Cornwall

Can anyone recommend a nice place, can be small town, on the water in cornwall?  I was looking at St Ives (i iknow, not small) but we want to go next weekend (i know, fat chance) but i'm not giving up hope!!!!!

Blimey! Well, you have a ton of choices really - Padstow, Newquay, Penzance, Looe, Falmouth etc.

Take a map and throw a dart at it! Anywhere you choose is, more than likely, going to be busy this time of year.

Yes!  My (now ex-)boyfriend and I stayed at a GREAT B&B that was right on the water in St. Ives.  http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/carlyon-guesthouse/ - Carlyon Guest House.  This place has extremely good rates for its location & amenities.  The owners were delightfully nice and you cannot beat the beach view or location!!  The rooms are small, but well-decorated with mini kettles, coffee/tea, huge windows for an awesome view, and private bath.  You can book even according to which specific room you want, assuming they have vacancy.  We had NO complaints about this place when we went during the off season.

St. Ives is a great town.  It's big enough to find stuff to do for the day (especially on the weekend, when everything's open for the tourists) and it's got good bus links with the rest of Cornwall.  Land's End is within easy reach, as is Penzance.  It preserves that small town charm with lots of great restaurants (some right on the pier!) and isn't dirty, crowded, and 'city-feeling' like Penzance.

Good luck with the short-notice booking though.  We went in the off season and booked well in advance, so I have no idea how fast this place fills up.  Perhaps contemplate planning now for a LATER trip - if you go late season it might be emptier.

Oh Aimiloo I had the EXACT same idea as you - Cornwall -  but I was thinking bank holiday!  But I don't think we'll be able to swing it.  Good luck!

yeah geetak, that is when i meant!!!!

we might need to try somewhere else eh?

Well, we've booked a place.  We're staying in Padstow, and now i've got to call Rick Stein's and see if I can beg my way in!!!!!

Had a wonderful day here- gorgeous location, took our own wine and sandwiches, lovely!
The theatre is actually built into the side of the cliff, so you feel like you are right on the water.

http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/attractions/minack/Welcome.html

You could stop here when you drive down as it is right off the A30....

http://www.lewtrenchard.co.uk/

Rick Stein has, I think, three restaurants in Padstow...at least I  noticed three with his name on them.  One is a seafood place that looks like it was doing a big business in fish and chips...lots of people bringing their food outside to eat it, long lines outside the place.  One looked more like a cafe and the other was a more formal style restaurant...acquaintances have eaten at that one and said they'd never go back, but I'm sure you could hear that about any restaurant on the planet...

Couldn't tell you where any of them but the seafood one are located, as we were in Padstow for the day and just wandering around.  It's a nice place...have fun!!

great feedback, thanks!  Since we're spending a bit more than i wanted on accomodation i'm inclined to go cheapie-it's our anniversary weekend and all but I am happy with just freshly shucked oysters off the beach!!!

Seafood is my thing man.....when i was in thailand i ate nothing but for almost 10 days straight.... (that or vegitarian).  I think i had chicken twice.

grace, two excellent ideas! thank you!

Oooh Aimiloo I am SO jealous!  I have a stupid %£&$*(£" finance exam I have to study for so I think we're staying home    I will live vicariously through you and Dave.

I lived in Cornwall for a few years, and there are certainly some lovely spots down there.   

If you're looking for sheltered coves with -- in some places -- woodland almost down to the water's edge, head for the south coast.  All around Falmouth there are plenty of spots like that.

The northern coast for the most part is the more rugged side.  I always liked Porthtowan (although I can't say what it's like now as I haven't been there for 20 years).

Don't miss Land's End!!  I know it's common & touristy, but it's GORGEOUS - you don't have to buy any of the gimmicks.

Don't miss Land's End!!  I know it's common & touristy, but it's GORGEOUS - you don't have to buy any of the gimmicks.

I gather that it's quite developed now.  Last time I visited, there was nothing but the signpost giving distances to John O'Groats, New York, etc.