on 20/12/2022
And so the fated after-Christmas holiday planning begins...
Cornwall is, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Consider this alongside a tropical climate that rivals your favourite destinations the world over in the summer months and you have a whole county of ideal staycation destinations. However, just because the entirity of Cornwall has holiday options, doesn't mean every Cornwall option is the same.
So here at Select Cornwall we've put together a list of our top places to visit this summer, where to stay and what to do while you're there!
(Photo Credit: @veritywarren_ on Instagram)
St. Ives is what Cornwall's all about, and it kind of has it all. Along Cornwall's north coast, St Ives is surrounded by the uk's best surfing beaches. It has culture in the form of its very own Tate Gallery. It also has good food in abundance, with its dining options becoming more unique and reveared with every passing Summer.
Our top recommendation for lunch or dinner is the charming and casual Porthgwidden Beach Cafe. Sister restaurant to Porthminster - a St Ives sea food institution - Porthgwidden shares alot of its values of freshness, ocean views and great service but does it all with a Mediterranean twist. This combination brings a new dimension to on-the-beach dining and creates a relaxed and unique lunch experience that is hard to find elsewhere. It's also a fantastic option to bring the family, as their pizza is equally as good as their Roasted Sea Bream with Padron Peppers.
We recommend staying in this unbelievably cute wood cottage for a few nights. It's more private than a stay right on the harbour, with the parking to get too and fro, and has multiple indoor and outdoor spots for you and a loved one to sip wine and take in some of the UK's best sunset views.
(Photo Credit: @on_my_travels_uk on Instagram)
Padstow is everything you want Cornwall to be, only more adorable. It's the capital of Cornwall's foodie scene. The port-side homes of Padstow, which peak out behind its many fishing boats, are shoulder to shoulder with some of the UK's most ingenious sea-food restuarants. Couple this with it's post-card-like aesthetic and gorgeous nearby beaches like Harlyn Bay and St George's Cove and you have a summer weekend away that you'll wish never had to end.
Our must-do activity in Padstow is dine at the Rick Stein Cafe. Ecclectic, Cooked to perfection, pricey and 'worth it' all describe a meal in this charming glass-fronted restaurant. Making sea food in Cornwall since 1975, the Stein family are famous for their contibutions to Padstow's notoriety and so it's only fair to go and check out why that might be when you're passing through.
Our Padstow selection for 2023 couldn't be closer to the beach or more perfect for a family getaway. This gem sleeps four at a great price and is already booking up quckly for the summer months!
(Photo Credit: @Port.Isaac on Instagram)
What can get lost in the vivid descriptions of how beautiful Cornwall's surfing and sea views are, is just how stunning the land is too. And in no place is this beauty and walking opertunity more abundant than around Port Isaac. Iwalkcornwall's guide to great walks around St Isaac is pages and pages long, and for good reason. Walks like St Endellion to Port Isaac , Port Gaverne to Barretts Zawn and Port Quin to Port Isaac are some of the most beuaituful in England and are all just a few minutes away if you holiday in this aesthetic port town.
Our Port Isaac pick is this idyllically located romantic cottage with hot tub. It's central, great for walks and surrounded by some of Cornwall's best views. Perfect for a couple's walking holiday.
(Photo Credit: @Cathers94 on Instagram)
Last but not least, we have the surfer holiday capital of the UK- Newquay. Covered in fantastic and established surf schools like SSS Surf School and Wavehunters, Newquay is the perfect location for new surfers to get their hang of the waves and for experienced individuals to meet an abundance of new surfing buddies.
Gorgeous beaches like Fistral Beach and Newquay Beach are definitely what brings so many people to this giant of the surfing world every summer, but the delectable restaurant options and original bars and clubs are what will keep you coming back. Restaurants like the Fistral Stable look like Miami every summer. Additionally, late night options like Whiskers and the Tom Thumb Cocktail Bar make amazing nights out for comedy and cocktails alike.
Newquay's real hidden gem however, is its golfing options. Check out a full list of it's best greens here.
Our pick for Newquay this summer is this to-die-for holiday cottage which is perfect for couples who want to partner romance, surfing and privacy.
And that's our list! Comment below what you thought of our picks and tag us on instagram (@select_cornwall) if you decide to take on one of these adventures.
