Harbour Holidays

Why Take a Valentine’s Break in Padstow?

Updated: 15th January 2025

Breakfast in bed beside the waves. Sea dips and saunas. Hand-in-hand hikes from cliffs to coves. Candle-lit tables at Cornwall’s top restaurants. Cosy evenings beside the fire. Sound like your kind of Valentine’s treat? Read on for just a few of the reasons why you should woo your lover with a romantic break to Padstow this Valentine’s Day or Week.

1. Quiet Time for Two of You

Deserted beaches, quiet walking trails and tables spare in Padstow’s best restaurants… February is the perfect time for couples to enjoy time out in North Cornwall without the crowds. Whether you want to browse the boutiques and galleries, pad barefoot along the beach or swoon at the views from promontories reigned by waves and wildlife, Valentine’s is our favourite time to fall in love with the peace and quiet of the coast.

2. Romantic Rambles

How better to spend days in love than taking hand-in-hand hikes in some of the UK’s most romantic scenery? North Cornwall is home to stunning seascapes and rolling country, where in February you can walk for hours without seeing another sole on your scenic stroll. Wrap up warm and take a flask of tea, so you can stop on the cliffs to spot seals and seabirds, or even bare all in a sea pool and strip off for a dip. Or, if you prefer countryside capers, take a rosy-cheeked ramble over rolling moors to a country pub with a roaring log fire.

Here are some of our favourite winter walking routes and walks to cosy pubs near Padstow.

Valentines-Day-Padstow-Cornwall

3. Set Your Sights on Spring

Yes, it’s only February, but spring arrives early in Cornwall, with tell-tale signs sparking our passion for longer, warmer days ahead. So it’s the perfect time to spot daffodils and snowdrops in Cornwall’s sub-tropical gardens, primroses on woodland wanders, and you might even see some magnolia trees bursting into early bloom. Spring is the air, and it’s bound to bring a splash of colour to your Valentine’s break.

4. Dine Out on Love

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or any other day on your Cornish getaway, than with a romantic meal for two at one of Padstow’s award-winning restaurants? In busier months, it’s not easy to bag a table at North Cornwall’s foodie hotspots without booking months in advance, but in February, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to where to book that special Valentine’s date. If food is the way to your lover’s heart, why not see if you can make a reservation at Paul Ainsworth’s Number 6,  one of Nathan Outlaw’s restaurants in Port Issac, or one of our top restaurants in Padstow for Valentine’s Day?

Romantic Valentine's dinner

5. Great for Gifts

Looking for that extra special gift for your other half? Find the perfect present in the unique shops and galleries in Padstow, which are packed with original arts, crafts, clothes and jewellery. Check out our favourite places in Padstow for a little retail therapy. A little further afield, Wadebridge, Truro and St Ives offer fantastic shopping experiences and have boutiques brimming with gifts that will show your loved one just how much you care.

6. Attractions for Lovers

Aside from the beaches, there are lots of visitor attractions where you can spend special time together during a romantic break in North Cornwall. Our top recommendations for days out to celebrate Valentine’s include Tate St Ives, the Eden Project (where you can take a twirl on the ice skating rink until 23 Feb) and Trelissick House and Gardens (where you can take long woodland walks along the estuary, before afternoon tea in the courtyard).

Heart-on-Beach-Padstow-Cornwall

7. Cruising the Camel Trail

In the warmer months, the Camel Trail – one of Cornwall’s longest traffic-free cycle routes – gets congested with cyclists, walkers and runners. But in February, fewer leisure-seekers hit the 18 miles of stunning track winding along the estuary into the rolling woodland and hills of Bodmin Moor. This makes it our favourite time to pack up a flask of hot chocolate for a romantic ride along this disused railway between Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. Bikes can be hired year-round from Trail Bike Hire in Padstow. 

8. Great Choice of Romantic Retreats

February isn’t just a wonderful time to visit Cornwall; it’s also a prime time of year to pick up a bargain stay for a weekend away or a longer holiday in Padstow and North Cornwall. Whether you want a boutique bolthole by the beach or a historic hideaway in the countryside, many of our holiday cottages offer reduced winter prices, which helps bring down the cost of a Valentine’s break – leaving more money to spend on each other.

Take a look at our pick of romantic retreats available this Valentine’s Day, or check holiday cottage availability on our website. If you need any help, just get in touch for some personal suggestions to suit you and your loved one.

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