Local Area
WADEBRIDGE
As a family, we have been holidaying in North Cornwall for many years and hope you enjoy the area as much as we do.
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Wadebridge is a popular town sitting on the River Camel, offering a wide variety of independent shops, places to eat, parks, a cinema and access to the popular Camel Cycle Trail.
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It also featured in the Times best places to live in the UK 2020.
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Wadebridge high street
DAYS OUT
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Springfields Fun Park: A fabulous day out for all the family. Springfields has a boating lake, funfair rides, parks, petting farm, pony rides and indoor soft play area. 11 miles
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Newquay Zoo: One of Cornwall's leading visitor attractions with over 1,000 of the world’s rarest and endangered animals. 17 miles
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Lappa Valley: One of our favourite days out with our own children. Lots of minature railways to ride on as well as boats, plenty of play parks, sandpits, mazes and more. 17 miles
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Lanhydrock (National Trust): A beautiful National Trust property with a rich history from the Victorian period through to modern day. The house is available to look round, including the old kitchens and servants quarters. The gardens are also well worth a walk around. 10 miles
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Bodmin Jail: Recently refurbished. Lots of exhibitions explaining the dark history of this fascinating jail. May not be suitable for younger children as it can be quite scary in places! 7 miles
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Bodmin steam railway: Working steam railway for all the train enthusiasts! 8 miles
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Padstow harbour: Famous harbour with lots of shops and restaurants to mooch around, including Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant and Nathan Outlaw's Michelin starred restaurant. You can get there by cycling / walking the Camel Trail (5.5 miles flat trail); by driving direct (9 miles) or combine it with a visit to Rock (7 miles) and catch the small local ferry across the estuary.
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Trerice: National Trust property set in beautiful countryside. 17 miles
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St Michael’s Mount: A bit further afield but well worth the journey. A beautiful island cut off by the tide with panoramic views and plenty for the children to do too. 46 miles
Springfields fun park
Springfields fun park
Lappa valley
EATING OUT
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Wadebridge is full of places to eat but we've picked some of our favourites below:
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Route 303: American style diner in the heart of Wadebridge town. Great family friendly restaurant.
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Jon’s: Good value fish and chip shop.
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Mad Hatter’s tea room: Great little tea shop in Wadebridge. Perfect for a light lunch / brunch.
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Cherry Tree’s: This is our favourite café in Padstow. Overlooking the harbour, it sells amazing cakes that are definitely worth trying after a cycle down on the Camel Trail!
Route 303
BEACHES / COAST
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Rivendell is perfectly located to access the magnificent North Cornish Coast:
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Polzeath: Lovely sandy beach, perfect for surfing. Vast expanse of soft sand for the children and a few cafes/restaurants. Full day-time lifeguard service during the summer months. Perfect for a day out for the whole family. Our favourite place to be in Summer and Winter! 7 miles
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Daymer Bay: Quieter beach sheltered from the main surf so perfect for wind surfers/paddle boarding. Small café/shop at the top of the beach. 7 miles
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Port Isaac: Beautiful working fishing village and the home of Doc Martin. Lots of quaint shops to wander round and cafes to stop at for a cream tea. 8 miles
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Bedruthan Steps: Amazing scenery and beautiful beach full of rock pools for the kids to play in, although only accessible at low tide. Great café at the top serving the best cream teas! (Aug 2021 - it is currently advised that visitors do not go down to the beach due to a recent rockfall but the scenery from the top is still well worth the trip). 14 miles
Polzeath beach
Bedruthan steps
ACTIVITIES
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Camel Trail: Right on the doorstep of the house. You can cycle or walk to Padstow (5.5 miles) or Bodmin (6 miles). Lovely flat trail with no traffic so perfect for the whole family. You can easily hire bikes from various places in Wadebridge town although booking is recommended in busy times.
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South West Coast Path: There is SO much to explore on the coast paths... You can literally walk for miles! Some of our family highlights are Polzeath to Daymer Bay (relatively flat and easy for the whole family), New Polzeath to Pentire point via the rumps (the most beautiful views, some up and down steep sections), Polzeath to Port Isaac (a HARD undulating walk so not one to do with the kids, but the stunning viewsmake it worth it!), and Padstow to Harbour Cove (a relatively gentle path with a quieter beach at the end).
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Cardinham Woods: Great forest with some lovely circular walks and small play park for the children.
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Surf lessons: There are lots of opportunities for surf lessons for all ages in Polzeath. You will need to book in peak times.
Parks: There are 3 play parks directly opposite Rivendell, great for burning off steam for the little ones.
Camel trail cycle path
