Cornwall too busy and too expensive!

[clarasara]

Last went to Cornwall about 15 years ago.
We are looking to go in August but everyone keeps telling me how much it has changed and is super busy. Our friends go alot and said they were shoulder to shoulder in Padstow.
Can only go in August as a teacher and as we live in the North don't want to travel all the way down to find it too busy! Bloody expensive too.

My husband doesn't think it's worth the long drive and to pay over inflated prices. Just want somewhere the kids can go on a nice beach, be abit warmer than Yorkshire and lots to do!
Any other recommendations?
I love Cornwall though but hate the drive.

Padstow in August. Ha ha. Just no. In fact any time in July too.

With Cornwall get up early to get places and beat the crowds.

As locals we don’t do much in August. Oddly I’ve always found the final week before the children go back fine!

Another shout for Tenby.
or you could try Swanage and then be nearby for Studland, Poole, Bournemouth and its surroundings.

I know its a long drive from the North @clarasara , could you do a stop on the way down ? We usually do this to break the journey a bit if we are going down to the bottom of the county. Exeter area is a good stop point, and you usually get there early enough to head to Exmouth for fish and chips and a leg stretch

We went to Devon last year. Check term dates but we went 16th July I think, first week if our school holidays but the local schools hadn't broken up yet. It was busy but not horrendously so, was first week restrictions were lifted as well so wasn't sure what to expect. Stunning coastline, not as expensive for food and drink as we thought, certainly cheaper than bloody Skegness or even Scarborough. And we had the heatwave week so couldn't have had better weather.

In fairness, it's busy too but Lyme Regis is lovely. We stayed in Christchurch and Bournemouth last year (last minute as our foreign trip was cancelled) and enjoyed it. I also love Salcombe in Devon but that's also busy and expensive.

Cornwall is lovely but it does get congested. The beaches are beautiful though.

We have been going to the same place in North Devon for the last 7 (Wow 7 - that flew!!) years. It's a cottage on a farm in a wooded valley down a 1/2 mile long track. Peace perfect peace. There's a small river and a big garden. Ducks and hens wandering about. Half an hour drive to the seaside -Puttsborough, Saunton Sands or Croyde - busy but the beaches are huge so loads of space. I think if you go more rural and are prepared to drive to places you can have the best of both worlds!

Another vote for Wales. Last year we did a week in Pembrokeshire then drove up the coast for a week in Anglesey. Great fortnight.

To avoid traffic we used to leave ridiculously early and aim to get down for about 9 / 10ish.

But yes, it is busy and it is expensive. If it’s beaches you’re after, Sennen is gorgeous as is the whole of that end. Don’t even bother with St Ives in the summer, you won’t be able to go anywhere at your own pace (a bit like Whitby on a warm day).

I presume @Gregsprinkles enjoys the peaceful nature of the place and doesn’t want that spoiling when everyone realises how lovely it is.

There’s something magical about Cornwall, as the cool kids say these days, it just hits differently. We tolerate the crowds in the summer but also visit out of season and still love it. The coastline and Atlantic Ocean make the beaches special, sunsets are incredible and you feel cut off from the rest of the country particularly down on the Penwith peninsula.

YY Pembrokeshire; Tenby is a lovely small town and there are lots of gorgeous beaches and cliff walks; also quite a few attractions around. We used to go every year and called it Cornwall without the crowds. Or the journey tbh.

It's not as stunning perhaps as Cornwall and probs not as warm, but you can sit on a beach in August and be the only people in a 100m radius.

I see lots of others have said the same!

We went to Barbados last year because we couldn’t afford Cornwall

If you like Cornwall you'll like west
Wales. Have a look at the areas around Newquay or Tenby

Pembrokeshire and Anglesey areas are both lovely. Loads to do with the kids. Much quieter than Cornwall

Come on down to Margate, you can have a good old cockney knees up, eat some whelks and go back to the car park to find your motor's been nicked.

Lovely jubbly!

It depends what you want to do in Cornwall and if you have children.Bodmin Moor is wonderful,the coastal paths,small villages and the lesser known beaches.Stay away from St Ives ,Padstow,Newquay in August.Wadebridge has the bike hire and Camel trail,Pentewen near Heligan, amazing place and very large so even in August is fine.We as residents stay clear of the hot spots in August.NT places are very large St Michaels Mount is very busy but amazing.Get up early or go to the beach late afternoon should be fine.Is it more expensive than other places? Yes, Stein but there are other places if you look which are reasonable.It has become a foody place but visitors love it so it will continue and good food well cooked is never cheap why should it be?Have fun.

New Quay on the Cardigan coast has the Cornish fishing village feel, very pretty. Aberaeron a bit further North is lovely town with the amazing HarbourMaster. Aberdyfi is truly beautiful with the mountain/estuary backdrop. For lovely coast, Anglesey and Llŷn often has great weather. All will be busy in the summer but not Cornwall busy-no way would I ever make that journey again to feel like a sardine. Part of the joy of beautiful surroundings is the feeling of peace-Cornwall was hell.

It’s not just the food that’s expensive, I am happy to pay for good food. Accommodation is extortionate. Parking is expensive. Even just buying an ice cream is expensive.
And that’s fine, people will pay it, which is why they can charge such high prices. But there are other, equally as beautiful places (if not more so) in the U.K. where all those things (and good food) are far cheaper.

This was Anglesey the other week

Cornwall is beautiful! Stay away from the popular towns (Padstow is one of the busiest towns) during school holidays and explore other areas. It's a big county.

Wow looks lovely, somewhere ive never visited but must put it on the list, weve got a dog now so for the foreseeable future we are after dog friendly holidays!

I’ve lived in the NW for a long time but didn’t go to Anglesey-the coast is stunning and so close to the mountains of Snowdonia. During the summer, some of the beaches have restrictions for dogs-only on part of them-and no restrictions at other times. The pictures are from Newborough Beach-has forest backdrop too so excellent for dogs!

Brittany is nicer, cheaper and less overcrowded (but obviously still busy in peak season) than Cornwall, and the weather is better. No brainer.

Camber Sands near Rye is absolutely stunning

Agree with this. Those of us who have been going there for years know just how bad it is, and would hate to inflict it on anyone else.