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Original poster

Driving from Wilmslow to Cornwall

54 replies

BigDrive · 08/07/2023 12:19

We are going on holiday to Cornwall for a week in the summer holidays. Have a 6 year old and a very lively 3 year old.

Can anyone recommend somewhere to stop off on the way, maybe just after the half way point. For food and a run around mainly so the youngest doesn't go completely crazy.

Also open to any suggestions on when to start the drive and how to break it up etc.

Thank you

OP posts:
MimiSunshine · 08/07/2023 12:50

I would drive as far as you can before stopping. Ideally get past Bristol as it can be really heavy traffic and delays.
but if you want or need to stop then Gloucester services are nice.

MimiSunshine · 08/07/2023 12:55

Also leave as early as you can. Like 5am early. Put the kids in the car in their PJs and hopefully they’ll go back to sleep for a bit.
Have a cool bag of sandwiches, drinks and snacks in the footwell with you.

Ohmylovejune · 08/07/2023 12:57

Cornwall is a long county and can take two hours to travel through. Where are you staying?

I don't know what roads you will be on. If its the A303 then Cartgate Picnic Area is lovely. Got facilities but you can also easily eat a packed picnic.
On M5 I agree Gloucester Services is nice but like all services its not cheap.
Both of these are still a long way from Cornwall and you'll have the main holiday traffic ahead of you still.

If you can let us know where you are heading that will help.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds 6 year olds
Hercisback · 08/07/2023 12:58

Get up at 4am and bundle the kids into the car with blankets in pj's. Get as far as possible without stopping. When you do have to stop, get breakfast as quickly as possible then get back on the road.

You really want to be past Bristol before stopping.

FiloPasty · 08/07/2023 13:02

Agree with the above. Leave early in pj’s then hopefully they sleep most of the way in the car. Darts farm in Exeter is a great stop, it’s free, large space to run around, a few animals to say hello to. They have a great farm shop and options for food to take away.

cherryassam · 08/07/2023 13:02

I second trying to get past Bristol if you can. Clevedon Court National Trust is a nice stop if you happen to be there on one of the days it’s open. Close to J20 of the M5. Tyntesfield NT isn’t too far from J19, much better opening times. Both have nice gardens for picnics, Tyntesfield has some great play areas for kids.

MrsCarson · 08/07/2023 13:03

We went from North Wales down to Cornwall last summer We went past Chester then headed south. As we got further south the services got busier and more crowded.
Take a picnic and just use the loos.
We went to Gloucester services which were nice but manic and also to another one further north that was so busy it took longer to get in, once in the traffic queue, than it did to use the loo and buy a drink.

Winnerturkeydinner · 08/07/2023 13:04

When we were small we used to set off in the car at 1am. Then the majority of the travelling was done whilst we were asleep. My dad used to go to bed when we got to the holiday cottage, is that an option?

Ohmylovejune · 08/07/2023 13:06

Dozy me thought Wilmslow was in Essex! Forget the A303 you'll be nowhere near it.

So back to the M5....yes, Gloucester Services are nice but still a fair way away from Cornwall if you are staying near Lands End. Not so much if closer to the Devon/Cornwall border.

When we drove from SE Cornwall to Liverpool a few weeks ago we pulled off at Cheltenham as ASDA was close to the motorway. We bought reasonable fuel and lunch snacks there. It was about half way for us but there wasn't a lot of running around space for little ones, it's was just the supermarket.

cherryassam · 08/07/2023 13:08

Do they sleep in the car?

I would be tempted to do it at night tbh, if you’ve got two drivers. Do half the drive each, the other sleeps. We’re further north than you and have got down to Penzance in just over 6 and a bit hours by doing it this way.

BUT this only works if you check there aren’t major overnight closures on the motorways you want to use. If there are, you can lose a lot of the saved time.

HelpMeGetThrough · 08/07/2023 13:19

but if you want or need to stop then Gloucester services are nice.

And expensive, but yes, very nice.

Don't stop at Bridgewater services though. It's a dump.

A303 · 08/07/2023 14:40

Exit junction 20 of the M5. That is the first junction after the split-level section south of Bristol.

From junction 20 it is 1.5 miles to Salthouse Bay. Plenty of parking. You can walk round the marine lake, walk up the hill along Poets Walk overlooking the sea, extend it to the hill fort, or even drop down to the small harbour on the marshes. There is plenty of space for kids to run around, kick a ball and get oxygenated. Coffees and ice creams

They will sleep on the way to Cornwall. Guaranteed. It is a great place for a motorway break - a unique gem.

BalletBob · 08/07/2023 14:50

We do the driving at night so the kids sleep. Is this an option? I honestly can't think of anything worse than a 5, 6, 7+ hour journey in a cramped car with young children 😱

From our home to the particular part of Cornwall we usually visit is 5.5 hours on a very good run. We tend to drive the first 1.5 hours the evening before, then stop for a late dinner somewhere and to stretch legs etc, then get the kids in PJs and do the remaining 4 hours while they sleep and the roads are quiet. We arrive about midnight/1am usually which means the adults still get a decent-ish amount of sleep that night.

Sometimes if we can't check into accomodation that late, we book a Travelodge for that first night and check in the following day.

Alexandra2001 · 08/07/2023 14:54

Its 6 hours, just break it into 3 or 4 stops.

If you are going on a Saturday then start at 4am, the M5 from Gloucester to Taunton can be a very long queue of stop/start traffic.

Don't even think about going on a Friday afternoon/evening.

When you drive back, same applies.

@A303 Not anymore its not!!!

I ve done all the major routes into Cornwall over years of work, its a fuggin nightmare, i live here now (as i was bought up there) but i'd never holiday here, never in a million years... i go to France, far cheaper, better weather, more scenic and very easy to avoid the crowds.

Curiouscarla · 08/07/2023 15:06

Definitely try to leave at night. We travelled in August from Rochdale Lancashire. We left at 6am but hit traffic at Bristol. Took us 10hours.Never Again.

Original poster
BigDrive · 10/07/2023 11:28

@A303 that sounds great!! @Alexandra2001 why what's happened to Salthouse bay now?

OP posts:
finewelshcheese · 10/07/2023 11:35

Don't stop at Bridgewater services though. It's a dump.

I second this! It's an absolute hell hole, I can't believe it's still open.

A303 · 10/07/2023 11:37

I disagree with what Alexandra says re Clevedon.

I do agree about Bridgwater Services. Michael Wood Services is not much better.

Alexandra2001 · 10/07/2023 12:02

A303 · 10/07/2023 11:37

I disagree with what Alexandra says re Clevedon.

I do agree about Bridgwater Services. Michael Wood Services is not much better.

What i meant is that as its now been advertised on MN as a great place to stop off... it will no longer be quiet and relaxing.

Bit like Cornwall Live asking people on FB to name their secret Cornish hideaway....

IME most UK m/way service stations are terrible and they restrict parking to 2 hours, just a place to use the loo and crack on again.

A303 · 10/07/2023 13:03

I think that is a bit far fetched to be honest.

Carbis Bay and Kynance Cove regularly appear as 'top ten' places to go and there is plenty of space even in midsummer. I don't see thousands of people flocking to a rest point at Clevedon just because of a line or two posted on MN.

Hercisback · 10/07/2023 13:29

Don't do 4 stops in 6 hours, you'll never get there!

EmmaPaella · 10/07/2023 13:35

I’d travel overnight. Whole journey. Based on my recent experience driving from the south coast…

zebrapig · 10/07/2023 14:02

We're doing Warrington to St Ives in August. Leave 6pm and stop overnight at Bridgwater. Back on the road between 9&10am Sat, earlier if kids up. We have to put the tent up when we get there so wanted to split the journey rather than do it in one go.

CornishTiger · 10/07/2023 14:08

Fordmore farm cafe near cullompton is nice. Few animals. As a late stop.

Really depends where on Cornwall you are heading. Watch the A30 Carland to Chiverton Closures.

ShanghaiDiva · 10/07/2023 14:15

as pp mentioned Darts farm Is a possibility and only about 5 or 10 mins from the M5. Plenty of space for children to run around, cafe, free parking, fish and chips and farm shop.
we use National trust properties as stop offs and Tyntesfield near Bristol is one we have used when coming back from north wales.