Padstow town and harbour. If you're down in Cornwall ... get yourself down to Padstow! It's a great little town full of little streets and shops to explore, and a great harbour in which to sit and watch the world go by. You'll not be disappointed.

There's also a great pizza restaurant overlooking the harbour. It's located in the first floor of a building above an ice-cream cafe.

Padstow is on the north Cornwall coast, across the estuary from Rock. For more info check out www.visitcornwall.com and search under Padstow.

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You sit on the side of the harbour and dangle a net/hook into the water and wait. After a while you pull the line back up and hope there's a crab or two hanging onto the end. You can buy a crabbing line from nearly all the toy/corner shops around Padstow for about £1. We found that by tying and net or an old vest onto the hook and filling that with 'welks' you caught more crabs as they attached themselves to the net. You can buy welks from the local fishmongers for a pound a pot. Or simply ask to have the leftovers of the fish parts which they will give you for a small contribution of 50p or so. Another tip is to take a fishing net, as we found the crabs fall off. So once you pull the line out of the water, put the net under crab and it will fall off into it - then you can put it into your bucket filled with water and watch them move about. Once finished crabbing however, then done thing is to take your bucket to the waters edge and tip it over and watch your crabs run back into the water. It's so much fun, and if visiting Padstow harbour, this is one the the things you MUST try.

Harbour Office
West Quay, Padstow, PL28 8AQ
01841 532239

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A relatively new development of high quality self-catering lodges.

We stayed in a very well-equipped four bedroom bedroom property, ideal for a large family like ours or multiple groups.

Given that the weather was truly awful for virtually the whole week, the standard of the accommodation, the onsite facilities and the friendly, helpful staff saved the holiday.

The only gripe with the facilities was the poor quality 'golf' course.

Easy access to Padstow (we took a taxi when going for an evening meal) and surrounding beaches / amenities (if only the rain had relented).

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More pricey than our usual haunts but well worth it.

Catered very well to our diverse requirements - two adults, two older children and two younger ones, including someone allergic to seafood.

Excellent friendly service. The food was fresh and well presented. Were able to enjoy coffee in the reading room waiting for the obligatory summer rainfall to subside.

Leave plenty of time prior to your reservation to find a parking space and for walking.

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This is a brilliant place for a breather from the kids. Set them off on the crazy golf and you can relax with a tea or coffee and cake. From the cafe the panoramic views of Padstow and the Camel Estuary are superb. We always go there for the view when in Padstow.

Up the steps off North Quay Parade, Padstow

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Once you book with this family-owned company, Cornish Horizons will offer you first refusal on the same week at the same property the following year. Such a relief for when you find a holiday home you love to return to year in year out - it's like having your very own time share week! And saves having to take pot luck on booking.

www.cornishhorizons.co.uk
19 New Street, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8EA
01841 533 331

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Want to drive to Padstow to sample the various Rick Stein fare on offer? Here's a tip. Don't. Get on your bike instead. Go to Wadebridge (a pleasant enough place in itself), park there and then cycle down the beautiful, flat, and car free Camel Valley Trail along the river. There are ample bike hire places right by the trail itself, all with baby trailers, child-seats, kids' bikes (we took a three-month-old and a very excited two-and-a-half year old) and decent grown up bikes. Even for the seriously unfit/uncoordinated, it takes all of 45 minutes to amble into 'Padstein'. Once there, you avoid the six mile traffic queue and can securely park your bike for 50p in the many 'bike parks' at the end of the trail. And now you've worked up an appetite, Padstow is your oyster...

Another tip, avoid the hordes and head for the back streets - the Rick Stein Cafe (his 'third' restaurant) has his trademark great food, is very child-friendly, and doesn't take bookings. On the day we were there (a gloriously sunny August day) we had to wait for 20 minutes, which was a shorter than the queue for his fish and chips takeaway!

www.ncdc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13629

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