Places to visit in Cornwall with a 6 month old?

[dizzymama]

Hi all,
We go to Cornwall every year, absolutely love it, but this will be the first time we'll be going with dd. Usually we surf / read / sit and laze / walk etc, all I know is that dd will get very very bored if we do what we usually do! Has anyone got any ideas about what we could do? I know she's only little but I want to avoid just sitting outside the holiday cottage all day!

Ah, I see Bee has beaten me to mentioning the Grange.

It is a must - the cream teas are wonderful as she says, but in my book the cheese on toast is to die for

We rather like the beach at Maenporth as its a manageable size for little ones and quite safe. Damming the stream that runs out of the caves is a must do for our children although they are a little older than yours!!

Thanks so much for all your suggestions, I'll certainly visit some this year and note the others for future years! Loving the sound of cream teas (and cheese on toast )

When are you there Dizzymama? We are in Cornwall with our four children for the last two weeks of August, but we always go to north Cornwall. I have been reading these suggestions and wondering if we should venture further south some days.

Hi LM, we're there feom 6th to 20th. We started off on North coast (Dh likes to surf - and me but badly!) but headed south and must say we love it. St. Mawes is gorgeous! Give it a go, especially round Lizard and Falmouth areas x

DM, I love St Mawes too, tho haven't been there for a while. We're off to Padstow next week [smile[ can't wait. Agree with the comments about Dairyland - can recommend it! take a look

Also we got to St Ives most years - it's not far from Helston, and there's loads to do there with plenty of safe beaches. Don't know about you but I wouldn't have thought you needed much in the way of 'attractions' for a 6 month old! A bit of sun, a sandy beach and a bucket always did it for me!

(Didn't think much of the Gweek seal sanctuary though...)

Isn't it lovely WS? We've been 3 years on the trot and (in a much more affluent future ) I'd love to live there! Dairyland does look great, I know she won't need to do much but we're really looking forward to taking her to a few animally(good word there!) places simply because she cracks up at animals and we find it so funny!! Most of the time she will be on a beach or in the garden I'd have thought - hopefully being nice and peaceful so Mummy can read her book!!

We're staying in Gweek (right by RNAS Culdrose) and know what you mean about the sanctuary but we love to just go and spend the day, sitting in the gardens, wandering around and listening to Rocky the sealion cause audio havoc!!

I think the thing about the seal sanctuary is that it is essentially a rescue centre and their aim is to return the seals to the wild so you have to go and visit with your charity hat on - i.e. not everything there is designed specifically for visitors but more for the rehabilitation of the animals!

If you go to St Ives, don't forget your backpack or buggy because when we went last time (and this was several years ago, so it may have changed) parking was an absolute nightmare and we ended up parking on the top of a giant hill, a real 20 minute walk away from the beach and it was a really steep walk on the way back, especially when we had to carry both kids!

Certainly agree with the charitable sentiments foxinsocks. I think that the sanctuary is in such a beautiful setting that I enjoy walking about and having a picnic, as much as watching the seals.

Incidentally Paradise Park were doing 2 for 1 vouchers for The Seal Sanctuary, so if you go to Paradise first you only have to pay about £4/per adult instead of £8 (which I did think was a bit steep) to then go and see the seals.

Ditto the comment about St Ives - always hell to park, even out of season. Padstow can also be a bit like that.

Porthcurno (near the Minnack Theatre) is a lovely beach (although has very fine sand which would blow about if windy!) & is accessible with a buggy from the car park - although there are a few steps at the end.

OOps - another Dairlyland tip - when you first go, ask for a return ticket - it means you can come back as often as you like for free !!

Don't drive to St Ives. Go on the Park and Ride from Lelant Saltings. Much easier, and fun too! If I do drive to St Ives I always have a look in the Station Car Park. You can get lucky and find a space. Don't follow the signs round the top of the town, which take you to the big car park which foxinsocks mentioned (very long haul back up!), go straight on at the Porthminster Hotel, down towards the town and then very very sharp right at the bus station, into the car park. It's often full in High Season, but worth a look.

Thanks everyone, these are really good suggestions x

One thing we always try and do when we're in St.Ives is walk from St Ives to Lelant and get the train back. The coastal path takes you all the way, it's about 5 miles and a lot of it, tides permitting, is on the beach. It would be great with a 6 month old in a backpack. We did it like that last Oct (and with a 4 year old walking which was fine - only a little fraught!!) If you're lucky you get to see seals in the sea.

I agree about the parking in St Ives - it's hell, but we have never really been in high season. NOw DS1 is at school I suppose we'll have to get used to it!