Stoney Nook is located in one of the most beautiful areas in the UK. The dramatic rocky coastline, interspersed with stunning white sandy beaches and big surf, draw millions of visitors every year. Add to that the quaint nearby towns of Padstow and Port Issac, the restaurants for all tastes, the tourist attractions to visit both near and further afield, and you will find that Cornwall is hard to beat!
The Beaches
The nearest beach to Stoney Nook is Trevone beach, a 12 minute drive by car. It is great for rock-pooling and swimming in the tidal pool. Beyond that are 6 further beaches, all in a small geographical area. Our favourite beach is Constantine Bay - a beautiful curved beach, from where you can walk over to Booby's Bay and up to Trevose head. Harlyn beach is also well worth a visit.
Bedruthan steps offers dramatic cliff top walks and a lovely National Trust tea shop.
Our other firm favourite is Polzeath beach, with it's large beach, surfing and walks up to the headland at the North end.
Places to Visit
Within 2 miles of the house, we have quite a range of things to do! The Saints Way hiking trail passes 200 yards from us, on which you can walk all the way to Padstow! In addition there is the Camel cycling trail, Trevibban Mill Vineyard with wine tasting and tours and the Tide indoor climbing centre - the largest indoor wall in Cornwall!
4 miles away, overlooking Padstow, Prideaux Place is a fine Elizabethan country house, built in 1592. The house is usually open to visitors, as are the gardens and deer park.
Padstow harbour is the bustling centre of the town. Commercial fishing boats mix with pleasure crafts. From here you can catch a ferry to Rock, take a boat trip to watch the sealife, or set out on a fishing trip.
Also at the harbour is the National Lobster Hatchery. It is well worth a visit to see the young lobsters being reared and to understand the work in supporting lobster populations around the Cornish coast.
Other things to do
The Camel Trail is one of the best known cycling / easy walking routes in Cornwall, starting in Padstow and following the river Camel 17 miles, via Wadebridge, Bodmin and finishing in Blisland on Bodmin Moor. The route is mainly flat and follows the course of the old North Cornwall railway. Hire some bikes and cycle through stunning scenery for a great family day out.
For young children there is the Camel Adventure park, just a mile away.
For those who like their gin, 3 miles away there is Tarquin's Gin Distillery, offering tours and tasting sessions and the very interesting history of the distillery.
The Eden Project is only 30 minutes drive from Stoney Nook and a wonderful excursion for gardeners. Experience the world's largest indoor rainforest, wander through the Mediterannean Biome and be amazed at the outdoor gardens on a grand scale.
Great Walks Nearby
The South West Coastal path is an epic 630 miles long, from Minehead, near Exmoor, to Poole Harbour. This path runs all along the North Cornish coast and can be picked up at any point. There are many day walks, or consider a longer walk over 2-3 days, using Stoney Nook as a base for the non-walkers. There are youth hostels and B&B's along the way for accommodation. The scenery is simply stunning, but do beware of some sections of tricky walking on narrow cliff top paths.
The Camel Trail is perfect for an easy flat walk and can be accessed just 2 miles from the house.
Padstow and Stepper Point Walk is a 6 miles headland walk, starting from Padstow Harbour. Stunning views, secluded coves and sandy beaches all feature in this lovely walk along the coastal path.
The simple walk around Trevose head is hard to beat on a nice day, and you can park at the national trust car park on the headland. It is reasonably flat with stunning views on 3 views!
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