Once fall hits, most of us shelve our fantasies of hitting the surf, but September is often the best time of year to ride the waves. One of the best spots for a family beach holiday lies in Cornwall. Head to this region in the southwest pocket of England for incredibly pretty seaside towns comprised of dark sand beaches, imposing red rock cliffs and ice cream-coloured cottages. Cornwall oozes with an abundance of activities, making it an ideal seaside retreat.
Where to stay:
We stayed at The Hotel (from £105), a charming, recently refurbished Victorian manor house, nested into Watergate Bay, on the North Cornish coast. Light and airy rooms with a breezy, beach-chic vibe were hard to tear ourselves away from, but leave them we did as The Hotel is situated on its own beach. This allowed us to fall out of bed and head straight for the swells via the Extreme Academy (also at Watergate Bay) for surf lessons and board rentals. A well-equipped kid’s club takes tots three to seven years, while babysitting services are available for children not in that age bracket. There are indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a theatre and pirate play structure in a secure setting.
Where to eat:
A foodie’s paradise, seafood is no longer served up battered and fried in yesterday’s newsprint. In Padstow, a former sleepy fishing village turned culinary hotspot, we indulged at celebrity chef Rick Stein’s, The Seafood Restaurant, for the catch of day set out over a gorgeous three course lunch.
The highlight was feasting at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, for an italian inspired tasting menu overlooking the sea. We plunged into crispy zucchini fritters filled with chili, mint and ricotta, followed by creamy seafood risotto, panzanella salad and john dory fillets fresh from the sea. And yes, we managed to find room afterwards to indulge in local cheeses including, a runny ragstone and pungent blue stichleton, accompanied by freshly baked date and walnut bread.
What to do:
Adventurous families can brave the waves surfing, wave skiing or, get that calorie burn with invigorating hikes along the romantic, rugged coast. We hiked atop the cliffs from Watergate Bay into Porth, and were rewarded with breathtaking views and an afternoon cream tea.
Newquay (pronounced newkie), the undisputed surfing capital of the UK, boasts seven glorious beaches rimmed with towering cliffs and hidden coves just ripe for exploring. Fistral Beach is where the main action is at and the International Surf Centre offers board rentals, lessons and a shopping mall.
If a foodie tour is more your style, be sure to sneak away from your brood to attend the Padstow Seafood School for upmarket one to two day cooking classes. After class, make a point to explore the posh shops and galleries in this traditional town or, sit with a pint (and perhaps some fish and chips) along the pier to watch the fishing boats come in.
In a nutshell
Cornwall has hit upon a cracking formula of family-friendly, luxury hotels, top notch restaurants and beach activities to please all age groups. If you ever fancied taking the troops to Europe, heading here in autumn is the way to go.
Have you ever been to Cornwall? Where do you like to go on family beach vacations?
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