Things to Do in Padstow: A Local Guide

Things to Do in Padstow: A Local Guide

If you mention places to visit in Cornwall, Padstow is never far from the conversation. This little harbour town attracts plenty of visitors, particularly in summer, but there is a good reason for that. With the Camel Estuary on one side and the north Cornish coast on the other, you have food, beaches, walking, cycling and boat trips all within easy reach.

Of course, Padstow has become famous for its food too. Rick Stein helped put the town firmly on the foodie map, but these days there is a whole collection of places to eat and drink, from fish and chips by the harbour to rather special dinners.

So, if you are planning a day or a few days in Padstow, here are some of our favourite things to do.

Explore Padstow Harbour

The harbour is really the heart of Padstow and probably the best place to start. Fishing boats still work from here alongside yachts, pleasure boats and the little ferry crossing the estuary to Rock. Grab a coffee, wander around the quayside and watch everything coming and going on the water.

There are plenty of independent shops tucked into the streets behind the harbour too, along with galleries, pubs, cafés and places selling all manner of Cornish treats. It is worth wandering without too much of a plan and seeing where the little streets take you.

Eat your way around Padstow

You would have to make quite an effort to visit Padstow and not notice its foodie credentials. Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant has been part of the town since 1975, and there are several other Stein options if you fancy something a little more casual.

Then there is Paul Ainsworth at No6 for a rather special meal, Caffè Rojano, and binTwo, tucked away near the harbour if wine and something to nibble sounds more appealing.

You certainly do not need a Michelin-starred dinner to enjoy Padstow though. Sometimes fish and chips eaten outside with a harbour view is exactly what is required. Just keep half an eye on the gulls!

Meet the baby lobsters

Right on South Quay you will find the National Lobster Hatchery, a marine conservation, research and education charity working to protect European lobster populations.

You can see the hatchery and nursery, learn how the conservation programme works and get surprisingly close to the residents. It is actually fascinating, particularly with children, and we stand by our original assessment from years ago: baby lobsters are kind of cute!

Visit Prideaux Place

For a completely different side of Padstow, walk up through the town to Prideaux Place. This beautiful historic house sits above Padstow surrounded by gardens and a deer park, yet it feels a world away from the busy harbour below.

The house opens seasonally for tours and the grounds are lovely for a slower afternoon. Watching the deer grazing with Padstow just beyond the trees is still one of those rather special Cornish treats.

Cycle or walk the Camel Trail

Padstow marks one end of one of Cornwall's best-known trails. The Camel Trail follows a former railway line between Padstow, Wadebridge, Bodmin and Wenfordbridge, with the section beside the Camel Estuary particularly lovely.

The trail is largely level and traffic-free, so it is popular with families as well as more serious cyclists. There are places to hire bikes in Padstow and Wadebridge, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking a stretch of it instead.

We have more ideas in our guide to cycling in Cornwall.

Take the ferry across to Rock

One of the nicest little excursions from Padstow is also one of the simplest. The Black Tor passenger ferry crosses the Camel Estuary between Padstow and Rock throughout the year, with the timetable changing according to the season.

Rock has a completely different feel from Padstow, with sandy beaches stretching along the estuary and plenty of room to walk. From here you can head towards Daymer Bay and, if you have the energy, continue around the coast towards Polzeath.

Find a beach

You do not actually need to leave the Padstow side of the estuary to find sand. Follow the South West Coast Path out of town and you soon reach St George's Cove, followed by Harbour Cove and Hawker's Cove. At low tide there can be a huge expanse of sand here.

Drive a little further around the coast and you are spoilt for choice. Harlyn Bay is a firm family favourite, while Constantine Bay is beautiful and popular with surfers. Trevone and Porthcothan are also close enough to make an easy addition to a few days based around Padstow.

If beaches are the priority, have a look at our Cornwall beach guide for a few more favourites.

Walk out towards Stepper Point

For one of the best views of the Camel Estuary, put your walking shoes on and follow the South West Coast Path towards Stepper Point. The route takes you past the sandy coves north of Padstow and on towards the mouth of the estuary, with views across to Rock, Daymer Bay and the infamous Doom Bar.

You can turn around whenever you have had enough, or make a proper walk of it and head out towards Stepper Point and its daymark tower. It is a wonderful way to escape the bustle of the town without having to get in the car.

Head out on the water

There is something particularly lovely about seeing this bit of Cornwall from the sea. Various boat trips leave Padstow Harbour, from leisurely coastal cruises and fishing trips to faster wildlife safaris.

Depending on the trip and a certain amount of luck, there is the chance to see seals, dolphins, seabirds and other marine wildlife. Even if the wildlife decides not to perform, the rugged coastline is worth the trip on its own.

Give Padstow a little time

Padstow can certainly be visited in a day, but it is also a very easy place to slow down in. Arrive early and enjoy the harbour before it gets busy, take the ferry across the estuary, walk a section of the coast path or Camel Trail, and leave plenty of time for something good to eat.

And if you are visiting in the quieter months, don't dismiss it. The boats, estuary and old streets are still here when the summer crowds have gone, and there is something rather lovely about Padstow on a crisp autumn or winter day.

Additional photography: Sam Headland, Oliver Potter and Sophie Ward via Unsplash.