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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Days out in Cornwall please?

26 replies

Marne · 06/05/2010 14:23

Hi, we are off to Cornwall in a weeks time (for 6 days), can anyone recommend some days out (mainly for rainy days as the weather is not looking great)? I have 2 dd's (6 and 4).

OP posts:

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 12:27

Eden project is partly indoors. Seal Sanctuary at Gweek down the lizard.

St Ives with the Tate Gallery.

Flambards near Helston - theme park type thing - partly indoors.

Which bit of cornwall are you going to?

Original poster

Marne · 07/05/2010 13:50

We are going to Looe.

I like the idea of the Eden project but i'm not sure if it will be suitable for the girls.

Will try and get to the Tate Gallery.

The dd's like fish, so an aquarium would be good.

Dh likes to rummage around antique shops, so any villages or towns with antique shops would be good (although the dd's won't be impressed).

OP posts:

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 14:18

easy - natinal marine aquarium in plymouth and a wander ariund the barbican

looe is lovely if you haven't been before

Original poster

Marne · 07/05/2010 14:34

I havn't been to Cornwall for years (since i was 18), we are going to a lovely little caravan site in Looe, we wanted somewhere quite and near the sea. I'm happy just to walk around all the little villages around the coast (eating pasties and fudge) but its harder work trying to keep the girls amused.

OP posts:

IMoveTheStars · 07/05/2010 14:37

www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk/newquay.htm

Original poster

Marne · 07/05/2010 14:37

The national marine aquarium looks perfect, the dd's will love it and its perfect for a rainy day.

OP posts:

ChasingSquirrels · 07/05/2010 14:38

Eden, and other gardens if you like gardens. Most have things that the dd's would enjoy. Heligan, Glendurgan, Trebah.

National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

Flambards.

Lappa Valley if nice (trains, boat lake, mini golf, playground).

Beaches.

there are loads of things, I just can't think of any!

PestoEatsBallotPapers · 07/05/2010 14:40

There is a

monkey sanctuary

near Looe

NorbertDentressangle · 07/05/2010 14:51

Probably a bit far from Looe but just over the county border into Devon there is The Big Sheep which is a great day out.

It has a big indoor play area and some indoor activities like lamb-feeding etc if it rains but also lots of outdoor things too.

PestoEatsBallotPapers · 07/05/2010 14:56

Crealy near Wadebridge

if theme parks are your thing

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 17:04

easy - natinal marine aquarium in plymouth and a wander ariund the barbican

looe is lovely if you haven't been before

there is a monkey sanctuary just outside looe which is really good if you are interested in conservation

i'm not sure about antiques i'm afraid

PestoEatsBallotPapers · 07/05/2010 18:01

If you're on the Barbican, don't miss the Langage icecream shop YUM!!

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 19:49

ooh i forgot there is also Cothele House just over the bridge into cornwall which is pleasant with amazing views of the tamar

VicToryA · 07/05/2010 19:54

I took my DCs to Eden when they were 6 and 4, and they absolutely loved it. Have just taken them again at 7 and 5, and they loved it again so much that we went twice in one week!

I also thought it was fantastic. Worth checking what's on in the big tent thing, in case it rains. It's one of the best days out I've ever had with the DCs.

Trelissick gardens are also great.

I tend to find the DCs are happy in Cornwall so long as they're on a beach or generally outside, regardless of the weather!

BettyButterknife · 07/05/2010 19:58

St Michael's Mount is fun if the weather isn't too bad. It's a walk across the causeway at low tide, followed by a big climb up to the lovely castle. If you time it right you might have to get the boat back across which DS thought was brilliant.

One to avoid - DS saw a leaflet about the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth and asked to go there. We did, and it was very dreary - DH and I felt like we were on a boring school trip, so unless you're very into boat and maritime history I'd give it a miss.

There are a couple of vintagey/antiquey shops in St Ives too, if you do go to the Tate. I think they have activities for families on Sundays. And again, if weather not too bad at least one of the St Ives beaches is likely to be relatively sheltered. Porthminster is my favourite, the cafe is lovely and the beach itself beautiful. It's near St Ives train station, which is the line to Penzance if your DC are into trains (think there's a steam train at Bodmin too, but very little else). Porthmeor beach is lovely as well (it's the one by the Tate) and also has a good cafe (can you tell how many Cornish cafes I've frequented??). Porthgwidden beach is quieter, smaller and more hidden.

Ooh, lucky you - I wish we'd had a longer holiday there.

VicToryA · 07/05/2010 20:03

I'd second your comment on the Maritime Museum, BB. I thought it was pretty deadly, as did the DCs. DH less so, but he likes boats. It's also very expensive.

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 20:10

if you are a bit geeky like dh and i there is the Telegraph Museum at Porthcuro which has more antique items than you can shake a stick at plus kids stuff and a sculpture garden and a postcard standard beach which is usually deserted off season

my fave when i was little was dairyland good for little nippers

biddyofsuburbia · 07/05/2010 20:19

We went to cornwall at Easter with DS6 and DD3 and visited the Eden Project - there really is loads for kids to do. (If you get the kids guide book they can 'stamp' the book as they go round) I think it is really inspiring, and the dcs really did enjoy seeing the plants that provide the everyday things we use/eat at home. They also had loads of 'educational' activities in the big top - craft flowers/face painting/make a seed 'bomb', seeing stuff through a microscope - that kind of thing!

Dcs had a great time & we were ready to go before they were! Check the website for details of special events that might be on for kids when you go, and if you do decide to go, I think tickets are cheaper if you book online (you don't have to say which day you want to visit either I don't think). Sorry to rant on about it!

Because it was freezing we also bought them waterproof trousers to wear with wellies on the beach so they could sit and dig without getting soaking wet (not like the hardy locals whose kids were in their swimming cossies/shorty wetsuits!) I think they could sit in sand/mud/mess and be happy all day!

Hope the whole family have a lovely time whatever you decide to do!

VicToryA · 07/05/2010 20:29

PS Tesco clubcard vouchers can be converted into Eden tickets. That reduces the price hugely!

sungirltan · 07/05/2010 20:49

its cheaper if you book online too for eden

IMoveTheStars · 07/05/2010 22:12

yep,and if you have clubcard vouchers you can use them for it to (prob against most attractions)

Divawithattitude · 08/05/2010 19:45

Anthony House, N Trust is about 20 mins from Looe and has an Alice in Wonderland exhibition which is good for small ones, its where they made the film.

Boat trip from Barbican in Plymouth - just near the Aquariumalong the river and past the docks is good if its a nice day

the other big NT house is Lanhydrock, just outside Bodmin, good for younger children and lovely gardens to picnic in.

serin · 08/05/2010 23:30

Eden Project is great and the cafe's are fairly wholesome and cheap, when you pay the admission fee it gives you entrance for a whole year.

I would avoid Holywell Bay 'theme park' and Jamaica Inn at all costs.

Could go down a tin mine,wehave done this in the past to avoid the rain.

Is there anything here enjoyengland.com
Have a look under attractions.

Nointhemood · 22/05/2010 10:33

wouldn't recommend flambards to be honest £16 a adult and children and not alot to do compared to other parks. Crealy has more to offer but again you still have to pay for extra things once in there. Looe is lovely, lots of shops, a nice little park and beach and also the kids and adults all love crabbing there!!!!Harlyn sands has a gorgeous beach, padstow lovely again for shops and food.If your near plymouth you can go to Mount edgecombe (national trust) which has Mount Edgcombe house, pebble beach, a duck pond and loads of grass area to play ball games on you can also do a walk around it.Also Anthoney House where Alice in Wonderland was filmed.Trethorne Fran near lauceston is good £7.50 admission per addult so quite reasonable.

whatname · 27/05/2010 23:48

dairyland, couple of miles outside Newquay.
Loads of interaction with animals, bottle feeding/ponyrides, and a huge playbarn

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