A Week in Cornwall

Travel Guides

Growing up I would visit Cornwall with my family all the time. Whilst I can’t really remember the details (aside from my sister being pooed on by a seagull in Mevagissey one evening and several episodes of my mum and dad eating crab opposite us whilst we looked on in disgust) I know that I absolutely loved going, and it’s always been somewhere I wanted to go back to. So, when our California road trip was cancelled due to COVID we decided to take a trip, a ‘staycation’ if you will, to Cornwall instead.

We split the week-long trip into two parts – for the first half, we stayed at an airbnb in Truro and for the second half, we camped out in the van (yes, we have a van, in case you didn’t know!) in Padstow. This meant we spent the first half exploring the south of Cornwall and the second half the northern areas.

Where to stay

We spent ages searching for somewhere to stop – obviously, right now everyone is looking to holiday in the UK and so things were getting booked up really quickly. Also, I was surprised at how many airbnbs weren’t dog friendly – we took Rory with us so obviously a dog friendly place to stay was essential.

We eventually found the perfect airbnb – a cute little cabin in Truro, nestled on a side street just a 10-minute walk from all the shops, bars and restaurants. It came with a few kitchen facilities (a sink, microwave, toaster), was beautifully decorated and really was ideal for the time we were there. It was a bit of a pain to park, as we were in the van and the parking space was tiiiight, but other than that we had no complaints and I’d definitely stay there again. If you’re new to airbnb, you can sign up using my link and get up to ยฃ50 off your first trip (I get a bit of credit too if you sign up).

If camping is more your thing, I cannot recommend Padstow Touring Park enough. This is where we stayed for the second half of our trip, and despite being a tad on the expensive side (we paid just under ยฃ60 for three nights, but that was for a non-electric pitch and included the fee for dogs) it was such a lovely place to stay. The facilities are sparkling clean and modern (no weak showers here!) and as someone who is veeeery fussy when it comes to things like this I was over the moon. There was also a shop on site, a little dog walking area and even a dog shower (the place was definitely very dog friendly!). They also have food vans visit on select days which is a really nice touch, and you can request fresh croissants to pick up in the morning too!

Beaches to visit

You’re a bit spoilt for choice for when it comes to beaches in Cornwall. I definitely think we could have spent another week (or two!) there as we did struggle to get everything packed in. All of the beaches are incredible – I honestly don’t think any of them will disappoint – and we spent most of our holiday exploring them and doing lots of walking.

Here are a few of the beautiful beaches we visited while we were there:

  • Watergate Bay – Around three miles from Newquay, Watergate Bay is a breath of fresh air. The beach is huge and perfect for surfing, is completely dog-friendly and there are bars and restaurants right by it.
  • Kynance Cove – Located in the Lizard peninsula, an absolutely stunning part of Cornwall, Kynance Cove is honestly breathtaking. With bright turquoise water and white sand, you could easily spend a day just soaking up the sun here. It does get very busy, so bear this in mind, and is very rocky so can be a bit tricky to navigate (although Rory managed it!) There’s a cafe just by the beach and you can go on some nice walks and take in the views here too.
  • Bedruthen Steps – We were really excited about visiting Bedruthen Steps, after seeing some amazing images on Instagram, but we were a bit disappointed we couldn’t actually climb the steps down to the beach as there was a cliff fall last winter. That being said, we embarked on the coastal walk instead and it was really lovely. We got to take in the incredibly views and get some really lovely photos. We also saw a grass snake!
  • Perranporth Beach – We visited here on our first night and absolutely loved it. We experienced a gorgeous sunset, ate pizza by the sea and just generally had a really lovely time. I definitely recommend coming here for the evening!
  • Harlyn Bay – Located a short distance from Padstow, Harlyn Bay is a really big, lovely beach that’s perfect for surfing and sunbathing.
  • Mother Ivey’s Bay (pictured below) – I’d seen so many posts about this place on Instagram that I just had to go and see what the fuss was all about. While I read it was a 20-minute walk from Harlyn Bay, it turns out it was a fair bit longer than that so I’d probably bear this in mind if you’re planning on visiting. It is a stunning beach once you get there though – bright blue water and gorgeous golden sand. It doesn’t get particularly busy as it’s quite out of the way and there aren’t any food/drink places nearby – worth noting if you’re planning on spending a while here.

Things to do

  • Lands End – We couldn’t resist paying Lands End a visit while we were towards the south of Cornwall. Despite it being a bit of a grey day, it was a beautiful place and I’m really glad we got to experience it. We got a picture by the sign, which I’ve always wanted, so I was chuffed! It did get busier the longer we were there, so I’d recommend getting here early to beat the crowds!
  • Healey’s Cyder Farm – On the one really rainy day we had we decided to visit Healey’s Cyder Farm. It wasn’t far from our airbnb and after tasting Rattler cider on our first night we were excited to go and see how it was made. It’s a lovely place to visit – you can see the cider being made, learn about its history and even pull your own pint. There are also farm animals (Rory met a goat which he was rather taken with!) and a kitchen where they make jam. You get a chance to sample a lot of the cider which is cool, and we also had some delicious scones in the cafe there.
  • St Ives – St Ives was beautiful but, as you’d expect, extremely busy. Parking was a bit of a nightmare so we had to park about a 20-minute walk from the harbour. Fine walking down, but the walk back up was a bit of a struggle for all of us! There are loads of lovely bars, shops and restaurants here as well as some beautiful beaches. I can imagine visiting first thing in the morning is dreamy, but if you get there in the afternoon be prepared for the crowds!
  • Padstow – Padstow is almost a bit like a mini St Ives – you get the benefit of the lovely harbour but without all the hustle and bustle. It’s filled with gorgeous shops, cafes and restaurants, and heading to Rick Stein’s for some fish and chips is a must. The beaches around here are beautiful too, so it feels like you get the best of both worlds.

Where to eat

We definitely ate well when we were down in Cornwall. We had originally planned on being a bit frugal and making most of our food ourselves but that kind of went out the window when we got down there and realised there were so many nice cafes and restaurants to visit. On the first night we headed to Perranporth beach as it was the most beautiful evening, and we visited The Watering Hole (the UK’s only bar on the beach, apparently!) for pizza and cider. It was honestly so lovely just sitting watching the sunset with a glass of Rattler (amazing Cornish cider) and the most delicious pizza. I definitely recommend going here if you want a gorgeous on-the-beach dining experience!

A few other places to eat we really enjoyed:

  • The Honey Pot, Penzance – A super cute dog-friendly cafe with the most delicious cakes. It’s very small so I’d recommend booking in advance!
  • Lily’s of Truro – In the heart of Truro, Lily’s is another dog-friendly cafe with locally-roasted coffee and lots of delicious food options.
  • Wax, Watergate Bay – The perfect place to enjoy a pizza or burger, and, again, dogs are welcome.
  • Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips, Padstow – While we couldn’t venture into the restaurant itself due to having the dog with us, we picked up a takeaway to eat while sitting by the harbour and it was delicious. Tom said the fish and chips were some of the best he’d ever had, and my halloumi burger and veggie chips (I had to request these as they’re usually cooked in beef dripping, ew) were also amazing.
  • Ann’s Pasties – More of a grab-and-go place (it’s just a little unit on an industrial estate), these pasties were delicious. I had a vegan one and it was so yummy, and they do a range of cakes there too. Perfect if you’re looking for something quick to eat and want a traditional Cornish pasty!

I had an absolutely amazing time in Cornwall and I can’t wait to visit again. Have you been to Cornwall this year? I’d love to know your favourite places to visit down there!