Cornwall by public transport? Help...

[Peregrane]

We have never been in Cornwall and have really set our heart on holidaying there this year. Ideally close to a child-friendly beach (DC is nearly 4) and beautiful nature, some facilities to keep DH interested (e.g. museums) would be a nice bonus but not a must. And we would love to visit the Eden Project.

However, I am really keen to avoid having to rent a car and drive. Just not a confident driver, and DH does not drive at all. I've been looking up all the recommendations I found on previous threads, and most of the places that come highly recommended are several hours away (3 hours plus...) from the Eden Project (and each other) by public transport. We'd be travelling there from South East England (in August, and I have not yet booked anything ).

Is this doable? Do we need to drop the Eden Project to make it doable?

I don't drive and I fancy a holiday to Cornwall via train🚅

Your challenge will be that there will be very limited availability so if your heart was really set in Cornwall then booking more than 2 weeks before school hols is advisable.
Good luck!

Hi Peregrane yes, the bus station is right outside St Austell railway station and the bus stops just outside Pentewan Sands, it's the bus to Mevagissey. It is lovely there, but I think it's all booked up for summer.

so, being brutally honest, forget this August in Cornwall and book something that you really, really want and that ticks all of your boxes for next August.

people book school summer holidays in Cornwall in the nicer places a year or 18 months in advance. with 2 weeks to go the kind of idyll you are looking for has gone. because its what everyone wants to stay in when they go to Cornwall.

have a look at some of the last minute sites like lastminute-cottages but be prepared that realistically you aren't going to find anything suitable for this year.

Were book the sane place every year, a year in advance. However somewhere like haven may have spaces if you don't mind rough and ready.

The Mevagissey/Pentewan area is a good suggestion. It's walking distance or a short bus fr9m Heligan (much nicer than Eden!) beaches at Pentewan, Polstreath and Portmellon and some lovely coastal path walking. Buses are at least hourly to St Austell and you can also bus to Gorran Haven which is lovely. Good pubs and food in Mevagissey and a model railway much loved by my kids (and most adults). You can do fishing trips from Mevagissey and also get the ferry to Fowey.

There's also a campsite at Heligan which might have availability.

I think if I was that nervous about driving I would look into having some extra lessons.

Why does your. Dh have to be in the back??

We went to the Eden Project yesterday and they have accommodation there. It is part of the Youth Hostel Association I think but it looked quite cool. You sleep in converted shipping containers. Would be fun for the DC.

I live in Cornwall. Some of the branch lines escaped the vandalism of closure in the 1960's. So you have Falmouth, St Ives, Looe and Newquay on the train network. You can get back on the train to St Austall then bus to Eden Project. Also worth a visit is South East Cornwall which is stunning and quieter. Excellent bus service along the coast along Whitsand Bay. This goes from Looe to Plymouth. A secret u spoilt location in the Tamar Valley. Tamar Valley line from Plymouth station worth a trip for the views alone.

Great suggestions. Thank you!

Taking further driving lessons is a good idea, and I have in fact done that not too long ago. That is the reason why I can reluctantly entertain the idea of driving if I must, as opposed to a blanket rejection!

DH sits in the back when it's the three of us because DC does not like travelling by car either and gets travel sick in them, plus occasionally tries to escape from the car seat... You can say we are not fans of cars as a family! Maybe when there will be only electric cars on the roads...