To not get Cornwall?

LarrysNewOwner · 2024-08-02T10:13:47+00:00

Staying in St Austell. Last few days we’ve been on the beach which has been lovely. Now it’s clouded over, not really sure where to go. Have 2 DC DS8 and DD4. kids love theme parks. We like pretty towns to walk around etc. Maybe a boat ride. wang are we missing?

shams05 · 18/08/2024 19:47

We spent the day at Porth beach in Newquay, lovely and clean with lots of sand and sea.
It was 35 minutes from where we are staying but no traffic at all.

Caerulea · 10/08/2024 14:33

LarrysNewOwner · 09/08/2024 22:42

For people catching up on this, big successes were:

Camel Creek (used to be crealy Cornwall)
Knight Tournament at Pendennis castle
Lappa Valley
Hidden Valley

polruan was a disappointment, nothing open

Glad you went to Hidden Valley!

Barrenfieldoffucks · 10/08/2024 10:02

Polruan isn't a touristy place, it is just...nice. Good for crabbing, swimming etc.

Gymmum82 · 09/08/2024 23:49

Sch00lSh03s · 02/08/2024 17:18

I’m currently on th Northumbrian Coast and we’ve just been having this conversation. I live in Devon and have been to Cornwall a lot over the years but just don’t understand why Northumbria isn’t more popular and Cornwall/ Devon are.

Northumbria is gorgeous. Literally stunning. Many of the beaches are nicer, longer, more beautiful and sandier. Villages are far nicer. There are stunning castles and islands to visit.It’s cheaper,simpler, les spoilt, calmer, cleaner with more space.There is more wildlife, cleaner air( bugs on the windscreen), masses to do indoors and out but nice stuff not tacky theme parks or tat shops, there are no crowds or traffic jams and you can get into any car park any time, nicer people, nicer tourists( less fussy Bodenites loud parenting in boats taking over beaches and villages.Edinburgh is just up the road or a short train ride and gorgeous.

Took us 7 hours from Devon but worth every minute. Can’t get my head round the rest of the country battle down to Devon and Cornwall when other areas are so much better. If I lived in the SE no way would I bother with Devon and Cornwall when Northumbria is not much further.

Probably because 95% of the time it’s feckin Baltic and blowing a gale. At least in Cornwall you’ve got a better chance of some sunshine and warmth.
This is speaking as a northerner, close to beautiful beaches which we never visit because it’s too bloody cold

Original poster

LarrysNewOwner · 09/08/2024 22:42

For people catching up on this, big successes were:

Camel Creek (used to be crealy Cornwall)
Knight Tournament at Pendennis castle
Lappa Valley
Hidden Valley

polruan was a disappointment, nothing open

OP posts:

Original poster

LarrysNewOwner · 05/08/2024 16:08

Inertia · 04/08/2024 18:31

They've started calling it a puzzle park, which is a good description. It's honestly better than it looks from the website.

The main attraction is the Forbidden Mansion- there are lots of escape room type puzzles to solve across multiple different rooms. There are also lots of hidden passageways/ tunnels/ secret doors which are great fun for kids (and adults!) to go through- you can always go another route if you don't fancy them. It does work for a range of ages.

There are gardens with puzzle trails to solve, and activities for young children like a train and play area. There used to be a little hobbit house that children could go into.

They've added a couple of extra things since we were last there, so not sure about those. The cafe was quite nice.

It's one of the places that we went back to a few times over the years, even when our kids were teens.

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Oh that sounds right up our street, that’s k gig

OP posts:

Inertia · 04/08/2024 18:31

LarrysNewOwner · 04/08/2024 17:26

Can someone explain Jidden valley to me? I’ve looked it up but don’t get it

They've started calling it a puzzle park, which is a good description. It's honestly better than it looks from the website.

The main attraction is the Forbidden Mansion- there are lots of escape room type puzzles to solve across multiple different rooms. There are also lots of hidden passageways/ tunnels/ secret doors which are great fun for kids (and adults!) to go through- you can always go another route if you don't fancy them. It does work for a range of ages.

There are gardens with puzzle trails to solve, and activities for young children like a train and play area. There used to be a little hobbit house that children could go into.

They've added a couple of extra things since we were last there, so not sure about those. The cafe was quite nice.

It's one of the places that we went back to a few times over the years, even when our kids were teens.

Inertia · 04/08/2024 18:16

InterIgnis · 04/08/2024 00:56

Anyone suggested Bude tunnel yet?

Haha!

Original poster

LarrysNewOwner · 04/08/2024 17:26

Can someone explain Jidden valley to me? I’ve looked it up but don’t get it

OP posts:

bythebanksof · 04/08/2024 10:43

As many posters mentioned, lots of nice beaches, towns, walks. Very fond memories of the area as went there with family many times growing up. It's been many years since I've been there, but even 20 years ago traffic was a problem even then. You can't be certain of nice sunny weather. You'd need to go somewhere else.

RosesAndHellebores · 04/08/2024 10:20

St Ives is absolutely beautiful. Between September and June and outside school holidays.

ButtSurgery · 04/08/2024 10:16

faffadoodledo · 04/08/2024 07:43

@Smilersam Can't work out if you're joking or not with your remark about most people not being Cornish anymore. I hope so.

As long as people get stuck in and contribute in any way they can I'm happy with all-comers. How else will we staff our hospital and frankly everything else?

Born in PZ, moved away for opportunities at 18 like many of my contemporaries, but lucky enough to be able to move back. Some of my friends did the same with <shock> wives and husbands from up country!

I agree though that there are plenty of places where the crowds can't be arsed to trek which are beautiful

Same! Left Pz in 2000 for uni, stayed away for 15yrs, can't afford to move back to Pz but am in SE Cornwall (barely the right side of the Tamar 😂).

Couldn't tell you the last time I went to a touristy beach. Only do St Ives for work, Looe for meals out (highly recommend The Sardine Factory!), and am hoping the new A30 will make it quicker to see the in laws in Pz. We avoid visiting them in silly season as it can be a 4-5hr round trip on a Saturday....

Sch00lSh03s · 04/08/2024 07:53

crackofdoom · 04/08/2024 00:24

I see your problem there- you drove into St Ives 😬
But I agree-it is horrifically crowded, and although the setting and arguably the light (due I think to the light reflecting off the white sand of the beaches and harbour) are very special, the town itself isn't all that.

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I’ve taken the train into St Ives and driven. It’s still horrific. No amount of special light is worth the hell that is St Ives in July and August.

faffadoodledo · 04/08/2024 07:43

@Smilersam Can't work out if you're joking or not with your remark about most people not being Cornish anymore. I hope so.

As long as people get stuck in and contribute in any way they can I'm happy with all-comers. How else will we staff our hospital and frankly everything else?

Born in PZ, moved away for opportunities at 18 like many of my contemporaries, but lucky enough to be able to move back. Some of my friends did the same with <shock> wives and husbands from up country!

I agree though that there are plenty of places where the crowds can't be arsed to trek which are beautiful

Original poster

LarrysNewOwner · 04/08/2024 07:36

Have booked Camel Creek for today. I hope kids enjoy it. They are more used to Thorpe Park.

OP posts:

Smilersam · 04/08/2024 01:16

Pushmepullu · 02/08/2024 12:38

Been to Cornwall twice and on both holidays it rained most days. Trying to find something to do was tiresome due to the time taken to get there, the short visiting time, the cost of parking and the horrendous price of ‘traditional’ food. We found it was cheaper to go abroad.
There’s a joke about how a Cornishman takes pride in the fact that it takes them a week to relieve an Englishman of the money he has taken all year to save!

Most people here aren't Cornish me ansome, some up country folk moving down and creaming off everyone.
Cornwall is beautiful if you know where to go, won't say where as us locals can't enjoy it. Not the likes of Eden and Heligan 🙄

InterIgnis · 04/08/2024 00:56

Anyone suggested Bude tunnel yet?

crackofdoom · 04/08/2024 00:24

Lacdulancelot · 03/08/2024 19:37

Am I the only person who didn’t rate St Ives?
Saved it for the last day of my holiday, arrived 10 am left 11.30 totally disillusioned.
And the cost of parking.
It’s absolutely criminal.

I see your problem there- you drove into St Ives 😬
But I agree-it is horrifically crowded, and although the setting and arguably the light (due I think to the light reflecting off the white sand of the beaches and harbour) are very special, the town itself isn't all that.

crackofdoom · 04/08/2024 00:20

whatsappdoc · 03/08/2024 20:11

Has anyone mentioned Dingles? Old fairground rides all under cover with a museum. Bit expensive if you want to go on all the rides but takes care of half a day and only about 45 mins from St Austell.

Dingles is set to close soon 😪

ltappleby · 03/08/2024 21:39

tintagel or Pendern for the mines and Poldark connection.

VividQuoter · 03/08/2024 21:37

LOL, i was just winding up my husband to go there

TheMerryTiger · 03/08/2024 21:30

Have you thought about an all inclusive in Spain, Portugal, Canaries etc etc. We used to love these when kids were little - guaranteed sun, pool, entertainment, good food, good fun. Happy kids = happy parents

littleburn · 03/08/2024 20:42

In my experience Cornwall is lovely in theory, but in practice it's overcrowded and overpriced in the summer holidays. Great if you love sitting in traffic jams on narrow, winding country lanes and then circling car parks looking for available spaces.

SuePreemly · 03/08/2024 20:28

Blooming love a Philps pasty, it's still mega!!

OP we really enjoyed the Hidden Valley puzzle park, which isn't far from you. Lots for all ages, cute train ride. We though it was good value, took a picnic and had a lovely day if you like a puzzle/escape room type thing

AndyPandyismyhero · 03/08/2024 20:23

Having had many wonderful holidays in Cornwall as a child, I couldn't wait to take my own children for a holiday. It was such a letdown. Flambards was an expensive half day out - I was amazed we managed to spend as long as that there, most other places were ridiculously expensive and crowded. The one place we all enjoyed was The Hidden Valley. This was around 20 years ago and none of us have been back since. Both DC's have taken their partners and children to holiday destinations from their own childhood, but they haven't bothered with Cornwall.