Tell me about the north Cornish coast please.

[northtonorthwest]

Have been to the southern corner- Falmouth, Penzance etc, but now fancy the north coast.

I am under the impression that the beaches are nice and there are lovely views.

Want to go south of Bude and thinking of area just north of Padstow- on other side of inlet- near Port Isaac.

Would you recommend this- or further south towards Newquay and St Ives?

No DCs with us and going early autumn.

Any tips?

Port Isaac is lovely to stay in. Not much there, a nice pub, and a tiny tiny harbour. good to walk from, iirc.

I wouldn't touch Newquay with a bargepole.

But St Ives is nice out of season, in fact, it's nicer out of season than in. Stunning beaches, especially the one outside the Tate.

The area around Harlyn Bay/Trevone is gorgeous.

Padstow is lovely but gets very busy.
Beaches just north and south of newquay are fantastic.

I'd second that the Tate beach is stunning, the Tate building is beautiful and the Tate contents were shit.
(Tate exhibitions change so this may not always be the case).

I just wished we'd saved our money and gone to Barbra Hepworth's garden, instead.

Godrevey is beautiful as are all the North cliffs along past cape Cornwall to Zennor.

I don't know the more Easterly bit.

I am choosing between 2 places- one is a couple of miles outside Rock and the other is in Rock. DH likes a bit of quiet cafe culture, and neither of us surf anyway- so am I right in thinking that it's better to be in Rock than driving into it and trying to park?

Yes I would agree that it is better to be in Rock than having the hassle of driving. Great location you can catch a little boat across to Padstow.

Rock is lovely, and the A30/A39 are good roads.

I haven't been to Cornwall in high season, but I imagine some of the country lanes may be a bit hellish. However, I was down there this weekend and it was quite depressing to see so many places very quiet or closed - due to the weather being so bad the tourists aren't visiting.

Thanks- the plan is to go beginning of October so out of season.