What
to see, do...and eat!
Food
There
is something to do for everyone within 30 minutes drive of the Chapel.
The local
pub is traditionally Cornish, and very good for food and drink,
a short stroll away, it has a kids room, as does the St.Kew
Inn at St.Kew. They get very busy, so book early in peak season to
eat inside.
There
is a good Fish and Chip shop at St. Kew Highway, 2 Chinese takeways,
a Chinese restaurant (not the best) and the Bash Bagaan
Indian Restaurant (the only one for miles) are within 4 miles in Wadebridge.
There
is now a very good restaurant at Port Isaac, called The Edge. Worth
paying a little extra for great food and service.
The
Alternative Fish Restaurant at Rock is very nice, for something
more café style the Blue Tomato in Rock is quite
good, as are the Soft Rock and Mariners Arms
public houses, all in Rock.
In
the village
Children
like the Old House in the village, just down over the
bridge, which has a small childrens farm, swimming pool and
tennis courts, which you can pay to use.
The Post
Office that backs on to The Old Chapel has most things. For a major
stock-up the Co-op in Wadebridge is good or the Tesco supermarket
on the A39 road towards Padstow.
Local
The beach
and sailing town of Rock are 10 minutes away (turn right out of the
Chapel and just keep going through St. Minver) in addition to the
restaurants, there are good shops (Spa, fish shop, bakers etc.)
You can
go sea fishing from Rock and you can get a cheap return ferry across
the estuary to Padstow, they go every 20 minutes in season. (Its
a lot easier than driving and parking in Padstow.) Padstow has many
good restaurants and pubs,not least Rick Steins Seafood Restaurant
(excellent, but not cheap - book well ahead in season), his café
(less expensive) and you can buy most things including wet fish, fish
and chips, pizzas, gifts and pasties.
You can
park at Rock, at the end of the road or in busy season the park
and ride off the high street is a very good idea.
Beaches
There
are lots of coastal walks.Best local beaches are at Rock, Daymer Bay
(turn right halfway through Rock), further on the same road to Polzeath,
and north of Chapel Amble to New Polzeath and Lundy Bay, which is
the prettiest bay, but there is not much beach when the tide is in.
The best
surfing beach is Polzeath, its big, wide and sandy. - A tide
table is useful.
A copy of the OS Landranger 200 map (Newquay & Bodmin) is a good
investment for your week. (Incidentally Lundy bay is not shown on
the map, it is just to the west of Trevan Point)
Further...
Other
favourite local places to visit include Port Isaac and Boscastle (north),
Bodmin, The Eden Project, Mevagissey and Fowey (south towards St.
Austell) We like the Bird of Prey Centre (towards Newquay), The Camel
Bike Trail, (which you can pick up in lots of places), the Aquarium
in Newquay and Pony Trekking (Denby Stables on the Bodmin road is
good) these are all within about 30 minutes by road.
Truro
is good for more serious shopping, and if youre looking for
a bargain Trego Mills is just beyond Bodmin, past Bodmin Parkway railway
station.
...and
further..
St. Ives
is a very nice day out, a bit further, but dont drive all the
way in, use the Park and Ride - you will see the signs - and book
lunch ahead at The Seafood Café or Blue Fish. St. Ives can
get very busy..
There
are guides and directories for most of these local attractions and
others on a special notice board in the foyer at the Chapel.