Rock village is across the Camel estuary from the fishing port of Padstow. The name "Rock" is believed to originate from the Rock Quarry, which is now a car park. It was a source of ballast for sailing boats who needed extra weight to balance themselves, after they had unloaded their cargo at Padstow. "Camel" comes from the Cornish for an "elbow", and geographic shape of the river from Wadebridge to the Atlantic looking a bit like an elbow.
Rock has built a reputation as "Kensington on Sea" with an influx of public school Hooray Henries during the school summer holidays. Prince William and Prince Harry, have come on a number of occasions to enjoy the excellent surfing in the area.
Rock has a foot ferry across to Padstow, which takes visitors to the delights of Padstow's restaurants. And there is a water taxi for those who wish to dally late on the other side of the water. As well as the ferry, there is a sailing club on the waterfront.
St Enodoc Golf Club claims to have one of the finest links golf courses in the South West of England with everything you would expect from a James Braid design; undulating fairways, firm greens, some blind shots and all with the added bonus of some of the greatest sea and estuary views on any course in the world. Certainly it has great views from most of the holes.
Rock has a 15th century baptistery, built over a well where children used to be taken to be cured of whooping cough.
Across the golf course at St Enodoc Church is where John Betjemen,
the former poet laureate is buried. St Enodoc Church is found by walking along
the sea front from the ferry, and across the golf course and sand dunes. It
is hidden away in the sand that has threatened to bury it. The church is thought
to be built built on the site of a cave where St. Enodoc the hermit lived He
baptised his converts at the Jesus Well a half mile away. In the 18th and 19th
century the church fell into disrepair and became almost buried in the sand,
to such an extent that the had to get in via the north transept roof.
Sir John Betjeman, wrote of the church in " Sunday Afternoon Service At
St. Enodoc " and today a slate headstone marks his grave.
Nearby Daymer Bay is a good place to sunbathe.
A few miles further up the Coast lies the surfing beach at Polzeath.
Rock, Cornwall Lifeboat Station has a D class lifeboat that is a re-engineered and updated version of the original D class.