Discover 10 Hidden Gems in Cornwall

Don’t you just love that feeling of stumbling across somewhere different – away from the crowds and under the radar?

Sure, Cornwall’s packed with popular beaches and big-name attractions – and we love those, too. But for those who prefer the wilder, more peaceful edges of Cornwall, there are plenty of hidden gems to be found off the beaten track. We’re talking secret coves, tumbling waterfalls, and tucked-away landmarks. No phone signal, no car parks, no queues… just that quiet thrill of feeling like you’ve found something no one else has.

Take only photos, leave only footprints and don’t tell your friends…

UPDATED: 01 MAY 2025

Greenaway Beach

Wedged between the sun worshippers on Daymer Bay and the surfing masses of Polzeath, the oft-overlooked Greenaway Beach beckons sea dippers, solitude seekers and rock poolers. At high tide its secrets are swallowed by the sea, but when the tide ebbs, a crushed-shell beach shimmers with sea glass and emerald pools lie glinting in purple-streaked rocks. It’s just a short descent off the coast path, but bring supplies – you won’t want to leave until the sea chases you to higher ground. 

The Holy Well at Holywell Bay

Since its starring roles on the big screen – most recently in The Salt Path – Holywell Bay is no longer one of Cornwall’s secrets. However, the actual holy well after which the beach is named, is. Slip to the northern fringes of the shoreline at low tide, and in one of the sea caves (finding which one is part of the adventure) you’ll find a sacred place shaped by water and time. In what was once known as St Cuthbert’s Cave, a natural spring trickles over mineral-stained rock, forming multicoloured steps and shimmering pools.

St Nectan’s Glen, nr Tintagel

Keep your eyes peeled for Cornish piskies as you tunnel through the enchanted woodland of St Nectan’s Glen, on the banks of the Trevillet River. The jewel of the glen is St Nectan’s Kieve – a thundering 60-foot waterfall that bursts through a hole in the rock into a sacred plunge pool. Legend has it King Arthur’s squires passed through this place for ritual purification and many come for its healing powers. Whether or not you believe the tales, there’s magic in the air.

The Japanese Garden, St Mawgan

Stray from the shoreline and the surf scene of Mawgan Porth and find stillness inland, in the timeless village of St Mawgan. Here, tucked beside a stream and cricket pitch, lies an unexpected oasis – a Japanese Garden filled with bonsai trees, koi pools and bamboo teahouses. Follow mossy paths past stone lanterns, listen to wind chimes and birdsong, and let your thoughts drift like petals on the pond.

Tater Du Lighthouse, West Cornwall

You won’t stumble across Tater Du by accident. Perched on a lonely outcrop between Lamorna and Porthcurno, where the South West Coast Path weaves along sheer granite cliffs, this remote beacon is only accessible by foot – via a rugged, breathtakingly beautiful route. When you make it you’ll find Cornwall’s loneliest lighthouse standing sentinel above the rocks – a modern monolith on an ancient shore. There are no facilities, no road access, no easy way in. But that’s the point.

Port Quin

Step out along the South West Coast Path from Polzeath to Port Isaac and the calf-busting terrain is soon forgotten in the face of the wave-bashed cliffs and dramatic views that stop you in your tracks. Burrowed between headlands, where the sea snakes deep into a rocky inlet, time slows to the rhythm of the tide at Port Quin – a slip of a hamlet that was once a bustling pilchard port. Stop, breathe deeply and wild swim if you dare. This is North Cornwall’s forgotten edge.

Gwennap Pit

Everyone’s heard of the amphitheatre at the Minack Theatre, but have you heard of Gwennap Pit? This amphitheatre was carved into the site of a collapsed mine shaft in the 18th century, by a Methodist preacher who turned it into an open-air church, with grassy tiers spiralling down to a central pulpit. It’s said that walking from the top to the bottom is a full mile. More than a curiosity, Gwennap Pit is a symbol of Cornwall’s mining heritage and spiritual heart.

Chun Quoit

Set high above Pendeen, Chun Quoit is one of Cornwall’s best-preserved megalithic monuments – a Neolithic dolmen with a giant capstone resting on upright stones. Dating back over 5,000 years, it’s thought to be older than Stonehenge – and twice as atmospheric, especially when the mist rolls over the moor. There are no signs, no ticket office – just the wind, the stones, and the sense of standing in the footsteps of the ancients.

Goss Moor Trail

Forget the busy Camel Trail – for a wilder ride, head to Goss Moor. Once dissected by the A30, this sprawling reserve has been reborn as a haven of heathland and wetlands. Hire a bike or walk the six-mile off-road trail through open moorland rich with dragonflies, skylarks and rare orchids. It’s flat, traffic-free and ideal for families, but still wild enough to feel like you’ve escaped.

Dozmary Pool, Bodmin Moor

There’s a quiet eeriness to Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor – a still, dark lake steeped in legend. Locals once believed it to be bottomless, and some say this is where King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, was returned to the Lady of the Lake. Whether myth or memory, there’s no doubt the place holds power.

Discover Cornwall’s hidden gems for yourself

Use Padstow as your base to uncover the secret corners of Cornwall – from coast path wonders to ancient landmarks. Browse our holiday cottages in and around Padstow and find the perfect place to start your off-the-beaten-path adventure.