It’s no secret that Cornwall is Britain’s favourite holiday destination (it was voted so at the British Travel Awards for the past 9 years, but who’s counting!). With miles and miles (300 to be precise) of gorgeous coastlines, seemingly endless beaches and heaps and heaps of speciality food (including 4 – Clotted Cream, Sardines, Fal Oysters and the Cornish Pasty – that are recognised and protected for being especially Cornish!), we can see why 4 million tourists visit the county each year…
We may be a little biased, but we believe the true beauty of Cornwall lies along the North Coast, which just so happens to be the home of our Holiday Park near Padstow. And we’re not the only ones either, as it’s thought that the North Coast of Cornwall brings in an average of 500,000 daily visitors across the year. With our neighbouring town of Padstow having around 5,500 residents in the summer, dropping to 2,500 in the winter, that’s a lot of visitors coming to Cornwall’s North Coast to see its beauty and offerings.
The Beaches
The beaches in Cornwall are one of the biggest drawing points. There’s over 400 of them across the county and once you’re in Cornwall, you’re never more than 16 miles from the sea. The 50 miles of North Cornwall beaches are known for their slightly wild and surf beaten look, but of course this makes them attractive for avid surfing fans. In fact, the biggest wave ever in Cornwall was found on Fistral Beach in Newquay, and stood at a massive 30 ft. The highest cliffs in Cornwall can also be found along the North Coast in Boscastle, conveniently named High Cliff and reaching 223 meters.
The Activities
At our North Cornwall Holiday Park, we’re lucky enough to have 7 impressive beaches in Harlyn Sands. Porthcothan Bay, Treyarnon Beach, Constantine Bay, Booby’s Bay, Mother Ivey’s Bay, Harlyn Bay and Trevone Bay are all within walking distance of each other, and each offer their own uniqueness. And we know it’s not just walkers and surfers who come to Cornwall for an active retreat (although there are 296 miles of coastal paths – that’s 7-8 weeks of walking!), as we welcome many cyclists via the Camel Trail. The ‘car free’ trail offers 17 miles of straight cycling from Bodmin to Padtow, boasting beautiful views and plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat at the end…
Speaking of, we know that Cornwall is famous for its speciality foods (over 120 million Cornish Pasties are made a year!), and Padstow hosts the highly acclaimed, 1 Michelin star restaurant Paul Ainsworth at Number 6. The restaurant in the heart of Padstow serves a modern British menu with a high focus on locally produced and seasonal Cornish food. However, if you fancy a stop at number 6, booking is essential to get a spot! Outlaw’s New Road and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, both in the fishing village of Port Isaac, also have 1 Michelin star each.
Although there are plenty of places to eat in Padstow, if it’s an adventure you’re here for, look no further than Bodmin Moor. Bodmin Moor is not only a place of deep history, but also holds the highest point in Cornwall, standing at 800 – 1,400 ft. It’s also 80 square miles in size, offering many places to walk and explore the history of the moor.
Fancy ticking off North Cornwall by Numbers yourself? To book a stay at our Cornwall Holiday Park in Harlyn Sands, click here. Find out more about things to do in Cornwall here.
