scenic viewpoint
The Rumps
A twin-headed promontory near Polzeath ringed by Iron Age ramparts, with a fine short walk from Pentire Point.
6 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Padstow
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Padstow
Padstow works well as a base: 5 minutes from Polzeath, 19km from Tintagel Castle.
Padstow is in England, United Kingdom, with about 2,300 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Polzeath, about 4 km away.
Padstow (; Cornish: Lannwedhenek [lanːwɛˈðɛnɛk] ) is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Wadebridge, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Bodmin and 10 milesRead more
(16 km) northeast of Newquay. As well as Padstow itself, the parish also includes the village of Trevone and surrounding rural areas. At the 2021 census the population of the parish was 2,669 and the population of the built up area was 2,298.
The geology of the low plateau west of Padstow has resulted in such features as Tregudda Gorge where erosion along the faultline has caused sheer cliffs to form; and Marble Cliffs which has alternating dark grey and light grey strata. The Round Hole is a collapsed sea cave.
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Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Padstow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Padstow?
Within an hour or so of Padstow: The Rumps (6 km), Park Head (8 km), Bedruthan Steps (9 km), Tintagel Castle (19 km).
Are there any good drives near Padstow?
The nearest famous roads are Atlantic Highway (A39), B3306 St Ives to Land's End and A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude).
Where is Padstow?
Padstow is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Polzeath.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,296
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.5388, -4.9366
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Padstow
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Park Head
A National Trust headland just north of Bedruthan Steps with wide views over the stacks and the Atlantic.
8 km · about 15 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Bedruthan Steps
Giant rock stacks marching across a wild sandy beach below towering cliffs on the rugged north Cornwall coast.
9 km · about 15 min drive
castle
Tintagel Castle
Dramatic clifftop ruins steeped in Arthurian legend, connected to the mainland by a striking modern footbridge above the Atlantic.
19 km · about 20 min drive
waterfall
St Nectan's Glen
A mystical 60-foot waterfall that bores through a holed rock in a fern-draped wooded glen near Tintagel.
20 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Holywell Bay
A wide dune-backed surfing beach with the Gull Rocks offshore, used as a filming location for Poldark.
22 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Eden Project
Spectacular complex of enormous biome domes nestled in a former clay pit, housing the world's largest indoor rainforest.
24 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Brown Willy
The highest point in Cornwall at 420 m, a long granite-topped ridge in the middle of Bodmin Moor.
24 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Padstow
- Right hereThe RumpsA twin-headed promontory near Polzeath ringed by Iron Age ramparts, with a fine short walk from Pentire Point.
- Right herePark HeadA National Trust headland just north of Bedruthan Steps with wide views over the stacks and the Atlantic.
- Right hereBedruthan StepsGiant rock stacks marching across a wild sandy beach below towering cliffs on the rugged north Cornwall coast.
- 24 kmBrown WillyThe highest point in Cornwall at 420 m, a long granite-topped ridge in the middle of Bodmin Moor.
- 32 kmSt Agnes HeadA cliff-top headland on Cornwall's north coast with ruined engine houses of the tin mining World Heritage Site along the shore.
- 43 kmAtlantic Highway (A39)Spectacular coastal road running through north Devon and Cornwall past dramatic cliffs, surfing beaches and picturesque harbour villages.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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