When you think of Padstow, you think of fishing boats, bustling streets and….Rick Stein ;-). Around the harbour, there’s always a hive of activity with fishermen at work and visitors at play, exploring the narrow streets, taking in it’s charm with a pasty in hand whilst the friendly turnstones scurry along behind you hoping that you drop a crumb or two. It’s a beautiful little place with a lovely atmosphere, one where you can sit for hours just watching the world go by.
It’s not just pasties and posh fish & chips though. A short walk along the coastal path from the town centre and you’ll discover the beautiful scenery of the Camel Estuary, of which the banks are lined with soft white sand with the shallow water gently lapping against the shore, perfect for paddling.
Most people stop there, and why not. Beautiful views and close to the town centre, but if you’re looking for something a bit more secluded and away from the hustle and bustle, tucked away around the corner is the relatively unknown Harbour Cove; a beautiful unspoilt beach, backed by small grassy dunes with spectacular views over the Camel Estuary and across to neighbouring beach Daymer Bay. Harbour Cove is also the only beach on the Padstow side of the Estuary that is dog friendly all year.
You can get to Harbour Cove two ways. Either by travelling by car to the seasonal grassy car park located close to Harbour Cove (Sat Nav -PL28 8HR) and then walking the last stage to the beach, or via the coast path from the town, which is a lumpy bumpy 2 mile round trip, so make sure you’ve packed your sunscreen, sandwiches and drink!
Above: The pink route is the route along coastal path that can be joined from Padstow Harbour. Simply keep going, and going and going… Along the way you will pass another smaller beach, St George’s Cove, which is recognisable by it’s very lush green surroundings. Resist the temptation to stop there and carry on because you’re nearly there!
Above: Arriving by car – The entrance to the car park. Look out for these signs, there’s two located by the side of the road.
Once you’ve parked, follow the coast path down the track, through a small woods and everything suddenly opens up and Harbour Cove beach is slowly revealed 🙂
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Click here to be transported there with our 360º interactive panorama.
Thanks for reading, we hope you’ve found this blog informative. Please share your own experience of Harbour Cove with us below 🙂