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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

first time to Cornwall - where should we go?

18 replies

oldgran · 03/01/2012 18:07

Hi,
We are thinking of going to Cornwall in June, with a 5yo and a 2.5yo. We want a self catering cottage within walking distance of a sandy beach (not pebble) and near to some things to do. I've never been to Cornwall before so don't even know which area to start looking - can any pros advise me which bits are the nicest?
thanks

OP posts:
iklboonkey · 03/01/2012 18:16

We love Bude. Quite a few beaches (sandy) nearby and with nice villages/things to do in driving distance. Sandymouth Bay is really nice

ujjayi · 03/01/2012 21:40

St Ives has 4 sandy beaches all within the central location. My personal favourite is Porthminster. I was also very impressed with our visits to Hayle and Gwithian (sp?) both just north of St Ives.

LovesBloominChristmas · 03/01/2012 21:43

Another vote for st Ives. I've missed it Sad

Gay40 · 03/01/2012 21:45

Mousehole. And not far from all the other stuff.

Original poster
oldgran · 04/01/2012 11:36

Had a look at some pics of St Ives and it does seem to fit the bill. Nice beaches. Doesn't St Ives get really busy though? How busy would it be in half term for example? Also, does it take an AGE to get there from the motorway? My kids are not great travellers and I wouldn't want us to be stuck in tiny lanes for hours!

OP posts:
mummymeister · 04/01/2012 16:18

We stay in se cornwall. Its quieter than the north coast, the sea is a bit calmer for the younger ones and there is loads to do without sharing it with loads of people plus you are on the A38 not the dreaded A30 car park main road. The quaint little fishing villages like Looe and Polperro are walking distance to the sea but they are individual cottages with nothing else to offer. if you fancy a farmstay or small site with other things like a swimming pool, animals play areas etc then you need to be a bit further out. check out the visitcornwall tourist board website and also cartwheelholidays for some nice places. we stay at wringworthy holiday cottages but it is a couple of miles from the sea but it does have a pool and loads for small kids to do. try and get a friday to friday letting to miss the traffic. se cornwall is around an hour from exeter and 2 ish from Bristol if that helps you judge distance as i dont know where you are from !!

worldgonecrazy · 04/01/2012 16:30

Out of school holidays, Bude, Boscastle and surrounding areas are lovely. In season they are far too crowded so head south of Newquay. Carbis Bay is lovely, as is St. Ives. Polperro is also really beautiful.

Actually, I'm struggling to think of a a bit of Cornwall that I don't like - Newquay is a bit commercial, but most of the smaller towns have retained much of their charm.

CroissantNeuf · 04/01/2012 16:35

Most places in Cornwall are lovely but Newquay is a bit grim -it always seems a bit cheap and tacky compared to the rest of Cornwall.

asdashopper · 04/01/2012 16:39

Perranporth has a lovely beach and is very child friendly , nice shops and cafes

Meglet · 04/01/2012 16:40

St Ives parking is bad. although there is a little train that does a 'park and ride' thing. The streets are a bit cramped too, not very pushchair friendly IME.

Hayle beach is great.

We've been to Portreath the last couple of years and it's a nice little village. Although we stayed in a self-catering village, not a cottage.

We're off to somewhere on the Lizard this year, not been to the south coast in years.

Meglet · 04/01/2012 16:41

oh, yes, Perranporth is brilliant! Huge beach and the town on the doorstep so you can wander in and out for food.

Original poster
oldgran · 06/01/2012 19:45

Have booked a cottage in Carbis Bay! Thanks for all your help - it was nice to have some people with experience guiding me. It looks nice, and I know the dcs will love the little train into St Ives. Just hope the sun shines now...

OP posts:
mollymole · 06/01/2012 20:25

Have been to Carbis Bay on a few occasions and the beach is lovely, long, clean and flat. Are you very close to the beach because if not let me warn you about the hill down to the beach great - getting back up you need to be a mountain goat. But it is worth it !!

LovesBloominChristmas · 06/01/2012 20:59

Carbis bay crap yum yum Envy

LovesBloominChristmas · 06/01/2012 20:59

crap. I typed crab!!!! Fucking iPhone Shock

ronx · 06/01/2012 21:03

My 3 yo son LOVED the train at St Ives and so did we. You can get to Truro easily which has lots to do. Avoid Penzance - it's grim.

katiewins22 · 10/01/2012 22:05

shhhh dont tell anybody - St.Agnes. Go website stagnes.com and there is a list of accommodation. We have stayed in a number of them over the years. Perfect place for small children.

Tadah · 10/01/2012 22:12

Porthcurno is absolutely gorgeous (beach/scenery wise). Not much in the little village though; nearby Mousehole is busier- little shops and cafes, restaurants.

Porthcurno may be my favourite place on earth. Look up pics on google images!

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