A Long Weekend in Padstow

Cornwall has always been a special place for me - it’s where Kuleen and I got engaged earlier this year, and it’s where my family spent many summers whilst I was growing up. There’s a nostalgic feeling tied to the areas and a familiarity I don’t get in many other places. So… I’m reviving the blog to share my long weekend itinerary.

Day 1

There’s no denying it: the drive from London to Cornwall is a schlep - and that’s coming from a passenger princess who refuses to do a second of driving. This time, we made a few stops along to way, the most notable being at Teal’s in Somerset - a farm shop that is stocked with alllll the trendy F&B brands required to sustain the remaining few hours of the journey.

We stayed in a cosy room at Rick Stein’s cafe. Whilst verrrrry small, it was perfectly located in the centre of Padstow and included a 10/10 breakfast at The Seafood Restaurant. Also worth noting that the service here was nothing short of excellent and we were greeted with a smile and a friendly chat each morning.

Having unpacked, we braved a very wet water taxi over to Rock. We started the evening with aperitivos and small plates at Four Boys, a paired back and relaxed cafe slash restaurant, followed by dinner at The Mariners, a more traditional pub with a chef’s touch (thanks to Paul Ainsworth).

Day 2

For our second day, we'd booked onto a “Catch and Cook” course at Rick Stein’s Cookery School. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas and the catch part of our day (i.e. fishing) had to be cancelled. This was replaced with lessons on filleting and cooking fish, as well as lots of eating and drinking.

Later, we headed to BinTwo, a cosy wine shop / bar, followed by a stop at The Harbour Inn - where the live singer-pianist turned the night into more of a singalong than expected…

Day 3

Saturday kicked off with a sauna by the sea at Harlyn Bay, the perfect way to sweat out the hangover and refresh with a dip in the (verrrry chilly) sea. Having dried off, we wandered around Padstow, stumbling on a hidden garden with a charming little bothy.

In the afternoon, we took a quick drive to Trevibban Winery for a tour and tasting. With light, modern interiors and delicious local wine, it was relaxing way to spend the afternoon. Dinner was back in Padstow at Prawn on the Lawn (their Islington branch has been on my list forever). The evening wrapped up with a low-key pub night.

Day 4

We spent Sunday morning at Crackington Haven, our favourite beach. We walked the cliff path in the drizzle and stopped off at the cafe for coffee and hot chocolate. We then headed back to The Pig for Sunday lunch. The meal itself was a bit of a letdown, but complementary dessert, drinks, and card games by the fire in their snug more than made up for it. We ended the night with a chilled film night back at our room.

Day 5

Our last day took us to St Kew Farm Shop to pick up very, very essential provisions for the drive home. On said drive, we made stops at Boscastle, Tintagel, and Port Isaac, taking in a few final Cornish sights and some delicious crab sandwiches at Fresh from the Sea before heading home.

Maybe it’s the rose-tinted memories, but Padstow isn’t quite how I remember it. Outside peak season, the place has a bit of a dated feel, with some shops that verge on the tacky side. That said, there’s no denying how Stein, Ainsworth, and Outlaw have transformed the area into a real food destination and there are definitely some trendy spots popping up.