebridge's Augusts Bank Holiday Folk Festival, and the renowned Royal Cornwall Show pull in the crowds. You've a mix of entertainment in and around Wadebridge, with excellent golf at St Kew Golf Club near Wadebridge and St Enodoc Golf Course.
Plenty of Golf in nearby Padstow too! For families there's lots of Cornwall holiday activities on the menu, including hooking into the 17 mile Camel Trail, open to cyclists and walkers, or enjoying surfing, sailing and swimming on nearby beaches. Surfing at Polzeath is particularly good, with ample surfing lessons and surfing gear outlets available. Crealy Adventure Park is here in Wadebridge too, and a superb family attraction it is too.
John Betjeman Centenary Celebrations are afoot (1906-2006), with a number of celebratory events running through the country, some around Polzeath and Trebertherick where Betjeman first came upon this area as a child on holiday, and where he spent his last years. He's buried in St Enodoc near his home in Trebertherick. Find out more about this gentle poet in the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge which is crammed with Betjeman artefacts.
Wadebridge Tourist Information Centre, Eddystone Road, Wadebridge. Tel: 01280 813725. Open 9.30am to 5pm, Mondays to Saturdays.
Boscastle
Awareness of Boscastle on the North Coast of Cornwall reached a peak internationally in 2004 when serious floods brought havoc in the area. This is well behind Boscastle now and it recover quickly to welcome the many visitors again to what can only be described as one of the most stunning stretches of coast with an ancient harbour in Cornwall. The medieval harbour at Boscastle is a must see in the area, as indeed is the village of Boscastle itself hidden away in a steep sided valley. Ancient woods are waiting to be explored around Boscastle - perfect for wildlife lovers and bird watchers! Many Boscastle cottages date back to the 15th century, and there's a Norman church and examples of medieval strip farming on the cliff tops!
Boscastle has much to offer, particularly for lovers of rugged coastal walking. The view of Devil's Bellows blowhole from Boscastle harbour is memorable indeed. Cornwall's pagan history is explored here with the Museum of Witchcraft, and Boscastle is often mentioned in conjunction with Thomas Hardy who whooed another! woman here - Emma Gifford, and the meeting subsequently influenced his novel 'A Pair of Blue Eyes'. He seems to have made a habit of this!
Boscastle Visitors Centre, Cobweb Car Park. Tel: 01840 250010.Open everyday from 10am to 5pm from 1st March to 31st October. From November to February open 10.30am to 4pm. The original visitors' centre was destroyed in the flood, but a portacabin furnishing a host of information on the area is here temporarily whilst they rebuild the old centre.
Camelford & the Camel Trail
Camelford is a picture postcard small market town perfectly placed in the centre of a network of woodland trails and ideally close to both the North Cornwall coast and Bodmin! It's only about 6 miles from the coast. It's an ideal location for branching out and walking in Bodmin Moor, and very much serves as a gateway to the North Western area of Bodmin.
If your looking then for easy access to the beach, plus superb walking and Bodmin Moor just on your doorstep, then Camelford is the perfect spot. Amenities are excellent here too, with a choice of shops, excellent restaurants and pubs, a local leisure centre and a real community feel. There's plenty going on within and around Camelford, including superb walking direct into the moors from the town, nearby spectacular Rough Tor and indeed Cornwall's highest point at Brown Willy in Bodmin. Crowdy Reservoir near Camelford also offers excellent trout fishing.
The Camel Trail is actually a disused railway track, and runs along the Camel Estuary, all the way from Padstow to Wadebridge, and on pass Camelford into Bodmin Moor. Walk, cycle or horse ride along the Camel Trail, all are welcome. Check the Camel Trail Web links to the right for maps and details. It's a well marked trail, popular with families visiting the area in summer! Lots of outlets to hire bikes in the area too!
Camelford Tourist Information Centre, The Clease, Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9PL. Tel: 01840 212954.
Padstow Bay & Surfing Beaches
The Padstow Bay area and just beyond Trevose Head on Harlyn and Constantine Bay offers some of the best choice of Cornwall surfing beaches! Constantine Bay is particularly popular with experienced surfers as it's rip roaring guaranteed on this surfing beach. A choice of surf schools, surf gear shops and great pubs, restaurants, campsites and a youth hostel are all in the area. Nearby Polzeath beach also offers superb surfing and beach facilities, and adjacent resort Rock is all things yachts, sailing, windsurfing and celeb whoop-di-whoop!
Around Padstow Bay is some of the best Cornwall surfing beaches, and at the top of the surfing tree sits particularly Constantine Bay. For a more sheltered beach, with a gentler surf choose Harlyn Bay, situated on the eastern side of Trevose Head. It's where the surfers head if conditions are too rough at Constantine.
Other great surfing beaches in the area include Polzeath, conveniently placed near up and coming Rock. For windsurfing, sailing, the admiring of yachts and so forth head to Rock.
North Cornwall Golf
A choice of North Cornwall golf courses are to be found in this region. One of the best, with championship course and dramatic views of the Atlantic coast is Trevose Golf and Country Club. It's almost a holiday complex in itself, with not just a choice of golf courses including a championship course, but an outdoor heated swimming pool, beauty salon, clubhouse, restaurant and games room all on-site! Gets windy up here!! Trevose Golf & Country Club, Constantine Bay Padstow North Cornwall PL28 8JB. Tel: 01841 520208.
More North Cornwall golf courses include Bude & North Cornwall, Golf Club, 6 Burn View, Bude, North Cornwall. EX23 8DA. Tel: 01288 352006.
Bowood Park Golf Club, Bowood Park, Lanteglos, Cornwall. PL32 9RT. Tel: 01840 213017. St Enodoc Golf Course, Rock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6LD. Tel: 01208 863216. Roserrow Golf Club, Roserrow, St Minver, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6QT. Tel: 01208 863000. (18 holes/PAR 72).
St Kew Highway, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL30 3EF. Tel: 01208 841818. Trevose Golf Club, Constantine Bay Padstow North Cornwall PL28 8JB. Tel: 01841 520208. And also, Roserrow Golf Club, Roserrow, St Minver, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6QT. Tel: 01208 863000. (18 Holes, PAR 72).
