Category: Attractions

Porth Beach, Cornwall

There’s a fresh energy in Porth… everyone seems to feel it. This village, just outside Newquay, is home to many beautiful holiday homes mixed with residents who live here year-round for their love of the outdoors.

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Here are five of our favourite things about being in Porth:

1. The Beach

Porth Beach
It’s beautiful to look at. Virtually every property in Porth has a sea view.

The beach is easily accessible from the road and a great place for kids to play. It’s got a great deal of shelter compared to many of the beaches nearby. Rock pools and a stream make it a perfect place to strike down for the day with little ones.

Uncover hidden coastal gems with our guide to six secret beaches in Cornwall, perfect for your next secluded seaside adventure.

2. Location and access

Porth is an excellent place to be based to explore the north coast of Cornwall. If you choose to fly to Newquay airport, you have access to some of the best places from here without needing a car. Stunning coastal walks towards Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth are a perfect way to spend a day. Turn the other way and Newquay town is just a sort stroll away.

If walking is not your thing, a bus runs through Porth regulary, connecting you to the rest of Cornwall.

3. Porth Island blow hole

Porth island can be accessed by a narrow footbridge. Here you’ll find the remains of a prehistoric settlement. At the end of the island there is a blow hole which is quite spectacular on windy days and best seen at mid-tide.

4. For Swimmers

Unlike some of the wilder beaches, Porth beach is known to be a safer beach for swimming. Ideal for the children to play in the sea, or for keen swimmers to do some laps. Surfing isn’t allowed in the summer, so no worries of them getting in the way.

If you do fancy a surf – Whipsiderry beach – voted in the top 20 beaches in Europe – is only a few minutes walk away.

5. Roo’s Beach/great coffee

Roo's Beach

OK, we’re a bit biased here. Porth is not a shopping centre, but there is one really good shop. It’s ours. We love being in Porth as everyone seems to pass here at some point, which means we get lots of people stopping in.

There’ll be excellent coffee right next to the beach, so there’s a good start of your day guaranteed

COME AND STAY

Guest post from Michele at Roo’s Beach.

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Things to do this October half term in Cornwall

Halloween is the theme this October half term in Cornwall.

If you and your family are coming to Cornwall this October half term we’ve got you covered. With so much going on in the county it’s hard to know what to do, but we’ve narrowed it down to five great half-term activities that the kids and grown-ups will love!

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1. Eden Project

Halloween is also the theme at the Eden Project this half term, where kids can make potions, protection charms, carve pumpkins and learn about creatures of the night. On Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th October, Eden Project will be hosting the Little Monsters’ Ball ; get your fancy dress on and join them for a fang-tastic evening with a boneshaking disco on the ice rink. Buy your tickets here: http://www.edenproject.com/

Halloweden, Eden Project

2. Maritime Museum, Falmouth

Enter the world of search and resuce and discover the real life experiences of men and women saving lives on the Cornish coast. Climb aboard a Sea King helicopter, explore a lifeboat and hit the ‘beach’ on a quad bike. On October 31st children are invited to explore the museum by torch light, make monster masks and bloodcurdling badges from 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Buy your tickets here: http://www.nmmc.co.uk/

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3. Visit a National Trust event

Godolphin is hosting ‘Halloween Happenings’; join the spooky spiders and wicked witches in their activities throughout the garden on 26th October from 10am.
Or join Lanhydrock for a spooky trail; follow the clues around the gardens to win a prize. 26th – 31st October from 10am – 4pm.
But if you are ready for a fright visit Cothele, from 6pm on 26th October, and explore the ‘haunted’ house and meet paranormal members of Devon’s undiscovered. Remember to bring a torch.
More events and information here.

4. Explore one of 200 beaches

Cornwall has over 200 beaches to discover all with different qualities. Check out the beaches close to your Beach Retreats home such as Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth and let us know what you find in the rockpools and sea caves. Or take to the water for a surf lesson; autumn is a great time of year to learn to surf, the water is warm and the surf is clean and consistent.

Start November with a bang by exploring the best local firework displays for Bonfire Night, offering spectacular shows and festive fun for the whole family.

King of the Castles

From the birthplace of King Arthur to Henry VIII’s chain of formidable fortresses, a world-famous 12th-century island fortification to striking ancient strongholds, take a trip back in time with some of our favourite castles in Cornwall.

Tintagel Castle, Tintagel

Perched on the rugged, sea-lashed cliffs of the North Cornwall coast, these dramatic ruins are said to have been the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. With settlements here dating back at least as far as the late Roman period, this iconic place is steeped in history and it’s easy to imagine yourself part of the mythology as you navigate the steep, craggy paths and explore the mysterious nearby Merlin’s Cave.

Pendennis Castle & St Mawes Castle, Falmouth

Like grand, twin gate posts marking the entrance to the Carrick Roads from the open sea, Pendennis Castle in Falmouth and St Mawes Castle, on the opposite headland, are some of the best preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses. Built in the mid 16th century to help guard against attack from France and Spain, their fascinating story continues up to the 20th century when they saw significant action during the First and Second World Wars. Take in both castles in one day using the hourly ferry service across the Fal estuary.

Check out more of what Falmouth has to offer by staying in one of our bespoke retreats in Falmouth.

St Michael’s Mount, Penzance

Surely one of the most recognisable castles in all of the UK, the sight of St Michael’s Mount emerging from the mists of Mounts Bay on a crisp winter’s day is stunning to witness. The craggy island, completely cut off from the mainland at high tide, is home to a magnificent medieval church and castle as well as a small residential community. Cross the cobbled causeway to start your adventure, catch the boat if the path has disappeared under the waves, or simply sit and soak up the fantastic view over a cream tea in nearby Marazion village.

Carn Brea Castle, nr Redruth

You’ll be hard pushed to find a castle experience quite like Carn Brea. This imposing 14th century building, which seems to grow directly from the giant outcrop visible from many miles around, was given its current facelift in the 18th century when it was modelled into a folly-like hunting lodge. Rather unbelievably, the castle is now home to a Middle Eastern restaurant where you can dine by candlelight enclosed by the thick granite walls and warm welcome of a genuine Cornish castle.

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Discover perfect large self-catering family holiday lets for summer, offering spacious accommodations and unforgettable experiences along the Cornish coast.

Food and Farm shops in Cornwall

Fish often hogs the limelight when it comes to Cornish food, but the county produces noteworthy foods across the spectrum. The growing interest in local, seasonal produce has been a godsend to Cornish farmers and many of them have developed swanky farm shops that are a far cry from the rough-and-ready, barely-converted barns of times past.

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One of the most exciting is Lobbs, next to the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This farm shop is so inviting and attractive it can make your average supermarket look tired and shabby. A big proportion of what’s on display comes directly from the farm next door. The meat is reared here, on feed grown on the farm too. The vegetables have that just-picked quality – because that’s exactly what they are. You’ll find a lot more than the essentials here, everything from biscuits and home-made cakes to Cornish cheeses and real ales, pies baked on the premises to classic hogs pudding. If you’re visiting Heligan, don’t leave without dropping in to Lobbs.

On the north coast is the equally worthy Padstow Farm Shop. There’s something about the fact that the vegetables here were grown in a Victorian walled garden that seems to make them taste better. Beef comes from Ruby Red Devon cattle and the pork is often from a heritage breed such as Saddleback or Tamworth. And you just can’t leave without a pack of the Padstow Pasta, made with durum wheat grown on the farm here, milled at the Cornish Mill and Bakehouse near Newquay and then made on the premises in Padstow – where you can watch it in progress.

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Supermarkets tend to be much the same wherever you go – it’s a chore whether you’re at home or on holiday. The Kingsley Village Food Hall, a few miles outside Newquay, is stocked with enough novel produce to make a weekly shop a tad more interesting. A proper butcher, a fishmonger with seasonal seafood landed at Newlyn and an incredible bakery and patisserie section are the stars of the show, but don’t miss the wide choice of Cornish wines and beers.

While we’re on the subject of alcohol, the Camel Valley vineyard, between Wadebridge and Bodmin, has been putting the noses of French champagne makers out of joint with their multi-award winning Camel Valley Brut; you can buy this delectable fizz by the bottle or the case from the vineyard’s cellar door, but even better to make an afternoon of it with a vineyard tour and a tasting session on the veranda overlooking the vines.

Experience the true flavours of Cornwall with our guide to eating local on your self-catering holiday, indulging in fresh, seasonal delights straight from the source.

Explore further

Lobbs Farm Shop
Heligan, St Ewe, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6EN, Tel. 01726 844411

Padstow Farm Shop
Trethillick Farm, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8HJ, Tel. 01841 533060

Kingsley Village
Penhale, Fraddon, Cornwall, TR9 6NA. Tel. 01726 861111

Camel Valley Vineyard
Nanstallon, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 5LG, Tel. 01208 77959