South Quay Car Park, Riverside, PL28 8BY

From the car park turn right along the road. Go left round the Old Custom House on South Quay then immediately left up Strand Street. At the top turn right down Broad Street then take the next left along Mill Road. Follow Mill Road to the junction with Church Lane where you’ll find Middle Street ahead, with its almshouses, and Lanadwell Street on the right with more attractive buildings.

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   TOWN WALK: The route starts beside Padstow’s bustling harbour

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   WATER SIDE: Padstow’s harbour is the heart of the Cornish seaside town.

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   GUIDE BOOK: Town Walks in Cornwall is published by Culm Valley Publishing.

The walk goes left along Church Lane until you find Barry’s Lane on the right. Go right here, passing St John’s Methodist Church. At the end go left along Duke Street, then left again on Church Street. Follow this as far as the church. Walk round the church and enter via its south door for a visit.

The Grade ll listed almshouses were built in 1875, one of the cottages in the complex being built as a memorial to John Tredwen, a local ship builder, who died in June 1870.

St John’s Methodist Church occupies the site of a former chapel which was demolished, although the hall behind was retained and redesigned.

St Petroc’s Church as it is today is the third church to occupy this site. A 6thC church was destroyed by Vikings in AD981 and a remnant from this time, in the form of a four-holed Celtic cross, can be seen on the bank to the left of the south door.

The next church was built in the 12thC and the bottom section of the tower dates from this time. The present church was built in the mid-15thC.

Turn right out of the south door and follow the path ahead through the churchyard back to Church Street. Turn left, going uphill, and when Church Street bends left turn right into Tregirls Lane. Follow this, passing High Street on your right, until you reach Prideaux Place.

There are beautiful views across its park where you might also see fallow deer. From here return along Tregirls Lane, passing the mid 19thC Dower House at the top of Fentonluna Lane.

Prideaux Place is a Grade l listed, Elizabethan manor house. The house was completed at the end of the 16thC with some remodelling during the 19thC.

When you reach the High Street go left down it, passing the Althea Library on the right. At the crossroads go right down Cross Street and when Church Street joins you from the right, continue straight ahead.

Cross Street runs into Duke Street. Follow its raised pavement down and at the bottom turn left along Market Place. Follow the road as it bends right and leads back to the Quay. The Althea Library was built as part of the nearby Prideaux-Brune Estate and dates from the 19thC. The house ceased to function as a library in the 1960s.

Walk ahead along the Quay with the water to your right, passing the incredibly ancient-looking Abbey House on the left. Pass the Red Brick Building which houses the TIC and keep going until you reach the pier. Go along it to visit its little pill box and admire the views. There are no railings, don’t drop off! Rock is the village across the water. The 15th century Abbey House was originally a guild headquarters for Padstow merchants. It is a private house and is a grade 11* listed building.

Pill Box: This reminder of the Second World War is now used as a store by the harbour. Others used to exist here but have been demolished, although some remnants are still visible along the estuary.

Return along the pier and go left. Notice a Big Pin standing proudly on the opposite headland of Dennis Hill. Follow the Quay as it goes left and before it turns left again at the far side of the boats go right along the narrow Market Strand. In 30m turn left along Market Place, passing the Padstow Institute and Museum building on the right.

The Dennis Hill Obelisk is a grade 11 listed building commemorating the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. It was built in 1889. The Padstow Museum was founded by local volunteers in 1971. Two of its exhibits are the Little Horsemen of Padstow, who were found during the re-roofing of Barclays Bank.

Keep ahead and at the junction with Lanadwell Street on the right go left up Broad Street. In less than 40m, just before the junction, go left down the cobbled Drang. This takes you back to the Quay. From here bear right, retracing your steps back round the Old Custom House and then to the car park.