About the area - Self Catering in North Cornwall. Attractions and places to visit around the county.

About the area.

The rugged landscape along the coast of North Cornwall has a unique charm and offers a wide range of activities to suit both the young and the young at heart. When you have explored the coastline, why not visit one or two of the many interesting towns and villages in Cornwall, or sample one of Cornwall's visitor attractions... so much to see and do whilst self catering in North Cornwall, Padstow, Rock and the surrounding area!

The Coastline

The villages along the coastline to Padstow boast some of the most spectacular beaches in North Cornwall. St. Merryns' slogan "7 bays for 7 days" illustrates the multitude of coves available.

The first of the seven bays is at Trevone where the delightful sandy beach attracts swimmers and surfers all year. Harlyn Bay, half a mile west has a fine, half-mile long stretch of sandy beach, catering for swimming and surfing and is backed by dunes, low cliffs and fields. Mother Ivey’s Bay, on the other side of Cataclews Point, is small and secluded, with a steeply shelving beach. The greens and fairways of Trevose Golf and Country Club stretch back from the sands at Booby’s Bay which is a surfer’s favourite.

Moving south down the coast, the next beach is at Constantine Bay. Fringed by sand dunes, Constantine Bay provides swimming and year-round surfing facilities. Treyarnon Bay is a narrow sandy beach with rocks on its northern side providing many rock pools and a large natural swimming pool. By itself, a mile to the south is the seventh and final beach at Porthcothan Bay. Long and narrow, it is bordered by dramatic cliffs on both sides.

Trevone, a small village one and a half miles from Padstow, sits above and around its popular and sandy surfing and swimming beach. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach between Easter Day and 1st October. There is a beach shop, café and two large car parks.

St Merryn boasts a medieval church, Bronze and Iron Age settlements and self catering holiday complexes. St Merryn has a post office, a filling station, several shops and a fish and chip shop with cafe. There are also several licensed restaurants and two pubs - The Farmers Arms and The Cornish Arms.

Porthcothan Beach, with its golden sands, dunes, cliffs and rock pools, is ideal for a family holiday or as a picnic spot. The gorse-covered cliffs between Bedruthan and Porthcothan are at their most beautiful in early summer.

Saints founded the parishes of St Issey and Little Petherick and the Saints’ Way passes through the villages on its way to Fowey. Public footpaths run along both sides of the creek to join the Camel Trail by the Iron Bridge on the outskirts of Padstow.

The majority of the main beaches are patrolled by Life Guards, but please be sensible regarding safe use of the sea.

Other places to see and things to do whilst self catering around Padstow and Rock:-

Away from the rugged but beautiful coastline around North Cornwall, you will find many pretty little villages and vibrant historical towns, including the county town of Truro. Looking towards the south from Padstow is Bodmin Moor, full of mystery and majesty with the peaks of Brown Willy and Rough Tor.

A popular attraction has to include the wide selection of beautiful gardens throughout Cornwall. These include:

The Eden Project www.edenproject.com

The Lost Gardens of Heligan www.heligan.com

and gardens hosted by the National Trust such as Lanhydrock, Cotehele,Trerice, Trelissick, Glendurgan and Tregwainton. www.nationaltrust.co.uk

Other gardens of note include:

Pencarrow www.pencarrow.co.uk

Trevarno www.trevarno.co.uk

Trebah www.trebah-garden.co.uk

Great family days out of the “animal nature” include:

The National Seal Sanctuary www.visitsealife.com/Gweek

Paradise Park www.paradisepark.org.uk

Newquay Zoo www.newquayzoo.org.uk