Things To Do
WALKING
There is great walking in this area – with the North Cornwall Coast Path snaking around high headlands and beautiful beaches. Whether you have your dogs with you, have all the hiking kit, or prefer a casual stroll in your flip flops – there are plenty of options.
DETAILS OF THE AREA AND THE BEST WALKS
We like ‘I Walk North Cornwall’ – with all the great walks, and with QR codes with the details for for each walk, so you can use your smart phone to download all directions before you leave – clever!
The Cornwall In Focus website. This details each section of the coastpath.
And ExploreSouthWest talks you through each leg of the journey coming from Padstow to Constantine.
The official South West Coast Path website covers the whole of the coastline and has detail on Mawgan Porth to Constantine, as well as some walks suitable for wheelchairs around Padstow.
For those looking for a long walk, The Saint’s Way from Padstow to Fowey on the south coast is a 30 mile or so path that traverses fields, valleys, woodlands, moors and villages, taking in some of the most beautiful scenery in the county.
Cornwall Council’s interactive map is great for finding footpaths and public rights of way to explore.
GOLF
Our part of Cornwall is dominated by beautiful unspoilt beaches – and golf.
We are lucky enough to have the wonderful Trevose Golf and Country Club – a fantastic course, but so much more than just a golf course with a bar and restaurant open to all, tennis and padel courts plus a heated outdoor swimming pool (seasonal opening times apply).
It’s a great hub of social activity for teenagers and parents alike. Check out the Trevose Golf and Country Club website for full details. It’s also a very relaxed golf club – welcoming all. Many come this side of the Camel for just this reason!
If you fancy a change, you could also head over to the ‘other side’. The St Enodoc at Rock on the other side of the estuary is also a great course.
RESTAURANTS
Dining out is always fun and some of the best restaurants in the UK can be found in North Cornwall – so a blowout evening or two is a real bonus for many who stay with Raintree!
Many think of Rick Stein and his restaurants as still providing the backbone to the area’s eating, but with Paul Ainsworth and a growing number of young chefs inspired by (and often trained within) some of the more famous restaurants, there are plenty of other options as well including The Pig at Harlyn and Prawn on the Lawn in Padstow.
PUBS AND BARS
You have a wide choice of bars and pubs across The Seven Bays, Padstow and Wadebridge, whether you want wine, cocktails, craft beer or a relaxed local pint. In St Merryn, Rafferty’s is a popular spot for drinks and casual dining, while in Trevone, Bruno’s Bar is ideal for a beachside drink, especially at sunset. Padstow offers the greatest variety, with favourites including 17 Duke Street for wine and cocktails, PW1 for a sociable atmosphere, and Rick Stein’s Ruby’s Bar for classic drinks in an elegant setting.
For a more traditional pub experience, The Cornish Arms in St Merryn and The Old Custom House in Padstow are both strong choices for a relaxed drink. Wadebridge is also worth visiting, with Salt Bar and Plonk’d offering a lively, informal setting for wine, beer and cocktails close to the Camel Trail.
BUYING WINE
If you have space to bring wine with you, that is ideal. If not, you are well placed to buy excellent bottles locally without rushing or compromising on quality.
Padstow has two specialist wine shops. BinTwo sits just back from the harbour. 17 Duke Street is also home to Padstow Distilling, producers of award winning gin, vodka and rum. Both offer expert advice, wine tasting and relaxed seating areas where you can sample before you buy. They also serve good coffee, making them a pleasure to visit.
A little inland, you can buy directly from local producers. Camel Valley Vineyard and Trevibban Mill both offer tastings and tours. You can walk the vines, learn about the process and choose wine for the week ahead.
For everyday convenience, Tesco in Padstow has a solid wine selection. The store in Wadebridge is larger and offers a wider choice.
CYCLING
The Padstow area is ideal for cycling, most famously along the Camel Trail. This largely traffic-free route follows a disused railway line beside the River Camel, running between Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. It is mostly flat and easy going, making it excellent for families and casual riders alike.
A popular ride is from Padstow to Wadebridge. Many people stop in Wadebridge for coffee, lunch or an ice cream before cycling back to Padstow. Extending on to Bodmin opens up longer days out and brings you close to Camel Valley Vineyard, a good lunch stop and tasting opportunity.
If you don’t have your own bikes, companies like Cornwall Bike Hire will deliver bikes to your door, and several hire shops along the trail offer everything you need, including trailer bikes or kids’ seats. Places to pick up bikes include:
• Padstow Cycle Hire right by the Lobster Hatchery and the South Quay car park.
• Trail Bike Hire just off the Camel Trail near the same car park.
• Bridge Bike Hire in Wadebridge.
For more general info on the route and sections, see the council’s Camel Trail page on Cornwall County Council’s website.
SHOPPING
Shopping in the area offers a wide mix, from practical outdoor gear and surf equipment to independent boutiques and artisan finds. You can keep it simple or make a full day of it.
Padstow, Mawgan Porth, Watergate Bay, Newquay, Wadebridge and Truro all make enjoyable shopping destinations.
Padstow, no more than 15 minutes from our houses, combines independent clothing boutiques, interior shops, gift stores and galleries alongside familiar high street names. It is a good place to find artwork, ceramics and distinctive home pieces.
Wadebridge and Hawksfield, no more than 30 minutes away, work well together. Hawksfield Cornwall sits just off the A39 and is ideal for a stop with easy parking, a café, artisan food, vintage furniture and gallery spaces. Wadebridge itself is known for its strong independent scene, with a varied choice of furniture, antique, book, flower and gift shops, plus a cinema for relaxed afternoons or wet days.
Mawgan Porth, Bedruthan Steps, Watergate Bay, Porth and Newquay are all reached by the coastal B3276 and can be linked into a scenic shopping route. Bedruthan Steps Hotel has a small design shop and gallery, Mawgan Porth offers surf shops and cafés, and Watergate Bay has a handful of shops alongside its restaurants. In Porth, Roos Beach is known for beachwear and contemporary gifts. Newquay then provides the widest choice, with surf shops, independent clothing stores and a small number of high street brands.
Truro, around 45 minutes away, delivers a full high street experience, with a broad mix of national retailers and independent shops, ideal if you want a larger shopping day out.
PAMPERING AND RELAXATION
Trevose Massage and Beauty Salon offers a full range of massage and beauty treatments, including sports and deep tissue massage, hot stone, reflexology, facials and nail care. Raintree guests receive 10% off when quoting Raintree House Holidays. Appointments can be booked directly with Gabrielle.
Wave Therapy brings massage and beauty treatments to your holiday house. It is an easy option if you prefer to relax without travelling, with services including massage, facials and nails.
The Spa at Retallack Resort provides a wide choice of treatments alongside a sauna, steam room, heated indoor pool and fitness suite. It suits guests looking for a complete spa experience.
The Bedruthan Steps Hotel and Spa combines sea views with a spa pool, sauna and steam rooms. It also works well for families, with facilities and outdoor space for children.
The Scarlet Hotel and Spa offers a quieter, adults only experience. It is known for its cliff top hot tubs and lantern lit treatment rooms overlooking Mawgan Porth.
Saunas by the Sea at Harlyn or Soul Sauna at Trevone Bay are perfect after a swim. You can warm up in a wood fired sauna while enjoying open sea views.
DOG FRIENDLY
Raintree offer over 80 dog friendly houses at the most dog friendly beaches
If you’re thinking of bringing your four-legged friend on holiday with you then there aren’t many better places to come than our little patch of North Cornwall. With miles of stunning coastline and golden sandy beaches for your pooch to explore, five of our six beaches welcome dogs all year round. Only Trevone has any seasonal dog restrictions. Here, a dog ban runs from 15th May to 30th September each year but dogs are allowed before 10am and after 6pm – perfect if you want to beat the summer crowds! However, Trevone’s second beach, Newtrain, allows dogs all the time – just follow the coast path to the left of the sandy beach. You can see a map of all of Cornwall’s dog friendly beaches just in case you want to venture a bit further out for the day.
Away from the beach, there are fantastic country walks, dog-friendly attractions like the Eden Project, Tintagel Castle and The Lobster Hatchery in Padstow to visit, and locally, plenty of pubs and restaurants welcome dogs. You’ll always have places to visit and things to do even if the weather isn’t behaving!
Most of our houses are dog-friendly – where dogs are welcome, this is clearly indicated on each house page. When you book, we will ask you the breed and age of your dog or dogs. Some houses would prefer only one dog, others are happy with more than one. Often the age and breed may affect whether we can accept more than one dog so do let us know. If you need a dog sitter while you go out for the day, or for a meal, then do consider contacting Corrina’s dog sitting service, Pawscothan, Sandy Paws, or Tor’s Paws who are all local dog-walkers/sitters.
PLEASE NOTE: All bookings made that include a dog or dogs, incur a small charge of £15.00 per dog. This charge also applies where a dog or extra dogs are added to an existing booking.
