Family Friendly Things to Do in Cornwall

[glencoe]

Hi,

We are going on holiday in a few weeks to Cornwall, staying near St Austell.

I'd love to hear your recommendations on good places to visit with children (dd aged 7 and ds is 4) to help us make the most of our stay.

Many thanks.

Eden Project is a must!

The shipwreck centre in Charlestown is good, and there is a small shingle beach which is generally quiet.

There are lots of castles around too which my two DD 3 & DD 10 enjoyed.

If you dont mind a bit of a drive then Lands End is a great day out with loads to do.

Lanhydrock House (National Trust) is lovely and usually has some kids activities going on. It reportedly has an adventure play area but we never found it!

Crabbing and fishing entertain ours for a while and Collingford Lake Park was surprisingly OK, once we got past the dire Beast of Bodmin exhibition!

Lanhydrock House (National Trust) is lovely and usually has some kids activities going on. It reportedly has an adventure play area but we never found it!

Crabbing and fishing entertain ours for a while and Collingford Lake Park was surprisingly OK, once we got past the dire Beast of Bodmin exhibition!

I second Charlestown - lots of fun looking for crabs in the rock pools. Paradise Park near Hayle is great - lots to keep all ages entertained. I particularly enjoyed the indoor play barn with the giant slides!

Bedruthan Steps, love it.
Steps cut in cliff down to the beach, so fab.

Chill out on lots of beaches.

Going to Cornwall on 14th August, can't wait!

We got back from a week in Cornwall yesterday It was a lovely holiday.

We all loved the Eden Project. There's a summer holidays 'den building' activity which was just being set up when we were there on Thursday. There's also a family guide with pages that can be stamped when the kids have answered an easy question.

The kids LOVED Crealy Adventure Park. Expensive at over 60 quid entry, but then everything is included. Most of the rides are geared towards kids (so moderately exciting rather than Alton Towers level thrills). Wear old clothes - you will get wet on the water rides.

We spent most of the rest of the time on the beach - wetsuits and body boards is the main equipment. Polzeath beach was great, but maybe a bit too adventure surfy style for a small child. Lots of the kids were having surfing lessons in groups. The south coast beaches were calmer.

We bought crabbing equipment at Looe - a line with bait and a bucket. Great fun.

I wouldn't bother driving too far once you're actually down here, it takes up far too much of your holiday time.

In the same area as Crealy you've also got Springfield pony centre. You could go to Falmouth, there's kid's activities on at the Maritime museum throughout the holidays, and if you didn't fancy the drive (that one's a real PITA) you could always get the train.

I would just make as much of the beach time as you get really, the weather's so unpredictable here! Have a lovely holiday

We visit family in Cornwall alot, and i think the best investment you will ever make is in some wetsuits, some body boards and get out in the open air - obviously this is not just for the kids, get yourself one too, you forget about the cold once you see the fun the kids will have, followed by a hot chocolate or a pasty - its the best thing ever in my opinion )

In fact, it can only be beaten by a hot chocolate AND a pasty!

Dairy Land nr Newquay, is a great day out,there is loads to do, on a damp day The Bull Pit is a huge indoor adventure playground. We don't normally like busy places but this has so much space is not too bad.
And Ben's playworld in St Austell is another indoor play area.

Flambards

We've just got back from Gorran Haven nr St Austell. We found plenty to do round there (kids are 5 and 7 so around the same age as yours).

Beach when weather good: we went to Caerhays (nice big beach, rock pools); Gorran Haven (nice cove if you go past the main bit with the shop, but gets cut off at high tide) & Vault beach (v nice and quiet).

Pendennis castle in Falmouth had loads of activities running through school hols, we went to the Grand Medieval Joust which kids loved, also had minstrels, falconry & jesters - good day out!

Falmouth - we did the park and float (ferry) and the Maritime museum, which was surprisingly good & fish & chips from Rick Steins.

Eden Project - loved it. We went after 3pm so kids went free and adults got reduced entry (cost us £20 for the 4 of us). Was open till late (8pm, I think), so still had plenty of time to look around.

Padstow - bit of a trek (though drive to Falmouth was worse!) but worth it.

Charlestown - shipwreck centre and they had 2 big square rig ships there with pirates, etc.

Mevagissey - good for crabbing!

Heligan supposed to be good too, but couldn't fit that in. Lobbs Farm shop which is on site is v. nice!

DP and DS went to Fowey and had a 4h kayak trip which they loved.

On previous trips to Cornwall, we've been to Springfields & Lands End, St Ives and numerous other places I can't think of right now!!

Excellent, thanks for that. DD and I set of for a week in Cornwall this morning, but my car irreparably died on the M5 and we had to be towed home by the AA. Have just hired a car (only £88 for four days) and will try again tomorrow.

We're staying near Padstow and my favourite beach there is Daymer Bay just up from Rck, especially for younger kids. Good tip about the Eden Project and I was thinking of stopping off at Castle Drogo in Devon on the w down.

Which is better for a five year old - Flambards or Crealy?

i've m=not been to flambards but crealey is ace for 5 year olds.

the eden project also has water play on at the moment, so take a towel/change of clothes!
we were literally the last to leave at 8pm, we had such a great afternoon/evening.

we visited the otter sanctuary near bodmin - it was lovely the keepers were all really interested in the animals and would stop to chat. There were also deer wandering around in the forest area and they would take food from your hand.
(Food was on sale for 50p a bag so you could feed them with a clear conscience).

Seal sanctuary at Gweek is superb. :)