Padstow is also sometimes referred to as Padstein due to the large number of establishments that the tv chef Rick Stein has in the town. But Padstow is more than just Rick Stein, situated on the North Cornwall Coast Padstow benefits from a local rugged coastline, close proximity to Bodmin moor and 7 wonderful beaches that you can reach on foot or within a few minutes drive. Situated at the head of the River Camel Estuary on a sunny day the sheer beauty of the area is evident with the azure blue colour of the estuary, which is heightened when the ebbing tide starts to reveal the golden sandbanks hidden beneath the surface.
Padstow is both a great place to sit and watch the coming and going of the harbour activities. It is also a great place to survey the local architecture and try to peel back the years of change to imagine the Padstow of the 19th century, when sailing ships lined the harbour and the local artisans included shipwrights, ropemakers, blacksmiths, fisherman, butchers, boot makers, clock-makers, drapers and tailors.
Padstow Harbour
Padstow is a endearing town with its picturesque harbour filled with local fishing boats and visiting yachts which is surrounded by a mish mash of houses, warehouses, workshops & stores which have been transformed into cottages, apartments, cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries and designer outlets.
If you are looking for good food Padstow is the place for you, the TV chefs Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth have restaurants in the town, and Nathan Outlaw and Jamie Oliver also have nearby restaurants but there are many other restaurants serving fresh locally produced food such as the Basement, Burgers & Fish and Prawn on the lawn.
Every year Padstow holds a Christmas food festival which includes a couple of demonstration kitchens where you can watch various local and TV Chefs regale you with their food, recollections, observations and antics. Recent Chefs attending the event have been Michael Caines, Nathan Outlaw, Brian Turner, Phil Vickery, James Martin, Antony Worral Thomson, Reza Mohammed, Mitch Tonks, Mark Hix, Angela Hartnett, the Tanner Brothers and of course Rick Stein, Jack Stein & Paul Ainsworth.
There are plenty of activities to be done in and around Padstow, from walking the Saints Way, trying out various water sports including coast steering, kayaking, float boarding, fishing, surfing and sailing to cycling along the gorgeous Camel Cycle Trail. Nearby there’s also golf and horseriding.