Cornwall Adventures…

Relax, Breathe, Explore. Has it really been 7 weeks since our Cornwall Adventures? Gosh I really should have shared these photos with you before now. And seriously how special is Cornwall? More specially the Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth area where we stayed. We had such an amazing week, not only because of the location and the weather but also because we holidayed with friends. George’s best friend came with us, it was so much fun travelling in convoy – like the good old days when I was a young girl. What a great week, we laughed so much, drank a lot, relaxed, ate good food and quite literally had the best week together. Its been years since we holidayed with friends, and back then there were no little people with us so a very different holiday altogether.

From the pasties of Cornwall to the waves of Newquay we adored our time on the Cornish coast and cannot wait to plan our next trip. A little slice of heaven, so beautiful and don’t you just love the Cornish accent and way of life. Around 4pm you could see waves of children heading for a surf after a day at school, how amazing would it be to live that close to the sea? Whilst we were away we had so many questions about where we stayed, the local area and recommendations for family friendly restaurants and beaches. And so I thought I would share our Cornwall Adventures with you in a few words and a whole bunch of photos…

Where we stayed…

We stayed in the Old Post Office Cottage – St Mawgan. What a gorgeous cottage and plenty big enough for two families. We were a little apprehensive booking a cottage online without a recommendation from a friend but actually we needn’t have been worried. It was so beautiful, newly refurbished, the owners had thought of absolutely everything you need and best of all there was parking too which wasn’t listed on the website. From the care package on arrival which included milk, butter, scones, clotted cream & jam to the decor, facilities and general comfort. We really were so so happy. And the location was perfect for visiting Watergate Bay (2 miles), Mawgan Porth (2 miles) and Newquay (15 mins).

Beaches…

Gosh, when it comes to beaches you really do have so many to choose from. They are literally at every turn. I’m sure we only skimmed the surface but as a must you have to visit Lusty Glaze for its surfing and stunning views, Watergate Bay for its surfing and amazing restaurants, Mawgan Porth for its breathtaking views, Fistral Beach for the sand dunes, St Ives for crabbing and let’s not forget Perranporth for its rock climbing. As a group we really didn’t enjoy how busy Newquay Town or Perranporth were however the beaches were beautiful and Perranporth in particular was great for the boys (big and small). I think if I had to choose a favourite it would have to be Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay. The boys favourites were St Ives and Perranporth. We were recommended others to visit but found ourselves gravitating towards Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay (and not just for the cocktails).

 

Eating out…

I have so much to say here, I hope you don’t mind? Firstly, we made use of the BBQ at our cottage most nights, perfect for lazy evenings after a busy day at the beach with the addition of a quick drink at The Falcon Inn before settling down to a Spatchcock chicken and Marshmallows. There is something about the sea air that knocks you out don’t you think? We mostly ate out during the day rather than of an evening as it suited us all better. As we ate in some lovely places I thought I would break it down by location for you as we ventured to a few different spots after a lot of research which definitely paid off.

St Ives…We stumbled across a gorgeous Vintage Food Van ‘Cornish Catch’ based on Smeatons Pier over Porthmeor Beach which served fresh fish. As soon as we saw it we just knew it would be special, and so it was. In particular the paella I had was divine and the salt & pepper squid George quaffed were outstanding.

Mawgan Porth… You have to visit Falcon Inn and St Mawgan Tearoom – both extremely popular and drew in crowds from outside of the area. The Cottage we stayed in was literally a 2-minute walk from both. The Tearoom has a shop attached to it which came in handy and the pub was a welcome break after our long journey on the day we arrived. With a spacious garden area you couldn’t wish for more, a space for the little ones to run free whilst the adults enjoyed a Gin. Family run with a gorgeous welcome, so warm and couldn’t help us enough. We ate in the pub on our first night, the food was superb and they were so accommodating and served us before the kitchen opened as we’d mentioned that we had been on the road since 5am. The Tearoom served the best cream tea I have ever tasted.

Watergate Bay… By far our favourite area as you have so much choice, all equally good in their own right. There are only 4 restaurants and this bay does get really busy so my biggest piece of advice would be to book in advance. We had cocktails at the Watergate Bay Hotel which is a must, quite swish but worth it for the views alone and the cocktails were pretty special too. We ate at The Beach Hut one lunch time, just WOW. Both the food and views were stunning. We also enjoyed cocktails one evening when the sun was going down. Mr H loved Wax. A much more relaxed setting where we enjoyed the views whilst filling our bellies on pizza’s, nacho’s and burgers. Such a great setting for children. I will say this about Cornish folk, they know how to make a cocktail! Where else, we tried to book into Jamie’s Fifteen for breakfast on our last day but sadly they were fully booked. It looked amazing. As there are only a few places on the beach to eat I would recommend you booking in at them all in advance to save disappointment.

 

 

 

Perranporth… quite simply fish & chips on the beach. As you are so close to the town we couldn’t resist the short walk back. And on the request of a little George Archie who had his second battered sausage of the holiday! We were also recommended The Watering Hole which is on the actual beach by a friend but couldn’t resist fish & chips alfresco style. Next time as the menu looked so good.

Newquay… Oh my goodness the Pizza & Rum Bar at Lusty Glaze Beach was such a treat. This beach was just a few minutes drive from Watergate Bay and is a huge MUST visit. A gorgeous restaurant nestled in a secluded, privately-owned cove. Take a walk down the infamous 133 steps, the Pizza Bar provides a gorgeous setting for seaside suppers and the sun setting. Eating freshly made pizza whilst drinking rum cocktails (diet coke for the boys) as the waves crashed against the sand was a pretty awesome way to spend an evening. I would go as far to say my most favourite evening of the holiday. I was mesmerised by the waves on this evening, they were huge and just created the best atmosphere.

And lastly Padstow… Rick Steins Fish Restaurant of course! A must, we actually ate in in the restaurant next to it which I would highly recommend although I would try to avoid 6pm and get there a little closer to 5pm to miss the rush. We queued for about 20 minutes and it was definitely worth the wait. The staff don’t rush you, are great with kids and offer a selection of desserts and alcohol! The manager was just lovely. We also visited Rick Stein’s cafe off one of the side streets but sadly we weren’t that impressed and wouldn’t visit again. The staff were quite rude and it just felt a little stuffy. There is so much choice in Padstow, so many gorgeous pubs to sit outside and watch the hustle and bustle of the busy streets. I just love little harbour villages.

And lastly lastly a few tips…

When in Cornwall you must learn to surf, go grabbing, climb rocks and run through sand dunes EVERY day. You must eat fish & chips, drink cocktails and of course enjoy a cream tea after every meal. Oh and whilst everyone is enjoying the water sports sneak off with your camera and walk across the many coastal paths that offer the most breathtaking views and gorgeous blue skies. I would also recommend hiring wetsuits, something we didn’t think about at first but boy did we need them the sea was blooming freezing. They were cheapest at Perranporth at only £2.50 for the day. If you are staying in a cottage don’t forget to arrange a food order for your arrival, we really struggled to get a time slot as their home deliveries just don’t seem to be that often in comparison to where we live – book one early. And lastly, don’t forget your camera, a battery and an extra memory card – snap snap snap.

I just loved capturing all the moments we shared together, even watching the boys wandering through the cobbled streets of St Ives with their crabs made me smile. Such simple pleasures. Is there anything better than when you are seven than holidaying with your best friend? Oh Cornwall you have stolen my heart and will forever be in the memory book. Thank you for the most awesome May half-term. For more information on the sights in Cornwall then do drop over to Visit Cornwall. We found this website so useful in our planning.