Padstow in September with an almost 1y old. Ideas?

[jennimoo]

We've got a week self catering holiday booked the second week in September, staying just outside Padstow.

Anyone got some tips of things to do with DD who will be 1 a week later? I'd like to do tintagel and we have a back carrier, but wondered what other people think: I vaguely remember quite uneven steep steps...

[iskra]

I don't think there's any problem with Tintagel & a back carried child if thats what you mean?

[Kladdkaka]

There are some victorian gardens off the main road between tintagel and padstow. Signposted. They were fab. They're in the grounds of a pub/hotel up on the cliff top and like a maze with secret hidden bits all over the place. Very much 'Secret Garden'. That was quite a few years ago but I'm assuming they are still there.

[mummymeister]

There are some lovely gardens to visit like Trebah and National trust are always good even with toddlers. newquay aquarium and zoo arent that far away and worth a visit and there are quite a few indoor theme park type places but you need to choose the smaller ones rather than flambards or crealy. You can also hire bikes with back trailers and cycle the camel trail from Padstow which is a fun thing to do.

[SaffronCake]

Tintagel itself is a village (quite gift-shop-y) and so is fine with a back carrier unless you're over 6ft then the low older-building doorways are going to be an issue of course, but that's the same anywhere. Tintagel has a couple of main attractions. The Old Post Office is one, it is in the village itself, as long as you take your back carrier off for the duration you will carry baby around it Ok. Tintagel castle though is accessed by steps. They are steeper than a domestic flight of stairs, uneven in depth (although English Heritage have made them fairly safe) and very high. I would think twice about taking a baby up there in a carrier, although other people do it. You can decide for yourself though as there is a cafe at the bottom of the steps and to get to the cafe it's a normal steep hill downwards from the village, so even urban-type buggies would be alright that far.
On the way to Tintagel/ back from Tintagel I recommend a stop in Boscastle as the two villages compliment each other for one day out together. Boscastle has The Museam of Witchcraft which is both fascinating, creepy and moving. You will have to carry baby in your arms though as the building is small, old and pushchairs or back carriers wont really work, so I leave it to you to decide if it's worth it. None of the exhibits are likely to scare a little baby, it tends to be grown ups who read the scare into them.
Trebah gardens in on the river Fal, about 2 hours drive away from Padstow. It's nice and everything, but why travel that far? Prideaux Place gardens are actually in Padstow and open to the public, or for more of a whole day out there is Lanhydrock (National Trust) about half an hour away, which is a big house and garden.
Fancy a farm park? Old McDonalds farm is close enough, just head down the Pasdtow-Newquay coast road and after Porthcothan (you wont miss Porthcothan) you will see the signs.
A bit further along in Newquay is an Aquarium, which like the farm park is very baby accessible.
Someone mentioned cycling the Camel Trail. There is an abundance of bike hire places and it's easy to find bikes with baby carriers. The scenary is gorgeous and the trail is pretty flat. You can also walk the trail with a pushchair or back carrier if you rather, it's not just for cycling. 5-6 miles along from Padstow is Wadebridge, with lovely boutique shops and a nice park to unwind in (with trees and benches but also with swings and slides).
For the wildcard half-day out when you're alone with baby try Trevathan pick your own fruit farm and St Endellion. My 9 month and I old love it there. After picking fruit sit down in the conservatory or outside for a cream tea with a view to die for before meeting the goats and rabbits and playing on the swings and in the sandpit.
Best beach for tiny ones? I'd use Polzeath, Daymer Bay or Porthcothan in that order. You will need car park change.
In all, North Cornwall is lovely for a baby, even on your own, and you wont be short of places to go or ways to relax. You do really need a car though.

[SaffronCake]

Should say at St Endellion, not "and".

[MrsMilton]

Sorry to hijack... we're looking to book a short break in this area too, can anyone recommend anywhere nice for self-catering? Happy to spend a bit on a lovely place! It sounds gorgeous.

[pipsy76]

crealy, crealy, crealy!!!!!!!!!!!

[pipsy76]

www.crealy.co.uk/cornwall/new-this-year.html

[pipsy76]

trevorick farm, sorry no square brackets on this keyboard so I can't do links but stayed here and it's lovely if you have small kids or like animals

[pipsy76]

oh that trevorrick with 2 r's

[GeorgeEliot]

Have visited Tintagel castle with baby in a backpack with no problem.

Also Bedruthan Steps, stunning bit of national trust coastline. Steps and paths are well maintained - didn't go down very steep steep onto beach though as were there out of season.

Padstow itself is a bit of a nightmare, always heaving with tourists.

If you like walking with baby in a backpack you can park at Trevone Beach, walk along the cliff path to Harlyn Bay (about 20 mins) and back - very easy and lovely walk.

[Allegrogirl]

We did the Wadebridge-Padstow section of the Camel trail. It's a 10 mile round trip and dead flat. Put DDs 10months and 3.7 in a bike trailer and they loved it. There's a cycle hire place at the end of the trail at Padstow and a couple in Wadebridge.

The views of the estuary fabulous and a great way to escape the hordes in Padstow.

[Allegrogirl]

Sorry Saffron Cake I See you mentioned the Camel Trail already. Local by any chance?

[SaffronCake]

Local to the Camel Trail? Very very, 200 yards in fact!

[annie41]

If you are going to Tintagel there is a fantastic child friendly cafe/restaurant which I would really recommend. It is called Charlie's and it is near the visitor centre.

It has a great indoor children's play area at the back with toy kitchen, toys and books and it is gated in so they can't escape. perfect if you want to have a bit of peace getting your lunch! We went there twice with our 2 young daughters during our holiday recently and they loved it. The food is fabulous - really fresh ingredients - and the deli has some lovely stock. can't recommend it highly enough!

[Lizzietow]

Wow this is the perfect post for me -we're going on Friday for a week!
I was just about to post to ask if anyone has any ideas of where to stop on the way down? Xx

[Lizzietow]

Sorry- I should have said we're travelling from Manchester.

[Lizzietow]

And I also should have said my 11 month old is also 1 on the 1st October!

[jennimoo]

Just noticed the recent activity on this thread, I've just cone back and we stayed at trevorrick farm, it's great for the little ones and quite small so very friendly. My LO would have happily followed the ducks and chickens all day long!
We did Tintagel with the back carrier and in my view it was perfectly safe.

We enjoyed the blue reef aquarium at Newquay although a little pricey, so if you have tesco clubcard vouchers like we did make sure you exchange them to tickets before you go and save a few pounds!