Cornwall by train help please!

[SparklySneakers]

Hi, I would love to take my mum to Cornwall to celebrate a special occasion this year in August. She met my dad in st Ives and it would be amazing for her to go back there. I don't drive so would be an 8 hour train journey from Manchester Would be possible to fly to Newquay and then train from there but none of us have passports.

I have limited funds but could tighten my belt and save enough for a short break if I can find a cheap hotel or accommodation.

2 adults, 3 children age 4,10, and 12.

Am I nuts or is it doable?? It's a long way for a short break but the sentimental value would be priceless (my dad passed away several years ago but they were married over 50 years).

Any Cornwall experts have any advice?

It would probably be much cheaper and quicker to drive, even if you have to hire a car.

The logical stopovers would be London or the Torbay area.

You could take an early train to London, spend the day sightseeing then get the night train, as PPs have suggested, then do the same on the way back.

Torbay is about halfway in terms of train travel time (just 10 mins from Newton Abbot) which is on the mainline to Penzance. Accommodation will probably be a bit cheaper than St Ives. Plymouth isn't beautiful but it has an amazing aquarium. Bristol could work too - We are Curious is great if your DC like science stuff.

Another tip for the London to Penzance line is that they have a Pullman dining car on some journeys. The breakfast is amazing and not too expensive, lunch and dinner are good but not cheap. You can't make a reservation unless you have a first class ticket but the lunch service is rarely busy often empty and they will probably let the children share or just have a starter/dessert if it isn't full. Breakfast is busier but you have a good chance of getting a table as they do 2 sittings. Dinner is quiet going up to London. It's hard to get a table on the 6pm train out of London, easier on the 7pm.

The children would love the night train so I might do that with them some time.
The best plan seems to be a stop off in Exeter.

Flying to Exeter is another option, then train the last part of the journey. Been cheaper that the train when I have had to go to Manchester for work.

I'd suggest stopping off in Bristol. It's about 3-4 hours from Manchester to Bristol and the same again to St Ives. (Although I'd drive the lot in one day).

I think accommodation is likely to be your biggest issue for St Ives in August. Best to have a look now at what’s available. In term time there is usually something available even last minute but August is peak season and peak prices! Train journey is long and inefficient for the last bit - Exeter down is much slower than car, but the journey into St Ives from St Erth is really very beautiful

I live here...fly then bus then train to par then par to st ives. Nightmare unfortunatly.
Id do the coach if i were you, cheaper, it does take breaks, has a loo on board and lots of them have wifi now too.
Im originally from manchester and have done this many times.
St ives is unfortunatly very expensive and peak in august. Could you consider travelling just out of season end of september? Its still gorgeous but nice and quiet too and cheaper

Second a stop-over in Bristol. We did that trip once from Manchester and it was a good midway point.

There's a Premier Inn opposite the main station in Exeter, a family room in August would be from £58 depending on when you book.

There are quite a few air bnb's in St.Ives.

It might be a bit cheaper to air bnb at Lelant, St.Erth or Hayle. Then its only a couple of miles by bus to get into St.Ives, or train.

There are YHA's (Youth Hostels) that offer amazing en suite family rooms, but they are in Penzance, Perranporth and The Lizard and are unfortunately around £70-£90 per night.

I wouldn't really recommend Exeter as a stop off if you are planning on spending an afternoon or longer there. It's lovely and I prefer it as a city to Plymouth but there isn't much to do with 3 DC that is out of the ordinary. Plymouth or Torbay have more sightseeing to offer - the aquarium, the zoo, Living Coasts, a model village, caves, a steam train, the beach...

Another vote for the Night Riviera. I did it last summer just because I'd never been on a sleeper train and I came over all Agatha Christie. It was bizarre going to sleep in Paddington Station & waking up in Cornwall, but great! They even bring you a cup of tea in bed

Have you considered coach holidays ie coach travel with accommodation thrown in ?