Family, funky, Cornwall. Design me a holiday please!

[treedelivery]

Further to this thread [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=_chat&threadid=749396-I-REEEEEEEALY-want-a-vw-campervan#153071 09 here] - we are now renting a camper for a week. We are picking it up in Devon, after a good 7 hour drive .

Then whadowedo?? I have been to Newquay, but was too drunk to remember if it was nice for families or not.
We have a 4.5 and a 4 month babe, we are looking for nice cafes, beach, maybe some local organic farm shops to get provisions, few kids activities, want to live the dream!

Do NOT want arcades, slot machines, cheesy coastal 'shows', boy racers, big rides [leaving all that at home in our town!]

I know this has probably been done to death and I'm sorry for not researching this myself - but my baby is bonkers so I get little time.

Ideas of Cornish/devon towns, campsites, stuff to see, insider tips would be just brill. We go in a few weeks and I haven't so much as a sleeping bag!

Arghh!

Has anyone mentioned Roskillys?

Ice cream to DIE for!

Keep them coming!!

This is way better than a guide book

Ah, but the Jelberts is vanilla only. I favour the mango sorbet, blueberry cheesecake, rum'n'raisin-type ices!!

And at Roskillys you can see the cows being milked!

I'm only teasin'.

Both are probably as fab and in Cornwall in summer you do need a decent ice cream!

i am so jelous we went to cornwall last year we stayed in a house(which was gorgeous to be honest) not a groovy camper van and i was literally crying when we left i love porthcurno the colours of the sea from the top at the car park are just amazing..sob sob

off to pack clothes!!

It's really cold here. Hope the weather is nicer down South! Not too bothered though really.

I have to do another dairy challenge on poor dd [I'm bf so I get to scoff and drink tea] so I think I'll be doing it somewhere around those icecreams!

Oh - quick mention for The Lizard. Most southerly point, has little town with a few shops (including very famous Pasty Shop, then right down on the point is a fab cafe overlooking the sea. We have seen seals from there. Take a trip round the Lighthouse. Really nice place.

Oh and Trencreek Farm is lovely for the kids as they have animals to feed'n'stuff. Very well stocked shop and, as its near St Austell, would be good if you plan to visit Eden (which is worth a visit btw)

stop me - stop me!!

Did I mention the Blue Peter in Polperro? Best pub in the world.

My gran lives in Rock and we stay at a caravan park in St Minver.

I love

Polzeath beach.Fab fab beach,rock pools,loads of sand,the works.
Trebarwith-lovely fairly isolated beach.Took ds fossil huntingin nearby quarry
Boscastle,touristy but atmospheric.
Padstow a bit of Rick Stein overload but nice to catch ferry across from Rock beach.
Daymer bay.Lovely.
Walk over cliffs from Polzeath to Lundy bay
Walking on Bodmin moor To Rough Torr (sp?)

And as you're on a budget ... we stayed here at Easter and the pitches are half price. It was lovely, we're deffo going back at some point.

One night there was a gathering of some astronomers with huge telescopes and we were able to have a go. We saw the moon and its craters and Saturn and its rings.

Oooh and cycling from Wadebridge to Padsow along old railway line.You can hire bikes.

Hey Surfer Mum, thanks for the tip!
PILs live between Meva & St Austell, so that site looks perfect for next time we are down.

You're welcome . Lots of open space, not one of those sites with small pitches and nowhere to play. The owner said in the summer everyone sits outside their tents on the perimeter of the field drinking wine and watching all the kids play in the middle. That's my kinda camping !

Oh and they had a fridge and a freezer that you could use. And the owner also knew EVERYTHING about where to go locally. We had a superb meal at the White Pyramids pub where he told us to go.

Oh this is ace.

Am reminded of backpacking days. Fab

DH laoding car now. We have TONNES of stuff! But the weather forcast is all over the place and we might be gone for 2 weeks, maybe more if we can afford it.

Cram it in

Thank you all for the advice, we have the thread printed out, a guidebook, a full tank of petrol, and no idea.

Hurrah!

Have a lovely, lovely time.
Send us a postcard! (Now there is an idea for a thread)

Yes, have a brilliant time. I don't need to say that though because you will.

I fully expect to be meeting up with you at a VW festival in the future .

Am back!

And have flu - so can't post long as am sweating dribbling mess.

It was amazing, and dh is scouting about for a cheap loan and a cheap camper.

Thanks everyone! Will update more when better.

So - our holidays. Sadly lacking in places visited [unless you count beaches, funky shops and cafes - which I do]

a play farm and cafe right there, with trikes and trampolines and pony rides and lovely owners who made Jess toast whenever she liked. Ideal.

So we stayed 6 nights, then dragged ourselves to St Ives. Which I LOVED. Shopping heaven, and go the best ever strawberry hat for Hatts [pics on their way]. Spent the remainder there, chugging about not achieveing much tbh! Made it to the Eden project but only did one dome, as dd1 wanted to spend the whole time cracking nuts on that big machine, and playing with the magnetic letter wall.

Went to Roskillies ice cream place on the last day and had the best salad ever ever ever- such great food. It was an accident as we made the journey down to go to the Camel Trail which was closed . But it worked out well in the end.

Came away with flu, but also a renewed enthusiasm for good diet, greener parenting [several books], and playing catch with dd1. Oh and she learnt to multiply so she is please with herself. Also came away realising how fat I have become, as I can't shop in the surf shops these days . Feel my old wet suit would be a no go!

Dougal was great - the awning was mahooosive so we dumped all in there. Dh and dd1 went up top, and dd2 and me had the rock and roll bed. So no campsite jiggie jiggie for us!! Felt awfully sorry for those who pitched close to us, becasue as you may have heard [I may have started a hundred threads or so] dd2 has colic issues and cries alot!

Strange though - how on a site 20% occupied, people pitch right next door!