Activities in Padstow and Cornwall: Even the most enthusiastic golfer needs their holiday to offer more than great courses. There’s so much to do in and around Padstow if you decide to take time away from the greens, and non-golfing partners or family members will have plenty of activities to choose from, too.

Rick Stein’s justly famous Padstow Seafood School near the harbour offers a great range of cookery courses in a fabulous setting overlooking the Camel estuary, or for a little more adrenaline, how about a surfing lesson at nearby Harlyn Bay? A few miles further south of Padstow is the Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay, where the energetic can learn to kitesurf, mountain board, waveski or traction kite – all sports that create an incredible buzz!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. The north Cornish coast, with its growing number of Michelin-starred restaurants, is fast becoming one of the country’s most popular destinations for gourmet dining. You won’t need to go far to find wonderful food – just a short drive from Padstow (home, of course, to Rick Stein’s legendary trio of restaurants) you’ll find Ripley’s in St Merryn and St Ervan Manor; both offer truly memorable dining experiences. Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen will be opening at Watergate Bay in May 2006, giving food lovers even more reason to come to Cornwall.

Spending a lazy afternoon exploring Padstow is always fun. The National Lobster Hatchery is a fascinating way to spend an hour or two and there are many unusual shops to browse around. Taking a tour around Prideaux Place, a beautiful Elizabeth manor house built in 1585, gives a real taste of the history of the area.