North Cornwall – Towns & Villages of the Atlantic Coast
North Cornwall
North Cornwall Towns and Villages | Padstow | Wadebridge | The Camel Estuary | Rock | Polzeath | Port Isaac | Trebarwith Strand | Tintagel | Bossiney Cove | Rocky Valley | Boscastle | Crackington Haven | Bude | Launceston | Camelford | Altarnum | Bodmin |
North Cornwall faces the full force of the Atlantic, from the Devon border at Marsland Mouth down to the Camel estuary. In the north, Bude is the area’s main seaside and surfing town, with its sea pool and canal, while the high cliffs of Crackington Haven lead south to the hidden harbour of Boscastle.
This is King Arthur’s country: Tintagel and its clifftop castle stand between Bossiney & Rocky Valley and the surf beach at Trebarwith Strand. Further south, the fishing village of Port Isaac looks out towards Pentire Point and the family surf beach at Polzeath, and the Camel estuary divides Rock from the harbour town of Padstow.
Inland, the Camel Trail follows the river to Wadebridge and Bodmin, past the village of St Kew. Camelford and Altarnun sit on the edge of Bodmin Moor, and Launceston, Cornwall’s ancient county town, guards the crossing into Devon. Just over the border is the Devon market town of Holsworthy.
MAP OF NORTH CORNWALL TOWNS & VILLAGES
Click any marker to visit that town or village guide.
TOWN & VILLAGE GUIDES
Bude
Surf beaches, the 1930 Bude Sea Pool, a working canal sea lock and Gurney’s Castle, with historic Stratton next door.
Visit Bude →
Crackington Haven
A sandy cove in a steep valley, with dramatically folded cliffs and High Cliff – the highest in Cornwall – nearby.
Visit Crackington Haven →
Boscastle
A sheltered harbour in a deep valley, its walls built by Sir Richard Grenville in 1584, now cared for by the National Trust.
Visit Boscastle →
Bossiney & Rocky Valley
Bossiney Cove with its Elephant Rock, and the wooded Rocky Valley with its ancient labyrinth carvings, between Tintagel and Boscastle.
Visit Bossiney & Rocky Valley →
Tintagel
The legendary birthplace of King Arthur, with its clifftop castle, footbridge to the island and the National Trust’s Old Post Office.
Visit Tintagel →
Trebarwith Strand
A long surf beach below high cliffs south of Tintagel, revealed only at lower tides, with Gull Rock offshore.
Visit Trebarwith Strand →
Port Isaac
A working fishing village of steep lanes around a tiny harbour – the “Portwenn” of Doc Martin and home of the Fisherman’s Friends.
Visit Port Isaac →
Polzeath
One of Cornwall’s favourite family surf beaches, beside Pentire Point and the Camel estuary. Blue Flag 2026.
Visit Polzeath →
Rock
Sailing village on the Camel estuary opposite Padstow, linked by ferry, near St Enodoc Church where John Betjeman is buried.
Visit Rock →
Padstow
Busy harbour town on the Camel estuary, famous for its seafood, the ’Obby ’Oss on May Day and the start of the Camel Trail.
Visit Padstow →
Wadebridge
Market town around its medieval bridge over the Camel, on the Camel Trail and home of the Royal Cornwall Show.
Visit Wadebridge →
St Kew
A quiet wooded village with a fine medieval church and its stained glass, beside the St Kew Inn.
Visit St Kew →
Camelford
Small market town on the upper Camel, the gateway to Rough Tor and Brown Willy on Bodmin Moor.
Visit Camelford →
Altarnun
Moorland village beside a packhorse bridge, with St Nonna’s church – the “Cathedral of the Moor”.
Visit Altarnun →
Launceston
Cornwall’s ancient county town on the Devon border, crowned by its Norman castle, with the Launceston Steam Railway.
Visit Launceston →
Bodmin
Historic former county town, with Bodmin Jail, Shire Hall and the Bodmin & Wenford steam railway.
Visit Bodmin →VISITING NORTH CORNWALL
Getting Around
The A39 Atlantic Highway links the coast from Bude to Wadebridge, and the A30 crosses the area at Launceston and Bodmin. The nearest main line station is Bodmin Parkway; Bude is linked by bus to Okehampton station on the Dartmoor Line. Local buses connect the coastal towns and villages.
Beaches
Atlantic surf beaches at Bude, Widemouth and Polzeath, sheltered estuary sands at Rock and Daymer Bay, and wild coves below the cliffs between Crackington Haven and Port Quin.
Where to Stay
Holiday cottages, B&Bs, holiday parks and campsites across North Cornwall, booked direct with the owners.
Walks
Some of the highest and wildest stretches of the South West Coast Path, from Morwenstow to Pentire Point.
English Heritage
Castles and ancient sites across North Cornwall.
National Trust
Harbours, coastline and historic houses in and around North Cornwall.
North Cornwall Towns and Villages | Padstow | Wadebridge | The Camel Estuary | Rock | Polzeath | Port Isaac | Trebarwith Strand | Tintagel | Bossiney Cove | Rocky Valley | Boscastle | Crackington Haven | Bude | Launceston | Camelford | Altarnum | Bodmin |