The South West Coast Path is 630 miles of marked track that hugs the superb coastline - the longest National Trail in the UK. The Cornish section of the path is arguably the most beautiful and accounts for roughly 300 miles of it. We’ve taken this stunning section of coast path and added a very Cornish twist by marking 20 cream tea destinations along the route for the ultimate 300 mile, 10,000 calorie challenge!
The idea of the Cornish Coast Path Cream Tea Challenge is to complete the route whilst ticking off the 20 listed tearooms and hotels serving cream teas in Cornwall. All of the venues chosen are either directly on the South West Coast Path or a very short detour from the path. As you can imagine most have stunning sea views! The expectation is for most people to treat the trail as a tick list crossing off each tearoom / hotel in turn over different trips; however should anyone attempt the full 20 non-stop we will be extremely impressed and most definitely shout about it! The Isles of Scilly aren’t officially part of the SW Coast Path but we’ve added them as a bonus venue, just for fun, as it’s such a beautiful location.
What do you get for completing the Cornish Coast Path Cream Tea Challenge?
On writing this we don’t have any large sponsors or prize donators and have just created the challenge for fun to help promote our Cornish cream tea hampers. This may change as the challenge gains traction but regardless we can certainly offer the first person to complete the challenge (with photos of them at each destination) a prize of a trophy with the title (Cornish Coast Path Cream Tea Champion), a Cornish hamper and lots of social media bragging rights! Those who subsequently conquer the challenge will receive a certificate and listing on our to-be-created hall of fame.
Tearooms and Hotels on the Cornish Cream Tea Challenge Route
Bude to Newquay Coastal Path, including Padstow
1. Cabin Café
Crackington Haven, St Gennys, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0JG
http://www.cabincafecrackington.co.uk/
Cabin Café is nestled right on the coast path in the picturesque hamlet of Crackington Haven, a historical Cornish cove. The Cabin Café offers a cream tea with a view of the dramatic coastline of North Cornwall. Their cream teas were listed as one of the best in the county by ‘That’s My Cornwall Magazine’.
2. Trelawny Tea Room
Marine Drive, Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0AH
http://www.trelawnytearoom.com/
Trelawny Tea Room is a family-run tearoom overlooking the surf spot of Widemouth Bay, next to the SW coast path. Their cream teas come with homemade scones, the finest Boddingtons jam and Roddas Cornish clotted cream.
3. Angelique’s Tea Room
2 Tintagel Terrace, Port Isaac PL29 3SE
https://www.facebook.com/AngeliquesTea
Made famous by the TV series Doc Martin, Port Isaac has become very popular so is often best seen outside of peak times. It’s a beautiful Cornish coastal town to visit even for those unfamiliar with the TV series. At Angelique’s Tea Room home-baked scones are served with local jam and Cornish clotted cream. They use pretty china crockery, traditional tablecloths and cream teas are accompanied by a pot of loose leaf tea, which can be enjoyed inside or under an outside veranda.
4. Pauline’s Creamery
20 Bank St, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1AY
http://www.paulinesnewquay.com/
Located in Newquay town centre, Pauline's has been run by the same family for over 25 years. It’s hard to walk past the scrumptious window display without being tempted by the huge home-made scones and pots of jam and clotted cream.
5. Lewinnick Lodge
Pentire Headland, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1QD
http://www.lewinnicklodge.co.uk/
Perched on the cliff-top of the Pentire headland, Lewinnick Lodge is a lovely restaurant with panoramic sea views. It’s a stones throw away from one of Cornwall’s favourite surfing destinations, Fistral beach in Newquay. Their cream teas come with a very generous dollop of delicious clotted cream and can be walked off along the South West coast path that runs past the restaurant.
6. The Cosy Nook Café
Langurroc Road, Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5RB
The other side of the River Gannel from Newquay is Crantock village where the Cosy Nook is situated. It’s roughly 500m inland from the SW Coast Path by Crantock beach. The Cosy Nook is a lovely café with a charming little garden, perfect for sitting in the sun with a delicious cream tea. The café boasts a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdivsor and their cream teas have also been listed by Visit Cornwall as one of the best in Cornwall.
St Ives to Falmouth Coast Path
7. Godrevy Beach Café
Gwithian, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 5ED
http://www.godrevycafe.co.uk/
A stones throw from Gwithian, one of the longest and best surfing beaches in Cornwall, is Godrevy Beach Café. The café prides itself on fresh, wholesome and hearty contemporary food with lots of luxurious homemade cakes including of course Cornish cream teas.
8. The Tearoom St Ives
1 Wharf House, The Wharf, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1PG
http://thetearoomstives.co.uk/
St Ives, widely regarded as the jewel of Cornwall’s crown, is a beautiful seaside town, set in breathtaking coastal scenery. The family run The Tearoom St Ives serves up Cornish cream teas with two homemade scones, local Boddington’s strawberry jam, Roddas clotted cream and a pot of loose-leaf tea.
9. Rosemergy Farmhouse
Morvah, Pendeen, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8YX
http://www.rosemergy.com/
Rosemergy Farmhouse is a quaint family-run farmhouse deep in the west of Cornwall, about 300m inland from the coast path midway between St. Ives and St. Just. All cakes and scones are homemade and can be enjoyed in the comfort of the spacious dining room or in the lovely garden with stunning sea views onto the Atlantic Ocean and the North Cornish moors. Their cream teas are highly recommended with both Cornwall Life and That’s My Cornwall magazines listing them among the best in the county.
10. Little Bo Café
Sennen Cove, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 7DF
http://thelittlebocafe.weebly.com/
Little Bo Café is situation directly on the SW coast path, close to Lands End. They serve high quality Cornish produce and have a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
11. Lands End Restaurant and Bar
Land’s End, Sennen, Cornwall, TR19 7AA
https://www.landsend-landmark.co.uk/pages/lands-end-restaurant-and-bar
The most westerly point of mainland England, Lands End is home to a collection of shops, eateries and exhibitions and regularly hosts various events. Lands End Restaurant and Bar serve cream teas with home-made scones from 11.30am.
12. Poldhu Beach Café
Poldhu Cove, Mullion, Cornwall TR127JB
http://www.poldhu.com/
Poldhu Beach Café is an award winning café situated on the SW coast path at Poldhu Cove along the south Cornwall coast. The café is open all year round and boasts a TripAdvisor certificate of Excellence.
13. Polpeor Café (The Most Southerly Point)
Lizard Point, The Lizard, Helston, Cornwall TR12 7NU
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Polpeor-Cafe/293064304147303
The Polpeor Café is a traditional little café right on Lizard Point at the most Southerly point on mainland Britain which is claimed to help it be sunnier here than elsewhere in Cornwall. There’s inside seating available or an outside terrace with glorious views out to sea.
14. Dolly’s Tea Room
21 Church Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3EG
http://www.dollysbar.co.uk/
Set in the centre of Falmouth, very near the harbour side, Dolly's is a dog friendly tearoom and wine bar set within a beautiful Georgian room. Head up the creaky stairs and be transported back in time to enjoy one of the best traditional Cornish cream teas around.
Past Falmouth to Torpoint Coastal Path, including Fowey, St Austell and Looe
15. Coast Path Café
Coastal Path, Gorran Haven, Near St Austell, Cornwall PL26
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coast-Path-Cafe/287587094719036
As the name suggests The Coast Path Café is set directly alongside the coast path, in the fishing village of Gorran Haven which is on the south coast of Cornwall located in a cove between two sandy beaches. They serve the best homemade cakes and have seating inside or outside with a fantastic sea view along the Cornish coast.
16. Wreckers
Charlestown Harbour, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3NJ
http://www.wreckers.me.uk/home.htm
Located in the quaint port of Charlestown is Wreckers Bistro housed within a refurbished Old Boat Shed with its quirky bent roof, hand crafted beams and black ironwork. Cornish cream teas can be enjoyed sitting on the sun soaked terrace whilst watching the sparkling sea and tall ships bobbing in the harbour.
17. The Fowey Hotel
Esplanade, Fowey, Cornwall PL23 1HX
http://www.thefoweyhotel.co.uk/
Fowey is tucked away on the picturesque south coast of Cornwall, alongside the River Fowey which is one of the deepest rivers in the world. The Fowey Hotel enjoys great views of the town and the river flowing out to sea. Cream teas are served with a pot of loose leaf tea, two scones, locally made strawberry preserve and thick Cornish clotted cream.
18. Bean and Scone Café
The Coombes, Polperro, Cornwall PL13 2RQ
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bean-Scone/275693169166547
The village and fishing harbour of Polperro sits in a beautiful secluded cove on the south east Cornwall coast (the background to our website header). Bean and Scone is a quaint little café that has been satisfying customers since 2005. Their cream teas come with a variety of gorgeous homemade scones including their apple scones and they also offer a savoury cream tea.
19. Martin’s Dairy
Fore Street, East Looe, Cornwall PL13 1HH
http://www.martinsdairy.co.uk/
A popular Cornish coastal town, East Looe is set alongside the East Looe River on the eastern side of the south Cornwall coast. Established and run by the Martin family in the early 1900s, Martin’s Dairy is a dairy / bakery with a pleasing café where huge homemade scones are served with lashings of local jam and the dairy’s own clotted cream. Cream teas can be taken away and enjoyed sitting on Looe harbour overlooking the estuary.
20. Black Rock Café
May Lane, Millendreath, Cornwall PL13 1PE
http://www.blackrockcornwall.co.uk/
Black Rock Café is located in the village of Millendreath, near Looe, directly on the SW coast path. Millendreath has its own south facing beach perfect for water sports, rock pooling and seaside days out. The café boasts a TripAdvisor ‘Certificate of Excellence’ rating and its delicious traditional Cornish cream teas can be enjoyed with a stunning sea view.
Isle of Scilly Bonus Cream Teas
28 miles across the sea from the Cornish coast sit the stunning Isles of Scilly. Whilst not part of the South West Coast Path they are part of the ceremonial county of Cornwall and all of the larger islands have a coast path, so make a natural addition. Including them gives another reason to visit these beautiful islands.
A - Old Town Café
Old Town, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall TR21 0NH
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Town-Cafe/168908019935578
St. Mary’s is the largest of the islands that make up the Isle of Scilly and has pathways and roads that circumnavigate it. Old Town Café is located in Old Town the other side of the island from the main town Hugh Town. Cream teas can be enjoyed inside or outside with a lovely view of the old quay.
B - Covean Cottage
St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall TR22 0PL
http://www.coveancottage.com/
Covean Cottage Guesthouse and Cafe is on the intimate island of St Agnes. Covean Cottage’s exceptional cream teas, including two freshly made scones and local Troytown Farm Clotted Cream, served with an Atlantic view are well worth travelling for.