Whistlefish Loves Padstow
We are so happy that our galleries are back open and customers are once again spending their time choosing their Whistlefish favourites whilst browsing our selection of goodies!
It's not just the joy of being able to once again open our doors that is making us smile this month, but also seeing life begin to return to normal in the beautiful South West towns that our galleries call home. To celebrate this we are going to run a series of blogs that tell you why we ❤️ these stunning towns and what we think makes them special. We start with a Cornish classic - the perfect harbour town of Padstow.
Padstow is a charming working fishing port surrounded by glorious sandy beaches, at the head of the Camel River. Nestling in a narrow gulley on the western side of the River Camel estuary, the town is sheltered from the prevailing winds and the air is generally soft and balmy. Moving down the hill the buildings huddle closer together until they crowd around the harbour. There you’ll find a great mixture of houses, quays, boat slips, inns, cafés, restaurants, gift shops, a fishmonger and the like.
None of this was planned; it just evolved as the years moved on. No architect could have designed the magic of Padstow. It is just the result of years of adaptation to change, of getting the best out of local materials and then using the buildings and the surrounding environment to meet the needs of a working and friendly harbour town.
Padstow is certainly a fab foodie destination with popular eateries such as Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant. It also marks as both the start and end point for the Camel Cycle Trail, is a good base for water sports and its coastal cliffs were also used as a filming location in Poldark.
At the centre of all activity is the harbour. Brass band concerts are held regularly, visiting entertainers often perform on the quayside, fishing and pleasure trips depart from there and much social activity is conducted from the harbour-side cafes, restaurants and pubs. Treat yourself to a fishing trip, a high powered speedboat trip or more leisurely cruise aboard the Jubilee Queen for a trip along the fabulous coastline. And if dry land is more your scene there’s the National Lobster Hatchery where you can discover the fascinating world of lobsters and their environment.
Whilst the harbour is certainly the place to be for the buzz and excitement of this lovely town, for those who want a break from the crowds and enjoy a stroll with stunning scenery, there are paths that snake down the estuary and before long you find yourself on a superb section of sand that stretches from St Georges Cove to Harbour Cove and Hawkers Cove.
For the more serious walkers among you, another 20 minutes will take you to Stepper Point, where you will be provided with stunning views of the estuary including Daymer Bay, Rock and its surrounding estuary.
All in all, there is so much to Padstow and the surrounding area that your visit is sure not to be a quick one! We would love to welcome you to our galleries when you visit, you can't miss us as you enter the harbour!
In association with our friends at Aspects Holidays, we have a webcam on the outside of our gallery looking out across the harbour. Enjoy the views from outside our lovely galleries and imagine you are here with us!
