To ask for help with my Cornwall holiday

[notsosummerwinterholiday]

IABU for having to ask for help I know, but with our new DD, we have completely neglected our Cornwall holiday which we depart on Saturday for.

So! We have a cottage in St Agnes, a 3 month old and a car and will be there for a week (Saturday to Saturday). Our air bnb host has given some lovely recommendations for the local area, but what else is in Cornwall that we must not miss? We're fairly mobile with DD, though not big hikers but happy for a bimble if there's a nice view somewhere.

We plan on heading to Padstow for some food one day, and imagine most of our main meals to be lunch/late lunch out and then back at the cottage for the evenings (wood burner, cheese and red wine). Any lovely food recommendations ANYWHERE in Cornwall? Food shops with local treats? Things we must see? Places we must go? We will wing it and research a bit more when we get there but always love to hear people's recommendations.

Sadly the weather looks a bit crap but that won't stop up heading out!

There's a pub at a village called Mithian, near St Agnes, that does lovely food. (I had a fabulous fish pie in there that was layered with thinly sliced new potatoes instead of mash, so it was almost a bit like pommes dauphinoise, but with fish - bloody delicious).

I think it might be called the Miners Arms, but it's the only pub in village, anyway.

If you go to St Mawes, it's worth stopping off at Portscatho en route. It's a lovely little village, theres a nice beach (Porthcurnick?) near the car park, great child-friendly pub and the pasties sold in the village shop currently hold the Lakies' best pasty in Cornwall award.

Port Isaac is as pretty as it looks in Doc Martin but a bit up itself, Boscastle has loads of atmosphere and Rock has a lovely beach. We also enjoy a mooch around Falmouth: the art gallery at the top of the hill has some good (free) exhibitions and the maritime museum is fascinating.

Gwithian ans Hayle beaches, Kyanance Cove, Portreath Beach (check out Lady Basset's baths carved into the rocks at low tid), Falmouth, Pendarves Farm, Heartlands, Helford, Coverack etc. So much to see and do. My inlaws live in South-Cornwall so I'm very lucky to have spent each summer there for the last 25 years :-).

As a local - please don't waste money on Rick
Steins. Overpriced for what it is and any good chip shop will do, you just need to ask if they fry the chips in beef dripping and if they do, you're winning.

You're staying in St. Agnes which makes things easy - Chapelporth is my favourite beach! I know you said you weren't great hikers, but a brisk coastal jaunt leaving from the road that heads down to the beach will take you past some Poldark filming sites and breathtaking views along the coastline. The sunsets are pretty good too

There are loads of restaurants in Falmouth. Our favourite is an South African one called Amanzi. Lovely food and lovely staff.

We love Falmouth!

Do the Fisherman’s friends still do their Friday night performance in Port Isaac? . Great to sit on the quest and listen to them ( guess it helps if you like sea shanties )

The pizza from www.thecornishpizzacompany.co.uk/ in St Agnes is AMAZING. Chapel Porth is gorgeous, if you're not a national trust member do sign up, loads of beaches are national trust and you get free parking. Glendurgan gardens (national trust) is brilliant and the maze is great fun and there is a nice walk down to a little beach. Enjoy, I'm hugely jealous I love that part of Cornwall.

I think it might be called the Miners Arms, but it's the only pub in village, anyway.

Yes, the pub in Mithian is the Miners Arms. Friends of mine owned it years ago.

Cotehele is down the road from me now I've moved back to UK! Very wet here though.

You are very lucky to have a cottage in St Agnes, it's such a pretty village. I grew up in the area and hope to move back one day.

Perranporth has a new restaurant on the beach where the Ponsmere hotel used to be. It's called Summerhouse. Alcatraz has had a makeover also and now does food and drink.

I second pp with avoid Rick Steins, expensive and not that great to be honest. Head to Wadebridge and along the main road in is the best chip shop ever, blue sign and picnic benches outside. Head to Newquay and the food at the Red Lion is lovely, also The Fort Inn, great views across the sea and also good food. Sit and have an ice cream and look at the house on the hill that you can only get to along a bridge, gorgeous. Look for seaglass on the beach in St Ives and get wonderful pasties and cakes from the shops in the side streets. Also Port Issac where they film Doc martin, there is so much to see, beautiful place, have a fantastic time.

St Nectan’s Glen is a lovely bimble. Easily doable with a babe on your back. A nice cafe at the end. You can do Rocky Valley too. And don’t forget to get your St Eval candles from the factory shop.

My friend lives in st agnes and we were there this summer. Miners arms is great food (terrible signage but great food), and canteen is an excellent food place nearby. I also loved the hidden hut at portscatho, though not sure if it will be open, and we went on an amazing clifftop walk to the rosemergy farmhouse for an incredible Cornish cream tea. My boyfriend’s friend owns the blue bar in porthtowan - lovely surf beach and decent food. Love Cornwall.

I'm beyond excited by your posts, again, thank you all so so much! It's been a tough few months with DH working so hard since DD was born. We're both so thrilled to have a week off together we hadn't thought about planning anything!

Lost gardens of Heligan!

I wouldn't bother with Rick Steins fish and chips- the other chip shop on the other side of the harbour is much better in my opinion (and DHs who really, really wasn't impressed, but insists on driving miles to the other one)

Go for lunch at fifteen at watergate bay. The view of the beach is fabulous. The view from the mariners arms at Rock is also good, and so is their food.

A second vote here for Driftwood Spas, also the Victory Inn is lovely.

Trevaskis farm has a lovely farm
Shop ( saturdays is fresh doughnut day) and they are well known for the puddings they do at the restaurant , godrevy beach and the cliff walk for seal spotting is beautiful too .

The hub in st ives is great for burgers if you don't fancy a pasty

Stop at Bude on your way down. Cracking town Haven stunning too.

@Lifesagreatbalancingact and @Foxyloxy1plus1 as a resident of Falmouth and a regular of gylly beach cafe I would agree Its is the best for chips 😀. There is Pendennis Castle if you fancy a trip to the town. Padstow is great, but parking a nightmare.

Lands End is worth a drive if only for the photo at the signpost. There also a 4d cinema.

Sorry, would highly recommend the Eden Project

Would agree with Falmouth - the Maritime Museum is fab for a rainy day and agree with chips in the restaurant st Gully beach. The crazy golf at nearby Swanpool is fun. Also agree with a day in St Ives and a mooch around the Tate gallery and shops. Favourite beach is Gwithian and the Sunset cafe does fab hot chocolate. Also like Looe and Mama T’s pizza restaurant is great for families. There is a lovely little cafe as you arrive in Mousehole - Rock Pool. Has a fantastic view out to sea. Enjoy!

I must be odd, as I love Padstow and think Rick Steins fish and chips is lovely (dont have his pasties though, made all wrong - The Chough in Padstow Harbour are much nicer. Ricks Fish and Chips are down to the right of the main harbour if you do go looking.

However Tintagel and Boscastle are definitely worth going to.

If you don't mind exploring slightly further away, then the Rame peninsula in south east cornwall is beautiful! There is a large historic coastal estate called Mount Edgcumbe, breathtaking views at Whitsand Bay, and an ancient chapel at Rame head. Not to mention the pretty coastal villages and towns, such as Kingsand/Cawsand (which has Queen Adelaides grotto), Looe and Polperro.

South East Cornwall is known locally as the 'forgotten corner', as most tourists tend to travel further down the county.