Cornwall - nice places to stay

[SnowCurl]

Good morning! We are a family of 5 looking ahead to next year and the May half term/Summer Holidays. We've never been to Cornwall and are hoping some of you might be able to suggests some nice "quieter" parts of Cornwall to visit. Any suggestions? X

North Cornwall up to the border in Devon. Have family round there and I love it. It's still busy in peak season but also easy to find quieter spots. Trebarwith strand for beach and pub, tintagel for the castle, boscastle for a mooch and the weird alaister crowley museum, rocky valley and the hidden waterfall, Bude beach and town, Camel estuary and bike trail, Bodmin Moor. All within driving distance from each other.

Thanks! You have given me an itinerary and cut out the hard work :)

:D it does depend what your family like doing and how old they are. And I'm sure I've missed out loads of good stuff. But base yourself somewhere round there and the rest is daytrippable.

To be honest the kids are happy as long as they are with us and we do outdoorsy stuff. The Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project obviously appeal, but I am realistic that they will be very busy that time of year, so was looking for some other things to provide a balance. They are 6 years and under. X

Not Ocean Blue, you end up feeling you're living in the middle of a bloody car park!

Don't go to Bude, for goodness sake. Dreadful place.

The Lizard peninsula is gorgeous.

Favourite days out for us are the seal sanctuary at Gweek and the Tamar Otter sanctuary.

Mevagissey is lovely & not huge, we always stay there :)

Definitely south Cornwall and Lizard Peninsula.

Lots of little safe coves for tinies.

We went to Cornwall earlier this summer I agree about the seal sanctuary and Lizard Point. Marazion was lovely and we walked across to St Michael's Mount. Gylly Beach at Falmouth and Kynance Cove were both beautiful and not too busy, despite the glorious weather. I want to go back!

Stay at tintagel . From there you can go to port issac, cracington haven ,bos castle ,treberith strand etc there is so much and every outlook is stunning .

Crantock village and beach

What's dreadful about bude? All the common folk? The horror. Nice beach, real town. Op If littles, strike boscastle from my list. Rocky valley might be a bit too much trek with smalls as well. Def def trebarwith strand. North Cornwall is the Atlantic coast so wilder than the other side. South Cornwall might have more for a younger family!

Reetgoood are you from Cornwall?

No, just got family down there so many holidays in the area. My knowledge is only good around north Cornwall!

Reetgood - we did rocky valley/hidden waterfall and boscastle with our 4.9 and 2.3yo this year, they are doable with littles as long as you have them up close! Lanhydrock is great for running around but does get busy, also did lost gardens of heligan and would recommend Wheal Martyn if kids are of similar age. They loved watching the pit and looking at machinery.

We are off to north Cornwall next week! So I'm taking notes! Are any of the beaches round Newquay any good?

South east Cornwall is beautiful. The sea is bright,bright blue. Polperro is a gorgeous fishing village, lovely pubs and restaurants and stunning scenery. Nearby there is Fowey which is also lovely, Eden Project is close, Talland Bay for rockpooling and cocktails. Wonderful!

What kind of accommodation do you want?

@speak2me that's good to know - I LOVE that walk even though I now rarely fork out to get in to st nectans glen. It's still totally worth paying once. It's got all spruced up now, I remember the days when it were all just a bit weird someone's back garden ;) we often go off season and see seals at the bottom of rocky valley. Though I think I might get a bit twitchy with some kids at that little inlet, amazing to watch the swell but you'd need to keep a close eye on them.

@bananacustardyum there's a few I believe - watergate bay, mawgan porth. Check Cornwall beaches guide the overview is good.

What's dreadful about bude? All the common folk? The horror.

Um, can you quote where in my post it says that that is the problem with Bude? But clearly you think the people who go there/live there are common? That's your problem, not mine!

Bude is fine bit it's not beautiful like other parts of Cornwall, kynance, bedruthan etc.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross enlighten me! Why is it dreadful?

It's more of a resort town for sure, but it's great as a day trip. I find it charming.

Here is a pic of the dreadful, not beautiful Bude featuring the seapool, looking across the bay.

Where can we visit in the rain?