Private Tour of North Cornwall for Breathtakingly Rugged Coast

Our first stop of the day and a visit to the 'surfers paradise' of Newquay! (Cornish =

Tewynblustri)

Around 25,000 people live in Newquay but this swells to 100,000 or more in the summer.

The town has been expanding inland since the former fishing village of New Quay began to

grow in the second half of the nineteenth century, and the western edge of the town meets the

Atlantic at Fistral Bay.

We'll park up at Fistral Beach where hopefully conditions will be right to witness some surfing

acfion whilst we get our bearings.

Driving around the Grade 2 listed Headland Hotel we'll pay a visit to the Huer's Hut which has

been described as "a particularly fine late mediaeval specimen". The Huer's Hut served as a

lookout point from which a man known as a huer could keep watch for the arrival of the

pilchards. It's a marvelous structure and there's a teriffic view from here of the North Coast of

Cornwall stretching out into the distance. That's where we're headed...onwards!

Watergate Bay is a vast stretch of sand, big Atlantic swells, and high sea-beaten cliffs; a

dramatic landscape, it’s one of the county’s wildest coastlines and considered by many as one

of Cornwall’s best beaches.

It's 3km beach faces the Atlantic Ocean and with the sea swell it's easy to see why the English

Nationals Surfing Championships are held here.

If the sea-breeze gets too fresh, there are restrooms and cafes close by...

A little detour to the quintessentially Cornish village of St Mawgan.

This super-quaint village dates from the 6th Century arrival of the Welsh missionary Meugan,

and after admiring the village green (where Cornish wrestling matches have taken place for

centuries) we will make our way to the 13th century church.

For more than 700 years the church has provided a place of comfort, refuge and entertainment

for the community through all the great events and upheavals that have taken place during that

time, and your guide will reflect on this and point out some of the remarkable features of the

Church which has been the focal point of village life for centuries.

Right next to the Church is a Carmelite Convent, and if you wish to we can go past the shrine,

through the Elizabeth entrance and learn of the history associated with this beautiful old

convent. We can perhaps have a chance for some quiet contemplation – an opportunity to be

still before our Whirlwind tour of North Cornwall!

Bedruthan steps beach is a stunning natural wonder that boasts dramatic cliffs, impressive rock

stacks, clear waters and a long stretch of sandy beach...an idyllic, picture postcard location

where the opening scenes of 'Poldark' were filmed...

The cliff–top views of rocks stretching into the distance along Bedruthan beach make the area a

popular attraction for tourists and painters.

The name Bedruthan Steps is said to be taken from a mythological giant called Bedruthan, who

used the rocks (stacks) on the beach as stepping stones!

People have been in the area since at least the Bronze Age with six barrows nearby to the

north, and overlooking Bedruthan Steps is Redcliff Castle, which dates back to at least the Iron

Age.

Your Cornish local guide on this private tour has a keen interest in the archaeological history of

Cornwall and will be happy to explain the significance of some of these sites and how they

connect to a wider Neolithic landscape across the County :-)

Padstow (Lannwedhenek) is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) when it was held by

Bodmin Monastery and had considerable importance in the middle ages when it became a busy

fishing port and the site of nine chapels.

The town prospered through trade with Ireland and the English and Welsh ports on the Bristol

Channel - and a great deal of Cornish tin was exported out of its little harbour. (In the first half of

the 19th century it was a significant port of embarcation for emigrants, particular those bound for

Canada.)

Nowadays the place is bustling with visitors eager to experience the charms of a typically quaint

Cornish fishing harbour. Perhaps you’d like to sample some of Rick Stein’s fish and chips? Or

maybe just have a sedate mooch around and indulge a bit of retail therapy! Padstow is just a

lovely place to visit and spend an hour or so unwinding.

En route to our next destination, we'll drive past some delightful areas - The Camel Estuary is a

section of the Cornwall AONB (Area of outstanding natural beauty).

As well as taking in some lovely scenes your guide will use this opportunity to see if you would

like to find out about any aspect of Cornish history or culture. We'll drive through Wadebridge (where the annual 'Royal Cornwall Show' is held) and this journey is a good opportunity to learn of any aspects of the

area that you may wish to ask about..

Port Isaac is a small fishing village captured like a snapshot in time.

You'll be enchanted by the narrow winding streets that lead you past white-washed cottages down to the atmospheric Port Isaac harbour front.

The harbour features a pier built in the time of Henry VII. The buildings and welcoming bars exude character, steeped in history which extends back to the 14th century.

Why not explore its narrow streets, lined with picturesque old cottages? In fact, Port Isaac is renowned for having one of the narrowest thoroughfares in

Britain, the aptly named Squeezy Belly Alley!

Fans of long-running TV series, Doc Martin, will recognise Port Isaac as the setting for the

fictional village of Portwenn, and if you wish to pay a quick visit to the front of Doc Martin's

house then it's easily done.

Fishermen still work from the Platt, landing their catches of fish, crab and lobsters and it’s easy

to let time slip away just sat on the harbourfront here and soaking in the sleepy atmosphere.

Tintagelis a truly majestic location!

Tintagel Castle, described by Tennyson to be “half in sea, and high on land, / A crown of

towers,” is situated on a peninsula which made Tintagel extremely easy to

defend from invasion and was thus a desirable fortress in the Middle Ages. The castle spans

both sides of the peninsula, though it is now almost entirely ruined.

Tintagel Castle is understood to be the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur, but the remains

visible at Tintagel today belong to a 13th-century castle built Richard, Earl of Cornwall.

Tintagel's links with Arthurian legend -

twinned with the fact that this is one of the most breathtaking views in the whole of the British

Isles - ensures that Tintagel remains a must- see destination when visiting Cornwall.

We will park on Headland overlooking the Castle next to St. Materiana's late

11th Century Church, and walk just a little of the Cornish Coastal Path to enjoy the breathtaking

vista of Tintagel and it's castle below us...