The North Coast of Cornwall is synonymous with surf, sand and sunshine. Fortunately, Polzeath is a haven for all three with a sandy lifeguarded family beach popular amongst everyone from city-livers kicking back to barrel-seeking pro-surfers.

The award-winning waters of Polzeath are very much at the forefront of everyone’s minds, whether enjoyed from afar on a coastal walk, golf course or on the beach with the simple feeling of sand between your toes and salt on your lips. With Polzeath’s restaurants, cafés, shops and lifestyle all geared towards the ocean, it’s no wonder visitors return year after year.

Whether you are looking for luxury dog-friendly self-catering accommodation or somewhere to enjoy a long-overdue catch up with your closest friends and family, a holiday in Polzeath provides a much-needed tonic to soothe the body and relax the mind. Linger over our selection of Boutique Retreats and find the perfect one for you.

After a hard day’s bathing, a fine meal is always nearby when staying in Polzeath. The Waterfront is a real crowd-pleaser and has a main menu brimming with local dishes, including the all-important ‘catch of the day’ specials. Tuck into a bowl full of Porthilly mussels, choose from the restaurant’s wood-fired pizza menu or, if you’d prefer a night in, order from their takeaway menu filled with delectable goodies.

Boasting some of the best views going, the Cracking Crab is a chic beachside restaurant and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, with room for teas, coffees and ice cream too! Ensuring you are never short of a steaming brew and wedge of cake, there are several waterfront cafés in Polzeath too, as well as more nearby. Following a short walk up the valley, the Point at Polzeath is great for families, with plenty of space for kids to let off steam.

Sister to the Waterfront, the Sandbar is a dog-friendly café that really has everything you need to fuel pre- and refuel post-days on the beach. Sip a coffee for that much-needed wake up as the morning swell laps against the sand, grab a smoothie for a vitamin hit in the afternoon and later on wind down with a dew-studded glass of chilled white wine as twilight paints the sky lilac and blue. If you are more of an ale fan, pull up a pew at the Oystercatcher and drink in the views from there.

Another great café-come-surf lounge, the Tubestation café gives the opportunity to enjoy all that is Polzeath. Their ethos is that everything they sell should have a story, and their special blend of coffee ‘Tube Time’ is roasted independently just down the road in Wadebridge. This is best enjoyed with a piece of their famous chocolate tiffin whilst you chill out on one of their enormous beanbags. For cocktails in the evening, wend your way over to Surfside; their rum bar will leave you hooked!

Polzeath lives and breathes the ocean, so if you love the salty kiss of sea air and the feeling of sun on your skin, this is the place for you. A mecca for experienced surfers, novice surfers are invited to take to the waves with one of the area’s surf schools, followed by a dreamy yoga session with one of the local tutors to wind down.

For something a little different, staying at Polzeath gives you the chance to polish your putt at one of the world’s top 100 golf clubs. St Enodoc’s, which is just around the coast in nearby Rock, boasts a James Braid-designed championship course, so whatever time of year you visit there are 18 world-class holes awaiting you.

As heavenly for an invigorating winter walk as a gentle summer’s stroll, the South West Coast Path cuts its way around Polzeath and provides a year-round attraction for two and four-legged visitors. Take in the incredible vistas and keep your eyes peeled for seals, dolphins and whales out to sea. Accompanied by a Cornish picnic hamper, the hours will fly by in this sea-lapped Eden.