Padstow Cornwall More Information
Skip to main navigation listThe Camel Trail cycle or walk track starts or ends at Padstow. This is an excellent 18 mile mainly traffic free track set on the old railway line. Take a leisurely cycle along the estuary to Wadebridge Cornwall (5 miles) or for the more adventurous continue on to Bodmin (10.8 miles). There is cycle hire at the beginning the trail so you can pop a pasty in your ruck sack and have a great day out.
The Padstow 'Obby 'Oss festival is held every year in Padstow on May Day (1st May). The 'Obby 'Oss festival (or 'Hobby Horse Dance) is a folk festival which involves a precession of horse, teazer, dancers, singers and musicians making their way through the streets of Padstow. The Padstow May Day Obby Oss festival involves a struggle and fight between the 'Oss and Teazer taking the form of a dance. The horse is fearsome with ferocious mask and the Teazer is a man carrying a club. There are different opinions about what the The Padstow May Day Obby Oss dance represents, one being it is the conflict between Summer and Winter an alternative being it is the fight between good and evil. Thought that it is the conflict between good and evil likens it to the fight between George and the dragon and draws the connection from the tale that St George visited an area a short distance from Padstow and on his arrival a spring emerged and water gushed from the rocks. The spring is dedicated to St George.
Although Padstow Cornwall itself does not have a beach there are many beaches near by. Rock across the estuary has a sandy beach when the tide is out and Harlyn Bay beach, Constantine beach, Booby’s Bay Constantine and Treyarnon are all close by. Watergate Bay beach and Newquay beaches are also quite close and are beautiful golden sandy beaches. For more information on beaches view our Cornwall Beaches Guide.
For those visiting Padstow with a dog Padstow Tourist information (Tel: 01841 533449) have a useful leaflet on dog friendly beaches which may be worth picking up. Tourist information understand Rock beach and all the beach following round from there to be dog friendly. This beach runs alongside the estuary leading up between Padstow and Rock and at low tide is a beautiful golden sandy beach.
On the Padstow side of the estuary, on the road from Padstow to Newquay, there is Harlyn Bay beach, Constantine beach, Booby’s Bay Constantine and Treyarnon. All of which are said to be dog friendly. There is limited parking at Constantine, but you may be lucky. Millie our Jack Russell in charge of our Dog Guide is not very familiar with the beaches in this area and we would be grateful to receive reviews or ideas.
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More info about Padstow:

Accommodation in Padstow list.
Places to Eat Out in Padstow
List of Galleries in Padstow
Wadebridge Cornwall is a 5 mile cycle ride along the Camel Trail from Padstow. More information about Wadebridge Cornwall.
Bude is a typical (in all of the best ways) British seaside town which seems to offer something for everyone. More information about Bude Cornwall.
Newquay Cornwall is famous for surfing. For visitors with dogs, most of the Newquay beaches are dog friendly. More information about Newquay Cornwall.
See photographs of Padstow Cornwall in Padstow Image Gallery