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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not get Cornwall?

231 replies

LarrysNewOwner · 02/08/2024 11:13

Staying in St Austell.

Last few days we’ve been on the beach which has been lovely.

Now it’s clouded over, not really sure where to go.

Have 2 DC DS8 and DD4.

kids love theme parks. We like pretty towns to walk around etc. Maybe a boat ride.

wang are we missing?

OP posts:
Berga · 02/08/2024 11:15

Staying in St Awful will do that to you....

beachmum1 · 02/08/2024 11:20

Cornwall is full of beautiful villages/towns to walk around. To many write.
Theme park..flambards or camel creek

Anyotherdude · 02/08/2024 11:20

Eden project

Beth216 · 02/08/2024 11:21

Yeah Cornwall's only good when it's sunny. Fowey is quite nice, I think there are boat trips but haven't been on one.

beachmum1 · 02/08/2024 11:21

Fowey, padstow, st Ives, port Isaac, st mawes etc

Nightblindness · 02/08/2024 11:22

Just to add Polperro to the list above.

GenerousGardener · 02/08/2024 11:22

Lost Gardens of Heligan
Lanhydrock House
Mevagissey
Fowey
Charlestown
Trebah Gardens
The Seal Sanctuary

beachmum1 · 02/08/2024 11:23

Bodmin jail, tin mines, cycle the camel trail

Pinksmyfavoritecolour · 02/08/2024 11:26

Dartmouth has boat trips and is lovely to wander round, park and ride is your best bet to get down into it. There's a steam train somewhere too possibly totnes. Mousehole is lovely too.

Ionacat · 02/08/2024 11:29

There’s lots to do in Cornwall, but the problem is that everything is spread out and takes a while to drive especially in the summer traffic.

If you like a pretty town - head to Mevagissy, you can get the ferry over to Fowey and back (often see dolphins)

Theme parks - well there’s Flambards but that’s a bit of a drive. Camel Creek has a few rides.

There’s lots of museums - we used to do the Wheal Martyn.

Take the train to St. Ives - it will be busy when you’re there, but it is lovely. You change at St Erth for St Ives and it’s very pretty as it goes along the coast.

There’s always lots of kids activities at the Eden Project.

Look out for carnivals - well worth it!

HelpMeGetThrough · 02/08/2024 11:31

Berga · 02/08/2024 11:15

Staying in St Awful will do that to you....

Even on very sunny days!!!

MummytoAAandX · 02/08/2024 11:39

Love Cornwall. Pretty towns: Mevagissey, Mousehole, Looe, St Ives (absolute favourite), and Padstow. Kynance Cove is also a must....stunning views. We also love Falmouth. When we go we travel around. Use St Austell as your base and travel to different places ever day

Shaketherombooga · 02/08/2024 11:44

Not much, it’s overcrowded, overpriced and the locals both rely on and despise the tourists.
Perhaps it was once nice but the first time I went 20 odd years ago I already thought that it was way over-rated and overcrowded.
So many more better places to enjoy beaches in the U.K.

Festivemoose · 02/08/2024 11:45

Your first mistake was going to St Austell. Saying that though - it’s only the town centre that’s a dive. You are very close to the clay trails/ Wheal Martin, Heligan, Eden Project, Mevagissey, Charlestown and Fowey. The coast path walk between Pentewan and Meva is very nice (you can pick up the trail right outside the entrance to pentwan sands holiday park)
the walk along the river in the woods between St Austell town towards Pentewan is also nice.

Some of the PP suggestions are a 2 hour drive away (Mousehole) and in a completely different county (Dartmouth). I think people underestimate what an absolute pain in the arse getting around Cornwall is, especially in the summer!

BobandRobertaSmith · 02/08/2024 11:47

Berga · 02/08/2024 11:15

Staying in St Awful will do that to you....

It’s a bit like asking:

AIBU to not get London? Staying in Croydon… 😂

ComealongMartha · 02/08/2024 11:52

Agree that staying in St Awful or snoozle was a silly idea!

You have the Eden project, the lost gardens of Heligan, Lanhydrock, Bodmin Jail and Charlestown nearby.

If you are willing to go further you could go to Flambards (best day of the week), St Mawes, Padstow, Falmouth, the lizard.

It’s not that overcast though really! I’m not sure what you don’t get? 😂

ncgfryhfdg · 02/08/2024 11:53

Berga · 02/08/2024 11:15

Staying in St Awful will do that to you....

nailed it!

ComealongMartha · 02/08/2024 11:53

Forgot the Camel trail and Respryn. Both pretty.

PurBal · 02/08/2024 11:55

@Berga nails it tbh.

Have you done Charlestown yet?

Sunnydiary · 02/08/2024 11:57

St. Austell is absolutely dire.

Get out and about, there is plenty to do and see. I like the seal sanctuary at Gweek, and St. Mawes.

recurringcovid · 02/08/2024 12:04

Looe is worth a visit, you can get there by train and make it part of the adventure (it fairly scenic).

the beeches are lovely, typical Cornish village / town but has a bit more going for it than somewhere like Port Isaac.

There are a couple of arcades (for when it rains), glass bottom boat trips, a woodland walk, crabbing at the harbour, the sea is a lot calmer so it isn’t over run with surfers and body boarders either.

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/08/2024 12:07

Why St. Austell?

Visit Fowey , take a boat trip to Meva and eat a fresh mackerel bap and a Kellys cone. Spend a day in St. Ives and eat lunch at the Porthminster .

stickybear · 02/08/2024 12:13

St Ives is gorgeous and worth a day trip on the train, despite the crowds! St Mawes and the Roseland are lovely and quite close to St Austell, also usually much quieter than other areas. There are small beaches in St Mawes that are good for rockpooling and bigger sandy beaches towards Portscatho. The church at St Just in Roseland is a really beautiful spot.

stickybear · 02/08/2024 12:15

There's also Trelissick NT which is lovely and just over the King Harry chain ferry