| Great escapes: Cornwall 4 |
| The wheel deal |
| Tour many of the main attractions of Cornwall's north coast in just one day - from craggy Land's End to picture-perfect Padstow |
If your time is precious, and you want to see as many of Cornwall's scenic wonders as you can in as short a time as possible, then a driving tour guarantees an ideal day out for the whole family.
Today we've chosen to explore the wilder and more visually stunning coast of Cornwall's north than its more tranquil south. Taking roads that wind right alongside much of the famed West Coast Path, you can see Cornwall's starkest cliffs, traverse its windswept moorlands and explore its coastal towns all pretty much from behind the wheel of your car. So, prepare to enjoy a string of heavenly beaches, idyllic bays and towns that each have a story of their own to tell...
1. The End is nigh
From Camon Downs caravan park, zero your car's trip meter and turn right. At the roundabout, take the third exit and follow signs for Truro on the A39. At 2.9 miles, at the Arch Hill mini-roundabout, turn left ontothe A390 (Redruth). At 8.1 miles, at the roundabout, take the first exit and join the A30. Continue on the A30 all the way to Land's End, arriving at 39 miles.
Land's End has the romantic pull of being the first (or last, depending on how you look at it) point in England. Here, greatcliffsof granite rise up from the Atlantic while just offshore lies the dramatic Longships Lighthouse. Sadly, Land's End is somewhat spoilt by the play areas, craft and gift shops - and, it costs £5 to have your photograph taken against Britain's most famous landmark. But never mind - some of the exhibitions here are veryinteresting. We particularly enjoyed the Miles of Memories feature about the forms of transport used by Land's End to John O'Groats 'end-to-end' trekkers in the past. We also liked the audio-visual 'Air/sea Rescue Alert' experience.
2. Super beaches at Sennen Cove
Leave Land's End via the A30. Take the first left for Sennen Cove. This is a delightful little seashore town boasting two great beaches: Whitesand Bay and Gwenver Beach. At the western end of the Cove is the famous Sennen Cove Lifeboat and Lifeboat House, plus the Round House, a nice little arts and crafts gallery.
3. St Just - you can't go further west
Zero your trip meter, leave Sennen Cove, turning left (A30). At 1.2 miles turn left on the B3306 (St Just). Turn left at 3.9 miles at the T-junction (A3071). At 4.3 miles, enter St Just.
This is England's most westerly town. Relics of an industrial past (tin and copper) can be found in the area, with the remnants of mine workings dotted about. Take a short, worthwhile, excursion (just over a mile) to the headland of Cape Cornwall; just follow the signs from the market square.
4. St Ives - top of the bays
From St Just, zero your car's trip meter, pass the market square and join the B3306. Descend the 1-in-6 hill and then follow the signs for St Ives, arriving at 13 miles.
Along with Mount's Bay, St lves is one of only two British bays that belong to the exclusive club known as 'The Most Beautiful Bays in the World'. Artists have for many years flocked to St Ives, Europe's most artistic western outpost. And, just a few years ago, the Tate opened a gallery here.
Being tucked into its bay and sheltered from the Atlantic, the town is an old fishing port. Here, you'll discover stone cottages and cobbled streets which wind down towards the harbour - it's quite a spectacle and great fun to explore at leisure.
5. Popular Portreath
From St Ives, zero your car's trip meter and follow signs for Hayle on the A3074. At the roundabout (3.9 miles) take the second exit (A30 Redruth). At 6.8 miles, at the Loggans Moor roundabout, take the first exit (B3301 Hayle). Arrive at Portreath (15.lmiles).
This popular seaside resort nestles on the shoreline in the fold of a valley. Portreath has a fine beach for swimming and surfing. And, its 18th-century harbour was once busy with the product of the tin and copper mines of Camborne and Redruth, brought here along the Portreath Tramroad - part of the Mineral Tramways network - it's a pleasant walk to follow.
6. 'Stippy Stappy' St Agnes
From Portreath, zero your car's trip meter and take the B3300 for Redruth. At 1.8 miles, turn left on an unclassified road, signposted Porthtowan. At 4.1 milesturn left at the crossroads (signposted St Agnes). Then turn left on the B3277, arriving in St Agnes at 7.4 miles.
This is a charming little coastal village, north of Truro, with a wealth of mining history and two main beaches, Chapel Porth and Trevaunance Cove. There are plenty of cafés in the town where you can enjoy Cornish cream teas, but St Agnes is perhaps most famous for its steep row of old sea captains' cottages known as 'Stippy Stappy', surrounded by ivy-clad tin-mine engine houses.
7. Newquay surfing safari
Zero your car's trip meter. Follow the signs for Perranporth (B3285). At 6.7 miles turn left onto the A3075. At 11.4 miles, take the first exit at the roundabout, ontotheA392, entering Newquayat 13.2 miles.
This, the largest resort on the north coast, is the surfing capital of the UK. There are 11 beaches here, amongst which the famous Fistral beach hosts surfing competitions throughout the year. If you visit the area at the end of May (24th-27th), checkout the Run to the Sun Festival which fills the town with the colourful spectacle of custom cars, surfing and music.
8. Padstow for a feast of fish
Leave Newquay by the B3276 and arrive at Padstow in 13 miles.
Padstow sits on a hillside above the Camel Estuary and is renowned for its variety of sea food. All along this coast there are little fishing villages where the visitor can watch the catch being unloaded onto the quayside from small fishing boats. Padstow harbour is a hive of activity during the summer. It's also lined with a number of well-preserved medieval buildings, including the Abbey House and the Court House of Sir Walter Raleigh.
• Return to Carnon Downs From Padstow, follow the signs to Wadebridge to leave by the A389. At 2.2 miles, takethe B3274 (St Columb). A mile later, bear right towards St Austell. At 6.5 miles, take the third exit at the roundabout (A39 Truro). At 11 miles, at Highgate Hill Junction roundabout take the fourth exit (Redruth) to join the A3O. At 18.1 miles, rejoin the A39 (Truro). At 23.7 miles at the junction with the A390, turn right. At 24.6 miles, at the roundabout, take the third exit towards Falmouth. In 0.3 miles take the second exit at roundabout. At 25.6 miles turn left onto the A39. Follow the local signs to Carnon Downs.
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Distance
125 miles
Time 11 hours
Start/finish Carnon Downs Caravan and Camping Park
Suitable for all the family
Tip
For those who want to see Cornwall but leave their car behind, there are many local buses, branchline trains, and ferries to help you get about.
• Bus services in Cornwall:
Truronian, tel 01872 273453; First Western National, tel 01209 719988 or 01208 79898.
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