Relax in North Cornwall

Hold your horses, and listen...its just peace and quiet. Relax, take your time, and meander through North Cornwall's winding lanes, to discover hidden hamlets, wooded waterfalls and the tors of Bodmin Moor.

Throw open the window at dawn break and watch the sun rise across the woods and pastures, or be woken from a lie-in by the appetising smell of a farmhouse breakfast. As you watch cows plodding towards the milking parlour and lambs gambolling in the fields, you can forget about life in the fast lane. Whether it's time for sowing or reaping, you'll find yourself caught up in the rhythm of the changing seasons and refreshed by good old-fashioned country life.

As you explore North Cornwall's rural hinterland you'll follow leafy lanes and ancient tracks to lead you uphill and downdale, through market towns and picturesque villages. Take time to call in at the local inn for a pint and a pasty, or treat yourself to a mouthwatering clotted cream tea at a roadside tea-shop. Farmers' markets are never far away, offering a range of wholesome produce to tempt you - Cornish yarg cheese; venison, hams and other locally raised meat; organic vegetables, fruit, jam, and chutney. Take a leaf out of Betjeman's book and try the poet's pastime of church-crawling. You'll come across churches named after Celtic saints - Kew, Mabyn, Hyacinth, Tudy and Morwenna - containing fascinating clues to the past. Walk through the Valency Valley to the church of St Juliot, where Thomas Hardy fell in love with Emma Gifford in 1870, recounted in A Pair of Blue Eyes.

Exploring the moor

From sheltered moorland communities such as Blisland and St Breward, Temple or Altarnun, you can explore the crags and combes of Bodmin Moor - Dozmary Pool, associated in legend with Arthur's Excalibur; rare plants such as bog orchids and coral necklace; the 4000-year-old Stannon, Trippet or Hurlers stone circles. Follow the new 60-mile round-moor Copper Trail, scale the heights of Rough Tor or Brown Willy for a kestrel's-eye view of the moor - highland cattle and moorland ponies reduced to mere specks - or hunt amongst the boulders at the Cheesewring for Daniel Gumb's hermit cave. Pack a picnic and make for Cardinham Woods or keep your eyes skinned for a kingfisher or an otter at beautiful Golitha Falls.

Hot spots and cool dudes.

North Cornwall's long Atlantic coastline is dotted with gleaming award-winning sandy beaches, amongst the finest in the West Country. Rockpools, sandcastles, ice cream, beach cricket and barbecues, together with the best climate in Britain - if you're seeking a traditional seaside holiday, North Cornwall comes with all the essential ingredients. There are lively resort beaches such as Bude's Summerleaze beach, with its tidal swimming pool, and tiny, tucked-away suntraps such as Bossiney and Crackington Haven, sheltered by towering cliffs. There are the wide open bays of Widemouth, Harlyn and Porthcothan, with room a-plenty to spread out your beach towel and the Camel Estuary strands of Daymer, Cassock and Harbour Cove where you can watch the passing traffic of fishing boats, yachts and windsurfers.

North Cornwall is also famous for its waves, attracting international surfers to Sandy Mouth and Blue Flag Crooklets, the bays of Constantine, Harlyn, Booby's, Mawgan Porth and Watergate, and the Blue Flag beach at Polzeath with its surf schools and beach bars. RNLI lifeguards watch over all our popular beaches, and Beach Rangers and summertime Wardens keep the sands free of litter - here in North Cornwall we take beach fun seriously!