Local Activities

The range of sports and activities available in north Cornwall is staggering including: some of the best surfing and extreme sport beaches in Europe; superb walking with dramatic views to be enjoyed from the South West Coastal Path and high moors; top class golf courses abound within a 30 minute radius of Helsbury Park; world class sailing centres at Rock and Falmouth cater for the novice and expert alike and several local lakes have novice facilities too; every kind of fishing is available from boat, rocks, beach, river bank or lake side; unique cycling experiences are well catered for from family outings on bikes on the Camel Trail, to rugged off-road mountain biking; and horse riding is also on offer for all skill levels.

We’ve tried to cover as many as we can here, but feel free to drop us a line and we’ll try and help with more information if we can. Use the links on the right hand side to find out more too.

Water Sports in North Cornwall

For the more adventurous there is a mass of new sports available on some of the finest beaches in Europe: from kite surfing and sand yachting to the more traditional pursuits of surfing, windsurfing and body boarding. Tuition is available at most of the larger beaches in North Cornwall: Watergate Bay, Polzeath and Newquay in particular. These beaches also have fashionable cafes, restaurants and shops to cater for those who would 
rather watch than participate.

Fishing in and around Helsbury Park

With more than a mile of the river Camel running through the property Helsbury Park offers a secluded haven to enjoy some of the best salmon fishing available in the UK. Fishing begins on the 1st of May and runs through to December, which is unique in the UK, the best time to fish on site is from September through to December when the river fills after the summer. The Camel is the leading salmon river in the South West of England, with salmon and sea trout being caught on fly or spinner depending on the time of the year and the conditions.

As part of the Helsbury package we provide temporary membership of the Bodmin Angling Association, who manage the whole river from source to sea. This allows you to fish many more stretches of the river Camel throughout the season, as well as access to a mine of superb information and local knowledge about the best places to fish. For the less experienced who are looking for a more varied fishing experiences there’s also easy access to the north Cornwall coast with superb rock fishing from Port Gaverne, or beach fishing at Widemouth Bay. As well as the abundance of mackerel there are turbot, sea bass, pollock and plaice around the coast. Boat trips from Rock, Padstow or Port Isaac, offer even more possibilities including shark fishing. Well stocked lakes complete the whole spectrum of fishing options available within thirty minutes of Helsbury. There are trout lakes and coarse fishing locally offering carp, roach, tench, perch and bream.

Golf Courses in the Locale

Imagine a golfing holiday where you could play some of the best courses in the country, enjoy luxury accommodation, and not have to worry about non-golfing members of your party getting bored. All of that’s possible at Helsbury Park. Links courses, park courses and driving ranges are all within easy reach of Helsbury Park. So too are fabulous restaurants and cosy pubs in which to unwind and relive that last round, and beautiful beaches and attractions for the non-golfers in any party. You’ll find ten excellent golf courses within a twenty mile radius of Helsbury Park including Trevose and St Enodoc which are reputed to be among the finest links courses outside of Scotland. Bowood Park Golf Course, Cornwall’s Valderama, is just 5 minutes away by car, and the legendary Nicklaus course at St Mellion is less than an hours drive away.

Cycling in North Cornwall

Cornwall offers a great variety of cycling from quiet country lanes, meandering through pretty villages and bustling harbours, to demanding off-road routes which explore the wilds of Bodmin Moor. The easy going Camel Trail is ideal for those with young children, or those who haven’t ridden a bike in a few years. A section of the National Cycle Network runs through Cornwall, and is marked on the roads which makes it easy to follow from village to village. There are some wonderful places to stop and relax en route: including some fine country inns and tea-gardens.

The Camel Trail is one of the most perfect places to cycle in the country. For novice or experienced rider to ride from the wooded valley on the moor out to sea at Padstow is a breathtaking experience. Helsbury is located right on the edge of Bodmin Moor which has miles of tracks, paths and off road routes that you can follow, as well as some great pubs for the bits in between! The stunning accommodation at Helsbury is luxurious, spacious and peaceful, the perfect place to return to at the end of the day, with log fires, en suite bathrooms and superb facilities [including washing machines and dryers!].

Horse Riding in the Helsbury Park area

Cornwall has an equestrian treat for riders of all abilities: galloping across miles of open moorland; along a sandy beach or pottering through picturesque lanes. There is an excellent variety of equestrian facilities within a short distance of Helsbury Park; offering trekking, hacks or lessons for the novice and experienced rider alike. There’s nothing like horse-back for getting a good view over those high Cornish hedges.

Sailing on the North Cornwall Coast

As Cornwall has the longest coastline of any county in England it is no surprise that it’s a county of excellent sailors. From dinghy to ocean going yacht, opportunities abound to try sailing in Cornwall, and be it all hands on deck or a G&T in the cabin a great day out can be had by all. There are numerous centres for water sports: at Rock on the Camel estuary; Falmouth on the South Coast; or inland reservoirs and lakes like Colliford or Siblyback on the moor if you’d rather not have waves and the tide to deal with.

Art in Cornwall

Cornwall and art have been inextricably intertwined for generations: from the world famous Newlyn School; Barbara Hepworth and the Tate at St Ives to the tiny galleries that appear in just about every village in the county. The unique light and landscape influence the stunning arts and crafts including glass-work, jewellery, ceramics, paintings and sculpture. St Ives is a great place to start with the Tate and Barbara Hepworth Museum, and the local galleries are also jammed full of traditional and modern artworks. The Lemon Street gallery in Truro is a real treat, but there is wonderful art available everywhere. Small galleries abound at Camelford, Padstow, Wadebridge, Port Isaac and even on the side of the road as you drive around.