We have 2 weeks booked in Cornwall in August.......what must we do?

[Ruprekt]

Fingers crossed for dry weather.

Boys are desperate to go rockpooling. DH is keen to take them fishing. I am happy to sit and read and people watch.

There is a TV in the cottage but no other screens apart from that which we are pleased about so the boys will have to go out with us!! They are 10 and 7.

So, what are your recommendations for food, pubs, days out, walks?

We are between Bude and Padstow.

TIA

Go and explore, nice beaches at Polzeath, Trebarwith, Harlyn Bay, Rock & Daymer bay. Polzeath is great for surfing and body boarding.

Fishing villages such as Port Isaac and touristy pretty places such as Boscastle.

Get the ferry across from Rock to Padstow, makes a lovely day out.

You can also cycle the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow and back again. Lovely

Thanks Pesto, will print this off and take with us!

bump

You MUST do the Camel Trail, we do it whenever we go to Cornwall. You can hire bikes in Padstow near the start but do phone them first to check availability. It's really easy cycling and no cars to worry about.

Padstow itself is lovely to wander about but it gets v busy in the summer months (and expensive).

Lost Gardens of Heligan are lovely - look out for the mud maids!

Beaches - nicest one is Bedruthan Steps. From Padstow you drive towards Mawgen Porth, just before you get to the Bedruthan Steps Hotel, there is a National Trust sign on the right, turn in here and park in the car park. You can then walk down the steps to the most beautiful unspoilt beach. Lovely tea room at the top that does great cream teas!

Mawgen Porth beach is lovely too, bit more touristy.

If you have National Trust membership there are some lovely places to visit & run around. Poldhu Cove on the Lizard is lovely. We're at Flambards today, it's crap so avoid! Not too impressed by Eden Project either...

We just got back....
Eden project was lovely! Food was good and reasonable.
Fish and chip takeaway from Rick Stein's takeaway.
4 hour deep sea fishing trip from Newquay.
Climbed up hundreds of steps at Tintagel for the castle remains (English Heritage).
Bude beach was nice....has a natural sea swimming pool if you can stand the cold.
Boscastle...lovely village with nice pubs and cafes.....and a hike up the hill to see the lookout.
Lovely little shingle beach at Crackington Haven....lovely cream tea at the Haven cafe.

Agree about Bedruthan Steps.

Watergate Bay is fantastic as well - the hotel there has a bar with a huge decked area overlooking the beach and there's a pirate playground for the kids. Rockpooling on the beach if you want it.

Tintagel Castle is a must as well - not too far from Padstow.

Heligan if that's your sort of thing.

Personally I wouldn't bother with Padstein - (esp the fish and chips). It is nice and everything, but v expensive for what it is.

Falmouth is a good one - Pendennis Castle is brilliant and the Maritime Museum is pretty good too, that would make for a good day when the weather isn't fantastic actually.

ah, just saw they are maybe a bit old for a pirate playground?

We're here for another week so looking for more ideas too :) Pendennis is on our list for next week, on Tues & Weds they do jousting!

Try crackington haven, there's a lovely pub there and it's not that far from bude. One other place you will want to go to is Tintagel very spectacular.
If i't raining and you fancy a day in with some stuff for the kids to do then go to Trethorne leisure park. They have a few animals, bowling, massive indoor activity play area and more, we've got an 8 and 4 year old and they love it.

Two National Trust properties, Lanhydroch and Trerrice (may have spelt both wrong, sorry) are great, and as it's school hols probably have some organised family fun stuff laid on as well.
St Merryn near Padstowe has a fabulous family friendly restaurant called Prynns - we loved it. Not cheap though.

We have just been to Heartlands, a free 'cultural playground' in Pool, nr Camborne. Free apart from parking, it's an old mine that has recently been reopened with lottery funding, with an adventure playground, gardens and a really interesting visitor centre. Definitely worth a couple of hours.

you MUST go to hiddenvalley
I have an 8 yr old and he LOVED it. you do treasure hunt tpye things to get you crystals... you then use your crystals to buy time in the vault.... its a bit like the crystal maze but child friendly. take a picnic and you can spend a lovely day there.

and if your going to pendennis you'll be in the right part of cornwall to go to the minack theatre.... we saw a childrens performance there and for me it was the best bit of the holiday ( we got back yesterday!). beautiful place.

Isn't Pendennis in Falmouth?

Do you mean St. Michaels Mt?

Get down to st Ives for the day (train as the parking is a mare) or park and ride in on the train from th edge of st Ives. Go to the surfing beach at st Ives an have a surfing lesson. Browse the shops and art galleries. Have chips on the harbour beach but watch out for the blasted sea gulls (and watch me fall in from my surfboard as I'll be there!)

Coming to this thread late I know, but we're just back from a day at Poldark Mine ... superb!

Mine tour was fascinating - hard hats and sensible footwear essential. Lots of museum bits and interactive stuff too: big engines and working models, etc.

Panning for gold and sifting for gems (including 'proper' gems and diamonds) for an extra charge.

Lovely array of craft shops with folks working in them and the chance for hands on stuff too. DS(8) threw a pot on a wheel: 1 to 1 tuition and a lovely pot made to take home (still damp of course). Took about 20 mins and was only £4.50. There was a lady making glass beads which was amazing to watch, plus wood turning - lots of gifts for the grandparents - and a fab shop of wooden toys and circus skills. DD(11) had a free juggling lesson.

Plus play areas for younger ones and a nice restaurant.

Minnock and st ives

Got back yesterday and had a fantastic time!

There was soooo much to do.

We stayed at Crackington Haven Rawsley. Coincidence. Loved it.

We did Hidden Valley which we all loved and Otter Sanctuary which was great.

Had a rainy day and went to REBEL cinema which was tiny but cute and watched Brave.

Beaches were brilliant and we all had a great time.