North Cornwall >> Towns >> Towns and Villages

Altarnun
Located on the edge of Bodmin Moor, Altarnun lies in one of Cornwall’s prettiest valleys and is perfectly located for exploration of the north Cornish coast and Dartmoor. The wild beauty of Bodmin Moor is right on the doorstep, with plenty of excellent walking and panoramic views from the many rocky tors that fill the skyline. Classic granite architecture dominates the village itself, including the rectory which is featured in Daphne du Maurier’s novel ‘Jamaica Inn’, and a 15th century packhorse bridge spans the river that runs through the village.

Boscastle
One of the few sheltered harbours on the north coast, Boscastle became famous in 2004 due to the devastating floods that swept through the village. The community has recovered remarkably well, and Boscastle is once more a thriving resort and a lovely village to visit.

Bude
Bude is a buzzing family resort, known for its sprawling, sandy beaches and good surf breaks. Some of Bude’s original Victorian architecture remains, while there are plenty of contemporary attractions to enjoy too.

Camelford
Camelford is an ancient Cornish market town through which the Camel river runs on its way to the coast at Padstow. The town itself has a good selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants, but it is perhaps Camelford’s surroundings that are the real draw here. Walkers are in heaven when they venture just outside Camelford to explore the moorland and climb two of Cornwall’s highest points, the tors of Brown Willy and Rough Tor; an extinct volcano. For the less energetic, a stroll along the river banks through Enfield Park is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Crantock
The village of Crantock is surrounded by miles of coastal paths and stunning beaches. With picturesque thatched cottages, an art gallery, an antique shop and tea rooms the village itself is delightful. The River Gannel flows out at Crantock Beach from a mile-long estuary. An important site for native and migrating birds the area is a haven for wildlife.

Newquay
Arguably the liveliest town on the north coast, Newquay caters for young revellers and families alike. Great surfing, lots of busy pubs and cafes and a hub for surf lifestyle shopping.

Padstow
Padstow is perhaps best known as the home of one of Britain’s best-loved celebrity chefs, Rick Stein. Alongside the many fabulous places to eat that Padstow boasts you’ll find unique shops, friendly pubs and a busy, fun atmosphere.

Perranporth
Tin mining was once the raison d’etre of Perranporth but now it is more famous for surfing and sand yachting. Relaxation is the principal activity here and with miles upon miles of sand to play on, it’s not difficult to unwind in Perranporth. Away from the beach, Perranporth has a lively music scene with bands performing every weekend at the Watering Hole, a popular pub, and an annual celebration of folk music, the Lowender Perran Festival each autumn.

Polzeath
Perfect surf, a broad sandy beach and seafood cafes serving fresh local fish – Polzeath is the kind of Cornish seaside village that children dream of. Hire a board and wetsuit and head for the waves, mooch along the cliffpaths and enjoy the rugged north Cornish coastline, shop in the boutique surf stores that line the single street or simply lay out your towel and catch some sun – Polzeath was made for relaxation.

Port Gaverne
This sweet harbour village is a near neighbour of the better-known Port Isaac; it has just as much classic Cornish character yet remains relatively free of crowds in the summer. At low tide a small sandy beach is revealed along with rockpools that trap countless crabs, shrimps and tiny fish, providing hours of entertainment for children. Away from the beach, the whitewashed Port Gaverne Hotel tempts visitors with local seafood cooked to perfection.

Port Isaac
You might well recognise some of Port Isaac’s winding lanes and its harbour; the port has long been a star of both the big and small screens, most notably in ‘Doc Martin’ and ‘Saving Grace’. This is Cornwall at its most quaint with streets so steep and narrow that in many places cars simply don’t fit. For a great meal of fresh fish landed at Port Isaac’s harbour, the Edge Restaurant is a brilliant choice and somehow those panoramic views out to sea from the tables add to the flavour.

Portreath
Despite having a good sandy beach, a pretty harbour with bobbing fishing boats and a selection of places to eat, Portreath has somehow escaped the commercial excesses of tourism. Popular with surfers, Portreath at high tide can be quite a spectacle with body boarders hurling themselves into the waves generated by the harbour wall, known locally as the ‘Vortex’. If you’d like to explore away from the beach, less than two miles from Portreath is Tehidy Country Park with 250 acres of woodland and trails.

St Agnes
St Agnes lies in the heart of Cornwall’s mining heritage; all along the coast here you’ll see old mining engine houses rising from the cliffs. The steep and narrow streets here are lined with almost unbearably quaint, higgledy-piggledy cottages.

Wadebridge
Popular among cyclists (Wadebridge sits right on the Camel Trail), Wadebridge also draws many for its unique shops and cafes. The River Camel sweeps majestically through Wadebridge; along its banks, ‘twitchers’ can be seen excitedly spotting any number of wading bird varieties, including herons.

Welcombe
The majority of those holidaying in North Devon never stumble across Welcombe, yet they are missing out on one of the area’s prettiest villages. Straddling a deep valley, Welcombe is divided by a stream which winds its way to the cliff edge and drops to the sea in a picturesque waterfall. A few miles down the coast is Bude, with half a dozen beaches and pubs, cafes and restaurants galore, but the idyllic atmosphere of Welcombe may prove difficult to leave.

Widemouth Bay
Just along the coast from the busy resort of Bude, Widemouth is a long, long stretch of sand backed by high cliffs. Unusual rock formations on the beach are a magnet for climbers while the Atlantic surf brings bodyboarders, kayakers and surfers here in their hundreds. Widemouth Bay is home to a scattering of houses, pubs, cafes and restaurants but there remains a definitive sense of having strayed off the beaten path here.