Cornwall in October half term

[MrsElizabethShelby]

Have booked Perranporth for a week mid August next year and considering moving to October half term due to horror stories I've heard of how heaving it will be.

October has been recommended but I'm not sure about the weather.

Any advice anyone can give?

I have family in Cornwall and we always stay at theirs in Oct half term when they go abroad. I love it then. Take wellies, jumpers and coats and get out for chilly blustery beach walks with a hot chocolate at the end. Although last year, it was roasting for the first few days and I was grumpy because I hadn't packed for warm weather!

We've just got back from a week in Perranporth. The beach is huge so you can always find space. My DS is autistic and he manages fine, we walk through the crowds and go to the right hand side of the beach as it is less crowded. You can always find parking as there are two huge car parks which are reasonably priced. Failing that there's the bus which is regular and reliable. We go every year and love it.

St Ives on the other hand was hurrendously busy.

Weather in Cornwall is always unpredictable. As long as you have the right wet / cold weather gear you should be fine.

I guess it depends what you prefer, warmer with crowds or colder with fewer people. Also depends on whether you’re grown ups going walking and sight seeing vs young kids wanting to sit on the beach all day.

I have young kids and I do Cornwall in the summer!

We went to Cornwall right at the end of the season a few years ago and the weather was fine. Not gloriously sunny but not horrendous either. We went all over the place: St. Michael's Mount, Lanhydrock, Mousehill, St. Ives, Truro Cathedral, St. Mawes Castle, Lizard Point and the lighthouse museum and a few other places I've forgotten. It was great and, as you said, not too busy. I think it only rained twice and when it did we were still able to explore.

Yes it's a family holiday with two DC.

Their absolute favourite thing is a beach day.

This is my concern

Why don’t you move to May half term instead? Nice weather than October, not as busy as August. We went the week before half term this year and it was lovely weather.

Two years ago we went in October half term and we were in the sea. It was glorious weather. That was Bude.

Well, the weather is never guaranteed in this country I suppose.

Any tips on special things to do nearby?

It’s funny, I was inspired to look at a week in Cornwall for Oct HT only today by the mental thread where the OP had spent 8k on a week in August.

Where would you head with a DS12 and likely same-age pal in tow.

@Greggers2017 you have just made me super excited! We're heading to perranporth next weekend and I'm so looking forward to beach days with our 2 young children.

Any tips?

Perranporth will probably be ok - busy, obviously but nothing like the chaos of St Ives or Rock

We spend a lot of time in St Ives, year round. Favourite times are May and October. Least favourite is August, even when the weather is good. More often than not, October is fine enough to go for lovely walks, stick the DC’s in wetsuits and let them play in the (still warm from the summer) sea or play games on the beach. Nice level of busyness. August drives me mad, no space on the beach or in the sea, impossible to walk up Fore St at any pace, no tables available in restaurants without booking ages in advance . I don’t know Perranporth but October all the way for me!

October half term is a great time to come to Cornwall especially if you have dogs. As the beach ban has been lifted by then.

It won’t be cold cold but it might be raining. So pack layers and water proofs

Eden project etc will be open and possibly a bit quieter and there tends to be half term stuff on. Same with lots of the other attractions as it’s the last time to extend the season.

Lots of costal walks and on the beach. If weather is crap then find a cosy cafe or pub and watch the waves crash in