Kim's Guidebook - great places on your doorstep
Mother Nature
Starlings. From November to March, this is a fantastic spot to watch the starling murmurations at dusk.
Roughtor
Not quite on our doorstep, but if you're heading to St Ives, drop in here on the way to see seals. Head towards the lighthouse and on the opposite side of the headland, near the top car park, you’ll usually spot seals.
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Gwithian Beach
Not quite on our doorstep, but if you're heading to St Ives, drop in here on the way to see seals. Head towards the lighthouse and on the opposite side of the headland, near the top car park, you’ll usually spot seals.
Sunset. A great place to watch the sunset. Have a cocktail at the beach bar, Rick Stein fish and chips or a special meal out at The Fish House (booking required).
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Fistral Beach
Sunset. A great place to watch the sunset. Have a cocktail at the beach bar, Rick Stein fish and chips or a special meal out at The Fish House (booking required).
White waterfall. This is a place to discover if you’re driving through St Austell. It’s tucked away down a narrow lane on the left. It is signposted, but blink and you’ll miss it. It’s a very short walk, but after heavy rain, the river and waterfall run white. It’s insanely instagrammable. Spring is the time for the most amazing rhododendrons.
Menacuddle Well
81 Bodmin RdWhite waterfall. This is a place to discover if you’re driving through St Austell. It’s tucked away down a narrow lane on the left. It is signposted, but blink and you’ll miss it. It’s a very short walk, but after heavy rain, the river and waterfall run white. It’s insanely instagrammable. Spring is the time for the most amazing rhododendrons.
Just down the road from Demelza, in Roche, is this amazing, and mystical outcrop of granite. It’s a short walk around and a great rock scramble for active kids - nature’s playground, but it can get over-grown, so would recommend wearing trousers and sturdy footwear. Get to the other side of the rock and you’ll see the remains of a chapel, built on top. It is shrouded in folklore and legend and provides Roche with its name. Access through the sports centre car park on road to St Austell.
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Roche Rock.
Just down the road from Demelza, in Roche, is this amazing, and mystical outcrop of granite. It’s a short walk around and a great rock scramble for active kids - nature’s playground, but it can get over-grown, so would recommend wearing trousers and sturdy footwear. Get to the other side of the rock and you’ll see the remains of a chapel, built on top. It is shrouded in folklore and legend and provides Roche with its name. Access through the sports centre car park on road to St Austell.
Walking
A lovely walk around the headland taking in several of the 7 bays of Padstow. Approx. 3 miles.
Trevose Headland
A stunningly beautiful place for a walk. Steep hills, but worth it. Parking is free for National Trust members. There are toilets and cafe near the car park.
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Bedruthan Steps
A stunningly beautiful place for a walk. Steep hills, but worth it. Parking is free for National Trust members. There are toilets and cafe near the car park.
Park at the Luxulyan Valley car park for a lovely walk along the canal and rapid river, taking in a magnificent stone aqueduct. Stunningly beautiful in the Autumn.
Treffry Aqueduct
Park at the Luxulyan Valley car park for a lovely walk along the canal and rapid river, taking in a magnificent stone aqueduct. Stunningly beautiful in the Autumn.
Really picturesque walking on Bodmin Moor. On a fine day, you can see Dartmoor. Download the app iWalk Cornwall for some circular walks around the area. Pubs and cafes in nearby Minions.
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The Cheesewring (Stowes hill)
Really picturesque walking on Bodmin Moor. On a fine day, you can see Dartmoor. Download the app iWalk Cornwall for some circular walks around the area. Pubs and cafes in nearby Minions.
A nearby short, circular walk. Formally the site of an old hill fort, it has the most spectacular views on a fine day, taking in the North Coast, the Cornish Alps and Bodmin Moor. Walk around it twice for a 20 minute walk. Cut through for a map which explains what you can see in the view.
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Castle an Dinas, St Columb Major
A nearby short, circular walk. Formally the site of an old hill fort, it has the most spectacular views on a fine day, taking in the North Coast, the Cornish Alps and Bodmin Moor. Walk around it twice for a 20 minute walk. Cut through for a map which explains what you can see in the view.
This is a lovely beach for a walk when the tide is out. It’s usually windy, so wrap up warm. On a fine evening, it’s a great place to watch the sunset. I recommend eating at The Beach Hut, but it can get very busy.
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Watergate Beach
Watergate BayThis is a lovely beach for a walk when the tide is out. It’s usually windy, so wrap up warm. On a fine evening, it’s a great place to watch the sunset. I recommend eating at The Beach Hut, but it can get very busy.
Beach
One of my favourite south coast beaches. The sea is calmer than the north coast which makes this a great spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. Kayak hire is available and there are some lovely coves to explore. Parking is reasonable, but accessed via a very narrow lane which can get congested.
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Porthpean
One of my favourite south coast beaches. The sea is calmer than the north coast which makes this a great spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. Kayak hire is available and there are some lovely coves to explore. Parking is reasonable, but accessed via a very narrow lane which can get congested.
A beautiful beach which tends not to get as busy as some others on the north coast. Avoid the signposted car park as it’s a long walk from there. There is a nearer private car park. About £6 per visit, so make a day of it. Great for mucking about in the waves and rock pooling.
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Constantine Bay
A beautiful beach which tends not to get as busy as some others on the north coast. Avoid the signposted car park as it’s a long walk from there. There is a nearer private car park. About £6 per visit, so make a day of it. Great for mucking about in the waves and rock pooling.
A bit off the beaten track, but this makes it a fairly quiet beach in summer, and you can usually park. There is not much of a beach at high tide, but there is a huge expanse of beach at low tide as it joins with Harbour Cove. The tide rolls in and out quickly, but the sea is very shallow and warm. You will need to walk down to the beach, or park in the Harbour Cove car park and walk down to the beach from there.
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Hawker's Cove, Padstow
South West Coast PathA bit off the beaten track, but this makes it a fairly quiet beach in summer, and you can usually park. There is not much of a beach at high tide, but there is a huge expanse of beach at low tide as it joins with Harbour Cove. The tide rolls in and out quickly, but the sea is very shallow and warm. You will need to walk down to the beach, or park in the Harbour Cove car park and walk down to the beach from there.