Cornwall packing list

[Foxhasbigsocks]

Have never done a UK bucket and spade holiday and am from up inland north so no idea about the south coast! Never been to Cornwall either, but we are going at the end of July. A few nights in a bnb then a few nights in a cottage.

What do I need to pack?

So far I’ve got:

Kids shortie wetsuits
Kids swim shoes for pebbly beaches
Kids sun hats
Kids fishing nets (hoping for rock pools!)
Kids towelling ponchos

All the usual summer clothing clobber, bucket and spade stuff etc

Is there anything else I should particularly be thinking of?

I’m thinking it could be cold to baking hot, so will try to keep that in mind when packing!

I’m quite worried about huge queues on the roads - thinking it could be mayhem but both places we are staying are walking distance to the beach

Reusable water bottles - ok definitely needs to be on the list

Baby wipes!! Can’t go wrong with those!!!

Up for any Cornwall wisdom beyond packing - really want to explore but thinking traffic will be crazy this summer so might not be that wise to attempt multiple day trips

Great thread

Reading with interest as going to Devon but how depressing to need fleeces and coats on holiday.

Places near are st nectans glen/port issac/ polzeath?

@FedNlanders some of those sound familiar from my frenzied googling when I booked this

@Foxhasbigsocks

Yes so true blackout blinds are definitely needed

For crabbing I’ve done it before on the east coast but can’t remember what you need - bacon, bucket and a net l? Where can you do that - just random rock pools?

I think you also need some string and hook thing to lower the bacon on. We went crabbing in Padstow last summer next to some very posh people that kept saying how the crabs preferred their Waitrose smoked bacon. Made me stifle a laugh.

We've been every August since our dc were tiny. A pop up beach tent, lots of change for beach car parks, water proof sun hats - I get Polarn o Pyret legionnaire hats, I don't take coats but do take warm fleeces for sunset coastal walks, which we love. Extra tea towels and my own good frying pan.

Other things have been mentioned.

@zyx12 that’s mumsnet gold isn’t it?! Clearly those crabs HAVE TASTE

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@Newnormal99 thank you - great tip abut the beach. Looks lovely! How early is early enough would you say?!!![/quote]
We used to leave by 6am - that was travelling from London / Surrey. Same sort of time to come back as well.

Pack everything night before to come home and then just jump in car.

Btw always check tide times for beach as it completely disappears I think at high tide.

Also I don't know what age kids are but it's not one you can access with a buggy from what I remember.

@Quornflakegirl the pans in self catering are often awful aren’t they!

As somebody who goes on holiday by train, the idea of taking a clothes airer and blackout blinds is making me laugh.

Cornish born and bred and these are things I wear a lot
Trainers
Some shoes you don't mind getting wet but can be used to scramble over rocks to get to the decent rock pools and caves
Body warmer
A scarf
If camping hat & gloves
Blanket

For books the Mousehole cat is beautifully illustrated

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I forgot to mention I’m going in the world’s tiniest and oldest car. I have a blackout blind which sticks on with suckers and is very small and I think some folding beach chairs somewhere in the shed. But this is a fantasy packing list - we will deffo have to rationalise or there won’t be space for any of us in there!

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@zyx12 that’s mumsnet gold isn’t it?! Clearly those crabs HAVE TASTE [/quote]
Absolutely! In the words of M&S, these were not just normal crabs, these were Waitrose-loving carnivorous crabs. It was all very Padstow and would have been churlish to have pointed out my son had caught larger crabs with his cheapo bacon from the local corner shop...

@3CCC the mouse hole cat looks lovely - thank you!! Also taking careful note of all your other ideas

@zyx12 well done your son

I’m sure the crabs attracted by Waitrose were deemed to be superior even if more bijou

Dustpan brush left in car for getting sand off feet before you get back in.

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@3CCC the mouse hole cat looks lovely - thank you!! Also taking careful note of all your other ideas[/quote]
😊😊😊

The Mermaid of Zennor is a folk story I remember as a child too. Especially if you are going to that part of the world

But Mousehole Cat is much better imo

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I forgot to mention I’m going in the world’s tiniest and oldest car. I have a blackout blind which sticks on with suckers and is very small and I think some folding beach chairs somewhere in the shed. But this is a fantasy packing list - we will deffo have to rationalise or there won’t be space for any of us in there![/quote]

Layers. It can be all seasons in one day!

There are supermarkets and all sorts of shops in Cornwall for you to buy anything you didn't take and decide you need!

Thanks so much for all this everyone - I’m thinking even if it’s wind and rain all week with layers galore we will be out of this house at least and together....will I be saying this when dp insists on a day trip and we get stuck with half the uk on the Cornish roads?!!!!!

Remember that you might need to book things in advance if there are still restrictions (eg tintagel) so worth investigating in advance. Beach shoes are often recommended on sandy beaches as well due to weever fish. If you want to do st Ives look at parking somewhere down the trainline and catching the train in (saves parking in the town and it's a picturesque journey).

Pp mentioned parking app but might be worth saving change as well