At Padstow Townhouse, we think the best way to discover it is on foot. Here are some of our favourite hidden landscapes, walks, and moments of quiet beauty, plus a few well-placed stops from The Ainsworth Collection along the way.
Scenic Strolls, Secret
Views & Local Walks
Padstow is full of postcard-worthy spots, the kind you’ll see on guidebook covers. But for those who stay a little longer, rise a little earlier, or ask just the right local, there’s another side to this coastal town. A quieter, more personal Cornwall, one found in cliff-top paths, ancient lanes, and unexpected views.
An Early Morning Walk
to Hawker’s Cove
Start your day the way the locals do. Grab a takeaway flat white from Caffè Rojano (open from 8:30 am) and stroll out toward Hawker’s Cove via the coast path. Before the crowds arrive, the estuary is glassy and the beach all but deserted.
Tip:
Take binoculars if you enjoy spotting birds on the estuary.
Start:
Padstow War Memoria
Distance:
~1 hour return
The Ancient Green
Lane to Crugmeer
This lesser-known inland walk feels like stepping back in time. Take the narrow green lane that winds between fields to Crugmeer, a tiny hamlet on the outskirts of town. The path is lined with wildflowers in spring and shaded by hedgerows older than most maps.
Tip:
Pack a slice of cake or pastry from The Pantry at
Padstow Townhouse for a field-side picnic
Start:
Padstow War Memoria
Distance:
~1.5 hours return
Camel Trail Early
Morning Loop
The Camel Trail is well-known but walking it early in the morning before the cyclists appear is a hidden gem in itself. Mist hangs over the estuary and oyster catchers call from the mudflats.
Tip:
Take an early stroll, then return for breakfast at
Caffè Rojano. The French toast is a guest favourite.
Start:
Padstow Trailhead
Distance:
As long as you like
Prideaux Place – Not Quite Hidden,
Always Magical
While Prideaux Place is far from a secret, it remains one of Padstow’s most enchanting landmarks. This grand Elizabethan manor, with its views over the Camel Estuary and centuries of family history, has long captured the hearts of those who wander up its tree-lined drive.
For us at Padstow Townhouse, it holds special meaning — our Toffee Apple Suite was inspired in part by the romantic interiors of Prideaux.
Tip:
Visit just before closing for golden-hour views across
the deer park or ask us about private tour options.
Distance:
5-minute walk from Padstow Townhouse
Sunset at Stepper Point
Few visitors make it all the way out to Stepper Point, but it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the area. The views are staggering – cliffs, sea stacks, and endless Atlantic horizon. If you’re asking us, golden hour is the best time to visit.
Tip:
Back in town, reward yourself with a glass of wine
at CiCi’s Bar – it’s the perfect post-hike perch.
Start:
Padstow Harbour via Hawker’s Cove
Distance:
~2.5 hours return
