Guidebook for Cornwall
Parks & Nature
Great places to visit to appreciate the beauty of Cornwall that will not cost the earth to visit.
Great surfing and bodyboarding in the waves.. Take the road from the port Isaac side and park in a dedicated field on the left before going down the hill as Tristan car park on far side climbing up the hill is expensive. Don’t waste time taking your car into the beach. The tide comes in quickly here.
124 locals recommend
Polzeath Beach
South West Coast PathGreat surfing and bodyboarding in the waves.. Take the road from the port Isaac side and park in a dedicated field on the left before going down the hill as Tristan car park on far side climbing up the hill is expensive. Don’t waste time taking your car into the beach. The tide comes in quickly here.
Beautiful beach and safe for families with younger children as the waves are not quite as vicious as Polzeath and the beach shelves very gently. Love to walk on in winter all the way from Rock (20-30 minutes)
65 locals recommend
Daymer Bay
Beautiful beach and safe for families with younger children as the waves are not quite as vicious as Polzeath and the beach shelves very gently. Love to walk on in winter all the way from Rock (20-30 minutes)
Trebarwith Strand beach is beautiful but only visible at low tide. Not safe for swimming. Lovely quiet beach with the Port William Arms nearby for a relaxing drink after riding the surf.
73 locals recommend
Trebarwith
Trebarwith Strand beach is beautiful but only visible at low tide. Not safe for swimming. Lovely quiet beach with the Port William Arms nearby for a relaxing drink after riding the surf.
What a stunning beach. Quite a bit of a drive but cheap parking as National Trust and no noise from crowds.. Check tide times and RNLI beach postings on tide and wind. This ranks as one of my favourite beaches due to the 3-4 miles of unblemished sand and surf. Also combined with walks to Wheal Coates mine makes a great day out. You can see this beach in the small pictures in the caravan hallway.
90 locals recommend
Chapel Porth Beach
South West Coast PathWhat a stunning beach. Quite a bit of a drive but cheap parking as National Trust and no noise from crowds.. Check tide times and RNLI beach postings on tide and wind. This ranks as one of my favourite beaches due to the 3-4 miles of unblemished sand and surf. Also combined with walks to Wheal Coates mine makes a great day out. You can see this beach in the small pictures in the caravan hallway.
Fantastic cliff top views over miles of unblemished sand. A trademark of Cornwall and next to Carnewas in Bedruthen is one of my favourite walks. Stunning.
36 locals recommend
Wheal Coates
Fantastic cliff top views over miles of unblemished sand. A trademark of Cornwall and next to Carnewas in Bedruthen is one of my favourite walks. Stunning.
A trip to Cornwall and it’s mining history is not complete without a visit to the various mine ruins here. Combine with lands end and Levant mine.
23 locals recommend
Crowns Engine Houses, Botallack Mine
A trip to Cornwall and it’s mining history is not complete without a visit to the various mine ruins here. Combine with lands end and Levant mine.
A fascinating insight into the history of mining that is easier to access than Levant mine some considerable distance away.
12 locals recommend
East Pool Mine
Agar RoadA fascinating insight into the history of mining that is easier to access than Levant mine some considerable distance away.
A free day out in lovely surroundings. Child and pet friendly. Lots of things to do for the kids, museum/visitor centre and characterful restaurant that serves great coffee that you can redeem your full parking ticket against. A great budget day out when combined with the national trust mine at Pool.
43 locals recommend
Heartlands
Dudnance LaneA free day out in lovely surroundings. Child and pet friendly. Lots of things to do for the kids, museum/visitor centre and characterful restaurant that serves great coffee that you can redeem your full parking ticket against. A great budget day out when combined with the national trust mine at Pool.
Fantastic garden and maze for a relaxing day out. You can walk to the little shingle beach and sit in the sun. Bring your swimming kit and a packed lunch, and chill out. National Trust property so bring you card.
160 locals recommend
Glendurgan Garden
Fantastic garden and maze for a relaxing day out. You can walk to the little shingle beach and sit in the sun. Bring your swimming kit and a packed lunch, and chill out. National Trust property so bring you card.
Great family day out but not as good as Glendurgan National Trust
594 locals recommend
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
B3273Great family day out but not as good as Glendurgan National Trust
Another fantastic beach not far from Newquay but despite being pictured on many postcards and in a large canvas in my caravan it’s not top of my list of beaches.
130 locals recommend
Crantock Beach
Another fantastic beach not far from Newquay but despite being pictured on many postcards and in a large canvas in my caravan it’s not top of my list of beaches.
Food Scene
Places to enjoy food and places to avoid based on service and food quality.
August 2020: not quite as much steak but still fantastic pasties and still the best. I have always found the St Ives shop much better than Tintagel.
August 2017: “Best pasties in Cornwall. Beautiful as a take away to be enjoyed on the nearby beach of Trebarwith Strand watching the waves in the sunshine. Cracking.”
Pengenna Pasties Traditional Pastie Shops
6 Atlantic RdAugust 2020: not quite as much steak but still fantastic pasties and still the best. I have always found the St Ives shop much better than Tintagel.
August 2017: “Best pasties in Cornwall. Beautiful as a take away to be enjoyed on the nearby beach of Trebarwith Strand watching the waves in the sunshine. Cracking.”
Great country pub and lovely Sunday roasts. Reasonable priced food
12 locals recommend
Borough Arms, Bodmin
Great country pub and lovely Sunday roasts. Reasonable priced food
Award winning Fish and Chips cooked in beef dripping. Best I've ever eaten. Take away and restaurant (but should book in advance).. Good stop off point on the way back from St Ives
12 locals recommend
Port & Starboard
Chapel RoadAward winning Fish and Chips cooked in beef dripping. Best I've ever eaten. Take away and restaurant (but should book in advance).. Good stop off point on the way back from St Ives
Stay clear of this. The food is extortionate, poor quality and service abysmal. I have eaten here twice and will NEVER visit it again. One of the worst pub experiences ever.
Callywith Table Table
Launceston RoadStay clear of this. The food is extortionate, poor quality and service abysmal. I have eaten here twice and will NEVER visit it again. One of the worst pub experiences ever.
Apart from the Smugglers Fish and Chips and navigating the chicane if parked cars, and summer festival which is worth a visit there is not a lot here. Tacky Poldark Inn .. could not be farther than True Poldark mine land miles away.
Delabole
Apart from the Smugglers Fish and Chips and navigating the chicane if parked cars, and summer festival which is worth a visit there is not a lot here. Tacky Poldark Inn .. could not be farther than True Poldark mine land miles away.
Drinks & Nightlife
Lots of nice eating and drinking establishments. Rick Steins restaurants and take away.
436 locals recommend
Padstow
Lots of nice eating and drinking establishments. Rick Steins restaurants and take away.
Beautiful views over the windswept beach. Real ales and lovely food. A quiet retreat in Cornwall
79 locals recommend
The Port William
Tintagel HeightsBeautiful views over the windswept beach. Real ales and lovely food. A quiet retreat in Cornwall
Reasonable weatherspoon pub for a family meal and drink in the middle of the day. Outdoor table on the veranda at the front also means you can enjoy the sun whilst eating. Food portions can be variable especially if busy. They were very measly in the ‘help to eat out’ days in July 2020 and the wait was 50 minutes from food order to table so will consider other alternatives
The Towan Blystra
12-16 Cliff RoadReasonable weatherspoon pub for a family meal and drink in the middle of the day. Outdoor table on the veranda at the front also means you can enjoy the sun whilst eating. Food portions can be variable especially if busy. They were very measly in the ‘help to eat out’ days in July 2020 and the wait was 50 minutes from food order to table so will consider other alternatives
Entertainment & Activities
Fantastic surf one of my favourites in Cornwall for surfing and boarding. Worth the trek. Be warned I have been caught in a rip tide here in the past and I would not go surfing if there is no lifeguard on station.
60 locals recommend
Constantine Bay
Fantastic surf one of my favourites in Cornwall for surfing and boarding. Worth the trek. Be warned I have been caught in a rip tide here in the past and I would not go surfing if there is no lifeguard on station.
Great family day out for families with younger kids. My family enjoyed the boating lake and train rides. Great place in good weather.
63 locals recommend
Lappa Valley
Great family day out for families with younger kids. My family enjoyed the boating lake and train rides. Great place in good weather.
Quirky. Great activities for younger children with llamas and a giant water inflatable slip and slide across the road for £10 per hour plus swimwear needed.
31 locals recommend
Trevathan Farm Shop and Restaurant
Quirky. Great activities for younger children with llamas and a giant water inflatable slip and slide across the road for £10 per hour plus swimwear needed.
Essential to book ahead when you arrive. Fantastic activity for children and right next to the strawberry farm for lunch!
16 locals recommend
Giant Slip and Slide Cornwall
Essential to book ahead when you arrive. Fantastic activity for children and right next to the strawberry farm for lunch!
Arts & Culture
A long drive and not for young children who will get easily bored. A great place if you want to find out about mining history and see the only working mine left in Cornwall other than Gevor next door. Combine with a trip to Penzance and lands end
34 locals recommend
National Trust - Levant Mine and Beam Engine
A long drive and not for young children who will get easily bored. A great place if you want to find out about mining history and see the only working mine left in Cornwall other than Gevor next door. Combine with a trip to Penzance and lands end
Great grounds for walking in on a hot summer day or hire a cycle. The gardens and house are beautiful.
35 locals recommend
Lanhydrock
Great grounds for walking in on a hot summer day or hire a cycle. The gardens and house are beautiful.
Great historic location and fantastic views but not a lot of ruins to look at! Worth a visit if you have not been before. A bit of s climb but a new land bridge for 2019.
299 locals recommend
Tintagel Castle bridge
South West Coast PathGreat historic location and fantastic views but not a lot of ruins to look at! Worth a visit if you have not been before. A bit of s climb but a new land bridge for 2019.
Shopping
Quaint and enormous department store. Great for a rainy day. If you can't find what you are looking for here you will not find it anywhere.
35 locals recommend
Trago Liskeard
Quaint and enormous department store. Great for a rainy day. If you can't find what you are looking for here you will not find it anywhere.
Essentials
Wadebridge
Lidl and Tesco nearby