The Area | Clouds - Luxury holiday house in Cornwall

The Local Area

From Tintagel to Land’s End, the north coast of Cornwall is a protected area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that can be walked along its length, and this beautiful coastal path sweeps across the very dunes upon which Clouds is built. The garden is bordered by an undulating wilderness of wild-thyme underfoot and shrubby grassland running down to the huge sandy beaches of the Camel and the sea. But you don't have to go far: just above Clouds is a perfect Sundowner spot with views in all directions and 365 degrees of fireworks at New Year. This is Kick-the-Can paradise and a place that children never forget. Hide among the swaying dune grasses and wildflowers galore - orchids & evening primrose. Bluebells on the cliffs. And always the sound of the soaring skylark, the endless roaring ocean and the distant chug-chug as the fisherboats return. It is a beautiful spot.

A place for all seasons, it is also a landscape made for sea-sports, and the bays bloom with sails and kites all year round - 2 minutes’ walk down the hill to Rock beach and you’re off ! World class golf at St Enodoc & its holiday Church course are on the doorstep; there are many National Trust gardens within easy driving distance, the area inspires artists and craftsmen whose work can be found in the many local workshops and galleries…

Whatever age, whatever season, take some friends, make up a party - this is a very special place.

Watersports: just below the house, to learn, hire or launch -

Dinghy, catamaran, Windsurf, Kitesurf (local restrictions July/August)
Water-ski, Banana!, wake-board, Kayak, paddle-board
Scuba, deep-sea fishing, boat chartering and Coasteering ...
Kite-surfers launch from Brea beach (10 minutes carry along dune path) and cross to Hawker’s cove
Surfing a short drive away at Polzeath or a little further at Harlyn and Watergate Bay

Nearby Beaches

Rock beach is straight down the hill if you just wiggle past the 5-barred gate at the end of our lane. A small stream flows at the bottom - ideal for damming, and the mounded dune grasses make perfect spots for picnics. The sands extend all the way to Daymer Bay which is a favourite spot for crab hunting, rock-pooling generally and wind/kite surfing (except high summer). Or pack a picnic and take the ferry to the Padstow beaches of St George and Hawker’s cove. Best time to swim is during the two hours of low/high tide but please be aware of tidal currents.

And things for the children:

Bouncy castle, clock golf at Polzeath. Giant Waterslide, petting animals and football area at St Minver Padstow Lobster Tanks never fail to fascinate.
Camel Creek (www.camelcreek.co.uk) at St Issey just beyond Wadebridge. A classic children’s adventure park and all-weather playground with wild rides, a huge range of attractions, shire horses and masses of indoor entertainment. Open year round.

Cycling

Follow the beautiful and scenic Camel trail -a great day out and very popular: By ferry to Padstow or drive to Wadebridge and hire bicycles, tandems and even baby buggy attachments. To Bodmin and onto the moors beyond.

For Foodies - there are at least 60 excellent eateries within 20 minutes drive/ferry !

Within 10 minutes walk, all on the seafront : The Rock Inn and adjacent eaterie with great balcony views and lunch served all day: the Four Boys or the renowned Mariners pub and excellent St Enodoc Hotel Brasserie (set high, glorious views) for dinner.
Seriously fine dining can be found at two exceptional restaurants in Rock - The Karrek (St Enodoc Hotel Gourmet) or the Dining Room up by Rock Newsagent (20 mins walk round golf course track – no need to go down to the road);
By Ferry : Michelin Fine-dining at Rick Stein’s Padstow restaurants & Paul Ainsworth’s No 6 or the Prawn on the Lawn amongst others, plus many more eateries and pubs: for the serious table-traveller, there is an annual Autumn Food Festival in late Autumn;
35/40 minute walk: lunch or family supper at Surfside (Jazz nights) right ON the beach or The Cracking Crab overlooking the surf at Polzeath, or for dinner, The Mowhay and St Moritz restaurants at the top of Daymer Lane – all of these are closer via the marked footpath across the golf course past St Enodoc church. Remember a torch for the return…
Taxi or drive to: the Nathan Outlaw restaurants at Port Isaac for truly gastronomic experiences; Lunch or supper at Port Gaverne Inn or Pilchards; others at St Tudy or St Kew, The Maltsters at Chapel Amble and further afield Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen at Watergate Bay.

Cookery Courses

Beach Ferry to Rick Steins Padstow Seafood school which offers short courses all year.

Golf

There are some excellent courses nearby, suitable for all levels:
St Enodoc Golf Club – 2 min walk – (remember to bring your handicap card)
The Point Golf Club – 10 min drive
Trevose Golf Club – 35 min drive or ferry to Padstow and taxi onward
Bowood Golf Club – 35 min drive

Coastal Walks

Rock is on one of the most scenic sections of the National Coastal Path. From the door, drop down to Porthilly Cove to visit the waterside church of St Michael, the Oyster farm and the artist’s studio gallery, or go the other way via its sister church of St Enodoc to Daymer Bay and Polzeath. For the full rugged North Cornwall experience, continue on round Pentire head to Port Gaverne, Lundy Bay and the challenging hike to Port Isaac (this last section is not recommended to any but the strongest knees).

Or hop on the ferry and walk the other way: out round the western Stepper Point headland marked by its ancient tin-mine chimney then south along the clifftops to Treyarnon, Booby’s Bay & Constantine. The views are stupendous.

Gardens & Galleries

35 mins drive to Lanhydrock near Bodmin, one of Cornwall’s great gardens and an important National Trust property.
50 mins to the Lost Gardens of Heligan near St. Austell www.ngs.org.uk list the many smaller hidden gems opening throughout the summer
For art lovers –
Various small galleries in Rock, Polzeath, or by ferry to the Drang at Padstow:
www.cornwall-arts-and-crafts.co.uk has a useful directory online.

Spa Pampering

New 2022 at the heart of Rock shop zone (15 mins walk) is Balance (www.balancewellness.co.uk), recommended; or 40 mins walk to the award-winning Cowshed Spa at the St Moritz hotel, offering a wide range of pamper-beauty treatments, the benefits of which you can then completely undo at the hotel cocktail bar or others.