Walk with us from Rock to Polzeath in north Cornwall
13th July 2018
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Rock is located in north Cornwall, directly opposite Padstow with the Camel Estuary flowing in between. Boasting fantastic water conditions, Rock attracts avid watersport enthusiasts throughout the year. On this walk and from the balconies of both our Rock properties you’ll spot people kayaking, SUP safaris, water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing and more. You can even give it a try yourself.
The Ferry stop is just a few metres away and runs every 20 minutes to Padstow Harbour if you fancy a change of scenery without taking the car. In Padstow you’ll find Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Paul Ainsworth’s No6 and Rojano’s in the Square.
Follow the path left or right as you step out the door and you’ll be spoilt with an abundance of sophisticated eateries including No1 Rock Road, Nathan Outlaw’s Mariner’s Rock, The Dining Club and the Blue Tomato directly next door, all with views just like this.
Explore 7 mouth-watering restaurants to try while staying in Rock, each offering delectable dishes and unforgettable dining experiences along the Cornish coast.
To begin the walk, we head straight to the beach 40 metres away (simply cross the road) and turn right, making our way across the golden sands of Rock Beach. The estuary pictured below is now at low tide, leaving shallow crystal clear waters and plenty of spots to bathe and sit back with a good book.
Fancy staying in Rock, discover our Rock holiday properties.
If you want to enjoy this walk at high tide, jump on the coast path located at the bottom of the road, next to the car park.
At low tide, there is plenty of fun to be had, especially for families with little ones in tow. Jump the river, build a sandcastle and enjoy a refreshing wild sea swim. Keep your eyes peeled for not only fish, but one of the UK’s rarest and most protected mammals, the otter, which is often spotted on the Camel Estuary.
Follow our walk up and around the river bend and on a sunny day, it’ll feel like you’ve made it to the Caribbean.
Daymer Bay
A little further on, you’ll reach Daymer Bay. Known as one of the jewels in north Cornwall’s crown, this popular golden beach is backed by dunes giving it a more secluded feeling than its neighbouring beaches Rock and Polzeath. At low tide, as seen below, families often like to search for marine life, jump the rock pools and chase the waves.
As the tide rises, Daymer Bay becomes a haven for paddleboarders, bathers and kayakers. Below you will spot a grassy mound, which is known as Brea Hill. Give this a climb to be awarded with excellent views over the bays.
At the foot of the hill a little way from the beach is St Enodoc Church or Sinking Neddy as it is sometimes referred as. Often only spotted by those that know where to look, this Grade I listed church gives you a beautiful photo stop. You’ll also find here the prestigous St Enodoc’s Golf Course, considered to be 4th in the National Club Golfers Top 100 UK courses.
After a dip in the water and an ice cream, jump onto the South West Coast Path at the far end of the beach and begin to follow it around out towards the ocean, away from the car park.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by pretty shrubs, hopping bunnies and fantastic panoramic views across Daymer and out over the horizon. This is a lovely location for those who wish to sit back and watch the world go by or enjoy a spot of painting like this talented artist we met on our way.
We are now over half way to our destination – Polzeath.
When we reached Polzeath in just under two hours (with plenty of photo stops and paddles inbetween) we were instantly mesmerised be the flock of surfers, swimmers, paddleboarders and beach goers. This beach has a real buzz to it and a great place for active watersports. There is plenty of parking if you wish to drive and a superb selection of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Our favourite is ‘The Waterfront‘. Using only the best local quality ingredients the extensive menu serves delicious seafood, burgers, sandwiches snacks and more. They even have their very own herb garden, perfectly created for their brilliant cocktail menu. Guests have the option of sitting both inside or outside on the top terrace or decking, both with lovely sea views.
So there you have it, a wonderful walk from Rock to Polzeath. Give it a try and share your holiday snaps with us along the way using #beachretreats on Facebook and Instagram.
