Padstow is a great base for exploring the North Cornwall coast. It is a working fishing harbour at the mouth of the Camel estuary.
There are plenty of walks taking in some of the best views in the county, including the Saints Way , which traditionally starts in Padstow and takes you on a 30 mile overland route to Fowey.
If it is beaches you want then you won’t get any better than Tregirls, there are no shops or ice cream vans, just lots of golden sand and not too many people. If you need more facilities then you are spoilt for choice as there are at least 7 other glorious beaches in the area ,Trevone being the nearest. About a 5 minute drive or a 30 minute walk, there is also a regular bus service which will get you to many of them.
Padstow is also the beginning or the end of the Camel Trail; a cycling and walking trail connecting Bodmin and Padstow along the track of what used to be the railway line for the Atlantic Coast Express.
The centre of Padstow clusters picturesquely around the harbour. There are numerous gift shops and restaurants in the narrow streets, including the Rick Stein Seafood restaurants.
Padstow is all geared up for cycling, you can hire bikes of all sizes, to suits all abilities.
Wadebridge, about 7 miles along the trail, is a busy market town (the market long since gone) with lots of small boutiques and gift shops and some great places for a bite of lunch. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to cycle there, it's all just about on the flat.
Further afield, but all within a short drive, are the busy towns of Bodmin, Newquay and Truro, the world famous Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
