Category: Like a local

Walk through – Bude

Just a ten-minute drive along the winding coast road from Widemouth Bay is Bude – a surprise gem of a town. Join us on our walk-through.

Arriving in Bude via the windy coastal road from Widemouth Bay is worth the trip alone, but families will be surprised just how much there is to do in this small seaside town in North Cornwall.

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Bude Tourist Information Centre is a good place to set off from, with plenty of parking and the canal and waterfront within a short walking distance. Bude TIC can book any number of activities on offer, such as surfing, SUPping, sailing, windsurfing, archery, rock climbing and lots more – take a look.

We’re immediately drawn to the waterfront lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. Allow yourself time sit back, relax and take in the slower pace of life.

Bude sea pool

Bude Farmer’s Market runs every Friday throughout Summer from 10am-3pm – a fantastic little market held on the Green overlooking with waterfront with a selection food producers, craft makers and florists regularly attending.

Rowing boats and pedalos can be hired along the Canal, perfect for a leisurely few hours on the water or for finding your own picnic spot. Cycling is also popular with a number of recommended cycle routes to Widmeouth Bay, north to Northcott Mouth and inland to the villages of Stratton and Marhamchurch.

It’s hard not to miss the tall towers of Bude Castle. Formerly the home of Victorian inventor Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, The Castle is now a heritage centre with exhibition galleries, an archive with research facilities, an education room, shop and restaurant which overlooks the water out to sea.

Onwards and Summerleaze is a beach that can keep all visitors happy. There’s crabbing on the beach into the Canal, nice right-hand waves for longboarders, a sea pool for swimmers seeking shelter from the Atlantic, and pretty pastel beach huts which you can hire for the day from Bude TIC.

Away from the water and walking into town from the top of the hill, there are plenty of shops to explore – it would be rude not to leave without some homemade fudge.

Fancy staying in Bude? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Bude.

Experience the magic of Christmas in Cornwall with our top five must-dos, from festive markets to enchanting National Trust gardens.

Walk through Cornwall | Carnewas & Bedruthan

Roughly halfway between Newquay and Padstow, just a few miles up the coast from Watergate Bay lies one of Cornwall’s most popular must-see spots.

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The wow factor doesn’t even begin to cover it, but this piece of coastline keeps itself well hidden from the road and as you first enter the car park. Take a short walk along the well-trodden paths, a mix of hard earth and cobbled routes, and you will be rewarded that are arguably some of the best views in Cornwall.

Welcome to Carnewas. These giant granite pillars viewed from the imposing cliff tops have been carved out by the relentless action of thousands years of wind and waves. It’s hard not to gaze across the scene and imagine shipwrecks and smugglers.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Bedruthan beach is accessed via a very steep staircase – not for the faint hearted. Here the golden sands are punctuated by beautiful green pools. Visitors are reminded to take care as the steps can be submerged for two hours around high tide.

A longer walk along the coast will take you to Diggory’s Island and Booby’s Bay – download one of the walks via the National Trust here

Carnewas at Bedruthan has also been recognised by the Science & Technology Facilities Council as a Dark Skies Discovery Site. Due to its location away from street lights and no man made obstructions, it’s a place to marvel at the stars and night sky.

The area is owned by the National Trust, who also run the car park (remember to take a couple of pounds with you), shop and a popular café to sit and take in what you’ve just seen. The buildings are a reminder of Carenwas’ industrial past when iron, copper and lead was mined from the cliffs.

Alternatively, pack some food and enjoy the grass-lined picnic benches.

Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps is just a five minute drive from our properties at Watergate Bay, including our Village properties.

Interested in finding out more about Newquay? Discover what to do in and around Newquay.

Beach Retreats hosts Food Tube

As an ambassador for Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation charity, Danny McCubbin is spreading the love of cooking and eating good food. We’ve picked some of our favourite video recipes from him, one of which was recently filmed in our Watergate Bay ‘Village’ properties.

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

 

Danny McCubbin has worked for Jamie Oliver for more than 10 years – four of them as his personal assistant. Unsurprisingly, it seems that cheeky Aussie Danny has absorbed Jamie’s enthusiasm and passion for food.

It’s something that’s become extremely important in Danny’s new role as an ambassador for Jamie’s Food Foundation. The charity is committed to shaping the health and wellbeing of current and future generations, by providing better access to food education for everyone.

As part of his work, Danny regularly travels the worlds and uploads video recipes of him cooking with various high-profile foodies to Jamie’s Food Tube channel – one of the largest food channels on You Tube.

As part of the FoodTube family, his travels recently took him to Watergate Bay and Fifteen Cornwall’s Spring Fayre. In between checking out the stalls and food demonstrations, he managed to squeeze in a new recipe filming at his home for the night, Buryan– one of our spectacular properties overlooking the beach.

Alternatively, want someone to cook for you? Check out our top 5 restaurants in Watergate Bay.

Easy Mint Sauce

This is such a simple recipe, perfect for Sunday roasts – especially some gorgeous lamb for Easter Sunday. Spot the lovely kitchen backdrop?

 

Kale salad with anchovy and lemon dressing

Danny teams up with organic fruit and veg box supplier Abel & Cole for this simple, tasty and healthy salad.

 

Soda Bread

One of Danny’s all-time favourite Ministry of Food recipes. If he can bake it, anyone can!

Hoxton Cheese Steak

Exactly what you think it is. Danny joins Fifteen Graduate Joe Gray to make one of Joe’s steak sandwich which he sells at Hoxton Market.

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Mawgan Porth’s Dark Age settlement

Did you know that behind the north-coast beach and village of Mawgan Porth lies the remains of an excavated Dark Age settlement? We got digging to find out more…

Mawgan Porth

Rewind to AD 850-1050 and you wouldn’t be the only people at Mawgan Porth. When a local landowner decided to build in the village almost 70 years ago, little did he know what he would uncover.

The discovery of a skeleton in 1928, north of the golf course, hinted at an archaeological treasure trove. A full-scale excavation in the 1950s unearthed something remarkable – a Dark Age settlement including three courtyard houses and a cemetery.

But we have more in common with these early Cornish residents than we may first think. Here, they opted for a south-facing slope with low houses built into the ground and turf roofs for shelter. Each of the three buildings found had a main living area featuring hearths and furnishing made of the local slate such as beds and cupboards.

These were fishermen and farmers who, according to excavations of shards of cooking pots, cooked and ate great quantity of mussels and fish.

Other artefacts unearthed include bone combs, knife blades and nails. Animal bones also reveal that the settlers kept livestock such as Celtic ox, sheep and goats, but they also kept dogs and cats. All very familiar really.

The site was probably abandoned in the eleventh century and it’s likely that blown sand engulfed the site and made life unmanageable here. But their story may be far from over. The settlement is still ripe for further exploration, with parts still to be excavated.

More information can be found in leaflets available from the village store, Cornish Fresh.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a swimming pool? Check out our cottages with a swimming pool for a relaxing getaway.

Take a look at our properties available to rent in Mawgan Porth and book your stay today.

Want to have a look at other locations in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Discover adrenaline-pumping adventures and unforgettable experiences with Newquay’s wild activities.

Beach Retreats visited the unassuming shop on Cornwall’s north-coast to find out more and sample its famous saffron heavy cake as seen on TV.

The secret is out about this unassuming bakery. We visited one of its flagship shops on Cornwall’s north coast to find out more, and to sample some of its famous saffron-heavy cake as featured on TV, of course.

Take a stroll into Portreath village centre and you’d be forgiven for walking straight past Portreath Bakery. But you’d be missing a treat if you did.

Established by Marion Symonds in 1988, the family-owned business has gone strength to strength, now offering much more than the humble – although fantastic – Cornish pasty.

The bakery sources all of its ingredients locally, adding eggs, meat and vegetables, who have been a supplier for more than 20 years.

Over the years the bakery has featured on various television programmes alongside Hugh Scully and ‘Two Fat Ladies’ and has also been personally recommended by Rick Stein’s book ‘Food Heroes’ and Carolyn Martin’s book ‘Our Daily Bread’.

Their famous saffron heavy featured on a recent television programme, Britain’s Best Bakery, where the judges remarked on how moist and fruity it was.

Cornish pastry facts

    • Heavy cake was originally taken to sea as sustenance for sailors, including Marion’s uncle Gordon Greenslade who is now in his 101st year and still living in Portreath
    • Pasties were originally invented by housewives for their husbands to take down the mine and typically had a savoury and sweet end
    • Miners would hold the pasty by the crimp throw this away at the end to avoid eating the arsenic that was on their hands
    • Housewives marked their husband’s initials on the left-hand side of the pastry to avoid any confusion at lunchtime
    • Miners often saved this corner of their pasty for a ‘knocker’ or mischievous elves who were believed to cause bad luck

Portreath Bakery is 30-minute drive down the coast from Newquay. Visit www.portreathbakery.co.uk for more information.

Elevate your beach BBQ game with expert tips and tricks on perfecting a beach BBQ with our guide!

Fancy staying in Portreath? Check out our Portreath holiday retreats.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

Swim Club | Day membership at Watergate Bay

If all the excitement of Christmas and New Year has left you feeling a little weary, then a bit of ‘you time’ at Watergate Bay Hotel’s Swim Club could be just the ticket.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a swimming pool? Check out our cottages with a swimming pool for a relaxing getaway.

Watergate Bay Hotel, swimming pool.
Winter day membership for Watergate Bay Hotel’s Swim Club allows non-guests to experience the award-winning secluded surroundings to do as little or as much as they want.

Over selected dates this winter, you’ll have access to all of Swim Club’s facilities, the choice between a two course lunch in The Beach Hut or The Living Space and a 60 minute treatment all for £80. Treatments for 90 minutes are also available for £100.

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

Swim Club includes:

  • 25m infinity swimming pool
  • Cliff terraces with hot tub
  • A 60 minute treatment in one of our treatment rooms
  • Sea-view manicure & pedicure snug
  • Cardio room
  • Studio
  • Café-bar
  • Ocean room

Winter day membership dates

Available from:

  • Monday 3 November to Friday 19 December*
  • Monday 19 January to Friday 13 February*
  • Monday 23 February to Friday 27 March*

*excluding weekends and only available to over 18’s

To book your day or to buy gift vouchers, please contact Swim Club on 01637 861237 or email swimclub@watergatebay.co.uk

For more information, visit www.watergatebay.co.uk/swim-club/membership/

Explore sensory swims along the Cornish coast, where each dip offers a refreshing and rejuvenating experience amidst stunning natural landscapes.

Walk Through Falmouth, Cornwall

Back on the South coast of Cornwall, we visited Falmouth, a port on the River Fal. Known for its vibrant culture, Falmouth offers visitors the best of food and drink, retail therapy and stunning views.

Starting on the high street we took in all of the shops and indulged in a little retail therapy. From traditional Cornish stores to art galleries and vintage clothing shops, Falmouth has something for everyone.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

After our fill of shops and cafes, we took a seat beside the harbour to watch the boats go by. Flanked on one side by the Maritime Museum it was the perfect place to soak up the afternoon sun.

The National Maritime Museum is a fascinating place to visit if you have time. It’s mission is to promote an understanding of boats and their place in people’s lives, and of the maritime heritage of Cornwall.

After watching the boats go by we wandered over to Gyllyngvase beach. It was slightly overcast but that never put the Cornish off a day at the beach. Families were building sandcastles, eating ice cream and looking around the gardens nearby.

Discover Swell in Falmouth, our staff pick of the month, where contemporary design meets coastal charm for the perfect Cornish retreat.

Chasing the sun we noticed a bright blue sky over Flushing, a coastal village opposite Falmouth. We raced around the bay and sat on the wall soaking up the summer sun with the best view of Falmouth.

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

Walk Through – Fowey, Cornwall

We pronounce it ‘Foy’ to rhyme with joy!

Fowey marks the first, of many, walk-through we’ll be covering on the South coast of Cornwall. Halfway between Plymouth and Falmouth, Fowey is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems. Tiny streets, tall houses, bunting and boats sum up this quintessential Cornish harbour.

Sparkling blue water peeks through the houses as we walk down the steep slopes of School Hill.

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Trickling down into the town are a steady flow of locals and visitors, taking in the boutique shops and eagerly carrying their crabbing equipment, excited to get the best spot along the harbour.

In the town centre familiar shops like Sea Salt and Joules make you feel at home, whilst the boutique shops like Whistlefish Gallery entice you into the creative world of Cornish art and craft.

But once again it’s the great Cornish food that brings Fowey to life. Here is the home of the famous Sam’s Bistro and Lifebouy Cafe, along with the customary bakeries and fish n’ chip shops.

Wherever you chose to stop for food, chances are you’ll be looking out over the River Fowey, a haven for seafaring vessels. Over the centuries the River Fowey was hugely significant to worldwide trade, dating back to the medieval era when Fowey was a major port for trading Cornish tin. The Fowey harbour also participated in significant naval warfare, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada. But it’s in the 1400s when Fowey men were most notorious across Europe, for their piracy!

Experience unforgettable days paddleboarding along the Cornish coast, where crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery create the perfect backdrop for adventure and relaxation.

These days you can take a boat trip around the harbour and learn all about Fowey’s history, and take a ‘float’ by Daphne du Maurier’s holiday home where she wrote her first novel The Loving Spirit. 

Illustrator Mabel Lucie Attwell also took inspiration for Fowey, having lived in Polruan, opposite, and Fowey until her deal in 1964. Ferries run every approximately every 15 minutes to Polruan.

Discover coastal charm of Fowey, South Cornwall, with Beach Retreats.

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.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

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.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Pubs with Music and Comedy in Cornwall

Driftwood Spars, St Agnes

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The Driftwood Spars on the coast in St Agnes has a more traditional pub feel and has been putting on live music for almost 50 years. With everything from folk to reggae, the Driftwood Spars have hosted bands that went on to become household names, such as Reef and Feeder – so you may well be seeing the next big thing as you sip your pint. The food here has a good reputation, too – and they’ve even got their own microbrewery so real ale fans will be happy.

Check out more of St Agnes and explore our luxury St Agnes holiday cottages. 

Driftwood Spars, St Agnes

Driftwood Spars
Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0RT, Tel. 01872 552 428

 

Less formal still are Thursday evenings at the Bowgie Inn near Newquay. The weekly jam session is a lucky dip of style and quality, but you might just be treated to a real gem. It’s a venue that’s popular with locals and visitors alike; a pint at one of the garden tables overlooking Crantock beach always makes a good sundowner.

Bowgie Inn, Newquay

The Bowgie Inn
West Pentire, Crantock, Cornwall, TR8 5SE, Tel. 01637 830363

 

The Blue Bar, on the beach at Porthtowan, holds regular comedy nights throughout the year, usually on the last Thursday of the month. The acts can be edgy, so it’s definitely an over-18 door policy. The Blue Bar is relaxed and friendly, there’s a good menu, an even better view and tables outside if the weather is being kind.

Blue Bar, Porthtowan

Blue Bar
Eastcliff, Beach Road, Porthtowan, Cornwall, TR4 8AW, Tel. 01209 890 329

Looking for a fantastic restaurant in Cornwall? Check out some of our favourite restaurants with stunning sea views.