Padstow is an historic fishing port with a maze of picturesque narrow streets of stone, colour-washed and slate cottages nestling in a valley leading down to the river Camel and the pretty working harbour.

This delightful little town has many appealing shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes and is home to the well known seafood restaurant, cookery school and other businesses owned by the town's celebrity chef Rick Stein.

A short walk leads you to a beach in the estuary and it is only a drive of 5-10 minutes to the lovely sandy surfing beaches of Trevone, Harlyn and Constantine Bay.

The Camel Trail starts in Padstow, following the route of the old railway line to Bodmin, and is much loved by walkers and cyclists (bikes may be hired at Padstow or Wadebridge). The path wends its way alongside the riverbank through this Area of outstanding natural beauty with its abundant wildlife.

Starting in Padstow, The Saints' Way is an attractive middle-distance walking route of just under 30 miles which follows river valleys and traverses the granite spine of the county to Fowey in the south. It passes from one major estuary to another, joining a number of religious sites which have connections with the Cornish Saints and Holy Men – St Petroc being the first Abbot of Padstow who converted the Celtic King Constantine to Christianity in the Middle Ages.

In the other direction the coastal path from Padstow provides magnificent walks along the rugged and dramatic cliffs and wide sandy beaches of the Seven Bays towards Newquay.