TRAVEL TIPS: Top 5 West Country Destinations (UK)
By: West Country Family
Tags: Travel, Uk Travel, Travel Tips, Travel Blog, England Travel

TRAVEL TIPS: Top 5 West Country Destinations (UK)

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A family of three currently living in Bath who love being outdoors exploring together. Blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world and excited to share all our future adventures throughout the West Country. Here are our top 5 destinations, let us know what you think:

Bath

We may be biased, as we currently live in Bath but we don’t think any city/town in the West Country trumps this historic city for a day trip! We are not going to list all the incredible tourist attractions within the city, as you can easily visit the official website (link below), but we will suggest a few hidden gems in the city! Castle Farm in Midford is our favourite restaurant, based on the outskirts of the city — their breakfasts are to die for (Chapati Wrap with hot sauce is our favourite). Best view of the city is from Alexandra Park in Bear Flat, which is a perfect place for a picnic. Our favourite hidden attraction and walk is Prior Park (National Trust), a historic landscape garden with acres of land and the beautiful Palladian Bridge!

2. Padstow

We know this will feature on a lot of other people’s list, what is there not to love about Padstow! This charming fishing town attracts thousands of tourists every single year and we can see why. Everybody knows about the Gordon Ramsey Fish & Chips, famous pasty shops and the harbour so we have come up with a few top tips of our own. Bring bikes or hire them from the town and cycle from Padstow to the Camel Valley Vineyard along the Camel Trail (Sparkling Rose is our favourite). Get a boat from Padstow over to Rock, a stunning village across the Camel estuary. Our favourite picnic spot is next to St. Saviours Point (photographed) overlooking the coast and village.

3. Castle Combe

We only visited Castle Combe for the first-time last year and were totally blown away. Often regarded as the prettiest village in England and we can now see why. Tucked away in the countryside, this beautiful village is rich with history and boasts quintessential Cotswold stone across all the village properties which is why so many TV and film crews have visited down the years. Lots of great walks are nearby and you should head for a well-deserved drinks and bite to eat at the White Hart once your done, their roast dinner is amazing! You should also head to the Medieval Market Cross located in the lower village which was erected in the 14th century, the perfect opportunity for a photo!

4. Newquay

Somehow, all of Newquay’s glorious beaches just missed out on our ‘Top 5 Beaches’ list but there was no doubt the North Cornwall town was going to be left out here! There is so much to do in Kernow’s most famous surfing town, with some of the country’s most beautiful golden sand beaches. Once again, we are excited to share a few hidden gems with you all. Firstly, we advise you start your day having breakfast and coffee at the The Pavilion Bakery (make sure you try their cinnamon buns!). Then spend the day on Crantock Beach (quieter than it’s neighbouring Fistral Beach) and just as beautiful with stunning dunes throughout the long stretch of beach between the Pentire Headlands (photographed). Once you’re ready to call it a day on the beach, head up to the Lewennick Lodge to watch the sun set over Fistral from their balcony with a refreshing drink in hand… day complete!

5. St. Ives

We placed Carbis Bay Estate & Spa in our top 5 hotels and as we loved our trip so much, we both had to feature the gorgeous St. Ives in our top 5-day trips too. The small town in the far West of Cornwall is a very popular staycation destination and rightly so, this fishing village is a hive of activity throughout the year! Of course, many of you know about the Tate Gallery and Porthminster Beach, so we have tried to give you a few top tips that you can’t find on a google search. If you are able to watch the sunrise on a clear day, the best place enjoy this magical moment is from the St. Nicholas Chapel at the tip of the Island. As you’ve woken up so early, head to the St. Ives Bakery in town and treat yourself to a tasty pastry, they are out of this world! Seal spotting at Carbis Bay Beach — You are gauranteed to spot seals on Carbis Bay beach and you can even swim with them too, worth trekking along the coast to watch them pop their head out of the water — they are very friendly.