general tips for UK beach holiday - near Padstow

[time4tea]

I'm off with best friend plus our little ones (boy aged 5, girl aged nearly 3, my ds aged 2 and half) for a beach holiday in Cornwall (Rock, near Padstow)

Does anyone have any tips on what to do/ bring for a beach holiday, other than buckets and spades? how do we keep the fun going for a whole week? can anyone recommend books for identifying things in rock pools etc? do we need one of those little sun tenty things?

thanks so much for your advice XXXX

Don't take buckets and spades with you (they take up space in the car) - buy them there. Yes the sun tent is a good idea if it's sunny, again, why not wait till you're there.

If you're going to Rock the best beaches are Daymer Bay and Polzeath.

Is this your first beach holiday?

yes indeedy, my first beach holiday. when DS was small we went on citybreaks, plus inlaws have taken us to rent cottages near historic visit/garden places. We went to Cornwall this year but before the weather turned sunny, so spent a lot of time in the excellent hotel (Bedruthan steps bit of a splash)

this is certainly the first time I've done self-catering... me and BF are both good cooks, but I fear we will cock up on organization...

We love making pictures & faces from stones, seaweed & shells on the beach. The sea & sand keep the fun going for a whole week

Sun tents, depending on how robust they are, can also make quite good wind breaks too!

However, you do need a proper sun tent, not for instance an Early Learning Centre play tent which doesn't have any ventilation and will get too hot.

Other things that are good to buy asap when you get there are those rattan roll up beach mat things.

Our nearly 3 year old is a beach veteran and very happily spends days on the beach transporting water, pebbles and sand, paddling in rock pools, digging holes and running in the waves.

Make sure you get the ferry from Rock across to Padstow and try out Rick Stein's fish'n'chip shop - it is a million times better than his restaurant, and a fraction of the price, and the yummiest fish and chips I've ever had!!!!
Also, I'd get some ball games - I know Tesco had some: they'll keep the kids AND you and your friend amused!
Have fun!