Driving times and Activities in Cornwall?

[Cornwall2025]

How accurate are the driving times on Google Maps for Cornwall? We are going in late July so would this change the driving times that are on there at the moment?

I've booked accommodation just outside Saltash/Plymouth and I'm wondering whether the 1h 7m to Newquay and the 50 mins to the Eden Project (as claimed on Google maps) for day trips are going to be realistic or not? I've never been to that part of the country so IDK what the roads are like but around here (Peak District) the journey times are... optimistic sometimes.

I'm also interested in recommendations of things to do within fair driving distance of Saltash for two tinies (age 3 and 5)! Thanks!

Saltash has a train station, which connects you to Newquay, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, St Ives... takes the stress out of driving.

Tourists don't get up early so traffic only really starts to get hellish from 10am onwards. If you have young kids and are up early anyway then setting off straight away can mitigate against summer traffic.

Seen youve mentioned Looe - We’ve been to Looe a few times & love it there! Polperro is worth a visit, but would only take a couple hours to mooch about - the model village is good.
Depending where you’re going to stay you could visit Fowey & Mevagissey too - they’re normally our go to as not too far from Looe 😊

We like to visit Healeys Cyder Farm too!

Don’t bother with Newquay the aquarium is tiny but the one at Plymouth is good for that age.
Tavistock has a swim pool with fun splash session with flume thing and a nice park for a picnic next door for afterwards.
If it’s a nice day and you want to do bit of Dartmoor the stream by Bellever is a good picnic and paddle spot. I’d stick to the beaches near where you’re staying.
Tamar trails has a high ropes course too but may not be for younger kids I can’t rember the min. age.
If your into water sports some of the reservoirs do hire kayaks etc.
probably too far 45-60mins from saltash) but Bigbury has good surf schools or playing in the waves huge beach plus you can go on the big tractor across to the island.
pennywell farm is perfect for younger kids

My part of the world!

Agree with PPs, I would forget about visiting Newquay and Eden, it will be a trial during high summer.
The beaches along the south coast are much better and safer for little ones, and are not so well known. Seaton beach (not to be confused with Seaton in Devon!) is lovely, and there is also a country park nearby.

The villages of Kingsand and Cawsand are also worth a visit. Morwellham Quay is fun too. Plymouth has a lovely lido if the weather is nice.

A bit further afield we always like to visit Start Bay, but it's a longish drive with little ones. Wembury is also lovely, just the other side of Plymouth.

Eden project doesn't really have a lot for little children, especially if the weather is rubbish. Lost gardens of heligan is much better.
Not quite sure how far it is from where you're staying, but Lappa Valley was my kids favourite at that sort of age. Lots of trains and a huge playground.

Eden project is a bit dull for many kids , Polperro is awful now , really busy and we found it quite unpleasant much preferred Looe and Mevagissy . Going back into Devon Paignton zoo is quite good but is hilly and if you want a model village Babbacombe is the way to go . If you want a long drive the Seal sanctuary at Gweek is lovely and has playgrounds .

Kingsand and Cawsand is lovely and near Saltash.

There is an aquarium (very small!)in Fowey, also a lovely beach ( Readymoney Cove) You can also hire little motor boats and pootle around the estuary.

The Adrenaline Quarry might have things suitable for young children.

Have to disagree about Polperro. How can it be awful 'now'. It literally hasn't changed for 100's of years. There are fantastic pubs and restaurants and some lovely shops. You can do boat trips from the harbour and there is a gorgeous natural pool. I agree there are no 'activities' for chokdren apart from swimming and crabbing though.

Dartmoor zoo is great. It’s worth considering a National Trust membership as lots of NT around with summer events on. I would give Plymouth Aquarium a miss. It’s quite small and not easy to get to unless you are right in Plymouth. Carnglaze Caverns very worth a visit. The South Cornwall beaches around Whitsand Bay are beautiful. And in north Cornwall, Crackington Haven has great rock pooling. Do be mindful of the tides, you want to go at low tide and make sure you don’t get cut off. Also water shoes for the weaver fish. 😬

Just a warning: the main High Ropes course at Tamar Trails is currently not operating but may be back in action next summer -- rumours abound. But it's too high for little ones, although there's a shorter, lower course too, still with age/height limits.

The National Aquarium is not that small!

Big shout out for Pennywell farm really nicely done you get to feed the goats or lambs tractor ride petting area lots of playground stuff and they don’t allow it to become over crowded. Definitely book online. It’s won awards too and it’s not that far from A38

Definitely would go to pennywell it's great! Been a couple of time (live locally) it's easy to get to just off the A38 and so you won't be handing around in traffic too much getting there even in summer. Has plenty to do even for slightly older children, animal experiences, the pig races are really funny, lots of playground space etc. really rate it.
The butterfly and otter place at buckfastleigh is good too.
Ullacombe near Bovey Tracey is good for a bite to eat with kids as again it has a small (free) petting farm attached and some playground areas - but book it is usually busy!
The house of marbles is good fun. You can go in for free and see them making glassware, nice cafe and huge marble run on the wall to have a go with. Not an all day activity but good for a couple of hours if the weather isn't great.

Widdecombe in the moor is lovely. The church is fab and just taking a stroll around the village.
Badgers holt or river dart country park are good.
Haldon forest just outside of Exeter has bike hire and a high ropes type course plus lots of walking trails.

There is loads to do in Devon if you look for it. Everything I have mentioned is within 10 minutes of the A38 (apart from Widdecombe)

From Saltash you’d be better to take the train to get to Newquay. Don’t drive - it will be horrible, and it’s crazy to drive across the county when the bit you’re staying in is new to you too.

The Cornish coastline and Tamar estuary near Saltash is gorgeous - masses to explore with little ones.

River cruise across to Royal William Yard or the Barbican (for the aquarium) would be great. Drakes island is a fun trip but maybe not with smalls.

Walk over the Tamar bridge and watch the boats and trains.

Theres a new walking trail along the Tamar too.

Mount Edgecombe is huge and wonderful.

Kingsand and Cawsand lovely beach villages.

Rame peninsula very unspoilt.

We live mid Cornwall and go on holiday to the Tamar end to spend time there - it’s gorgeous!

You can get the train from Saltash to Liskeard and then from there to Look- its a lovely little branch line trip. We also like the play area at Lanhydrock. The cafe is nice there too- free to park if you have National trust membership. You could also head across to North coast- Tintagel, Widemouth Bay, Bude.
Traffic is not as bad as people suggest unless you're travelling on a Saturday.

That should be Looe not Look!

In short you look like you are staying in an area with lots of wonderful things to do (there are a lot of good tips on this thread) but seem to be contemplating a long drive in a lot of traffic to head somewhere shite (Newquay)!

Thanks everyone, this is all brilliant info! I've gone quiet because I'm making copious notes, adding things to the spreadsheet of potential places to go, and checking prices, times etc.

Here's the new list so far of places to consider:
Pennywell Farm,
Kingsand and Cawsand,
Plymouth Lido,
Lappa Valley,
Carnglaze caverns,
House of Marbles,
Dartmoor Zoo,
Plymouth Aquarium (even if it's small it's 99% likely to be a hit because they've never been to one before).
Lost Gardens of Heligan
Buckfastleigh steam train and butterfly and otter sanctuary
Buckfast abbey
Tamar trails

This probably sounds silly but it didn't occur to me that there would be a functional rail service because we don't live anywhere near one and all the little branch lines around here got closed down in the 70s or 80s so they're mostly just scenic footpaths now. I'll look into trains.

I think I wanted to go all over the place because I've always wanted to visit the West Country and have never made the logistics work, so it feels a bit like a once in a lifetime trip. I need to slow down a bit and remember I can book next year for a different part.

We've been considering NT membership for next year (DC1 only just turned 5 so the children have been getting in for free so far and DH works very long hours so usually I only have to pay for my ticket) so will look at what NT properties are in the area.

I suppose now the risk is overplanning, but I always think having a massive pool of options is perfect to be more flexible if plans change (or the weather does).

Saltram House is a NT house on the outskirts of Plymouth and worth a visit. If you're staying in Saltash Cotehele House would be close too.

If you wanted a train trip you could go to Looe. You would get the main line train from saltash or Plymouth to Liskeard and there's a small branch line from there out to Looe.

Antony is the prettiest of the three NT properties close to Saltash, and the gardens have been the location for several films including Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (IIRC) but it is only open to the public mid-week, because the family live there at weekends.

Oh yes, I forgot to put Looe on the list! A little train trip sounds nice for DS1 who loves vehicles.

That sounds perfect, I'll add it to the list.

If you go to Looe try and do the boat trip round the island it’s really very good

We stayed in Saltash last year - my kids favourite activity was Adrenaline Quarry. We went twice - though activities had to be booked in advance. We did the inflatables course on the water, and also the zipwire and giant swing.

Kingsand and Cawsand are lovely, if full of holiday lets. The north Cornwall beaches, including Newquay but also Harlyn, Polzeath etc are next level and it would be a shame not to visit having come so far.

@Floralnomad That sounds fantastic. I've been looking at Looe on street view, do the boat trips need pre-booking?

@Lovelydovey someone else mentioned Adrenaline Quarry upthread. I'll have a look to see whether they've got anything suitable for a 3 and 5 year old.

@SoManyTshirts I do really want to go to Polzeath, I've heard it's lovely. Maybe I need to plan one very early morning trip to that side of the county and spend the rest of the time closer to Saltash.

@Cornwall2025

To get to Polzeath from Saltash in the summer will be about a 2 hour car trip with a lot of traffic.

I would though recommend Cawsand Beach and a walk out to Rame Head and seeing St Michael's Chapel on the end - the views there are mind blowing (and imo better than Polzeath!).