St Ives, Cornwall

Discover Cornwall’s Classic Coastline

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

7 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1185 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Coastal wanders

Explore hidden coves and beautiful fishing villages nestled amongst the stunning coastline. The famous South West Coast Path walking trail runs for 630 miles around the entire coastline of Cornwall and is clearly waymarked in both directions.

St Ives

Explore the beautiful artists’ town of St Ives which is home to some of the best art galleries and museums in Britain, including Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden.

The town is a rabbit warren of little alleyways full of independent galleries and excellent places to eat and drink.

Tintagel Castle

Discover historic Tintagel Castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur, which dates back to 1230. With a dramatic coastal location, this is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain.

Minack Theatre

Visit the world-famous Minack Theatre in Porthcurno – an astounding open-air theatre carved into a cliff.

UNESCO World Heritage

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cornish Mining – a fascinating landscape littered with stunning rock formations and historic tin mines.

Breathtaking beaches

From stunning Kynance Cove to the surfing hotspot of Fistral Beach in Newquay, the beaches here are truly among the most beautiful in the world. Take a tranquil stroll through the sand dunes or relax with a drink and watch the surfers in the waves.

Discover Cornwall’s Classic Coastline

Cornwall is world-famous for its magnificent coastline which is brimming with picture-postcard fishing villages and gorgeous sandy beaches. As well as an unmatched natural beauty, Cornwall’s rich and varied history has left behind a fascinating array of historic sites.

We know that the most satisfying kind of adventure is one that allows you to truly discover your destination, and this relaxed itinerary allows you to slow down and delve a little deeper into this magical region – taking in unmissable highlights as well as hidden gems. Not to mention the world-class food and drink …

You’ll begin your self-drive holiday by travelling to North Cornwall where you’ll spend three nights. This beautiful region has a fascinating history of seafaring and piracy, resulting in a series of delightful fishing villages and historic sites along the coast.

Spend some time exploring Tintagel Castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur, which dates back to 1230. With a dramatic coastal location, this is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain.

Nearby lie the picturesque villages of Boscastle, Crackington Haven and Port Isaac. The latter has featured in countless films and TV series, including Fisherman’s Friends and Doc Martin, and is home to several excellent restaurants – most notably Restaurant Nathan Outlaw which overlooks the rugged Cornish coastline.

The vibrant town of Padstow, further down the coast, has a similar foodie reputation and celebrity chef Rick Stein has several popular eateries here. From here you can visit the beautiful Elizabethan manor house at Prideaux Place, or take a boat trip along the North Cornish coastline to spot local wildlife.

South Cornwall awaits – truly one of Europe’s most beautiful regions. You’ll spend four nights here which will allow you to explore the countless attractions, or simply relax and enjoy the beauty of your coastal surroundings.

Discover the artists’ town of St Ives, the remarkable Minack Theatre, the ancient tidal island of St Michael’s Mount, and iconic Land’s End. The coastline here is truly awe-inspiring and there are beautiful walks in every direction.

The quaint fishing village of Mousehole is like a time capsule to a bygone era, while you could take a boat trip to the spectacular Scilly Isles from nearby Penzance. Head into the undiscovered Lizard Peninsula for rugged cliffs and coastal walks, or explore the vibrant university town of Falmouth which is home to Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Whilst our suggested itinerary begins in Bristol, it is also available to start from many other locations including London and Exeter.

Day 1: Bristol to North Cornwall

Arrive in Bristol where you’ll collect your hire car and make your way to North Cornwall.

If time allows, stop en-route to discover the small city of Exeter with its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Exeter is also home to the world-class Royal Albert Memorial Museum where you can learn more about the history and geology of south-west England.

Pass alongside Dartmoor National Park – famous for its wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys – before arriving in North Cornwall where you will spend the next three nights.
Overnight – North Cornwall

Day 2: North Cornwall Sightseeing

Today you could spend some time exploring 13th century Tintagel Castle – one of England’s most awe-inspiring historic sites. With a dramatic coastal location, this is the reputed birthplace of King Arthur.

Nearby lie the picture-postcard villages of Boscastle, Crackington Haven and Port Isaac. The latter has featured in countless films and TV series, including Fisherman’s Friends and Doc Martin, and is home to several excellent restaurants – most notably Restaurant Nathan Outlaw which overlooks the rugged Cornish coastline.

North Cornwall is renowned for its excellent local produce, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it.
Overnight – North Cornwall

Day 3: North Cornwall Sightseeing

Explore the foodie town of Padstow – a charming coastal community where celebrity chef Rick Stein has several popular eateries. Take a memorable boat trip along the North Cornish coastline to spot local wildlife, or discover the beautiful Elizabethan manor house of Prideaux Place.

Get off the beaten track and head inland to remote Bodmin Moor, where you’ll find wild scenery and the renowned Jamaica Inn – made world-famous by Daphne du Maurier’s tale of smugglers and rogues.
Overnight – North Cornwall

Day 4: North Cornwall to South Cornwall

Continue south into the heart of Cornwall. This proud region has a rich cultural heritage which has left an indelible mark on the landscape, not least in the fascinating mining sites that have created the largest World Heritage Site in the UK. With dozens of museums and historic sites spread across Cornwall and west Devon, there are many places where you can stop and learn about the world-changing Cornish mining culture.

Your base for the next four nights is the coast of South Cornwall – truly one of the world’s most breathtaking stretches of coastline. This wonderful region is packed full of historic sites, quaint villages, and spectacular beaches.
Overnight – South Cornwall

Day 5: South Cornwall Sightseeing

The endless attractions of Cornwall are yours to discover today. You could explore the arty town of St Ives, with its famous galleries and museums, or head to iconic Land’s End – Britain’s most south-westerly point.

Just south of Land’s End is the incredible Minack Theatre – Cornwall’s world-famous open-air theatre which is carved into the granite cliff and set in glorious gardens overlooking the spectacular panorama of Porthcurno Bay.
Overnight – South Cornwall

Day 6: South Cornwall Sightseeing

Today you could relax near your accommodation and enjoy a short stroll along the coast, or venture further afield to cross the tidal causeway to St Michael’s Mount – a spectacular island known as ‘the jewel in Cornwall’s crown.’ The castle on the rock rises majestically out of the sea and dates back to the 14th century.

Nearby you’ll find the quintessential Cornish fishing village of Mousehole – a time capsule to a bygone era.
Overnight – South Cornwall

Day 7: South Cornwall Sightseeing

Today you could venture into the rugged Lizard Peninsula with its majestic clifftops and coastal walks, or visit the vibrant, foodie town of Falmouth which is home to Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle.
Overnight – South Cornwall

Day 8: South Cornwall to Bristol and depart

Today you will depart Cornwall and travel north to Bristol where your memorable Cornish self-drive tour will come to an end. If time allows, travel via Devon’s beautiful Dartmoor National Park which is home to rugged moorlands and wild Dartmoor ponies.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 7 nights including traditional English breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of England with our recommended driving route
8 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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