Top 10 attractions on Cornwall's Atlantic Coast

From St Agnes to Trevose Head, the coastal scenery in South West Cornwall is spectacular. Places of special appeal include Padstow, with its pretty harbour and crooked streets as well as Perranporth with its golden beaches. Notable attractions include the Iron Age fort situated at Castle an Dinas and half buried St Piran churches at Perranporth. Holiday visitors will find an array of delightful towns and attractions throughout the region.

Bedruthan Steps
Cliffs, protected by the National Trust tower above a beach of rock and sand. Legend has it that the large granite rocks were stepping-stones of the giant Bedruthan. Some have unusual shapes, such at Queen Bess Rock, said to have a profile similar to that of Queen Elizabeth I.

Newquay
A leading resort that was at one time, an important fishing harbour. Tourism gradually took over following the arrival of the railway in the late 19th century. Newquay’s holiday attractions include surfing, swimming, fishing and a zoo in Trenance Gardens.

Padstow
An attractive resort on Camel River estuary. The old town is a warren of crooked streets that run down to the harbour and are lined with houses, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. The 16th-century Raleigh Court can be found on South Quay, which is where Sir Walter Raleigh stayed when collecting the dues to which he was entitled as Warden of Cornwall.

Perranporth
A village with a 3 mile stretch of sand that proves particularly popular with surfers. There are three St Piran’s churches found here, two of which had to be abandoned due to drifting sand. An ancient In St amphitheatre is close-by with plays still staged during the summer months.

Port Isaac
A pretty village with Slate cottages which fringe steep, streets that lead down to its little fishing port. There are many fine walks to be had in the region and Tregeare Rounds, an Iron Age Fort is nearby.


St Agnes
This former mining village is situated on a hill about half a mile inland. John Opie, Cornwall’s most famous painter, was born about a mile east of the town. St Agnes Beacon a mile west, affords some fantastic views of the Atlantic coast from St Ives to Trevose Head.

St Austell
A major market town that provides a good base from which to explore mid-Cornwall. It features a number of attractive buildings including the Georgian Quaker Meeting House and the Italianate town hall. Holy Trinity Church features some impressive carved figure-work on its outside walls. Luxulyan is 4 miles to the north-east, located at the head of a wooded ravine which is overgrown with ferns and flowers, watered by the streams made white from the washings of nearby china-clay mines.

St Columb Major
A town featuring an impressive church. It boasts a tiered tower that dates back over 600 years. On Shrove Tuesday, crowds of local townsfolk take part in a version of hurling, played with an applewood ball covered in silver. Other attractions include Castle an Dinas, an Iron Age fort with three ramparts which is located just over 2 miles of the town.

St Mawgan
This delightful village is situated in a wooded river valley. Its Church boasts a selection of intricate carvings, and a beautiful Christian cross that stands in the churchyard. An impressive Elizabethan manor house called Lanherne is next to the church.

Trevose Head
The lighthouse found here was constructed in 1847. Unsurprisingly, the views are outstanding and stretch from St Ives to Lundy Island. Constantine Bay, with its sweeping sands is not far and within half a mile, there stands the ruins of a 14th century chapel.