A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend with a bunch of friends in the undeniably charming village of Trevone, near Padstow in Cornwall. For a few lazy days I tricked myself into believing that I was forever free from the hustle and bustle that is London, and let me tell you, it was pretty blissful.  

Not only is Cornwall totally picturesque, it also proved to be a bit of a foodie bolthole so I thought I would put together a little SOTH guide in case any of you fancied a visit.

WHERE TO STAY //

This lovely little cottage comes complete with AGA, a real log fire and postcard-worthy sea views.  I can’t really take credit for finding this gem of a place; when we got married my lovely sister Abigail rented it for us as a wedding gift and from the second we arrived, we were totally smitten.

Here are the deets: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/2003475

WHERE TO EAT //

It’s fair to say that Rick Stein has a bit of a monopoly on all things alimentary in and around Padstow, so it’s pretty hard to avoid eating at one of his many restaurants.  Not that this is such a bad thing mind you.  We had a great meal at St Petroc’s Bistro – the salt cod fritters are not to be missed – but make sure to also save room the sticky toffee pudding, which we unanimously agreed to be the frontrunner of all the desserts (and trust me – a thorough investigation was conducted).

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more rough-and-ready then head on down to Stein’s Fish and Chips.  Yes indeed, it’s another of dear Rick’s eateries but too good not to include in my foodie guide to Cornwall.  Stein’s sure does know its audience, catering for the gluten intolerant and offering up perfectly grilled fish for those health obsessed types who want to avoid the homemade batter.  Those people are, of course, totally loopy and missing out on what is possibly the best battered fish and chips they may ever come across.

The Watergate Bay Hotel holds a special place in my heart – so much so that after our first visit I went back to stay there four years running.  Although we weren’t staying there this time, after a particularly energetic morning of surfing I made sure to rally the troops and head down for a replenishing al fresco lunch at ‘The Beach Hut’, the Watergate Bay Hotel’s waterfront restaurant.  We tucked into falafel burgers, salads of roasted vegetable and halloumi, and inevitably a couple of portions of fish and chips too.

FYI – Watergate Bay is also home to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Fifteen. 

WHAT TO DO //

My husband is known by many to be a bit of an outdoorsy exercise loon and after getting up hours earlier then everybody else to go on his daily cycle ride/run he proceeded to take us all for our very own Cornish ‘boot camp’ sessions.

On our first day, decked out in padded cycling shorts and some questionable neon lycra, we rented bikes in Bodmin and cycled the trail that runs alongside the picturesque Camel Estuary.

Day two had us – OS map at the ready – getting stuck into a pretty extensive coastal ramble.

We also had a really fun surfing lesson with the Harlyn surf school.  As a bunch of beginners, it’s fair to say that we spent most of the lesson splashing around in the sea desperately trying to stand up on our boards, but after some persistence and a lot of a little help from our ever patient instructors we were all able to ride a wave all the way to the shore.

Last year, Chris – from the Harlyn Surf School – also gave us the low down on paddle boarding which was great fun, really quick to pick up and even got a little competitive!

For those with exercisephobia (a legitimate ailment that I am myself often a victim of) I recommend having a wander around Padstow town centre – there are so many cute local shops including a paradise for fudge aficionados called Buttermilk Confections.

For any more advice on where to go in Cornwall don’t hesitate to get in touch – or if anyone has any tips for the next time I visit I’d love to hear from you!