Chips, beaches and waves
Eat fish and chips on Padstow harbour wall, master the waves with the Harlyn Surf School, shoot 18 holes at Merlin Golf Club, or ride the Camel Trail with bikes from Padstow Cycle Hire. Meet a spectacular range of creatures at Newquay Zoo, brave the coasters at Flambards, or find amazing beaches such as Polzeath and Treyarnon Bay.
Country kids
Teach them to surf early at King Surf School in Mawgan Porth with BSA approval to teach kids from age 11. Shoot the water cannon, wrestle a crocodile and ride the flumes at Newquay Water World. Or stick around to meet a spectacular range of creatures at Newquay Zoo, including Humboldt penguins, African lions and crowned lemurs.
Take the ultimate undersea safari at The Blue Reef Aquarium, with close encounters with everything from tropical sharks to enchanting seahorses. Or ride the Hornet rollercoaster, brave the Thunderbolt and get wet on the Colorado River log flume at Flambards Theme Park.
Visit a supernatural hive with a criminal past at Bodmin Jail, with its historical buildings with original features and the Dark Walk, a hair-raising paranormal tour. Enjoy fun rides for little kids, thrill rides for bigger kids and plenty of fun for the whole family at Camel Creek Adventure Park. Or just pick fruit and eggs at Trevathan Farm.
Get out to amazing beaches on Cornwall’s untamed north coast, including Daymer Bay, Trevone Bay, Polzeath and Treyarnon Bay. See hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and eagles in flight at the Cornish Birds of Prey Centre. Or take a train ride around the park and stop to feed the fish or the lambs at Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre.
For the grown ups
Right on your doorstep sits Rick Stein’s Padstow. Fish and chips here might never be bettered but you might prefer fishing for crabs with the kids on the harbour wall, or spotting seals and dolphins popping their heads above the surf. Take a sea safari, maybe, or kayak, paddleboard or surf with the Harlyn Surf School.
Head down the coast to Newquay, the UK’s surfing capital and a popular place for other watersports: consider coasteering or cliff-jumping with Call to Adventure, or maybe kitesurfing or traction kiting with The Extreme Academy. Stop off at a great range of high-street shops, boutiques and specialists watersports suppliers.
Love seafood? The National Lobster Hatchery is a must-see for its marine conservation work. Enjoy land-lubbing activities at Green Leisure, with clay-pigeon shooting, archery, falconry, mountain biking, bushcraft and more. Or chill your beans at The Scarlet Spa, with delights such as a clifftop hot tub, a hammam and guided meditation.
Along the coast at Mawgan Porth, you can ride the 1.2km circuit at St Eval Karting, enjoy 18 holes and great views at Merlin Golf Club, or stick around to be entertained by Mawgan Porth Cabaret Club. Hire bikes to ride the famous Camel Trail from Padstow Cycle Hire. Or see the sea on four legs with Newquay Riding Stables.
Happy hens
You’d do well to find a more chilled-out spot in which to celebrate your forthcoming nuptials. Padstow House is a sanctuary, a respite from the world with clean white walls, natural Cornish slate and plenty of sturdy oak. Sink into the wood-fired hot tub, eat from the garden pizza oven and settle back for movies around the Apple TV.
Make your stay extra-special by curating your activities through the online Lobby system. Book some in-house yoga, a photographer to document your stay, or how about wine-tasting, breakfast delivered to your door or a curry night?
Make the most of your last days of freedom with a jet ski safari in Newquay with Cornwall Waverunner, taking in dramatic cliffs, secluded beaches and remote coves. Learn to ride the waves with the Fistral Beach Surf School, stand-up paddleboarding with Newquay Activity Centre, or coasteering with Cornish Wave.
Choose from four mixology classes with nibbles and buffets at The Slug and Lettuce in Newquay. Book a Prosecco afternoon tea at The Red Lion. Have a go at Cornish beach games such as paddle relay race, tug ‘o’ war and beach volleyball with Newquay Activity Centre. And stay in town for a night out at The Barracuda Bar or Corkers.
