Polzeath... celebrities, surfing and award winning dining

A favourite with Sir John Betjeman and mentioned in the first of Enid Blyton's Famous Five novels, the coastal landscape of Polzeath is still inspirational today. The area combines the joys of the traditional family beach holiday with a vibrant, surfing crowd making the most of some of the best waves and swells in the area. Neighbouring Rock is a centre for many watersports including sailing, waterskiing and wind surfing. Top tip, take the Tor Passenger Ferry between Rock and Padstow on the opposite side of the estuary and you may be lucky enough to spot dolphins and even the awesome basking sharks attracted to this part of the coast during the season. Celebrity chefs abound in this part of Cornwall and Rock proudly boasts Nathan Outlaw's two restaurants with menus driven by locally caught seafood and organic produce ~ voted in the Top 5 UK Restaurants

The area is also recognised for its' challenging links golf courses at St Enodoc and Roserrow. Any visitor who plays to their handicap here can leave feeling that they have done really well! Or if you feel that golf spoils a good walk, the "Pentirely Superb" South West Coast Path offers a 6 mile circular route starting and finishing at Polzeath via stunning Hayle Bay.

If celebrity spotting is your thing, this part of the coastline attracts camera crews throughout the year filming everything from the BBC TV show Top Gear at Polzeath to Saving Grace and Doc Martin in Port Isaac. For a comprehensive list of film and TV locations in Cornwall visit www.visiting-cornwall.co.uk

Port Isaac is a pretty working fishing village with a lifeboat station on call 24/7 and an internationally famous choir of local men called The Fisherman's Friends who still perform most Friday evenings in the summer on The Platt in the old harbour.