Our Tips for Twixmas in Padstow, Cornwall

Twixmas in Padstow is all about simple pleasures: bracing beach walks, storm-watching, sea dips and slow-season menus.

Ditch the car and breathe in the sea air. This is Cornwall at its calmest: empty sands, quiet coastal trails, boat trips, boutiques, breathtaking views, and cosy eateries – all just footsteps from your holiday cottage.

From ferry trips to fireside suppers, here are our top tips to make the most of Twixmas in Padstow.

Twixmas Eating and Drinking

Padstow’s foodie scene doesn’t pause for winter: menus are still brimming with the best ingredients from land and sea – just without the summer rush. So whether you want to sample one of town’s most sought-after eateries, or duck into a cosy pub on a whim, you’re much more likely to get a table now that the crowds have thinned.

If you fancy something special for your last meal of 2025, book into Stein’s signature Seafood Restaurant, one of Ainsworth’s award-winning stable, or The Pig at Harlyn. For a more relaxed vibe, Trevisker’s Kitchen offers locally-sourced, flavour-packed options, while Greens complements glorious food with sublime sea views and mini golf, too.

Christmassy dining room at The Pig. Photo courtesy of The Pig at Harlyn Bay

Cosy Pubs and Inns

When the Atlantic breeze bites, Padstow’s cosy pubs beckon you in for food, ale and fireside merriment. We love an afternoon of local chatter and music at The Harbour Inn, the traditional charm of The London Inn, and the harbour views from the Shipwrights. Most of Padstow’s pubs and bars welcome dogs too – even at the swanky Ruby’s Bar your four-legged friend can curl up at your feet while you sip cocktails and fine wines. See our guide to the best pubs in Padstow.

Coffee, Cake and Sea Views

Padstow’s cafés are made for lingering with the chill at bay. Cherry Trees coffee house will lure you in with its lineup of cakes, and we love Greens of Padstow for Cornish cream tea while watching the boats by. To find out about winter specials and dog-friendly eateries, check out our Padstow restaurant guide.

Stop for a festive seaside treat. Photo courtesy of Greens of Padstow

Twixmas Walks in Padstow

Blow away the festive cobwebs, walk off the Christmas turkey and start the New Year with your best foot forward…

From beach strolls and cliff-top hikes to countryside and creekside rambles, Padstow sits at the heart of a web of incredible walking routes. Saunter from cove to cove, strike out to blowholes and sea caves, follow The Camel Trail, or pack supplies and hit the ancient Saint’s Way from coast to coast.

For rugged headlands, powder-white coves and big-sky drama, start from the harbour and follow the South West Coast Path to Stepper Point. Here you can feel the brunt of the Atlantic breeze and take in eye-popping views across the Doom Bar, before looping back via the golden sweep of Hawker’s Cove.

Or, hop across the estuary for a low-tide wander to Daymer Bay and back over the grassy knoll of Brea Hill, with its famous wonky steeple at St Enodoc Church.

For something even wilder, head north of Polzeath to tackle The Rumps and Pentire Point – a wave-lashed promontory where you can duck out of the wild and into the National Trust’s Pentyr Café. With lungs full of sea air and your camera roll packed with winter scenery, you’ll be ready for a fireside pit stop. And where better to end up than one of Padstow’s cosy winter pubs for walkers?

Other Twixmas Activities in Padstow

Twixmas is the perfect time to explore Padstow at your own pace, when the town slows down and winter’s calm takes over.

On land The traffic-free Camel Trail lures packs of cyclists in summer, but a crisp Twixmas day is perfect for a quiet 18-mile cycle along the estuary, through peaceful woodland and into the rolling moors. Pack a flask of hot chocolate, hire a bike complete with all the extras you need from child seats to dog trailers.

On the water For a short, scenic hop across the estuary board the Black Tor Ferry to Rock, or for a splash of adrenalin wrap up for a full-throttle Sealife Safari speedboat blast from Padstow harbour. On a chilly day, even a one-hour ride is plenty of the chance to spot seals and sea birds while taking in Cornwall’s dramatic coastline. Discover more boat trips from Padstow.

If you’re brave enough to get in the water mid-winter, hit the waves and Harlyn, or dare a sea dip in one of Cornwall’s sea pools – that’s sure to reset you ready for 2026 – and you can always warm up in or a sauna by the sea.

Indoor attractions Heading indoors doesn’t mean the Twixmas adventures have to halt. There are many local attractions to visitHead to Tide Climbing Centre for ropes, bouldering, and taster climbing sessions. You might prefer to warm up with a hands-on experience at Tarquin’s Gin School – or sit back and sample their tipples in the tasting room.

Photo courtesy of Tarquin’s Cornish Gin

It’s also the time to enjoy shopping after the Christmas rush. Padstow’s boutiques, galleries, and independent shops welcome browsers – and many welcome dogs – making it ideal for picking up post-Christmas bargains, coastal-style fashion, and artisanal treasures

Book your Twixmas Cottage in Padstow. Browse our holiday cottages in Padstow and savour the magic of Twixmas by the sea.