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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:
rbe78 · 10/07/2023 14:15

Gloucester Services is a good easy stop-off. They're clean, nice food and have green space for running around, a wildlife pond and a little play area.

If you want more of an event rather than a quick stop at a services, WWT Slimbridge is a fab nature reseve not far off the M5 with lots for little ones to see and do.

ShakeYourFeathers · 10/07/2023 14:23

depending on traffic conditions

Are you camping or in a hotel... if camping you won't want to get there too late to put up tent etc... as others have said where you staying my suggestions will be different if you're near Bodmin or Penzance.

Castle Drogo - NT property just off the A30 soon after you leave the M5
Wookey hole in Somerset
Tyntesfield NT property with parkland in Somerset
Cornwall things it depends where you are going

ShakeYourFeathers · 10/07/2023 14:23

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.

And couldn't agree more

Interested in this thread?

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3 year olds 6 year olds
swedex · 10/07/2023 14:31

We went to Cornwall every year and always left super early like 3/4 so kids would just go back to sleep until about 7am we'd then stop at the services usually after Bristol and get coffee and breakfast
Depending which route you're driving through and where you're heading to in Cornwall but we would stop at launceston swimming baths and would be there for 9am for a swim and a play as there is a lovely play area next to the baths

StopStartStop · 10/07/2023 14:33

My grandfather always insisted on setting off at 11pm and driving through the night. We children slept, and when we woke up, we were on holiday.

instantpotnoodle · 10/07/2023 14:34

we usually stop off at a national trust for an hour or two. If you have membership check the app.

StillWantingADog · 10/07/2023 14:39

Tyntesfield just sound of Bristol is great.
on our way back from Devon we spent the afternoon there, had an early tea in the cafe and managed to drive home (I’m very near you) in one go with the kids passed out in the back.

StillWantingADog · 10/07/2023 14:40

StopStartStop · 10/07/2023 14:33

My grandfather always insisted on setting off at 11pm and driving through the night. We children slept, and when we woke up, we were on holiday.

While this is technically true, if you can’t check into your accommodation until 4pm, it’s a killer for the grown ups. I’d rather leave very early than travel overnight

StillWantingADog · 10/07/2023 14:43

Oh and in the past we have done an overnight stop at a premier in just off the m5 near Weston Super Mare. Not the nicest area but well located and cheap for a stopover and the kids always love the premier inn buffets

CornishTiger · 10/07/2023 19:34

Obviously I’m a bit naive to the perils of travelling into Cornwall on a Saturday but is it really still that bad. Now that Temple and Goss Moor are dualled I thought it was better.

However as I said further up the thread the one to watch is the Carland to Chiverton stretch of the A30 which is causing major disruption at the moment. In fact a huge stretch of it is closed this weekend.

ShakeYourFeathers · 10/07/2023 21:46

CornishTiger · 10/07/2023 19:34

Obviously I’m a bit naive to the perils of travelling into Cornwall on a Saturday but is it really still that bad. Now that Temple and Goss Moor are dualled I thought it was better.

However as I said further up the thread the one to watch is the Carland to Chiverton stretch of the A30 which is causing major disruption at the moment. In fact a huge stretch of it is closed this weekend.

Yeah the Chivvy Carland cross but is awful atm. The Goss moor bit is much better now that lorries don't get stuck under the bridge anymore

HelpMeGetThrough · 11/07/2023 06:57

The Goss moor bit is much better now that lorries don't get stuck under the bridge anymore

That brings back memories!!!

Kinsters · 11/07/2023 07:06

I'd have a few options in mind if I were you. If you've got your heart set on stopping in X place and then the kids are both happy or asleep then you're going to be conflicted. If I were you I'd find some decent looking bets at the 2 hour, 3 hour and 4 hour mark and then stop accordingly, trying to get as far as you can before stopping.

With kids that little it doesn't really matter where you stop imo. As long as they can have a snack and a run around it's fine.

We drove back from Cornwall recently and it was about a 5 hour drive with our 3yo and 1yo. We'd seen a nice looking animal park an hour or so into the drive but the kids were both asleep so we pressed on to a service station at the half way point. It was crap with just a burger king and a Costa but they were happy enough to have some chips, stretch their legs and wave at the trucks and buses.

NerrSnerr · 11/07/2023 07:07

primrosevale.com

This is just off junction 11a (Gloucester). It's a farm shop/ pick your own place but has a really nice park and has a cafe that isn't too expensive. There's no indoor seating but some of it is under a cover.

dubyalass · 11/07/2023 07:30

I live down here and am honestly dreading the chivvy/carland queues this summer. Luckily I can avoid it for the most part but the county is already getting busy and there were long queues from Penryn towards Helston last night. It took me 30 mins to get from the Shortlanesend junction to the new chivvy roundabout on Thursday evening. So yes, prepare yourselves for long queues and if you can start early in the morning and spend the day on the beach before your accommodation is ready, I'd recommend it!

ZenNudist · 11/07/2023 07:43

A group of us (families) travel from manchester to St ives each summer. We all get up to go at varying shades of ridiculously early.

One family leave at 11pm the night before

Another 2 families leave at 2am

Another at 4am

Another got a motel a good way into the journey the night before

We broke the journey in the Midlands with family and set off at 6 but it was a bit late and the journey was murder.

The wisdom to not stop til past Bristol is sound.

The road past Exeter is miserable and takes ages.

Coming back again its best to leave between 2 and 4am. Last year We left at 9pm at night broke the journey with family and felt so pleased we had avoid spending the entire journey crawling in end to end traffic. It was bad enough that the 2 hour journey home in the morning took about 4.

Traffic is just really busy around the school holidays. Cornwall is a long way from wilmslow. Go and leave early otherwise the journey just takes forever and ruins the holiday.

I'm not going to Cornwall in the summer for a while now. The traffic puts me off.

HippyChickMama · 11/07/2023 08:10

We travelled to south Cornwall last year from the midlands, we were camping for a week Saturday-Saturday. I hate the journey to Cornwall so we booked an overnight stay at a Marston's Inn for the Friday on the way there and the Saturday on the way back. We left straight after school on the Friday and drove to Cullompton and the following week drove from the campsite to Bristol. It made the journey so much easier and I'd definitely do it again, if you can afford it I would recommend doing similar

A303 · 11/07/2023 09:04

The road past Exeter is miserable and takes ages. Nooooh..!

That road is the Atlantic Highway and like the A303 😊it is just full of wonder.

You have to delight in the 'We're Nearly There Trees', marvel at the little 'Mount Fuji's' with their 'snow-topped' peaks picked out in the sun and just shudder your spine at the names of the places you pass by : Jamaica Inn, Indian Queens and Broadwoodwidger.

Alexandra2001 · 11/07/2023 09:37

A303 · 11/07/2023 09:04

The road past Exeter is miserable and takes ages. Nooooh..!

That road is the Atlantic Highway and like the A303 😊it is just full of wonder.

You have to delight in the 'We're Nearly There Trees', marvel at the little 'Mount Fuji's' with their 'snow-topped' peaks picked out in the sun and just shudder your spine at the names of the places you pass by : Jamaica Inn, Indian Queens and Broadwoodwidger.

Atlantic highway is a single carriage way A road called the A39, its no where nr Exeter nor anywhere nr Indian Queens (now a crass service station) or Jamaica Inn.
Runs north devon and cornwall coasts before heading south into Truro.

the A30 and A38 from Exeter, are dual carriage ways, the A30 being the best one to take, even if heading to SE cornwall, Tamar Bridge can be a total nightmare, better to cut down from Launceston.

The nearly home trees were named by new comers to Cornwall, coming back down to their 2nd homes from their main residence.

I' ve never shuddered as i see the sign for Broadwoodwidger or jamaica inn unless its to shudder at the stupidity of folk who pay the prices they charge! lol!

Catsservant · 11/07/2023 10:00

We are currently on holiday in St Ives, left Cheshire at 8am Saturday got here around 4.30. As pp mentioned the A30 was moving incredibly slow and probably took about 3 hours of that. Tempted to leave on Saturday at 6am to try and avoid this.

A303 · 11/07/2023 10:34

Alexandra2001 · 11/07/2023 09:37

Atlantic highway is a single carriage way A road called the A39, its no where nr Exeter nor anywhere nr Indian Queens (now a crass service station) or Jamaica Inn.
Runs north devon and cornwall coasts before heading south into Truro.

the A30 and A38 from Exeter, are dual carriage ways, the A30 being the best one to take, even if heading to SE cornwall, Tamar Bridge can be a total nightmare, better to cut down from Launceston.

The nearly home trees were named by new comers to Cornwall, coming back down to their 2nd homes from their main residence.

I' ve never shuddered as i see the sign for Broadwoodwidger or jamaica inn unless its to shudder at the stupidity of folk who pay the prices they charge! lol!

Show quote history

Humour. Chill.

Alexandra2001 · 11/07/2023 11:56

You got basics wrong, then dress it up as humour and somehow my fault.....

I'd stick to Hampshire and the A303 if i were you.

LadyofLansallos · 11/07/2023 12:15

Atlantic Highway is the Bideford/Bude road isn’t it??

we used to do Manchester-SE Cornwall regularly, our places to stop depending on how things were going were Worcester Country Park, Tyntesfield NT, Gloucester services, Buckland Abbey…

Ohmylovejune · 11/07/2023 13:08

@LadyofLansallos

Yes Bideford Bude road is the Atlantic Highway