SteveHere’s a question. With so many great places to see in Cornwall, why should you visit Padstow? On my first visit to Cornwall, I felt a bit dazzled by where to visit during my trip as there are so many great spots. Padstow was high on my list though and I wanted to check it out for myself. Padstow has a lot to offer for the casual tourist, and below you can check out what we discovered when we visited.
Getting there
One reason why you should visit Padstow is that it is relatively close to a lot of other places in Cornwall. Padstow can be found just a few miles from the A39, which is the main road that runs along the top part of Cornwall. From the A39, it is a few more miles on to the A30 which is the main road that runs through the middle of Cornwall – all the way from Exeter to Lands End in fact!
Like a lot of places in Cornwall, traffic in the popular towns and villages can be a nightmare. Especially in the summer months. There are not too many car parks in Padstow, but we found a large one called the Link Road Car Park which is a long stay. I think it’s the largest in Padstow and it’s about a 5-minute walk to the town from there. Charges range from £1.10 for an hour, to £6.30 for 24 hours, so something for everyone. When we arrived it was around 10 am, and the car park was half full. This was early September, just after the kids were back at school. We had heard from others that popular towns in Cornwall get full by mid-morning during the holiday season, so please arrive early!
Eating and Drinking
I thought I’d start with eating and drinking! We all need our sustenance and there are plenty of options in Padstow! Whilst the town is actually quite small, there are loads of options for food and drink everywhere you look. Just remember to book ahead or get there early! Here’s a couple of our highlights. . .
Café by the Harbour
As we arrived in Padstow early, we decided we needed a bit of brekkie! Also, Amy had a hankering for some Cornish cream tea (albeit swapping the tea for a Mocha!). It only took us a few minutes to walk through the town and arrive at the harbourfront, and there we found a selection of eateries. It was early enough so that it wasn’t too busy, and we chose one where we liked the look of the menu.
The café had a few tables outside, but we chose an inside table because the ones outside were a little close together for our liking (Covid makes you paranoid huh!). Shortly after we arrived, many of the other tourists decided they were peckish too and it got busy real fast. Aside from a delicious meal, it was a brilliant spot for a bit of people watching!
Rick Stein
Let’s face it – one of the main reasons people like to visit Padstow is to eat at one of Rick’s establishments. For those that may not be aware (UK readers bear with me!), Rick Stein is a famous UK chef who does a lot of TV work. Not quite as bombastic as Gordon, but he is still someone who has a real passion for food. Rick lives in Padstow and has a number of restaurants and businesses not only in Padstow but also in other areas of Cornwall. Seafood is his speciality.
In Padstow itself, he has the Coffee Shop, The Seafood Restaurant, St. Petrocs Bistro, Rick Steins Café, and Steins Fish and Chips. Some of these establishments were closed when we visited (presumably related to Covid) but I was happy to learn that Steins Fish and Chips was open for business!
I remember hustling with Amy over to the southern end of the harbour looking for Steins Fish and Chips. Being lunchtime, we were greeted by queues although this was due to the restaurant part being closed. It seemed the masses were happy to have their fish and chips to go! Good enough for me, and as I may have said before – there is nothing better than munching on fish and chips at the seaside!
Awesome Fish and Chips! Plenty of choice for all
All I can say is that it was worth queuing in the summer sun for some amazing fish and chips. I’ve no idea what Rick does to his batter on the fish, but it was absolutely sublime. I can also recommend the Goan curry sauce to dip in as well!
Along with Rick’s empire of eateries, there are lots of cafés and a few pubs around the town. I didn’t see an Indian restaurant though, but Padstow is not really that kind of place. It’s all about good old fashioned English fayre!
Things to See and Do
There’s plenty to keep you busy with seeing and doing if you visit this quaint little town in Cornwall! Here’s a selection so you can see why you should visit Padstow.
Padstow Harbour
The harbour in Padstow is a real gem. It is not the sort of harbour that’s filled with giant tankers, more like small fishing and pleasure boats. From the right angle, the views of the harbour are picture-perfect.
You can walk around most of the harbour in 10 minutes. Plenty of time to find a good spot for a photo! Did I mention there are some cracking cafes with stunning views? It’s here where you will find some popular boat trips that go out to sea.
Crab Fishing
For those that know me, or have read some of my other posts, you will know that I love a bit of crab fishing. I don’t want to hear any noise about it being a kiddie thing, plenty of adults love crab fishing! There is definitely a skill involved, and it is competitive too!
There are a couple of shops in town that will sell crab fishing tackle, and maybe some bait as well. Personally, I find smoked bacon to be brilliant, and there are some small convenience stores in the town that have this in abundance.
Crab fishing in Padstow is very popular based on what we saw during our visit. There are lots of crabs to catch in the harbour, and with the right gear, you’ll be sure to catch some! Just don’t forget a bucket to keep them in! One tip though, it might be best to keep an eye on small children. There are no barriers on the harbour walls and I did witness a bit of a near miss on our visit.
Exploring the Town and Area
Padstow is not a massive place at all, and it’s easy to walk around the town. Exploring the town might take a while as there are lots of pretty little shops to dive into.
It’s not really practical to try to drive around the streets as they are pretty narrow, and usually full of tourists exploring. You will find something for everyone in Padstow and if you like to peruse shops full of little nick nacks then you are in luck!
On the edge of Padstow, there is a brilliant path that runs all the way to Hawkers Cove that passes St. George’s Cove along the way. If you’ve had enough of shopping then this is a great option as the scenery and sea views are fantastic.
The path from Padstow to Hawkers Cove is just over 2 miles long and well worth taking if you want to see spectacular views. It’s slightly hilly in places, but most mobile people should manage just fine. Be aware that part of the path can be a bit rocky, but the part nearest Padstow is paved and smooth.
Rock Ferry
The Town of Rock is to be found on the other side of the Camel estuary to Padstow. Rock itself is a picturesque small town that has a huge beach beside it. I believe that everyone’s favourite shouty celebrity chef has a house there – maybe to keep an eye on what Rick is up to!
The ferry crossing departs from Padstow every 20 minutes during the day (although they do take a bit of time off for lunch!) and lands on the beach at Rock. The trip takes only 5-10 minutes and costs £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.
If boats are your thing, then there are plenty of boat tours around the estuary on offer from Padstow. This is something we’ll do on our next visit, and a great excuse to return to Padstow!
Gin!
I had to mention it, being that Amy is a Gin lover! In the middle of Padstow town, there is a Tarquin’s Gin shop. Living in the midlands I had never heard of Tarquin’s Gin, but then again I’m simply a Stella kind of guy anyway.
Tarquins Gin is made locally and is a relatively young distillery, being founded in 2012. It is very popular in Cornwall, with local supermarkets and pubs having it on their shelves. The shop in Padstow is brilliant as it offers a free sample of whichever blend you care to taste. I’m not a gin expert myself, but those in the know will tell you that it’s good stuff!
The shop was very busy when we visited, but the staff were friendly and happy to offer tastings. To say that they were doing a roaring trade is an understatement!
So why should you visit Padstow?
Padstow is one of those places that has something for everyone. Whether you are based there for a holiday, or just visiting for the day, you can’t really go wrong. Celebrity restaurant? Check. Amazing views? Check. Crabbing with the kids? Check! Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Padstow and what you liked?
While you’re here, why not take a look at my other posts from the UK?
