Port gaverne

Owned by the National Trust, this sheltered cove has a small pebble-and-sand beach with rock pools and caves, as well as cliff walks with magnificent views and a dramatic headland with stunning sunsets. The beach is ideal for swimming and exploring rock pools.

• Go kayaking, paddle-boarding, coasteering or wild swimming with Cornish Rock Tors.

• Within less than a minute, you’re on the South West Coast Path – miles of spectacular National Trust owned coastline, famous for its wildlife and scenic beauty. 

• Just down the lane from the cottage, is the award-winning Port Gaverne Hotel, and its sister bistro, Pilchards, specialising in local produce, particularly sea-food.

• Wander up the hill and into the village of Port Isaac to buy locally-caught fish, lobster and crab.

port isaac

A short stroll up the hill is Port Isaac, a charming and vibrant fishing village. It is still very much a working harbour with catches landed and sold each day. It’s also home of the TV series Doc Martin and The Fisherman’s Friends. It’s a quintessential Cornish village with narrow winding streets that lead down to the harbour and there’s plenty to do and see.

• Explore the pottery, art galleries & interesting craft shops

• Buy fresh fish from the fish cellars - right next to the beach

• This is where you have both Nathan Outlaw’s famous restaurants, New Road at the top of the hill and his Fish Kitchen down on the platt which has just celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

• Visit the inshore RNLI lifeboat which is frequently launched during the summer months

• Wander down to ‘The Platt’ on a warm summer’s evening and, with a drink and pasty in hand, watch the sun set over the sea, and watch The Fisherman’s Friend’s perform on the beach, check their website for dates.  

Rock & Padstow

A short drive away is Rock, smart boating centre with good restaurants, shops and pubs.  The Mariners pub overlooks the Estuary and a must anytime of the year. A ferry ride across the estuary takes you to Padstow, home of Rick Stein's and Paul Ainsworth’s restaurants and plenty of shops to explore.

daymer bay

A stunning beach that at low tide forms long stretches of golden sand backed by dunes from Daymer Bay to Rock with superb views across Camel Estuary. It’s dog friendly too! Daymer Bay is our favourite beach to visit, where you can enjoy snuggling in the rocks or long walks through the dunes to Rock. The local golf course St Enodoc is open to the public all year round, a visit to the church, where Sir John Betjeman is buried, is a must.

Polzeath

A short drive away is the highly acclaimed surfing beach of golden sand and crashing waves. It has seasonal lifeguard cover. There is a vast expanse of sand at low tide. Great walk on the headland to Rock.

trebarwith strand

Choose low tide to explore this rugged and beautiful sandy bay with steep slate cliffs, rock pools you can swim in and giant rock formations that are great for exploring. The beach has lifeguard cover during peak season. There are cafés and beach shops, and dogs are welcome all year round.

cAMEL VALLEY VINEYARD

Well organised tour and tastings of English wines. First English wine producer to be granted a Royal Warrant.

TINTAGEL

Historic village with stories of King Arthur and his legends. From August 2019 you can now walk between the two sides of historic Tintagel Castle. The new footbridge, 57 metres above sea level, reinstates the original route between the island and the mainland, offering visitors the chance to experience Tintagel Castle the way its medieval inhabitants once did.

boscastle

National Trust’s important natural inlet with a pretty village in an inaccessible corner of Cornwall. Nearly destroyed by flash floods a decade ago.