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Cornish Secrets / The Great Cornwall Holiday Guide / Things to do / Travel & Parking

Comprehensive Cornwall Travel and Parking Guides

Most people travel to Cornwall by car which does come with its own problems. However, fear not, this section helps to take the pain out of parking and suggests the best travel routes. Our travel and parking guide also suggests alternative travel such as trains (popular around St Ives) and even arriving by boat (an excellent idea if visiting Falmouth).

We have done the hard work for you to make your holiday as relaxing and stress-free as possible…

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10 Cornish beauty spots to visit on your Atlantic Highway road trip

For those living in Cornwall, the A39 – or more fondly labelled Atlantic Highway – is a mere transport route to get from ‘A’ to ‘B’, but if you’re visiting Cornwall and have time to expl...

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Travelling to Cornwall

Within 5 hours (by train or car) you can be in a different world. That’s around how long it takes to reach Cornwall from London. The train route is scenic from Paddington, and there are also direct ...

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Porthminster St Ives

Getting around Cornwall

Cornwall is a rural county, so most people travel here by car, especially if they have family and extensive luggage. If that’s your chosen option, you may find a weekly Rover parking ticket useful, ...

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Parking – St Ives

As St Ives is such a popular town with narrow streets, and lots to do, parking can be a challenge in high season unless you have chosen accommodation with parking included. There are two short stay ca...

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Parking – Newquay

Newquay has a mixture of council (15 car parks) and private parking so choose judiciously. Use our guide to reduce parking stress. Cornwall Council offers the Countywide Rover ticket which can be used...

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Parking – Padstow

Despite being a vibrant town with top-notch restaurants, parking is not too difficult in picturesque Padstow, but usually involves a walk in to the town centre. Padstow Town Council owns two car parks...

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Parking – Falmouth

Fabulous Falmouth is well worth visiting, but not known for its ease of parking. It has 3 short-stay car parks, but they are expensive. Run by Cornwall Council, they are at Grove Place (168 spaces ...

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Looe

Parking – Looe

Lovely Looe is a town of two seasons. In mid-low season, finding a parking space is relatively easy with car parks and street parking readily available. However, during the peak-season, Looe is not th...

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Parking – Mousehole

Magical Mousehole is a delight but when at its busiest, the road down to this lovely fishing village can become a bottle-neck, and parking in the village is at a premium, as Mousehole existed centurie...

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Parking – Bude

Beautiful Bude has plenty of parking around the town centre and beaches, including Cornwall Council car parking, Bude-Stratton Town Council parking and private parking. Outside high season, street par...

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Parking – Truro

Cornwall’s only city is small and picturesque, with a very impressive cathedral. Truro has lots of parking, with twelve car parks and two park and ride schemes, but driving around the city is not mu...

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Towan Beach

Newquay car park options & information

Car parking in Newquay isn’t as troublesome as some of the other tourist hotspots, but as with any popular Cornwall town or village it’s always worth planning ahead when it comes to travel. On-str...

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Travel & parking in Rock, Cornwall

The little town of Rock, near Wadebridge, has plenty of appeal. As with the majority of trips to Cornwall, most visitors will drive to Rock. Rock is just a 30-minute drive from the main A30 which cuts...

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How to get from London to Cornwall

With its vast open spaces, sandy beaches and great food, Cornwall attracts a whopping five million visitors every year, with a fair amount of them coming from London, but making the trek down to the c...

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Portreath car park

Portreath Car Park Options & Information

Looking to park your car in Portreath? Portreath beach car park is on the seafront, right by the beach making it the best option for a day at the beach. There are approximately 125 spaces, but this is...

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Greenwood-Newquay Airport

Travelling to Bude & getting around

If you’re considering a trip to Cornwall, Bude is one of the easiest locations to get to thanks to its northernly location. Bude is one of the first Cornish towns you’ll reach off the main A30 dua...

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Travelling from Newquay to Padstow

While they’re very different in flavour, Padstow with its postcard picture harbour is slower paced than Newquay, which is not only a surfing haven but possesses a buzzing beachy atmosphere, what sur...

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St Ives Long Stay Car Parks

St Ives car parking is, unfortunately one of Cornwall’s most challenging. Given the influx of visitors during the summer season coupled with the town pretty but impractical streets, finding a parkin...

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St Ives Park and Ride Options

If you want to avoid driving into St Ives town centre completely – and to be honest, we don’t blame you – it’s worth considering St Ives Park and Ride car park options. Visitors can park all-d...

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St Ives Short Stay Car Parks

St Ives car parking is undoubtedly a challenge. A hugely popular town with narrow streets, and lots to do, while it looks idyllic the roads aren’t the most practical. If you’re planning ahead for ...

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Charging your electric car in Cornwall

While Cornwall may be on the sleepy side, as a county we’re not as behind as people may think and are very welcoming of a greener future. According to Next Green Car,  at the end of the February 20...

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Where to charge your electric car in South Cornwall

Planning a trip to South Cornwall with an electric car? It’s worth planning ahead so that you know where your nearest electric car charging point is. Here on holiday? You may find that your acco...

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Where to charge your electric car in North Cornwall

Are you heading to North Cornwall? Whatever part of the county you’re visiting, it’s worth planning ahead so that you know where your nearest electric car charging point is. If you’r...

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Where to charge your electric car in West Cornwall

When visiting Cornwall, it’s worth planning ahead so that you know where your nearest electric car charging point is. If you’re in Cornwall on holiday, you may find that your accommodation...

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Book your dream Cornwall holiday today

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Halekulani

Bude

Prepare to be wowed as you step into Halekulani, which, rather aptly, translates to house befitting heaven in Hawaiian. A luxury haven flooded by Cornish sunshine, contemporary design and lavish touch...

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Gwern Cottage

Marazion

Set back from the pretty town of Marazion, a ten-minute walk away sits Gwern Cottage. Overlooking the iconic Mount’s Bay and Marazion Nature Reserve, this spacious cottage sleeps eight across two fl...

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Firethorn

Bude

Newly renovated and thoughtfully decorated by local interior designer Chloe Morris, Firethorn is a striking home in an enviable location, just a short stroll away Bude’s award-winning beaches. Inspi...

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Gooden Heane

Portreath

Perched above Portreath beach, in an enviable elevated clifftop position, Gooden Heane is a truly special property. A striking home, this coastal retreat has been superbly executed with its contempora...

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Seascape

Lusty Glaze and Porth Beach

With Lusty Glaze to the west and Porth Beach to the north, Seascape is the fitting name for this stunning coastal retreat which sleeps six. Seascape sits above expansive golden sands of Porth Beach &#...

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Old Arch Cottage, The Digey

St Ives

Less than a minute’s walk from Porthmeor Beach, sits Old Arch Cottage, a charming 18th Century Fisherman’s cottage, centrally situated between St Ives’ Fore Street’s shops and restaurants ...

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The Anchorage

Duporth Bay, nr Charlestown

With direct access to private beach, Duporth Bay, a stay at The Anchorage could be straight out of a fairy tale. In fact, nearby Charlestown, is a stunning example of a late Georgian port, which you m...

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Lamorna

Wadebridge

Once a foundry town, Wadebridge in the north of Cornwall is now a thriving Cornish hotspot just five miles upstream from the more well-known fishing village of Padstow. Straddling the River Camel, it�...

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Meadowside

Bude

With Bude to the north and Widemouth Bay to the south, Meadowside is a sea lover’s dream as there’s a beach at every turn. This large, five bed detached luxury home, is enviably positioned on a pe...

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6 The Shore

Mawgan Porth

This stunning property is part of an exclusive collection of seven brand new, luxury homes perfectly positioned close to Mawgan Porth‘s spectacular sandy beach and coast. With superb attention t...

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Ravenscourt

Launcells, nr Bude

Nestled in the quiet hamlet of Launcells, just three miles inland from the coastal town of Bude, Ravenscourt is a rather exceptional property. Tucked away off a quiet country road, Ravenscourt’s bea...

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Lower Hendra

Nr Port Isaac

Situated off a private single-track lane, Lower Hendra Cottage is charmingly rural. This gleaming white building houses a beautifully spacious family home, fully engulfed by rolling hills and 180º se...

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Treleigh

St Ives

A stunning example of contemporary Cornish design, Treleigh overlooks Porthmeor beach and the town of St Ives, its cliff-top location affording breathtaking sea views across the island and out to the ...

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Cornish Secrets property Orchard Cottage, Charlestown

Orchard Cottage

Charlestown

The picturesque historic harbour village and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Charlestown, dotted with cobbled streets and tall ships, is a quaint Cornish location. Spending just a few moments here, you ...

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The Lodge, Carbis Bay

Carbis Bay

Sea views are order of the day at The Lodge, which is part of the exclusive Carrack Gladden Apartments, which enviably sit just above the white sands and azure sea at Carbis Bay. The elevated position...

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Tretawny

Perranporth

If chocolate-box charm is what you’re after, then look no further than Tretawny an idyllic thatched cottage in the beautiful village of Bolingey, near Perranporth. Sleeping six, this dog-friendly se...

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The Bowery

Newlyn

Welcome to The Bowery, a terraced Victorian house, situated near the pretty fishing village of Newlyn. Part of the original working farmhouse, over the years the house has been sensitively extended in...

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Vitamyn Sea

St Ives

Tradition meets contemporary comforts at Vitamyn Sea. Just moments from St Ives’s stunning harbour, you’re situated a five to ten-minute walk from the gorgeous Porthmeor beach with Porthmi...

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The Grain Store

Padstow

Watch the boats float into Padstow Harbour at this hugely desirable property in the heart of Cornwall’s fishing town. This vibrant glass-fronted property offers unrivalled views of Padstow, offe...

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Kismet

Near Padstow

Sitting pretty on the edge of peaceful hamlet Little Petherick is Kismet, an elegantly styled family home which sleeps eight. Just over two miles from popular harbour town Padstow, at Kismet you have ...

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Porthminster Mews 2

St Ives

The Porthminster Mews townhouses are fabulously located on The Terrace in St Ives, offering picturesque sea and coastal views. Just moments away from St Ives bustling town centre with its collection o...

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Trekoa

Perranuthnoe, nr Marazion

Moments from Perranuthnoe Beach – often known as Perran Sands – Trekoa’s location is simply superb. The picturesque village of Perranuthnoe sits on the south coast around a mile to the east ...

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Sea View House

St Ives

Sea View House is a stunning three-storey townhouse situated in prestigious St Ives, with breathtaking views across the harbour and beyond. Opulence is met with the ultimate comfort in this seaside re...

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No 5, Gwel Marten

Carbis Bay, St Ives

Situated in cool Carbis Bay, where dramatic views sweep across the bay to St Ives and Godrevy lighthouse, this wonderful apartment luxuriously sleeps 4.  Only a few minutes’ walk to the Blue Flag b...

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Waves

Swanpool, Falmouth

This glorious accommodation in fabulous Falmouth is located in Swanpool just moments from the sea. Spacious, set over three floors, it is perfectly sized for an extended family or friend group and its...

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Coastman’s Nest

Mawgan Porth

You’ll be spoilt with countryside and sea views at the Coastman’s Nest in the sought after coastal village of Mawgan Porth, just four miles from Newquay and seven miles from Padstow. A light and s...

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Creek End

Feock

Peace and tranquillity await at Creek End; a unique property nestled in the trees in the sought-after village of Feock, on the south coast of Cornwall. The aptly named home is set in an idyllic creek-...

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Tamarisk

Portreath

Offering a truly luxurious stay, Tamarisk is a heavenly retreat sleeping eight. A spacious property which has been thoughtfully renovated to create the perfect holiday home, it benefits from an elevat...

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Gwern Barn

Marazion

Situated a mere 200 metres from Marazion Beach, Gwern Barn is set back in a quiet, rural location. Boasting thick curved stone walls, this property is thought to date back over 400 years. Now a charmi...

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Libertine

Breage, Nr Praa Sands, Porthleven & St Ives

This uniquely opulent property, built in 1603 in the village of Breage (pronounced Breeg) books quickly, and you can see why. It is a very rare find, oozing character and style. Libertine, previously ...

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Clematis House

St Columb Major

Unique and utterly charming, Clematis House is an eclectic mix of contemporary and modern, with boujie styling and quirky interiors. A Grade II listed building, Clematis House dates back to 1850, and ...

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Peacehay Barn

Nr Padstow

If you’re looking for a spacious getaway with a touch of luxury, a stay at Peacehay Barn is just the ticket. Sleeping 12, you’ll get space and tranquillity in abundance here. Situated less than fo...

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