Cornwall - what to see/do?
Discussion
Having a little holiday this week down in Cornwall (bigger/proper holiday holiday later this year) so wondering if anyone has any recommendations.
Accommodation is already sorted.
Any particular sights not to miss or places to visit?
Any particular things to do?
Any particular restaurants worth eating at?
Got a shortlist of some items based on the Rough Guide to Britain, but as ever local knowledge can't be beaten.
Many thanks
Accommodation is already sorted.
Any particular sights not to miss or places to visit?
Any particular things to do?
Any particular restaurants worth eating at?
Got a shortlist of some items based on the Rough Guide to Britain, but as ever local knowledge can't be beaten.
Many thanks

I have relations in Falmouth and visit them regularly, nearly always out of season.
A great place for lunch is The Pandora Inn at Restronguet. It's right at the water's edge by the River Fal between Falmouth and Truro. The road to it is very narrow and parking is very restricted but if you get there early you should be OK.
St. Ives is well know to be good too but it does get bombed out with tourists. Parking is not available in the town centre at almost any time of the year so you must use one of the identified car parkes and walk in. A good one is the station car park.
Take the road west from St. Ives that's near to the coast right round to Penzance for an nice hour or so's drive with some interesting places to stop.
Sennen Cove is worth a visit if you're nearby.
You'll find loads of great places but depending on what time of year you go they will be busy!
R.
A great place for lunch is The Pandora Inn at Restronguet. It's right at the water's edge by the River Fal between Falmouth and Truro. The road to it is very narrow and parking is very restricted but if you get there early you should be OK.
St. Ives is well know to be good too but it does get bombed out with tourists. Parking is not available in the town centre at almost any time of the year so you must use one of the identified car parkes and walk in. A good one is the station car park.
Take the road west from St. Ives that's near to the coast right round to Penzance for an nice hour or so's drive with some interesting places to stop.
Sennen Cove is worth a visit if you're nearby.
You'll find loads of great places but depending on what time of year you go they will be busy!
R.
As you will be in Newquay there are several coastal walks worth doing. I would suggest that one of the best is to park your car at Parkhead in the NT car park and walk along the coast to Bedruthan Steps taking in a light lunch at the NT cafe at Carnewas (Bedruthan Steps) which is cheap and exceedingly bloody good, and then walk back to Parkhead. If you get the time and tide right, you can walk along the beach - down the steps and up the cliff or vice-versa - and you can do it in about 3 1/2 hours including lunch.
Another brilliant walk is to park at New Polzeath (on the beach if you like) and walk out to the Rumps - the next big headland - and on towards Port Isaac, but you can turn inland at Pentireglaze Farm and make it a circular walk.
There is of course the Camel Trail or, another nice walk, is to park in the public car park before Padstow (just by the Trail - see an OS map), walk into Padstow, get the ferry to Rock and walk along the beach round to Daymer Bay and on to the little church where John Betjeman is buried.
Bugger the Eden Project - it is too big, too busy and pretty dull (not a patch on Canal Gardens in Leeds). The Lost Gardens are good, as is Trebah.
Meals - the Orchard in Wadebridge punches above its weight. Ricks fish and chips (no relation and again) in Wadebridge is good for fish and chips. The St Enodoc Hotel in Rock is great for lunch at this time of the year - fabulous views over the Camel estuary.
Another brilliant walk is to park at New Polzeath (on the beach if you like) and walk out to the Rumps - the next big headland - and on towards Port Isaac, but you can turn inland at Pentireglaze Farm and make it a circular walk.
There is of course the Camel Trail or, another nice walk, is to park in the public car park before Padstow (just by the Trail - see an OS map), walk into Padstow, get the ferry to Rock and walk along the beach round to Daymer Bay and on to the little church where John Betjeman is buried.
Bugger the Eden Project - it is too big, too busy and pretty dull (not a patch on Canal Gardens in Leeds). The Lost Gardens are good, as is Trebah.
Meals - the Orchard in Wadebridge punches above its weight. Ricks fish and chips (no relation and again) in Wadebridge is good for fish and chips. The St Enodoc Hotel in Rock is great for lunch at this time of the year - fabulous views over the Camel estuary.
rlw said:
Another brilliant walk is to park at New Polzeath (on the beach if you like) and walk out to the Rumps - the next big headland - and on towards Port Isaac, but you can turn inland at Pentireglaze Farm and make it a circular walk.
Good call, a lovely walk for an afternoon. You can buy a paper map for a quid or so at the local touristy shops.Eden was worth a visit but don't expect a whole day out of it.
rlw said:
Another brilliant walk is to park at New Polzeath (on the beach if you like) and walk out to the Rumps - the next big headland - and on towards Port Isaac, but you can turn inland at Pentireglaze Farm and make it a circular walk.
We've got a few days near there in couple of weeks..Not walked from Polzeath back towards Port Isaac before, but will be sure to give it a go.
We've done Polzeath around Daymer Bay, all the way to Rock for a couple of pints of Doombar and then walked back through the dunes and around the edge of the golf course at St Enodoc - that's a lovely walk.
Tintagel is worth a visit, and nearby Boscastle is also worthy of a quick stop. Port Isaac is interesting (if you follow Doc Martin) but can get very busy, especially during half term.
SS2. said:
rlw said:
Another brilliant walk is to park at New Polzeath (on the beach if you like) and walk out to the Rumps - the next big headland - and on towards Port Isaac, but you can turn inland at Pentireglaze Farm and make it a circular walk.
We've got a few days near there in couple of weeks..Not walked from Polzeath back towards Port Isaac before, but will be sure to give it a go.
We've done Polzeath around Daymer Bay, all the way to Rock for a couple of pints of Doombar and then walked back through the dunes and around the edge of the golf course at St Enodoc - that's a lovely walk.
Tintagel is worth a visit, and nearby Boscastle is also worthy of a quick stop. Port Isaac is interesting (if you follow Doc Martin) but can get very busy, especially during half term.
Having been last year I would recommend the following:
- St Austell Brewery Tour (stock up on HSD)
- Padstow (get some fish and chips from Rick Stein's fish bar)
- Healeys cyder farm (home of the Cornish Rattler)
- Fowey (loved this place, very steep mind)
- Polkerris (lovely bay and pub)
- St Ives (get the train in from Carbis Bay rail station)
- St Kew Inn at St Kew (fantastic pub)
- Port Isaac where Doc Martin was filmed (great pub on the slipway)
Have a great time, I know I did ;-)
- St Austell Brewery Tour (stock up on HSD)
- Padstow (get some fish and chips from Rick Stein's fish bar)
- Healeys cyder farm (home of the Cornish Rattler)
- Fowey (loved this place, very steep mind)
- Polkerris (lovely bay and pub)
- St Ives (get the train in from Carbis Bay rail station)
- St Kew Inn at St Kew (fantastic pub)
- Port Isaac where Doc Martin was filmed (great pub on the slipway)
Have a great time, I know I did ;-)
Flounders fish and chips in Newquay centre is rather good.
If you can, make time to go to either Pentire Head or Fistral Beach and watch the sunset - well worth it. If you want coastal walks, Godrevy is good - and you might see the seals basking.
As for drinking, St Austell Brewery is good, Sharps is ok, if a little bland, but Skinners (Betty Stogs and many others) is head-and-shoulders above them for quality and taste.
Falmouth is good, the national maritime museum is worth a visit.
If you can, make time to go to either Pentire Head or Fistral Beach and watch the sunset - well worth it. If you want coastal walks, Godrevy is good - and you might see the seals basking.
As for drinking, St Austell Brewery is good, Sharps is ok, if a little bland, but Skinners (Betty Stogs and many others) is head-and-shoulders above them for quality and taste.
Falmouth is good, the national maritime museum is worth a visit.
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