Category: Walking

Walk Through – Portreath, Cornwall

We visited Portreath, a peaceful village around 45 45-minute drive down the coast from Beach Retreats headquarters. Evidence of Portreath’s history as one of Cornwall’s first industrial ports can be seen around the village.

Portreath Bakery is owned by the niece of one of the last fishermen to work out of the harbour. Their famous heavy cake was taken out to sea to sustain the fishermen during their trips.

Today the bakery is has an excellent reputation across Cornwall and nationally. And it is easy to see why from their tempting treats.

While traditional pasties can be bought alongside artisan breads. Walking down to the beach along the inner basin which was constructed in the 19th Century. Where you will find a pub on a beach, The Waterfront Inn.

Discover Portreath’s no-drive delights, where relaxation and adventure await just steps away from your doorstep along the stunning Cornish coast.

And a typically perfect Cornish beach, popular with surfers, bodyboarders and kayakers. As well and sandcastle creators and sunseekers.

Fancy staying in Portreath? Check out our Portreath holiday retreats.

Walk Through St Agnes

A picturesque walk through the village and around the coast.

St Agnes is a postcard Cornish village steeped in tin mining history. Nestled on the north coast of Cornwall, the seemingly sleepy town offers a relaxing spot for a self-catering family holiday. Discover inspiring coastal walks and independent shops; including greengrocers and butchers, and an array of places to eat. Wander the winding streets to find your favourite cafe, restaurant or brewery tucked away – hidden from the crowds.

Discover more of what St Agnes has to offer and explore our St Agnes holiday cottages.

The town is only a short walk away from our properties in St Agnes. Although a small town, you can find everything you need while on holiday. From greengrocers, butchers, a spa (for recharging your batteries), and a gift shop (to take home a slice of Cornwall.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

The Sorting Office, opposite the hairdressers, is the perfect place to stop for a morning coffee or afternoon cake. The delicious bakes are all homemade by a local family company called Rustic Cakes.

From the town, you can follow a pathway down to Trevaunance Cove. A sandy cove, with waterfront cafes, a pub and brewery, Trevaunance is popular with families, walkers and stand-up paddle boarders. On the beach, Koru Kayaking offer equipment hire and tours around Cornwall’s historic coast. Explore hidden sea caves, see the coast from a different perspective and spot a seal or two! For those who enjoy the ground beneath their feet, from Trevaunance Cove you can follow the coastal path through the gardens and up the cliff to Blue Hills.

Blue Hills still feels like an undiscovered part of Cornwall. Scattered with engine houses, chimneys and tine mines, walk in ancient miner’s footsteps as you descend the coastal path.

Take a captivating walk through Perranporth, exploring its expansive sandy beach, rugged cliffs, and vibrant seaside atmosphere along the Cornish coast.

Named after the blue and purple heather, which grows on the wild clifftops, Blue Hills provides a tranquil spot for a family picnic and soaking-up the views. At low tide, there is a small sandy cove and plenty of rockpools to explore. From this part of the coast, you can experience some amazing Cornish sunsets. Dine alfresco and discover your new kitchen on the beach with a family barbecue.

Book your self-catering family holiday in St Agnes.

Walk through – Newquay

The second of our walk through series takes us along four beaches, across one harbour, to several tasty cafés and on top of one Huer’s hut.

Walk-Through-Newquay

Starting at Lusty Glaze. Lusty Glaze, a North side neighbour of Porth Beach, is a beach with a lot going on. As well as being a beautiful sandy cove to spend the day sunbathing and relaxing on, it also has a great beach-side restaurant, ice-cream hut and a fantastic adventure centre.

Lusty-Glaze

Up on the 150ft cliff you can zoom your way along the 750ft zip wire and get a birds-eye-view of the beach and Atlantic. But if flying isn’t your thing why not abseil down the cliff face or take on the tight-rope challenge.

By night the beach is equally as busy, especially throughout summer, with Sundowner Sessions. The natural amphitheatre of this horseshoe shaped cove makes a great concert venue. This summer the likes of The Feeling and Newton Faulkner will play at Lusty Glaze. Check out the full line up here.

View-to-Watergate-Bay

If it’s low tide you can go to the bottom of Lusty Glaze and head North to the next beach along the coast Tolcarne. Tolcarne has great character thanks to its quintessential British seaside huts painted in ice-cream tones.

Tolcarne

Tolcarne

Further along the sandy path is Great Western Beach. Relatively empty, Great Western is used as a beach for guests of the former Hotel Victoria, where a lift was installed through the cliff to take people down to sand level!

Newquay

Our fourth and final beach in our walk through is Towan made famous by the ‘House on the Island’, aquarium and harbour. Often busy, Towan beach has direct access to Newquay town centre and the harbour. You could sit here all day and watch people and boats come and go, but that’s hungry work.

House-in-the-Sea

Harbour

Newquay-Harbour

Lobster-Pots

Luckily Gusto’s is just round the corner.

Gustos

This is unique take away, somewhat a Cornish gem, that the locals love! Cooking their own flatbreads and filling them with falafel, meats from the hot plate, delicious salads and sauces AND serving the best cake in town you’d be hard pushed not to fall in love at first bite.

We stopped for a wrap and ‘Tobler Tastic Brownie’ and took in the sights from the harbour wall.

gustos-2

Having filled up we set off in search of one of Newquay’s Huer’s Huts. Perched on top of the cliff above the harbour and distinguished by it’s small, white round shape and large chimney, the Huer’s Hut can be made out from miles down the coast. Thought to date back to the 14th Century the hut was used by a Huer who’s job was to watch for the tell tale signs of pilchard (now more commonly known as sardines) shoals and then alert townsfolk of their arrival by crying out ‘Heva Heva’ (here they are!). The townsfolk would then rush to the harbour and prepare for the pilchards arrival.

Huers-Hut

Turning back towards Newquay the town was buzzing with happy holiday makers enjoying the cafes and shops like…

The Beached Lamb (now closed)

Beached-Lamb

Martha’s Tea Room

Marthas

WaterShed Shop

Watershed

And the coolest Vintage shop in Newquay

Vintage

It’s fair to say a holiday in Newquay will combine a perfect balance of chilling on the beach, eating great local produce and burning it all off surfing, walking and shopping.

Take a look at our holiday lets in Fistral and Newquay.