Place to visit and eat in Cornwall - child friendly!

[Polgara2]

Hello - would appreciate valuable Mumsnetters advice - you all seem so knowledgeable so ....we're off to Cornwall on Friday and wondered if anyone could recommend the best places to visit. Have 2 dd's (just 7 and nearly 4). Have got a Cornwall touris guide but they say how wonderful everything is don't they! Has anyone been to places that they really enjoyed? Also we are self-catering so what about places to eat that are child friendly and good value for money? We are staying near Newquay. Thanks in advance.

WE've just come back from Devon and went to the Monkey Sanctuary. It's lovely - well, I think, although heard complaints from one mother there. It's not huge but has things the children can do there - making masks etc, also a very nice cafe - but it's all vegetarian - we are so that was fine for us. A few little play things and a picnic area as well. My girls loved it - they're 2.5 and 4.5, but it's definitely NOT like a big park or anything - no rides etc - very pc but with lovely staff who spend time talking to you. And there's a bat cave you can watch on a monitor.

The monkey sanctuary is in Cornwall - just.

Lapa Valley - perfect!

We're going to Newquay for the fourth time for our summer holiday. There's lots to do. Shires is brilliant for young and old. But a word of warning, make sure arms and legs are covered as ds1 and dh got some serious burns off the slides.

There is also a nice pub in Newquay at the end of the high street called the Griffin and their food is lovely. We've taken ds1 in there lots of times. Also near a what is probably now a Morrisons supermarket, there is a pub that does excellent carvery. Up near there is Hendra camp site and they have swimming centre.

Hope you have a nice time.

The Seal Sanctuary, near Helston, Cadgwith (lovely fishing village set in a valley and if you want to get a view across the whole coastline you can climb up a fairly steep hill, okay for 4 years old! and see loads), Polperro (fishing village ), Mousehole (you can walk around and see the fishing boats) and if you can travel as far as Land's End, Porthcurno is a beach where the sand is almost white, lots of coves when the tide goes.

Thanks for all the suggestions - very useful! I knew it would be a good idea to ask on here Flip - will look out for those eating places, and what is Shires? is it a theme park or something -sounds intriguing. Btw are there any horse riding places (or I should say small pony riding)? Would have to cater for the uninitiated but dd's would love to have a go. I'm just hoping we get enough nicer weather than currently for the girls to have at least one trip to the beach

Polgara - I live in Falmouth and atm the weather isn' too bad so you might be lucky. Shires is like a small farm-themed activity place.

Flip - when are you going to Newquay?