To ask for help with my Cornwall holiday

[notsosummerwinterholiday]

IABU for having to ask for help I know, but with our new DD, we have completely neglected our Cornwall holiday which we depart on Saturday for.

So! We have a cottage in St Agnes, a 3 month old and a car and will be there for a week (Saturday to Saturday). Our air bnb host has given some lovely recommendations for the local area, but what else is in Cornwall that we must not miss? We're fairly mobile with DD, though not big hikers but happy for a bimble if there's a nice view somewhere.

We plan on heading to Padstow for some food one day, and imagine most of our main meals to be lunch/late lunch out and then back at the cottage for the evenings (wood burner, cheese and red wine). Any lovely food recommendations ANYWHERE in Cornwall? Food shops with local treats? Things we must see? Places we must go? We will wing it and research a bit more when we get there but always love to hear people's recommendations.

Sadly the weather looks a bit crap but that won't stop up heading out!

Another former local here and still frequent visitor. Did I read you have dogs ? In which case you're in luck. Many dog friendly beaches - Perranporth perfect for a walk. The Watering Hole on the beach perfect for a hot chocolate on a cold day though personally think the food is a bit over priced for what it is. We prefer the nearby Tywarnhayle Pub for food - also dog friendly. In fact there are so many dog friendly places locally you'll be spoilt for choice. Enjoy 😀

Lanhydrock is well worth a visit too.

Final tip... If your journey there takes you down the M5, you MUST stop at Gloucester services. The farm shop is amazing. You can pick up all sorts of tasty treats for your cottage

Or as we call it the Teletubbies services lol. Definitely worth a stop

We love Cornwall as a family, infact my kids beg to go there.

Looe is gorgeous, Polperro is lovely albeit a little hilly but definitely not a whole day place.

Fowey is lovely too, if you can get to it by the car ferry even better, (The cafe with the well does lovely food)

Tintagel definitely, maybe the Eden project if you haven't done it before.

If you fancy hopping over the border to Devon Totnes is supposedly lovely and Bohemian, ( not been there yet despite DBil and DSil moving there last year)

is there a standard fish n chip shop that is still delicious?

Loads. I like the Balancing Eel near the harbour in St Ives.

Yes Peanutbutterforever...Bude is fab as is Crackington. Bude canal is a lovely walk (from the breakwater to the Weir for coffee or lunch) and both cafes at Cracky are very good.

Op have you seen the weather warnings for the area? Might be worth checking if you haven't. You might need to look at areas away from to coast rather than planning on just doing those areas.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/met-office-issues-danger-life-3490236.amp

St Ives is always wort the visit, I agree about parking at St Erth though, they've extended the car park and are actively encouraging park and ride.

I like Padstow but would avoid anything with Rick Stein's name on cos I think he's overrated and you would have to wait ages even for a takeaway. No matter how good his takeaway fish and chips is, I'm sure it ain't worth the long queues.

Mousehole and Marazion are lovely and picturesque.

Minack Theatre is outstanding for a show and the views are incredible!

We used to stop at Jamaica Inn for lunch, last time we had soup and bread, the soup was made up from a packet and the bread was value white rolls. All for a small fortune. They're making a huge profit from the historical and literary links and would only go there now for a cup of tea and a wee. Avoid.

Just to let people know St Michael’s Mount close the castle for the season. Today is the last day. You can still walk around the village if the tide is out, but the boats will not be running anymore when the tide is in.

Please do be careful on the coast this weekend. The wind and swell forecast is fairly extreme. Don't walk on harbour walls or beaches, especially with your tiny new baby!
A woman and her dog were swept of Mullion harbour wall a couple of weeks ago and her partner was injured when he went it to try to save them. They were all very lucky to get out alive. The waves may seem far away but they can be very deceptive.
On a more cheerful note, try Cotehele House www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele
It's lovely, extensive grounds and a quay by the river, lovely walks up to the House and they have a their Winter Craft Fair on this weekend.

I’d check the driving distances between some of places people have recommended. They are miles apart and roads are small and busy at rush hour. Cornwall is full of lovely places and I would recommend you don’t try driving too far. We live over the border and do Cornwall holidays most years but only do one area at a time e.g Lizard this year, St Ives a couple of years ago, long weekend in Bude etc.

We have a weather warning for this weekend, starting later today. It is a "risk to life" one with winds of up to 80mph predicted and flooding. Do be careful, all those visiting or those who live here.

We just came back from a trip this year with little ones that small. The journey was horrendous, something out of medieval times, (we were on the road for 5 hours and only covered 50 miles, had to find a b&b to stop in over night or sleep in the car) so my advice is don’t go!

Sorting office in Staggy for great coffee and a kernow curl. St Agnes fish and chip shop is good too.

If you can get a window seat at the blue bar in porthtowan is good for a coffee/ drink but don’t think the food is thrilling.

St Agnes pizza place is great!

St Ives has some great places to eat. The Porthminster Kitchen, Porthgwidden Cafe and the Porthmeor Cafe all fab, if pricey. The Rum and Crab is really fun, with delicious cocktails (but is upstairs so awkward with a pram). Moo-maid good for ice cream, Balancing Eel good for fish and chips, and can eat in upstairs.

If you like galleries, there are plenty in St Ives, and the Tate is a great way to spend a couple of hours. The Barbara Hepworth gallery is gorgeous on a dry day, as her sculptures are all outside, in her tropical garden.

Ohh, I’m jealous!

The Miners Arms, just outside St Agnes does amazing food! We go to eat there several times when we visit.

Fowey is beautiful, even in this week's bloody rain!

Heligan is lovely and very dog friendly. Lanhydrock is also fantastic.

DefConOne makes a very valid point.
I withdraw my suggestion of Cotehele.
Living down here you get used to how long it takes to get between places!
Falmouth is about 40 minutes from St Agnes, via Truro, depending on the time of day. It'll be quite sheltered compared to a lot of Cornwall this weekend. Definitely worth a visit. Lots of lovely restaurants, National Maritime Museum etc

The A30 and A39 are proper roads!

Bodmin jail is quite interesting.
In Tintagel - if you drive to the furthest point is Camelot Castle. It's owned by the Scientologists I think but it has fantastic views from the outside seating area over the King Arthur's ruins.
Cafe at Crackington Haven that sells warm scones which are fabulous.
We go to Widemouth beach to give the dog a good run.
St Nectan's Glen is pretty but the walk is always further than I remember... might need wellies.

Haven’t read the whole thread but I loved the lost gardens at Heligan. We went in the summer though when everything was in full bloom.

St Ives was fab - the Hepworth and the Tate especially but it’s just generally a nice town.

Bodmin Moor for a wander, we saw a herd of wild horses when we were there, just beautiful. Bodmin Jail is an interesting way to pass a rainy morning.

You could do a short coastal walk from Bude to Widemouth (I think that was what it was called), just south of Bude. It’s a beautiful stretch of coastline.

@SummerintoAutumn that's not the real Camelot Castle.... Just a hotel capitalising on the name. It has been used for filming in various films though.

Another vote for Fission Chips in St Agnes and Miners Arms in Mithian. Also Chiverton Arms for a pub meal (based on visits a couple of years ago).

The Paris Hotel in Coverack - fantastic pub food, if you find yourself in that area.

@TwattingDog I know - it's awful inside! We just go for the views