Hit me with your Cornwall recommendations

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

Hello Lovely Mumsnetters,

We're bailing on the idea of an overseas holiday this summer for obvious reasons. We're considering Cornwall as I've always wanted to see more of it.

We have a DS (7) and a small dog. We want beaches, nice dog walks, good playparks/adventure parks/ waterpark and nice places to have lunch. We will have a car so can drive around a little bit but don't want to be driving miles every day.

Where's a good spot to base ourselves?

Anyone?

I think you'll find the best places in Cornwall are already fully booked for this summer.

But since you ask, we've always holidayed on the North Coast. Near Padstow. The town itself is massively busy during the tourist season due to the Rick Stein effect, but there are some nice places to stay within a couple of miles.

Ideally you want to be in walking distance of a beach, as the car parks get rammed during summer.

I would also say avoid Newquay.

Trevone Bay however is very nice.

We stay in St Merryn near Padstow.

It's perfect. We go to Constantine Bay for the beach, have to get there early or the car park is full.

We always do a day trip to the seal sanctuary, the Eden project, St Ives.

We've already made restaurant bookings in padstow for July, except for our absolute fave Prawn on the Lawn which opened on a local farm last year, so waiting to see if we can go back in the restaurant this year.

Also St Merryn is walking distance to the new Pig Hotel and restaurant. They have a fab outdoor bar/eating area with excellent music.

If you can hack the drive right to the end then Sennen Cove is lovely. We also like around Fowey and Looe on the south. Mawgan Porth is lovely too. Agree to avoid Newquay. Anywhere around Padstow lovely too. I think you've missed the boat on booking though for the summer.

Mawgan Porth is lovely, and all the beaches around there are dog friendly in the summer I think. There is a really nice looking lodge/caravan park there. But probably all booked up for the summer already as I know it is very popular even in non-COVID years!
theparkcornwall.com/accommodation/

We also like Porthtowan, near St Agnes - its not such a well known place so might have some availability for the summer still. You can take dogs on the beach early am and in the evening but not middle of the day. Worth bearing in mind. Have a look on Airbnb and Aspects holidays for self catering cottages.

Gwel an Mor is a nice development that might suit you. It is not right on the beach, but has the kind of facilities that are welcome with younger kids eg. pool, some organised activities like nature walks etc www.gwelanmor.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAvP6ABhCjARIsAH37rbSwJDapgJO7BePecdkhakhigfZokMAMncW-Bsvm7VZPe_VB5BvpOoYaAsmjEALw_wcB

Mawgan Porth is gorgeous. The beach and the local pubs are dog friendly year round. It's pretty much smack bang between Newquay and Padstow. There is a water park/Flow Rider at Retallack Resort just outside of Padstow which is ace. Lovely boating lake and gardens just outside of Newquay. Go karting at St Eval which is a few minutes drive from Mawgan Porth. The Eden Project is close by but I prefer The Lost Gardens of Heligan. And of course, all the lovely places to eat PP's have mentioned.

White acres or sea acres are lovely with log cabins swimming pool play areas etc. White acres has 13 lakes for fishing and you can tour round from there .,

I may be biased- I live there- but have a look at South East Cornwall.

Polperro and Fowey are gorgeous!

Polperro has lots of fabulous eateries, gorgeous pubs a beach, a natural swimming pool, access to the SW coast path. Nearby is the Adrenalin Quarry which is fantastic. It is also very dog friendly. You can walk to Talland Bay and Lansallos Beach easily,

Fowey is a 25 minute drive away, where you can hire boats for the day. Par Beach is fantastic, with a fab beach cafe.

A friend of mine has been trying to book somewhere to stay in Cornwall - anywhere - for June, and unless she’s prepared top pay £1000’s there’s nothing available!

Thank you everyone. Have been frantically googling places. Many people's grim messages about 'there will be nothing left' have rung true. (Is it normally the same or is this the fallout from COVID?) Completely lost my heart to The Park at Mawgan Porth but not a chance - booked out for months.

Have managed to book a nice cottage near Falmouth. Not exactly what we were hoping for - wanted a resort somewhere with more on-site facilities really. But the accommodation is very highly rated and the photos look lovely. My only reservation is the local beaches don't allow dogs, so we'll have to drive around a bit. (Anyone got recommendations for dog friendly beaches?)

It’s due to a combination of people having to move bookings from last year and the fact that everyone who would usually go abroad seems to be flocking there.
We normally go to Cornwall or holiday in the U.K. but couldn’t get into any of our usual places this year. It’s gonna be rammed.

£1000 is pretty standard for one week in a cottage in the summer.

carbis bay? fab beach for your ds. lovely easy train ride into st ives. ..where there are two dog friendly beaches.

Oh sorry I see you booked. .I misread

Don't worry, Falmouth is a lovely short ferry ride to St Mawes which I think is one of the prettiest towns in Cornwall and has really lovely beaches. I can't find anything online about which are dog friendly, but I was there last summer and there were plenty of dogs running about on at least one stretch of beach!

Cornwall is going to be the place to avoid.
In fact even locals are renting out their homes and getting out. It'll be far to crowded to be safe.

What a pity.

Stayed in Bude, its like stepping back in time in a good way
Stayed here
shorebreakcornwall.co.uk
Its 55 miles from the Nearest McDonalds which amused me more than the kids!

Some good points re crowds I suspect it will be very busy this year, Carbis bay is nice but nearby places are booked months in advance

Have you considered North Wales?
Some ideas here
www.donthibernate.co.uk

There’s dogs running around on loads of beaches all summer don’t worry about it. I think it’s pretty much only Falmouth and poss St Ives that dont allow them.

And even St Ives (where we stay) has a lovely dog friendly beach

I own a holiday property in Cornwall. It’s already fully booked. I’m astonished.

Falmouth is great you can take boat trips to see dolphins.
Google roselsnd peninsula for the beaches they are great.

Falmouth has a swimming pool with flumes etc for rainy days and the maritime museum is great it's v child focused.

@LaurieFairyCake

And even St Ives (where we stay) has a lovely dog friendly beach

Haha, I go to st Ives about once every two years, I should not claim to know!

Ships and castles has been closed for a very long time now, obviously due to Covid but I wouldn't bank on it being open. I think perranporth is dog friendly I'm not sure though. I love in Cornwall and have a dog but hat going to the beach!

We were in Cornwall last summer, and I’m sure it was all fully booked then too. The town centre of the main spots eg. St Ives, Newquay, padstow were very busy. But beaches all had more than enough space. We really didn’t feel unsafe on beaches, walks etc. And all the businesses were very COVID aware. If you wanted to eat out you had to book at least 1 week in advance in a lot of places. We mostly did take-outs rather than eating in, and it worked v well. But it does depend on the kind of holiday you want.

Crealy theme park is amazing