Local Services

  St Merryn, the nearest town, is one mile away, and it known for its ‘Seven Bays for Seven Days’. Here you willl find more shops, a petrol station, fish and chip bar, wet-suit hire facilities and a lovely delicatessen. A couple of pubs serve food all year (the Cornish Arms kitchens are now run by Rick Stein) and in the summer months there are more eating places to enjoy.

Driving the four miles to the popular harbour town of Padstow, you will pass the Padstow Farm show, recently voted the Number 1 farm shop in Cornwall. Pop in to see their fabulous range of meats, local fruit and vegetables, cheeses and even home-made pasta!

Padstow offers an amazing array of places to eat, including The Seafood Restaurant, owned by Rick Stein, and Number 6, owned by Paul Ainsworth. Both offer superb fine-dining but reservations should be made in advance of your stay. When eating with our children, we enjoy Rojanos which serves excellent Italian-style food, or Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips down by the Quay.
In recent years, Padstow has become well-known for its art galleries as well as its gastronomic offerings. Most features local artists and we bought much of the art in Bay House in these galleries.

Lively Newquay is eight miles to the South along a spectacular coast road. There are numerous beaches along the way to discover at your leisure. A local bus runs from Padstow to Newquay, with a stop in Porthcothan Bay.

Further afield, there are many attractions to be enjoyed in all weathers. From the world-famous Eden Project to go-karting in St Eval, there is something for all tastes. For a truly memorable day out, why not take a helicopter ride to the Isles of Scilly?

Golfers are well-catered for in the area. THe nearest courses are Trevose, St Enodoc and Merlin.

Despite its ideal location, Porthcothan Bay, being surrounded by National Trust Land, remains a quiet, uncommercialised spot to retreat to at the end of a busy day.