Cornwall has a lot to offer but it can take a long time to get here and walking the coast path can be tiring. So why not take rest a day (or two) to make the most of our gardens, beaches and charming harbour towns?
Whether it is to recover from the journey, to take a breather after several days of pounding the coast path or to rest weary legs at the end of your holiday, adding a rest day is a superb idea.
Here are a few suggestions of places to visit on your Day Of Rest.
Many of our walks start from St Ives, and it’s a good place to unwind and recover from your journey! Stroll around the narrow streets, pausing for coffee and to pop into St Ives’ inviting little shops. Call in to Tate St Ives, or explore the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. To really give those feet a rest, take a seat on the Dolly P and set out for a boat trip to Seal Island.
Not the resting type? You can take a surf lesson with St Ives Surf School on Porthmeor Beach, or try your hand at a variety of aquatic activities at Ocean Sports in Carbis Bay. End your day in one of St Ives’ many bars or restaurants, gazing out to sea and planning your next itinerary…
We’ve looked at the gardens around Penzance in an earlier post; and pootling around the subtropical plants really is a lovely way to take your walking down a gear or two. Or, leave the land behind and book a boat trip out in Mounts Bay with Marine Discovery, looking out for local wildlife.
For a really relaxing day in the summer, it has to be the Jubilee Pool, the recently restored Art Deco lido. Lie back on one of its whitewashed terraces with a novel (from Penzance’s marvellous Edge Of The World bookshop) before cooling off with a dip in the water. The perfect day off.
You can’t really come to West Cornwall without visiting St Michael’s Mount, even if it’s just to cross the causeway and see the little harbour. Marazion itself has shops, galleries and places to eat, as well as a lot of beach space to choose from.
Finish off your St Ives to Sennen walk by relaxing on the sweeping white sands. This beautiful beach is a wonderful place to relax and gaze at the waves. If you find the sea irresistible, try a surfing lesson with Sennen’s Smart Surf School.
Tag a day onto the end of your St Ives to Porthleven walk and get to know this friendly little harbour town. You’ll have got through a fair few calories on your six-day walk, so make the most of Porthleven’s fabulous food.
Porthleven’s also home to Vertical Blue Adventures, if you fancy a spot of stand up paddleboarding or kayaking. If you want to round off your Cornish hiking holiday with a more gentle walk, take the coast path from Porthleven to Loe Bar, a shingle bank that separates the sea from a freshwater lake.
You could also spend your rest days on The Lizard Peninsula (which is a great place to go Poldark location spotting). Kynance Cove is one of Cornwall’s most photographed beaches with almost heartbreakingly beautiful clear waters. It’s reached down a cliff path, so plan your visit around the tide.
Mullion is a pretty little town, and its old harbour, Mullion Cove, is a short walk away from the centre. Stock up on locally-made treats at Trenance Chocolate Factory on the road between the two Mullions. Visit the lighthouse at Lizard Point, stopping for “crowst” at Ann’s Pasties.
Round off your epic walk to Falmouth with a day or two in Cornwall’s liveliest town. The harbour, marina, university and tourist attractions combine to create a vibrant town, full of places to eat and drink, and with a full programme of feasts and festivals.
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is always a good place to spend an afternoon, or explore the Tudor Pendennis Castle, which sits above the town and harbour.
It’s time for More Food! Spend a day in Padstow, the original Foodie Capital of Cornwall. As well as Mr Stein’s famous restaurants, Padstow is crammed full of shops, pubs and cafés, as well as some beautiful sandy beaches.
Visit the brilliant National Lobster Hatchery on South Quay, then take the passenger ferry across to Rock.
When we get chance to head to the beach, there are a few we always make a beeline for. Here’s Western Discoveries’ selection of West Cornwall’s best beaches
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