Cornwall Adventure: A Five-Day Travel Guide

I spent five days in Cornwall with my partner, balancing Cornish pasties, ice creams, seafood, and cider with refreshing swims in the Atlantic and coastal walks featuring spectacular views. Our trip took place in August, making Cornwall bustling with fellow tourists, with prices higher than average due to peak season. We managed to save on accommodation and transport by borrowing my dad’s car and staying in my parents’ holiday lodge free of charge (excluding petrol expenses).

Pre-trip Spending

Total: £99.50

Train: £91.30 for two return tickets from London to my hometown in Somerset, utilizing 26-30 railcards to save a third on the cost. From my hometown, we picked up my dad’s car and hit the road.

Snacks: It wouldn’t be a road trip without snacks. We stopped en route for two coffees, Wine Gums, and Twirl Bites for £8.20.

On the Ground

Saturday

Total: £96

2pm: We arrived in Cornwall early afternoon, and although it rained the entire journey, the sun came out just in time. We headed directly to Crantock Beach, a few minutes’ drive away, to enjoy a walk and a swim in the sea. As National Trust members, we benefited from free parking.

6pm: We returned to the lodge to freshen up for dinner and ventured out to a charming little restaurant called The Boathouse located in a quaint harbour in Newquay, serving fresh fish and seafood— a must when visiting Cornwall. We shared seabass croquettes to start (£12.50) and indulged in a Fruits de Mer platter for our main, which included mussels, crab, lobster, and monkfish, complemented by skinny fries and bread for dipping. The main’s total came to £50, and with wine, the overall bill was £88.50. After our meal, we watched surfers until sunset before heading back to the lodge.

9pm: On the way home, we stopped for a pint of Cornish cider at a nearby pub, which cost £7.50.

Sunday

Total: £95.70

10am: After a morning run along a coastal path near Crantock and a hearty breakfast from the well-stocked fridge at the lodge, we were ready for a day trip to St Ives.

11am: We drove to St Erth, found free parking at the train station, and took a quick 15-minute train ride into St Ives for £5.30 (two return tickets). The coastal views were stunning and saved us the hassle of driving into this popular town, a fantastic tip from a local.

1pm: Upon arrival in St Ives, we took some time to explore the town center, orient ourselves, and then grabbed a Cornish pasty (£3.50 each) to enjoy in a park near St Nicholas Chapel, which boasts panoramic views of the town and the ocean. Afterward, we indulged in some culture by purchasing combined tickets to visit Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden for £14.50 each. The afternoon concluded with a Cornish cream tea, including a scone with cream and jam and coffees, totaling £8.50 — an absolute must when in Cornwall!

6pm: On our way back, we stopped at Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, where we picked up eight bottles of Rattler ciders for £10. That evening, we visited a local pub called Bowgie Inn, which offers stunning views of Crantock beach. I enjoyed homemade lasagne and a shandy (as I was driving), while Andrew indulged in fish and chips and a glass of wine, all for £35.90.

Monday

Total: £101.15

9am: Taking full advantage of the blue sky, we started the day with an invigorating swim at Polly Joke beach, which is just a 10-minute drive away. We paid £1 for parking. Afterward, we returned to the lodge to cook eggs and bacon provided in the fridge for breakfast. We stopped for two coffees and biscuits from a local shop for £5.55 before heading out on another adventure, this time to Land’s End. Parking cost £6 as we took in the stunning scenery, witnessing the wild Atlantic Ocean crashing against breathtaking cliffs and even catching a glimpse of the Isles of Scilly in the distance. Land’s End has become quite touristy, resembling a theme park, yet the natural beauty remains unparalleled.

2pm: We then proceeded to Porthcurno beach, approximately a 20-minute drive along the coast. After parking in the beach car park for £2.10, we each had a Cornish pasty for £9, enjoying our meal while watching the waves roll in. No trip to Cornwall is complete without indulging in Kelly’s Cornish ice cream, so we each had one on our way back to the car—mint choc chip for Andrew and salted caramel for me, totaling £5.

8pm: Returning to the lodge, and after enjoying a Rattler cider, we chose a slightly fancier dining option than the previous nights. We dined at Lewinick Lodge, perfectly situated on cliffs with views over the ocean and Newquay’s Fistral beach. We both commenced with tempura fish and samphire with a curried mayo starter (£7.50 each). For the main course, I opted for Cornish crab linguine (£18.50), while Andrew chose crispy panko monkfish (£19.50). We finished our meal with a carafe of rosé as the total bill reached £72.50.

Tuesday

Total: £50.10

10am: We enjoyed a leisurely morning at the lodge, venturing out for two butter croissants and two coffees for a total of £5. We then set out to explore Bedruthan Steps, a stunning coastline known for its gigantic rocks and breathtaking cliffs, with free parking available due to our National Trust membership.

1pm: Continuing along the northern Cornish coast, we made our way to the picturesque town of Padstow. We were fortunate to find a parking space, which cost £3.50 for a couple of hours. Before anything else, we sought out food and found a lovely pub called The Harbour Inn, where we enjoyed cheese and pickle sandwiches, alongside Andrew’s pint of Cornish lager for a total of £17.30. Although we felt full, we couldn’t resist picking up some cakes from Rick Stein’s Patisserie—a custard tart and a blondie, costing £5 in total.

6pm: After dining out for the previous three nights, Andrew offered to cook dinner at the lodge. We stopped by Morrisons supermarket to pick up two sea bass fillets, green beans, corn on the cob, a lemon, and new potatoes. As it wouldn’t be a holiday without wine, we also bought a bottle of rosé, culminating in a total spend of £19.30.

Wednesday

Total: £55.70

9am: It was unfortunately time for our Cornish bubble to come to an end, but not before one last visit to the beach. Parking at Crantock beach was free due to it being a National Trust area. Although it was windy and drizzly, we opted for a stroll rather than a swim, picking up two coffees on our way back to the car (£5.60). We finished off the last of the fridge supplies for breakfast and managed to prepare two ham and cheese sandwiches for the journey.

12pm: After packing up and saying goodbye to the lodge, we filled up the car at a petrol station in preparation for our drive back home, which cost £50.10. Once we returned to my hometown, we utilized our return train tickets back to London.

The final tally: £498.15

Notes:
This total cost reflects expenses for two people for a five-day trip to Cornwall, resulting in just over £249 per person. Although we were fortunate to save on accommodation and borrow a car for the journey, our culinary indulgences could have been more budget-conscious.