Ideas for Cornwall or Devon locations

[LaLaFlottes]

Hello!
would be grateful for suggestions of places to go for a week (31st Aug x 7 nights) for me, DH, DD21 and DD’s boyfriend.

Would like activities such as walking, cycling, paddle boards etc. Some sight seeing and some nice local restaurants.

If any areas typically have nicer weather than others, that’s a bonus but know it’s never guaranteed!

Was looking at St Ives maybe?

Thanks 😊

St. Ives in winter is one of my favourite places in the world. Last August it was horrible. Too many people.

Thank you - do you think first week in Sept would be horribly busy still too?

If schools have gone back (independents too),yes, September will be quieter. Same problem in most popular locations in Cornwall, unfortunately, because they are lovely (Cornish family so biased 😁).

Tintagel is lovely...easy access with car to other places too

The north coast of both are windier and colder so it's always a few degrees warmer on the south coast.

First week of September is still relatively busy in touristy Cornish towns imo. I'd go somewhere off the slightly of the beaten track on the South coast of Cornwall. Look at Roseland Peninsula or perhaps Polperro. Warmer than the north coast and less crowds

We went to Padstow for a week last year. Loved it. Nice little town for pottering in - we went there several times and didn't really go further than about 30 minutes drive away. Also nearby is a lovely little place called Port Isaac. We also visited the beaches along the coast in either direction - some lovely, easy hilltop walks there - and to Lanhydrock (a stunning National Trust place). We hired bikes and cycled to Wadebridge too - that was absolutely lovely. Great restaurants although some of them (e.g. Rick Stein cafe) are overpriced/hyped for what they are. Parking much more doable in comparison to St Ives - generally not an issue at all, as long as you don't arrive at peak times and expect to park bang in the town centre. However the area is very expensive.

It will probably rain - I live in Cornwall. Most days it rains.
The Camel trail is good for cycling, Fowey river or Bude has kayaking, etc.
Bude would be a good place - beach, river/canal, tennis courts, a busy(ish) centre and lots of holiday parks around.

Honestly don't go in the school holiday period. Even the quiet places are rammed. Plus the changeover days are hell on the motorways esp the M5. Last year it rained the entire summer - every single week bar none until the schools went back. North Norfolk coast is a better option weather wise although nothing is ever guaranteed!

It will probably rain - I live in Cornwall. Most days it rains.

Certainly has done over the last few days. Been a bit, ummm blustery too.

@LaLaFlottes Port Isaac is a good place to stay. It gets busy in the village but you can walk down in the evening for a drink and it’s lovely. The Nathan Outlaw restaurants are expensive but Pilchards at Port Gaverne is more affordable. Some great farm shops with cafes too. St Kew and Sea View Farmshops are great. Cornish Coast Adventures at Port Quin come highly recommended. Plus you can get lots of water activities at Polzeath.

Days out might be Padstow (busy!), South Coast Path, Trevose Head and Godrevy lighthouses . Boscastle, Tintagel, Daymer Bay and the church at St Enodoc. Lots more I’ve not mentioned.

Port Isaac Bay Holidays were helpful and really know the village.

I must have been lucky - went last 2 weeks of August and first 2 weeks of July and I don't remember many days of rain at all. Certainly not full days.

We love Falmouth. St Ives is beautiful but crowded and expensive in summer. Falmouth is more of a town, not just tourists, the uni campus is nearby.

That is a lovely time to go to Cornwall, as it's not as busy as earlier in the summer holidays. However I can concur that St Ives will still be rammed. We had a lovely time in Porthcurno at that time of year. There's the Monaco theatre nearby, the Museum of Global Communications, amazing beaches such as Sennen (it's easy to get to north and south coast beaches). The coastal path around there is brilliant for walking and we loved eating at local pubs and restaurants in market towns nearby. We had one day of rain in early September the year we went. We were happy to spend it shopping in Penzance.

Minack Theatre, grr auto correct! While I'm back here I'll add that you have to book performances well in advance.

Actually, the best weather is usually June, so I'd look at going before the summer holidays.
We did have some hot sunny weeks then as soon as schools broke up it rained!

I would suggest south Cornwall, somewhere within a cab ride of Falmouth as there is a lot more for young people there in terms of bars and pubs, vintage shops etc: it's a uni town. If you stayed somewhere on the Fal estuary, the kids might even be able to take a passenger boat into Falmouth on their own (eg there is a foot ferry from Flushing).
Or somewhere close to Newquay, if they want brash nightlife.

Devon not Cornwall. I'd go to Pembrokeshire instead.

We really liked Porthleven.
Quieter than Padstow / StIves.
On the coastal path.
You have the Michelin Kota and Kota Kai restaurant.
Near Marazion which is great for paddle boarding as well as a nice day out .

Oh and near the Minack theatre and the sculpture gardens

www.visitcornwall.com/destinations/porthleven

Also good walks to Loe bar and the Penrose Estate. We love it there!

Thank you all so much for sharing your ideas and experiences. I'm going to start researching today!

Based on responses we will keep clear of St Ives as it sounds lovely out of season but a nightmare in high season!

Sadly we can only look at that specific week as DD is at Uni and on placements all this year, with very limited time off. She's really keen to have a very relaxing week, as 2024 is going to be very full on for her. At least it's just slightly out of the main school holiday dates!

Loads to look at - I'm very grateful, thank you.

Porthleven - fantastic restaurants, a really nice coffee shop (Origin), lovely walks, and a beach. We stayed at this cottage and it was lovely.

We like the Lizard peninsula. It always seems quieter than other areas of Cornwall we've been to.

I live in the southwest and August is often wet! And during the summer holidays Cornwall is just a car park with hedges. The Lizard is usually less busy or the very far west, St Just, Pendeen area.