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

Book a supermarket delivery for your arrival at cottage. Even if you’re going to be eating out, or buying fish and chips/ pasties, you’ll need basics and nice breakfast things. You don’t want to be wasting valuable holiday time traipsing round a supermarket.

@WaverleyPirate omg 10 am and it’s already bad - that I wouldn’t have expected

@bellabride good point! Will book that

Another way of avoiding snarl is to book an extra night somewhere so you are travelling on a weekday.

It's building at 10am and at its worst midday / 2/ 3pm.

@WaverleyPirate because of work stuff the only day we can travel is sat so we have booked an overnight on the sat half way and then will be coming into Cornwall on the Sunday morning. We could probably leave the overnight place at 5.30, so actually looking at the map should be there by 9 am.

Pengenna pasties are amazing.

Oh my goodness @LFQuery these? www.pengennapasties.co.uk/

They look SO tasty. I see there’s a shop in Tintagel so will add that to the to do list!

You will sail through on Sunday at that time.

On way back at end of holiday think about when to leave to avoid rush. Avoid Weston / Clevedon Hill junctions at day tripper heading home time.

@WaverleyPirate brilliant thank you. I’m thinking very very early on the way home too!

@Foxhasbigsocks

Oh my goodness *@LFQuery* these? www.pengennapasties.co.uk/

They look SO tasty. I see there’s a shop in Tintagel so will add that to the to do list!

Exactly those. Honestly I have tried many pasties but these were just amazing. They sell lots of other lovely stuff in there. There’s an ice cream place next door too.

Right all going on my master list!!!

If you go to the beach on what looks promising to be a sunny day still take a warm hoody or fleece. The breeze can be deceptive.

Good advice @RoseMartha - just been looking at the temperatures historically for July and can see it’s average max 20 so with a breeze I can imagine a nice fluffy jumper would be good for the kids and actually us as well. Classic British seaside photos in the wind I bet!!

Does everyone think the cliff top walks from Tintagel will be safe for a seven year old? Not too narrow paths with really steep drops?

Depends on the six year old. If they stay with you it would be OK. Coast path can get quite near edge at times.

I've just walked two other sections. 90 per cent absolutely fine, 10 per cent hold their hands.

Online it says that part near Tintagel has sections close to unfenced cliff drops. But I haven't walked it myself yet.

Don’t forget wellies and raincoats!
As others said a basic first aid kit is a must. My DD got sick on holidays once and the nearest shop selling Calpol was 15miles of country roads away 🤦🏻‍♀️ Some nice NT gardens, might have to pre-book now due to Covid restrictions. Don’t forget a picnic blanket for the beach. We also had a foldable trolley for all the beach stuff like toys, towels, wetsuits etc.

Another local here!
Trebarwith Strand is lovely, but parking is tricky and you can end up walking along the narrow busy lane to get to the beach. Also check the tide times. If the tides in there will be no beach at all there! Plus, bear in mind that to get on the sand you have to walk over a flat rock face that can be slippy. When carrying all your stuff and a child's hand it's not easy!
I'd go to Widemouth beach near Bude. You can park close to the beach, it's big and Sandy and there are rock pools.
For crabbing, Padstow, or Looe or Fowey on the south coast are good. You need some sort of quay wall to drop your line.
You are never more than 16 miles from the coast in Cornwall, so it's not too hard to go 'south,' (dependant on traffic).
There isn't really a beach itself in Tintagel, and not a lot in the town once you've done the castle and Arthur stuff.
As to what to take - a beach tent and/or wind break. It can get fresh on the coast. Blankets and warm jumpers, water shoes for rock pooling, plastic bags for rubbish, wet clothes, dirty shoes etc.

Some great advice on this thread.

so I'll just add a couple of day out suggestions.

www.minack.com/
Minack theatre is great especially for your age children, We saw one about the stories and legends of Cornwall.

Also over the boarder in Devon Clovelly is a beautiful day out.

if you do a day trip to St Ives you can park at train station at a village outside st Ives and catch the train in (if they are still running?) it's a lovely ride and views, they were/are really frequent there and back, down ready for home just turn up at the station and wait.

Sorry Minack theatre is a long way from you and maybe not feasible unless you are making a day of being in that neck of the woods.(the roads and car parking near opening time are chocka block and many of the roads practically single track)

Things look close in Cornwall but they take an age to get to.

and getting to st Ives from where you are staying always takes longer than you expect. (even when you've done it many times previously 😂) but is more than do able as long as you factor in the travel time.

In terms of books, Michael Morpurgo has some Cornwall based novels for your older child - most are based on the Isles of Scilly (like Why the Whales Came), but the Sleeping Sword ties into to the Arthurian legend, and Arthur High King of Britain is a re-telling of the legend.

I confess to not having read either of them as Morpurgo is not popular in our house, ever since my daughter was traumatised by the first story in the WhiteHorse of Zennor!!

Bear in mind that most activities and sightseeing stuff are outdoors. I can't think of anything off hand that is undercover. Also, not a lot close by may be fun or interesting to the children!
There are more things for children inland. Camel Creek at Wadebridge is a small theme park type place, Trethorne is a play place/farm with bowling as well near Launceston.

OP are you going to the waterfalls? Definitely take spare clothes there as you’ll likely get very wet! (We didn’t and regretted it 😉) Also get there early as very little parking. It’s lovely though.

Also, as I’m sure others have said above, take raincoats as lots of rain in Cornwall