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All you need to know
One of Cornwall’s most famous holiday destinations, Polzeath has everything you need for a fun filled beachside getaway.
Sheltered by Pentire Point at the mouth of the Camel Estuary and six miles north of Wadebridge, the small seaside village of Polzeath is a haven for families, beach lovers and surfers alike. The village has a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants providing everything you need, but the real draw here are the fabulous wide, sheltered sandy beaches. Polzeath Beach (sometimes referred to as Hayle Beach) is a world famous surfing destination, and novices and pro surfers vie for the best waves, sometimes joined by playful seals and dolphins. Although generally a safe beach with RNLI lifeguards on duty throughout the summer season, there can be large waves and currents and families with small children often prefer the quieter waters at New Polzeath Beach, tucked neatly next door.
On either beach you can enjoy sun-soaked days with lots of activities to try, from rock pooling at low tide and building that perfect sand castle to trying your hand at the many watersports on offer. Surfing lessons, SUP, coasteering and kayaking are all available, and there are a number of eateries lining the sand providing much needed refreshments after a day spent on the water. Polzeath Beach is also a nature reserve so whilst soaking up the sun make sure you look out for puffins and many other coastal birds.
For those wanting to stretch their legs and explore the area, the South West Coast Path runs through Polzeath linking the village to Rock and Daymer Bay in one direction, and Pentire Point in the other, taking in glorious coastal scenery and panoramic sea views along the way. Also easily accessible is the picturesque fishing village of Padstow, home to Rick Stein’s family of restaurants and many more tempting restaurants and shops. Either jump in the car or take the more scenic route across the Camel Estuary on the Black Tor ferry from neighbouring Rock.
With so much to see and do for all ages in a truly idyllic setting, it’s easy to see why self catering holidays in Polzeath are so popular.
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For the thrill-seekers and the calm-seekers, the adrenalin junkies and the nature lovers, and those who just want to take a moment out of the daily grind: Wavehunters will have an ocean adventure for you. From surf lessons to sea boat safaris, they offer a wide range of activities guaranteed to provide fun for all the family, make sure you get on board!
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We booked the 2hr sea safari, saw dolphins and tuna and our skipper was very knowledgable about the local area and coves, in between dolphin sightings and cove visits we moved at speed which was very exhilarating. Well worth the price.
September 2021
Ranked 99th best course in the world by Golf Digest magazine, and 15th in England by Golf World, St Enodoc Golf Club has a reputation as one of the finest links golf courses in the South West of England, with its undulating fairways, firm greens, some blind shots and the added bonus of beautiful sea and estuary views. The club sits on the North Cornwall coast overlooking the Camel Estuary with Padstow on the far side, and it has two courses; the Church Championship course, and the shorter Holywell course which is ideal for those wanting slightly less of a challenge but which still features some typical links terrain. The club has a bar, lounge and dining room available, and green fees start at £45 for the Church course and £25 for the Holywell course in the low season.
Located on the beautiful Camel Estuary in Rock. Camel Ski offers a range of activities for all ages from inflatable rides, wake boarding, paddle boarding, wake surfing, kayaking and water skiing. They offer lessons for all ages to learn to water-ski or wake board. Male and female changing facilities are available with access to hot showers, along with all the equipment you will need provided. There is also a small après Ski café on site.
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The National Lobster Hatchery is a unique organisation whose work in conservation, research and education separates them because they work specifically with a commercial species. A charity based in Padstow, their work helps to make lobster sustainable in the UK, as the species alone is worth an estimated £30m a year. Both the Scandinavian and Mediterranean stocks have completely collapsed, so the hatchery aims to ensure global food security for future generations by facilitating the survival rate of eggs in the wild. When you visit you can learn all about their work and support conservation. They are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.15am, but opening times are seasonal so keep an eye on the website. Prices are £12 for adults or £6 for children.
Offering kayaking tours, SUP sessions and coasteering in picturesque Cornwall, Cornish Coast Adventures is all about tours on the water and getting to see the area from one of its prized assets – the sea. Based at the family run Scarrabine farm in Port Quin, between Polzeath and Port Isaac in North Cornwall, it’s a beautiful way to explore the sheltered harbours, huge caves and old shipwrecks under the watchful guidance of friendly guides. You can book family tours, classic kayak tours and adult-only adventures whether you’re a beginner or a thrill seeking pro.
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Fabulous clifftop cafe serving fresh fish and crab of course, overlooking Polzeath beach. Open day and night.
Cracking Crab, Polzeath, Cornwall (T: 01208 862 333)
Sit back and enjoy a panoramic view of Polzeath beach while enjoying some fine pub classics. This family and dog friendly coastal inn serves delicious local, fresh food daily. Just 5 minutes’ walk from the beach and situated close to the coastal path, it’s a perfect spot to refuel.
The Oystercatcher, Dunders Hill, Polzeath, PL27 6TG (T: 01208 862371)
Enjoy an incredible view of the surf at Polzeath while tucking into anything from breakfast butties to seafood platters. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Cracking Crab is a family friendly restaurant situated on a fantastic cliff top location. An ideal spot for lunch in the sun or a glass of something while watching the sunset.
The Cracking Crab, Higher Tristram, Polzeath, PL27 6TD (T: 01208 862333)
Colourful café restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and sunny courtyard garden. Great value high quality food including curries, local fish and tasty vegetarian options for lunch and dinner as well as cakes, coffees and cream teas.
Mowhay Café Ham Field, Wadebridge PL27 6SE (T: 01208 868660)
Enjoy breath taking views towards Polzeath and the sea beyond at The Point Restaurant. All food is made with locally sourced and seasonal produce. Enjoy anything from an Italian cup of coffee, homemade cakes, bacon baps, and delicious lunch & dinner options. The restaurant is light and airy and features a variety of wall art including beautiful oil paintings by local artist Jethro Jackson. Well behaved dry dogs are welcome in the restaurant and bar during the day but not at dinner time.
The Point at Polzeath, St Minver, PL27 6QT (T: 01208 863000)
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Visit one of Cornwall’s most famous surfing hubs. Polzeath Beach near Wadebridge is the perfect spot for all you wet-suited surfers, whether novice or pro. Take a lesson in surfing or catch some waves on a body board before heading to browse the local shops and visit the cafes and restaurants along the sea front. For those walkers amongst you, enjoy an easy coastal walk to nearby Daymer Bay and Rock found on the mouth of the Camel Estuary. Parking is plentiful and dogs are welcome on the beach except between Easter Sunday and 30 September when a seasonal dog ban is in place.
Lovely sandy beach that is patrolled by life guards. Though busy there are several large car parks and plenty of room on the beach for all even when the tide is in. Lots of eateries and a surf school.
June 2022
One of the few beaches that isn’t dog friendly so we didn’t stop, but it looked nice from the car park
September 2021
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Located on the East side of the River Camel. Sand and dunes. Dog friendly.
Let's tackle the two downsides first. The narrow single track lane descending to the car park ican be challenging at busy times. The other one - the sheltered position means no waves for boarding. Great sandy beach, safe for kids with a good size car park and easy access down to the sands. Great views over the Doom Bar. Easy to walk down to Rock Beach and St Enodoc's church is worth a visit.
July 2022
Situated at the mouth of the Camel estuary near Padstow lies Hawkers Cove Beach. This wide expanse of white sand beach stretches almost 1.5 miles. Despite its beautiful location and crystal clear waters it’s a fairly uncrowded beach, this is largely due to the limited parking and fairly convoluted access. You can walk from the beach along the coast path to Padstow and take in the breath taking views of the Camel Estuary. There is also a beautiful Tea Garden just up from the beach serving Cream Teas and light bites in the summer months. There is a car park a few minutes’ walk away, just follow signs for Hawkers Cove from the B3276.
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Rock beach is a beautiful long white sand beach located on the mouth of the Camel Estuary. This Area of Outstanding natural beauty is a haven for wading birds and the prefect spot for a swim in the clear blue waters or a picnic admiring the fantastic views. The beach is backed by sand dunes, please try to avoid walking on the dunes and keep to the footpaths where provided as there has been a huge amount of erosion in recent years. Dogs are welcome on the beach all year round and there is easy access to shops and all facilities including public toilets. Parking can be found in the car park just behind and access is via a ferry slipway or steps.
What a fabulous beach, dog friendly all year, when the tide is out the beach is huge, our dogs had a brilliant time. The car park is reasonable priced and toilets were clean.
September 2021
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A rocky beach in a narrow, sheltered cove, Port Quin Beach is close to Port Isaac, and is only accessible at low tide. Its rugged landscape is beautiful to see, but its location means that it’s largely popular with seasoned walkers and those looking to go snorkeling and kayaking. Unspoiled and peaceful, it reveals a treasure trove of rock pools when the tide is out, and the nearby village is largely deserted, having once had thriving fishing and mining industries. Today both the cove and the village are owned by the National Trust and there is a car park courtesy of them in Port Quin. Dogs are banned between Easter and October, and there aren’t any facilities nearby – it’s all about enjoying the peace and quiet.
Could park nearby and enjoyed a cream tea from the 'Salt Pig' van in the carpark. Paddled here and ran the dog one evening, and walked a bit more of the coast path.
September 2019