Cornwall, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and famed for its stunning rugged coastline steeped in history, is the perfect place for a UK holiday. With its sub-tropical plants, turquoise waters, golden sands and diverse marine life, there’s really no need to go abroad!
If you’re planning a Cornwall holiday, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate Cornwall holiday itinerary.
Whether you’re looking for a week long holiday or have a little extra time to take things a little slower, this itinerary can be used to see the best of what Cornwall has to offer. We’ve noted certain things you could miss out if you have less time or you can cram lots into 7-10 days.
Day 1-3 The north coast
The North coast has a mix of moorland and Atlantic swell, making it a great walking or surfing spot. Famous for Tintangel and Port Issac, the filming location for Doc Martin as well as the surfing beaches of Newquay, there’s plenty to do on the North coast.
Day 1:
Tintagel
Spend the morning in the legendary small village of Tintagel. Home to Tintagel Castle where it is believed King Arthur was conceived: although a tourist hot spot, it’s definitely a place you won’t want to miss off your Cornwall holiday itinerary. With sweeping views of the Atlantic, Tintagel Castle is now an English Heritage site. Walk across the new footbridge which recreates the historic crossing from the mainland to the headland. Beneath the headland sits Merlin’s cave, a tidal cavern steeped in myths and magic.
NOTE: Merlin’s cave can only be accessed during low tide.
Boscastle
A 10 minute drive from Tintagel is Boscastle, a picturesque fishing village and natural harbour. You can take a walk to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic or if you fancy a coastal walk you can park up in Boscastle and walk to Tintagel, taking in the spectacular views!
Port Issac
Famous as the filming location for Doc Martin and for sea shanty singing favourite Fisherman’s Friends, Port Isaac is a 14th century fishing village which oozes charm. With pebbled streets and quaint white cottages overlooking the harbour, it’s also home to one of the most narrow passageways in the UK ‘Squeezy Belly Alley’.
Enjoy the Doc Martin tour followed by a delicious fresh seafood dinner at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw or seafood cafe Fresh From the Sea.
Day 2:
Padstow
Made famous by Rick Stein, Padstow is a fishing port and foodie haven, and a great place to explore the Camel Estuary. Start by hiring a bike and taking the Camel Trail to Wadebridge. If you’re not in the mood for a bike trail, visit the beautiful Prideaux Place, a beautiful mansion overlooking Padstow deer park and end your day with fish and chips at one of Rick Stein’s restaurants.
Rock
From Padstow, why not take the passenger ferry and explore the beaches of Rock, known as the ‘St Tropez of Cornwall’? It’s perfect for a lazy beach day or perhaps trying some water sports.
Day 3
St Agnes
Set within a UNESCO world heritage mining site, from a Bronze Age burial site to Wheal Cotes, St Agnes is steeped in history. The remains of mines can be found all over the village and much of the Poldark books were set here. Start the morning at Trevanance Cove and take the walk to Chapel Porth, taking in the site of the famous engine house. Walk back to the village and grab a coffee at The Sorting Office.
Newquay
Spend the rest of your day chilling in Newquay where you can take surf lessons if you’re feeling adventurous or simply soak up coastal life. You’ll be able to witness some spectacular sunsets at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay. Grab a beer and bite to eat at one of the many beach cafes located at Fistral or Watergate.
Day 4-6 The South
The south of Cornwall offers a softer side to Cornwall with more rolling hills than rugged rocks, home to The Helford River and Cornwall’s University campus, amongst the lovely beaches there are a host of tropical gardens to explore as part of your Cornwall holiday itinerary.
Day 4
Falmouth, St Mawes and Helford River
Start your day in the lovely student town of Falmouth, grabbing a coffee and pastry at one of the many fantastic coffee shops. Have a mooch round the many independent shops on offer and then take a look round Pendennis Castle.
In the afternoon take a ferry over to the charming village of St Mawes. Here you can take a look around the impressive 16th century castle or head to the lovely Lamorran House Botanical Garden. There are also plenty of pubs and hotels to grab a drink and watch the world go by.
End the day (or skip St Mawes) and take a walk along the scenic Helford River. There’s a lovely walk starting from Mawnan Smith and taking in the beaches of Grebe and Durgan, walking through lush meadows with beautiful views and ending at the waterfront pub, The Ferry Boat, for a bite to eat.
Tip: If you wanted to skip St Mawes you could also spend the afternoon at the beautiful Trebah Garden on the Helford which is full of sub-tropical plants and is a wonderful way to spend a peaceful afternoon.
Day 5
The Lizard peninsular
If you’ve googled pictures of Cornwall, you’ll be sure to have seen a picture of The Lizard peninsular, with its unique rock formations and bright turquoise waters. You’ll also get a chance to see the rare Cornish heather. Spend the morning visiting the famous Kynance Cove with its white sands, dramatic serpentine rock and turquoise water.
Head to the pretty villages of Coverack and Mullion and you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of some seals! If you’re desperate to see seals up close you could head to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for the afternoon located in the village of Gweek and then enjoy a lunch at Sula, at a lovely cafe with estuary views.
Day 6
The Eden Project
Home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest and beautiful Mediterranean Biome, The Eden Project is well worth adding to your Cornish holiday itinerary and it is best to dedicate a whole day. With guided tours, outdoor gardens and even a zip wire, there’s so much to do and something for the whole family to enjoy.
Day 7- 10 and beyond: The West
The West of Cornwall is home to the most south-westerly point in the UK, Lands End, and has arguably some of the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall – it’s definitely somewhere you want to visit on your Cornwall holiday. From London you can take the train to the larger town of Penzance where you can easily explore the best of what West Cornwall has to offer. Stay in one of the many quaint Cornwall holiday cottages.
Day 7
Penzance and St Michael’s Mount
Penzance is at the end of one of the most direct routes from London and it has a lot to offer. Famous for the Jubilee Pool, the UK’s largest geo-thermal pool and very close to the historic St Michael’s Mount, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Grab breakfast in town and mooch around the many vintage shops and then take the walk to Marizion Beach. From here you can visit St Michael’s Mount, either by the Causeway (when the tide is out) or by boat. Spend the afternoon visiting the Jubilee Pool and have dinner or a late lunch at 45 Queen Street.
Day 8
Porthcurno, The Minack Theatre, Nanjizal, Lands End and Sennen Cove
Prepare yourself for a day of coastal walking with this beautiful stretch of coastline. Start the day with a morning sea dip on the beautiful Porthcurno Beach. Then take the steep steps up to the famous Minack Theatre, an outdoor theatre with the most incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. You can take a tour here or perhaps catch a matinee performance. After the Minnack take the coastal path to the breathtaking Najizal Beach, famous for its sea cave ‘The Song of the Sea’ and clear blue waters and white sand. From Nanjizal continue the coastal path to stop and take in Lands End and continue on to the beautiful Sennen Cove and catch golden hour. From Sennen Cove you can get a bus back to Porthcurno or even Penzance.
Day 9 and 10
St Ives
No Cornwall holiday itinerary would be complete without a trip to the beautiful town of St Ives, known as the Cornish Riviera. St Ives has plenty to do and is home to The Tate and Barbara Hepworth Museum. Also somewhat of a foodie haven, St Ives is also renowned for its many beautiful beaches.
St Ives is a fantastic place to base yourself for your Cornwall holiday, with an array of Cornwall holiday cottages available.
The town has a relaxed beach vibe and is perfect for spending long lazy days on the beach, as well as having great access to other areas of Cornwall.
What to bring on your Cornwall holiday
Cornwall is famous for having a micro climate and you can easily witness many seasons in the same day!
Be sure to pack waterproofs, a towel robe is handy for beach days, sun lotion, sunglasses, a few swimwear pieces, hats, sensible coast walking shoes and socks, flip flops and warmer layers for the evenings.
How to get around
Cornwall is best accessed by car but can also be accessed by train. There are many buses available too that can easily get you round to tourist hotspots. Truro is a gateway to train access to many places in Cornwall. Along the coast there can be some narrow roads and some sections of the South West Coast Path are long and over rocky terrain, so ensure you plan any walking routes carefully.
Where to stay on your Cornwall holiday?
Staying in a Cornwall holiday cottage is one of the best ways to enjoy Cornwall, as self-catering can make things a little cheaper and also means you have a good base for if the weather takes a turn.
At Cornish Riviera, we have an array of traditional Cornwall holiday cottages available with all the amenities you could need for your Cornwall holiday and many with beautiful sea views in the beautiful West Cornwall town of St Ives.
St Ives and the surrounding areas are a great base- you can check out our summer guide to St Ives here.
