Padstow: Harbour, Camel Trail and History

Padstow combines a harbour in the heart of a coastal town with an impressive history, distinctive traditions and a variety of experiences in the Cornish landscape. If you are planning a trip that brings together activities, culture and observing nature, Padstow offers several different ways to do so. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider which of these experiences should be the focus of your days.

Active on the Camel Trail

The Camel Trail is an 18-mile-long, mostly traffic-free, surfaced and almost level multi-use trail between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users can use the trail. Bicycles can be hired for the Camel Trail in Padstow.

A walk from Padstow to Harlyn Bay also begins at Padstow Harbour. The harbour lies in the heart of the coastal town, making it a prominent starting point for this walking idea. If you want to combine different interests within a travel group, you can alternate a more active day on the trail or on the walk with more leisurely sightseeing and nature experiences.

Harbour, water and nature conservation

Padstow Sealife Safaris offers boat trips and natural history tours for observing wildlife on the water. The National Lobster Hatchery offers a different perspective on the sea: its marine conservation work aims to strengthen wild lobster stocks in the seas. In Padstow, therefore, the focus is not only on activities on the water, but also on gaining an insight into a specific form of marine conservation.

The Camel Estuary extends from Padstow and Rock to Wadebridge. It is one of only two inland sections of the National Landscape in Cornwall. This landscape can be combined with the town’s cultural attractions, without having to limit your trip to just one type of experience.

Living traditions and historic places

The Padstow May Day celebrations have retained a distinctive character that sets them apart. Friendly rivalry between two committed groups helps preserve Padstow’s special May Day tradition for the future. The procession of the Old ‘Oss Party is also one of the town’s notable customs: it begins at the Golden Lion Inn and ends somewhere in the upper town in the early hours of the morning.

Padstow’s history can also be traced at St Petroc’s Church. Over the course of more than fourteen centuries, three churches have stood on its site. The present church replaced the second church on this site around 1425. Anyone interested in church and local history will find a tangible historical connection here that adds another perspective to a town walk.

Prideaux Walled Garden is a historic walled garden in the heart of Padstow. It opened for the first time in 30 years in July 2023. Prideaux Place adds further historic and architectural highlights: the family who built the estate has lived there since 1592. The house combines the architectural styles of the Elizabethan period, Strawberry Hill Gothic and the Georgian era. From the grounds of Prideaux Place, there are views across the old Deer Park and the Camel Estuary to Rock and Bodmin Moor.

Padstow as a base for your trip

Padstow is accessible by public transport: the journey takes you along the main line from London to Bodmin Parkway, followed by a bus journey. This may play a role in your choice of location if you would like to travel without your own car. Accommodation in Padstow is particularly appealing if you would like to include the harbour, cultural discoveries, access to the Camel Trail and the water- or nature-based experiences described above in your travel plans. Depending on your preferred pace of travel, decide whether active days, historic sightseeing or the landscape along the Camel should take centre stage.

More local pages

More local pages: Millbrook, Lansallos, Killigarth, Polperro, Redruth, Saint Stephen, Stratton, Landrake

To the higher-level travel overview: Cornwall.