At the heart of this coastal town lies Padstow Harbour. The area’s highlights include the Camel Trail, St Petroc’s Church, Prideaux Place and the Padstow May Day celebrations. You can shape your stay around outdoor activities, history, local traditions or landscape.
Camel Trail and Walking
The Camel Trail is an 18-mile multi-use trail between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. It is mostly traffic-free, surfaced and almost flat. The trail is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users. Its length and range of uses make it a destination in its own right when planning a trip. Bikes can be hired in Padstow for the trail; as availability may change, check the licensed providers before travelling.
Another option on foot is the walk from Padstow to Harlyn Bay. It starts at Padstow Harbour. This gives you different ways to get active: a multi-use trail passing through four named places and a walk with a clearly designated starting point at the harbour.
Estuary and Landscape
The Camel Estuary stretches from Padstow and Rock to Wadebridge and is one of only two inland sections of Cornwall’s National Landscape. The estuary thus shapes a landscape that encompasses several places. From the grounds of Prideaux Place, there are views across the old Deer Park and the Camel Estuary to Rock and Bodmin Moor. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between the estuary’s wider landscape and the specific views from the grounds.
Church History in Padstow
St Petroc’s Church has a long history at its site: three churches have stood there over the course of more than fourteen centuries. The present church replaced the second church on this site around 1425. These two details mark different points in its history: the development over many centuries and the construction of the present church in the fifteenth century.
Padstow May Day
The Padstow May Day celebrations have retained a distinctive character that sets them apart. Friendly rivalry between two committed groups helps preserve this tradition for the future. The exact annual programme may vary; if you want to plan your trip around a particular year’s festivities, check the relevant event dates.
Prideaux Place and the Walled Garden
The family who built Prideaux Place have lived there since 1592. The house combines Elizabethan, Strawberry Hill Gothic and Georgian styles. This mix can be understood as an interplay of different architectural periods, rather than assigning Prideaux Place to just one era. Views from the grounds extend beyond the Deer Park to the Camel Estuary, Rock and Bodmin Moor.
Prideaux Walled Garden is a historic walled garden in the heart of Padstow. It opened for the first time in 30 years in July 2023. This marks a clearly dated turning point in the garden’s history. If you would like to include the garden in your travel plans, check current visitor information in advance.
Marine Conservation, Wildlife Watching and Getting There
The National Lobster Hatchery carries out marine conservation work aimed at strengthening wild lobster stocks in the seas. Padstow Sealife Safaris offers boat trips and wildlife tours on the water. The two activities have different focuses: one centres on protecting wild lobsters, while the other is about watching wildlife on the water. Tour offerings may change; check the provider’s latest information before travelling.
Padstow is accessible by public transport via the main line from London to Bodmin Parkway, followed by a bus. As transport services may change, check current connections before travelling. This lets you plan your journey using the connection that suits you, while your choice of activities in the area can depend on the topics that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Duloe, Lezant, Cawsand, Callington, Saint Stephen, Maxworthy, Saint Gennys, Lelant.
Go to the main travel overview: Cornwall.
