About PadstowWelcome to Padstow on the north cornish coast! Padstow is a small harbourside town situated mid way up the north cornish coast near to the mouth of the River Camel. Famous for it's ancient annual Obby Oss festival and a whole lot more too! The town of Padstow is superbly placed for the perfect holiday, whether this be the traditional two week stay or for a short get away weekend. Boasting many local attractions and activities you are sure to find this little town a delight to the senses whatever your age - there really is something here for everyone, young and old alike.
Fresh fish of course is not the only superb cuisine offered on the menu's here, but if this is your choice, for local flavour and sea salt freshness from the morning catch, Padstow and it's environs certainly serves up some of the finest dishes you will find anywhere, including of course, squid, lobster, turbot, bass, salmon etc. On approaching the town of Padstow, upon driving down the hill to the harbour itself, one of the first sights you will be greeted with will be the National Lobster Hatchery. Their vision is to actively promote and contribute to responsible management of our coastal marine resources and to act as resource for education, conservation and research. The heart of the National Lobster Hatchery work is their lobster restocking project. Local fishermen themselves bring in "pregnant" female lobsters, to give their offspring the best possible chance of rearing the young lobsters in captivity where there are no predators. Once the young lobsters are mature enough, they are then released back into the wild, in their natural habitat. Visiting the National Lobster Hatchery is really quite an enjoyable experience where you can learn about these marvelous sea creatures. There are also conference and educational facilities available also at the centre whose marine laboratories unlike many marine science establishments are completely viewable by the visiting public. From the above location, you can from here walk into the actual harbour area itself where you can either sit idly lazing away a few hours watching the boats and yachts come and go as the tide rises and falls, or meander at gentle leisure around the harbourside shops, pubs, galleries and gift shops. If you lucky enough to visit in the evening, you may just catch the Camelford Brass Band playing a catchy jingle or two which really is a very relaxing way to spend some time. Another attraction whilst here is the Cinedrome or local tiny cinema just set back from the harbour. This is situated on Lanadwell Street, just opposite the Golden Lion pub. It is a case literally of walking for no more than a few seconds from the harbour, car parking is available on the quay. This Cinedrome was first opened in 1919 as a music hall and theatre for the local residents. In the year 1924 it was converted into a cinema to show silent movies, accompanied by a piano. Operated by the WTW Cinema Group since 1947, today it is open during the school holiday's and the summer season. In recent years the cinema has been renovated losing none of it's wonderful charm. Renamed The Cinedrome in 1997, it boasts Dolby Digital Stereo Sound, a new larger screen and has seating for 153 guests. On the subject of film and tv series, you might be interested to know and/or read about some of the films that Padstow and it's surroundings have played a backdrop starring role in, in recent years. Doc Martin: The first series was aired on the ITV network in 2004 with a second in 2005, a christmas Special in 2006 with a third series showing on air in 2007 starring Martin Clunes. Echo Beach was filmed at Watergate Bay, starring Martine McCutcheon and Jason Donovan, this was aired on ITV1 in early 2008. And who could forget the famous Poldark television series? This classic 1970's tv series first aired in 1975. A story line you may indeed remember involving tin mining in Cornwall which was set against the rugged cornish scenery, this series at the time made for very compelling viewing.
Certainly this area of Cornwall has a really incredible coastline and no visit to Padstow is amiss without a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Bedruthan Steps. Here you can while away the hours on the cool breeze cliff top admiring the exquisite scenery below or stroll or sit on the beach of fine golden sands. The choice of coves and beaches in this part of the county are simply too numerous to go into here in detail, rest assured though that the beaches are very clean, safe for children, the water quality is excellent and the views are something to die for. If action is your thing, Padstow and the areas around here serve up a simply stunning amount of water-sports activities, from surfing to sailing to water skiing, you name it, it all within very easy reach from this highly popular location, or for the less adventurous, how about a relaxing boat trip either up the River Camel or across to the other side of the river to the village of Rock, nick named by locals Chelsea on the Sea, for it's very expensive homes and residences. Again from here the choice of activities and beaches is truly bewildering. Padstow really does have something for everyone! Let's not forget the Obby Oss ancient annual festival. The first day of May is Obby Oss day in Padstow. The origins of this very traditional celebration are lost in the mists of time, however it is thought that it is an ancient celebration to bring in the arrival of spring or it could be also that it is an ancient fertility festival according to the celtic calendar. Obby Oss day takes place on May 1st ever year unless the day happens to fall on a Sunday, when it is then pushed forwards to the next day - May 2nd. The whole town turns out rather splendidly for this remarkable celebration and festival with flags and colour and music festooning the streets among a cacophony of sound and general jubilance, accompanied of course by many pints supplied by the local public houses. This is not to say that this is not very much a very good family day out, for it most certainly is that and if you are visiting this part of Cornwall around this time of the year, you definitely do not want to miss out on seeing this great spectacle celebration. The inhabitants of Padstow, those born in the town, traditionally dress in white for this day, with family loyalties dictating whether they follow the Red original Oss or the Blue peace Oss. Both Oss' are very similar in appearance and perform a dancing ritual accompanied by a hypnotic folk song which is completely unique to Padstow, around the town. The celebrations start first with the Blue Oss at 10am, the Red Oss coming out of their respective stable at 11am, celebrations 'end' officially some 12 hours or so later at 10pm, so a very full day of entertainment is assured for all. Accommodation in Padstow comes in many shapes and sizes from new apartments to large hotels to traditional cornish cottages either in the town itself, or in the countryside surrounding the town, please have a look around our website for further details. For places to visit around Padstow, here are our personal recommendations, all of these locations are available within a short and easy stress free drive of the town. First up is Trevone Bay. The wide sweeping expanse of sand at Trevone Bay is sure to delight you and quite take your breath away. Perfect for a family day out, a stroll holding hands along the beach, sipping wine together on the cliff tops or simply quiet solitude and contemplation, Trevone Bay as with many other similar locations in Cornwall is sure to bring a smile to your face no matter the time of year. You are guaranteed the most stunning of world class scenery and views in this part of Cornwall, which has attracted writers and artists of all ages for many, many years.
Boscastle as you likely know was on the news a couple of years ago for the very bad flash flooding incident, which stranded on the rooftops, many of the local residents and visitors alike. Do not be put off though from visiting this absolutely adorable and charming village location, on the coast, which has also been featured on the television quite a lot of late. Boscastle really is a most idyllic spot and a stroll through the harbour area is without doubt, one of the most relaxing places you can visit to unwind the normal stresses of life. Lovingly renovated in the traditional style since the flash flood, if anything this natural disaster has brought the local residents into an even closer bond with each other than ever before, certainly the sense of community spirit and survival here is very strong and is a joy to witness with your own eyes. The lure of Bodmin Moor is also but a short driving distance away. Perhaps you have read Daphne de Maurier's famous novel Jamaica Inn? This is right in the very heart of the this wild and windswept desolate place. Having said that, there are parts of the moor which are rather extraordinarily beautiful, it just depends upon your outlook. Parts of this area remind you of Cornwall in a bygone era. WWll history buffs might want to visit Davidstow Airport which during the second world war was a base for mixed nationalities including the Americans, Polish etc. There is a museum you can visit there to learn more about this place in history, the runways are still intact, although in a decidedly run down condition, the whole site and area has now been dedicated as a site of special scientific interest. Very close by is the exceptionally beautiful Crowdy Reservoir, a little known, stunningly beautiful part of the moor, not really that well known even to other residents of Cornwall. Walking here is peaceful nature personified, visiting in spring time is an absolute must with the lambs in the fields and the wild horses and ponies with their foal. The backdrop is simply fantastic, reminding one of the country of Austria. Padstow is ideally placed therefore in this part of Cornwall, delivering a vast array of attractions for all ages and all levels of physical fitness. Bracing, exhilarating and stimulating sea winds off season, cooling soft breezes during the height of summer, beaches galore, superb restaurants, watersports to tire you endlessly, boats trips to view the quite breathtaking and wonderful scenery, gorgeous accommodation - what more could you ask for? Padstow delivers all of this and much much more. Please do explore our website to find out more about this fascinating area. |
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Perhaps the allure of the south west coast path attracts you? If so, along the rugged and majestic coastline here, you are sure to find many cliff top walks that will quite literally take your breath away, in more ways than one! Famous for it's fine fish restaurants, not to mention the two most famous restaurants of all, Rick Stein and Fifteen owed by the legendary TV presenter and chef Jamie Oliver, the dishes here are sure to set your fishy taste buds alight in delectably delicious anticipation, satisfying the most hungry of rumbling tummy's. Of couse, there are many other excellent local eateries to choose from either on the harbourside itself or in the higgledy piggledy back streets just off the harbour of this fine cornish coast town.
Several other films have also been produced close by, not least of which was the very funny Saving Grace which was filmed in the 