Bodmin / nearby for the day - ideas of what to do please!

[TheBolterdahling]

So DH has a work meeting today near Bodmin 0900-1000. We’ve then got the day free until about 4pm when we’ll need to start the 4.5 hour drive home. I’ve planned nothing but have never been to this part of the country before. I have walking boots and jacket with me! Thought tintagel castle but it’s closed.
anyone familiar with the area who can suggest lovely things to do please! I like nature and history. DH wants to drive back through Dartmoor so we’ll need to be there before dark.
thank you lovely mumsnetters

If NT members, Lanhydrock House is my favourite N T property. If you want a walk, any of the coast path round there is great, or walk up to Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor.

Jamaica Inn is definitely worth a look. Fantastic pub and smugglers museum.

Take a look at Colliford Lake rare breeds centre. Launceston is worth a look also.

Bodmin itself is pants. As PP suggested, Lanhydrock is nearby and has lovely grounds for walking. Across the valley is Cardinham Woods which is also nice for walking. If you want to drive further then the Lost gardens of heligan is one of my favourite places :)

Firstly I'd question the drive back through dartmoor. If you have a meeting at 4, sunset is currently at 4.30, it will be dark? Also the most obvious route (through Moretonhampstead?) Is pretty boring for views, not really open moorland, it's the wrong area.
It he wants to see moorland then why not (weather permitting) plan a walk on bodmin Moor?
There is an app for cornwall walks which is fantastic and I'm sure will have some good routes.
https://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/

Eden project? Personally I think its overpriced and underwhelming but other people love it 😅

The lost gardens of Heligan. (About 30 minutes from bodmin but you'd still have a few hours there)

Good thinking! Jamaica Inn is on the moor too so good for walking

You have a few options, if you like history you could visit Lanhrdrock there are lovely walks around there, we do a lovely walk from Respryn bridge that takes you along the river Fowey , you can take a turning away from the river and follow the trail & go for lunch at Duchy Garden Centre. Cardinham woods also has fab walks and a lovely little cafe.

But the north coast is only about 30 minutes from Bodmin so any of the coast path walks around Padstow / Polzeath /Rock are great.
Hope you don’t mind a bit of Cornish Rain though as the forecast is a bit grim, Eden isn’t far though which is amazing if you don’t mind paying the entry fee and would be my choice on a day like today.

Definitely Lanhydrock if you're in to that sort of thing. The kitchens are fascinating. Love the place.

I thought of lanhydrock, unfortunately it appears that the house and gardens are closed today, only rhe Park will be open

Editing my suggestion of a walk on bodmin after looking at todays forecast 🤣.
Eden project is 90% indoors, and the Mediterranean biome is toasty warm. It has its plusses!

Just got back from Jamaica Inn last night. Give it a visit- it’s great!

The weather is totally grim! Revising my outdoor walk plans. Definitely Jamaica Inn - thank you for that suggestion! I think we’re going to head there for breakfast after the meeting and then possibly Eden project. Is Bodmin jail worth a visit?

Meeting finishes at 10am so we have all day, just have about a 4.5hour drive home tonight although I don’t mind getting back late ish !

Thank you so much for all the suggestions :). Honestly Mumsnet is miles better than Google for this sort of thing!

Whatever you do, avoid going to Bodmin town centre. One of the worst towns I've ever been to

Bodmin jail used to be really interesting. It was taken over and done up and I haven't been back since, but if they still have all the historical jail bits then it was definitely worth a visit

I misunderstood your post, I thought you had another meeting at 4.
If you want to drive back over dartmoor then you'd need to leave earlier to do it it daylight, bodmin is over an hour from the nice bits imo. And allow plenty of time, it's slow roads.
Tavistock is on the edge of dartmoor and is a nice town to visit. If you are heading dartmoor way you could go there after bodmin jail, spend some time, have lunch im town then drive (atmospheric if its pissing down!!) Over the moors towards Princetown, Ashburton. Then get on the a38, up to m5.
Tavistock has a nice indoor pannier marker for a wander, plus church and ye olde historic stuff. Check what's open on a Monday though, im not sure about the market but I think so.

This. Was stuck in Bodmin by accident one day last summer and oh my, it’s like the land the 1980s didn’t forget. Avoid!

It's worse every year. It's one of my nearest towns but I NEVER go into the centre.

Bodmin Jail is also amazing. You’ll need a couple of hours but it’s really worth it.

I came on to suggest this. We went about 10 years ago and actually bumped into an old school friend down in the dungeons 😂. We both live four hours away so it was a surprise!

Take a look at Colliford Lake

Don't go there after dark, park up and flash your headlights.

Eden project is not really Bodmin - and it’s pretty expensive. If it’s just you adults, I’d still consider a walk on the moor. Just put your waterproofs and wellies on. If you’re into that sort of thing, the witchcraft museum in Boscastle is really interesting and the harbour is pretty (less so when the weather is like this). There is a tea room. If either of you are into planes/WW2, there is an airfield at Davidstow which has two interesting little museums. If you by chance are into wild swimming, Delphy pool is lovely and they have a sauna up and going now.

Also I wouldn’t really drive back through Dartmoor unless you’re doing it during the day. The road from Tavistock up to Princetown and across is lovely and lots of lovely pubs/walks, but unless you know it well, it wouldn’t be enjoyable in the dark. Too many turns and sheep/ponies/highland cows to potentially hit.

Stay away from Bodmin itself. It's SUPER sketchy .

Could do a shopping trip to St Austell.

🤔 hmmm, perhaps not.