Cornwall for 4 in Sept

[Frimley111R]

Hi All

I've been tasked with looking for info on a holiday to Cornwall for a week in September, after the school holidays. I have no idea where to start. We're not the rambling type so want somewhere nice in/near a town centre. Near the coast would be nice too but not essential. Bars and restaurants needed. Accommodation type not too important but 4Star level (you know what womens are like!).

Help and suggestions welcomed.

Thanks

[rustyuk]

https://www.thegodolphin.com/

[ro250]

Not wishing to kick off with a negative but do research where you'll eat and plan in advance. We've found Cornwall difficult to get a table unless you've booked (or it's Sunday or sometimes Monday's, when they don't even open even during peak season!). September may be slightly less busy but still worth checking (and taxis are pretty rare too!).

[Milkyway]

Bude: Watergate Bay is nice & a lovely coastal road to Tintagel.
( Nice pub / restaurant en-route).

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 9th May 19:32

[mattyn1]

IMO, the best part of Cornwall is down by The Lizard.... Coverack, Kynance, Mullion, and a bit wider, Helford, Porthleven, & further on to Marazion etc. However they are little villages and not exactly "town centres" but some of the nicest coastline you will find anywhere. even if you are not walkers, nice to wander over and sit on the coast with fish and chips - a favourite of ours when we lived in Garras was to wander down to Coverack, order cod & chips, grab a pint from the Paris Hotel, and sit on the quayside and enjoy the autumnal evening sun.

Most visitors like Falmouth - lots to see and do there (Pendennis, St Mawes, Trago Mills(joke but the locals reading this will nod!!) ), and is close to The Lizard. Great hotel: Merchants Manor in Falmouth ... (we got married there 10 May 2014 - anniversary Wednesday). https://www.merchantsmanor.com

St Ives is ok, but be prepared for it to be busy.... too busy for some. Worth a day out.

Don't go to Newquay. Penzance quite naff now, but ok for a morning out to get a pasty, then pop to Marazion and nip to St Michaels Mount.

Drop me an email if you need to know more.

Edited by mattyn1 on Tuesday 9th May 23:25

Edited by mattyn1 on Tuesday 9th May 23:27

[The Leaper]

I'd agree with mattyn1.

We have family in Falmouth and go and stay in Falmouth twice a year for 4 nights usually, during April and November. Been doing this since late '70s. For quite a while now we have always stayed at The Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth in a harbour view room. The hotel is excellent in our opinion, the only issue being parking in the busy season, so we always get a reserved parking spot, not cheap, but good to have.

Falmouth is very much a working town, but it does have several nice beaches out of the town centre. Plenty of restaurants of all kinds in town and around the villages. If you want recommendations anywhere, just ask.

Back to mattyn1's points. Yes, West Cornwall is really lovely, somewhat remote and maybe a bit bleak in places, but that's what I like. Loads of walks, good pubs, spots to visit, etc. Some areas can get busy in the season but we are not usually there at that time so for us it's more a matter of finding places open to visit or have a meal.

R.

[rlw]

Have a look at Classic Cottages website. We've booked with them several times since we sold our place near Padstow and they have come up trumps consistently.

St Mawes is good, St Ives is good for eating out and a bit of nightlife - we found a brilliant aprtment on CC about 5 minutes walk from the centre.

As has been said, if you want to eat in specific places, book now.

[egor110]

I'd agree with the above .

Best beaches are down the luzard but if you want city style choice of bars and restaurants your best bet to get anything similar is either Falmouth or st.ives .

To be honest I've never found st ives anything special food wise .

If you like asian food then check out kota in portleven and kahuna in Newquay , both have decent interesting menus you could return to a few nights on the trot.

[Frimley111R]

rlw said:

Have a look at Classic Cottages website. We've booked with them several times since we sold our place near Padstow and they have come up trumps consistently.

St Mawes is good, St Ives is good for eating out and a bit of nightlife - we found a brilliant aprtment on CC about 5 minutes walk from the centre.

As has been said, if you want to eat in specific places, book now.

Thanks, do you have a linky to it?

[Frimley111R]

Thanks All, I'll do some investigating based on your thoughts

[rlw]

Frimley111R said:

Thanks, do you have a linky to it?

https://www.classic.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzAkEXkVn55d0HHGNJb5UmhCzN6wBmTMHffl7vkExLdQseFta5tsg10aAnX0EALw_wcB

[theplayingmantis]

egor110 said:

I'd agree with the above .

Best beaches are down the luzard but if you want city style choice of bars and restaurants your best bet to get anything similar is either Falmouth or st.ives .

To be honest I've never found st ives anything special food wise .

If you like asian food then check out kota in portleven and kahuna in Newquay , both have decent interesting menus you could return to a few nights on the trot.

hmmm....

best beaches for what...?
st ives not good for food...?
Recommending Newquay for anything...?



queue typical subjective thread from everyone...

good food padstow or st ives. town type location, st ives/falmouth/fowey/penzance (which is improving).

i would just stay in the pig if i was a first timer and be close to the best beaches in cornwall around padstein, and padstow itself for the evening and food.

or around st ives/penzance where you are in easy reach of both coasts.

everywhere is heaving early sept anyway.

and if any decent restaurants for dinner are wanted get booking ASAP. lunchs should be ok, but dinner in the better ones for 4+ its leaving it late.

edit. re read OP more carefully - sorry thought it said 4th sept, not 4 and you state not school hols, so will be marginally less busy as the state school riff raff wont be about but grey rinse brigade will start to mass..

stay in padstow (or rock) or st ives, plenty of very nice restaurants and pubs/bars to entertain of an evening. St ives more things to do 'culturally' so would lean to that given you infer your not outdoorsy, and for the inclement weather, but better food in padstow/rock if your are serious gastronomes and thats your thing.

any questions just ask.

Edited by theplayingmantis on Thursday 11th May 12:51

[generationx]

Another thumbs up for St Ives - we stayed there in mid September last year and, partly due to it being her first time in Cornwall, Frau GenX loved it. Plenty of food and drink choices, a nice little shopping area, and fairly easy reach to plenty more Cornish stuff. Although don’t judge touristy journeys based on distance, it will always take longer to get elsewhere than you think.

Echo comments about restaurants, it always pays to reserve even though it feels out of season. We learned that after the first night!

[Milkyway]

Minack open air theatre.
Well worth a look & try to grab a performance as well, even if that’s not your type of thing... it’s an experience.
Book in advance, take a hamper & some wine.
(September looks busy... you can get some lovely evenings, if a bit chilly.)
https://archive.minack.com/downloads/Season%202023...

Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 11th May 13:31

[egor110]

theplayingmantis said:

egor110 said:

I'd agree with the above .

Best beaches are down the luzard but if you want city style choice of bars and restaurants your best bet to get anything similar is either Falmouth or st.ives .

To be honest I've never found st ives anything special food wise .

If you like asian food then check out kota in portleven and kahuna in Newquay , both have decent interesting menus you could return to a few nights on the trot.

hmmm....

best beaches for what...?
st ives not good for food...?
Recommending Newquay for anything...?



queue typical subjective thread from everyone...

good food padstow or st ives. town type location, st ives/falmouth/fowey/penzance (which is improving).

i would just stay in the pig if i was a first timer and be close to the best beaches in cornwall around padstein, and padstow itself for the evening and food.

or around st ives/penzance where you are in easy reach of both coasts.

everywhere is heaving early sept anyway.

and if any decent restaurants for dinner are wanted get booking ASAP. lunchs should be ok, but dinner in the better ones for 4+ its leaving it late.

edit. re read OP more carefully - sorry thought it said 4th sept, not 4 and you state not school hols, so will be marginally less busy as the state school riff raff wont be about but grey rinse brigade will start to mass..

stay in padstow (or rock) or st ives, plenty of very nice restaurants and pubs/bars to entertain of an evening. St ives more things to do 'culturally' so would lean to that given you infer your not outdoorsy, and for the inclement weather, but better food in padstow/rock if your are serious gastronomes and thats your thing.

any questions just ask.

Edited by theplayingmantis on Thursday 11th May 12:51

Have you actually eaten at kahuna ?

[theplayingmantis]

to add, carbis bay included in st ives. good base and within 15 min walk of st ives.

if st ives and to avoid the faff i would just stay in the harbor hotel - its nice enough, has an ok spa, but be weary if you have a car with low ground clearance as the concierge parks it usually and they can be unsympathetic to front splitters at times....

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Milkyway said:

Minack open air theatre.
Well worth a look & try to grab a performance as well, even if that’s not your type of thing... it’s an experience.
Book in advance, take a hamper & some wine.
(September looks busy... you can get some lovely evenings, if a bit chilly.)
https://archive.minack.com/downloads/Season%202023...

This!

Doesn’t matter what’s on, just for the experience.

[theplayingmantis]

egor110 said:

Have you actually eaten at kahuna ?

i have.

its fine

[theplayingmantis]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

Milkyway said:

Minack open air theatre.
Well worth a look & try to grab a performance as well, even if that’s not your type of thing... it’s an experience.
Book in advance, take a hamper & some wine.
(September looks busy... you can get some lovely evenings, if a bit chilly.)
https://archive.minack.com/downloads/Season%202023...

This!

Doesn’t matter what’s on, just for the experience.

Yep, atmospheric whatever the weather performance wise. if a number going used to be worth becoming friends of minack but the scheme isnt so good these days i don't think.