What to do in the Area
Theatres
The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, TR19 6JU. A stunning open-air theatre where unscripted dolphins have been spotted in the backdrop. The Minack is constructed above a gully with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. Do take a cushion for longer plays! www.minack.com 01736 810181
Hall for Cornwall, Back Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL. The largest theatre in Cornwall, offering a mix of shows. 01872 262466
Historic Houses and Gorgeous Gardens
Cotehele House and Gardens St Dominick, near Saltash, PL12 6TA. A Tudor house with beautiful, tranquil gardens. 01579 351346
Lost Gardens of Heligan St Austell. Explore the 200 acres, from Victorian Productive Gardens to the romantic Pleasure Grounds and lush sub-tropical Jungle. Heligan.com 01726 845100
Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell, PL24 2SG. Cutting edge iconic architecture, awe-inspiring gardens, rainforest biomes and SkyWire – England’s longest (last time we checked) zip wire! Edenproject.com 01726 811911
Lanhydrock House, Bodmin, PL30 5AD. A wonderful garden and fascinating house. 01208 265950
Prideaux Place, Padstow, PL28 8RP. Landscaped gardens and terraced walks surround this Elizabethan manor house. Prideauxplace.co.uk 01841 532411
Trelissick Gardens, Feock near Truro, TR3 6QL. A beautiful garden to explore in a stunning location. 01872 862090
Trerice Gardens / Trerice Manor, Newquay, TR8 4PG. An Elizabethan manor house with fine interiors and a delightful garden. 01637 875404.
Activities
All these places should be checked. Plenty of businesses have reopened post-Covid but the situation has been fluid.
Surfing: everyone else seems to be doing it so why not give it a go? You can hire all the equipment you need, at keen prices, from the promenade on Towan beach, just down the steps from The Island: https://www.facebook.com/towansurfhirenewquay. There you will also find SUPs, kayaks and assorted other water-based equipment for hire.
Jet skiing, surf lessons, banana boat rides etc. There are plenty of places that will teach you to surf but Waverunner Safaries also has a selection of other things to do on the water. It has a base on nearby Lusty Glaze beach. https://www.cornwallwaverunnersafaris.co.uk / 01637 806106
Flyboarding: this is fairly new. We have not tried this ourselves (yet!) but have watched people doing it as we sit lazily in the rocking chairs in the living room. It certainly looks a lot of fun. https://www.intotheblue.co.uk/experiences/flyboarding-newquay
Kitesurfing etc: Watergate Bay, a short drive (or long clifftop walk) away is a well-known kiteboarding destination. Extreme Academy has been based there since 1999. They teach all sorts of ways of travelling over water and land: surfing, handplaning, waveskiing, SUPing and, on land, traction kiting. https://www.extremeacademy.co.uk / 01637 860840
Coasteering: this looks fun though we haven’t tried it so we can’t recommend anyone in particular. Check out TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186239-Activities-c61-Newquay_Cornwall_England.html
Go Karting, St Eval, Wadebridge, PL27 7UN. Cornwall’s premier kart circuit is based a short drive away near the airport. From their website: “Featuring a dedicated family circuit which is designed to cater for 7 years olds and above including mum and dad too, a dedicated Adult only track for something a bit more full on, and not forgetting the little ones – we also have a dedicated circuit for the 3 to 6 year olds”. What we can tell you from personal experience is that the adult (16+) carts are serious adrenalin machines and that the main outdoor track is long enough and interesting enough to make it fun and competitive. You have to take time to lose that adrenalin before you drive back home as afterwards the winding Cornish lanes feel a bit like the race track. www.cornwallkarting.com / 01637 838 296
Cycle the Camel Trail, Wadebridge, PL27 7AL. A cycle path that runs between Wadebridge and Padstow – perfect for a leisurely bike ride on the level. Enjoy peaceful views across the estuary and stop for the afternoon in Padstow for an ice-cream, fish and chips or a tour of the Camel Valley Vineyard https://www.camelvalley.com which can be found along the route (they make some of the better English wines, including their international award winning sparkling wine). Information on the trail and where to hire bikes can be found here: https://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/outdoor/north-coast/padstow/camel-trail
Fishing at Trebellan Park Cubert, Newquay. There are three established coarse fishing lakes. 01637 830522.
Golf at Holywell Bay Golf Club TR8 5PW. We are not golfers but those who are tell us that this is a stunning 18 hole, short yet challenging, par 3 golf course. www.holywellbaygolf.co.uk / 01637 832916. There is also a course walking distance from The Island, with a great view over Fistral beach and an opportunity to practice your shots into wind: Newquay Golf Club, www.newquaygolfclub.co.uk.
Horse Riding: available from nearby Trenance Stables, Trenance Leisure Centre, Newquay, TR7 2HU. Less than a mile away, the stables will lead rides suitable for beginners through to experienced riders. http://www.newquayridingstables.co.uk / 01637 872699
Tennis: indoor, outdoor and floodlit at Heron Tennis Centre, Newquay, TR7 2NN. www.heron-tennis.co.uk / 01637 877555
VR: if youve never worn a VR headset now may be the time to try out the VRcade (geddit?) / https://thevrcade.co.uk a short walk away in town. There’s also a new but old-school video arcade Retro Blast Cafe https://retroblast-coffee.business.site (think Space Invaders, Centipede and other classics from the 1980s), as well as the more traditional seaside amusement arcades which defy gentrification, for the full immersive experience which may or may not be your thing.
Zip Wire: England’s longest and fastest zip wire (last time we looked) can be found at the Eden Project. www.hanglooseadventure.com / 01726 811911. There is also Adrenalin Quarry (“throw someone you love off a cliff”) which has a variety of activities. www.adrenalinquarry.co.uk / 01579 308 204. Both of these are a drive away.