Things to do around Looe area and Cornwall

[mmmmmchocolate]

Holiday was postponed from 2020, and fingers crossed we will make it this year 🤞🏻🤞🏻 me, DH and Dd14 & DD12 last time we went here the children were happy to play on the beach but as beautiful as Looe beach is, it is small and weather dependant.

Can anyone recommend some nice beaches (we have a car and can get the train) some attractions that are suitable for the children’s ages. We don’t mind driving, just not too far due to petrol costs and the fact that it’s over 4 hours to Looe from home means that it’s a lot of driving for one person. Thanks!

I went to a monkey sanctuary there years ago which was good, not sure if your kids would still enjoy monkeys or not.

Hidden Valley Discovery Park.
with older kids you will not regret it. Trust me!

There is a marvellous Victorian tidal bath in the cliffs at Polperro. It has both shallow paddling and deep swimming.

Even more tide-dependent, you can sometimes walk (and wade) across the sea-bed to Looe Island.

Is that Hidden valley suitable for older kids? I have 10 year old and 13 year old but the photos look like younger kids?

Ooooh welcome to Cornwall! I hope you have a wonderful time.

Forests: Cardinham Woods suitable for bikes, walks, dogs and they have a cafe and BBQ area

Cute beaches: Polperro. Lantic Bay (National Trust)

Restormal Castle. Eden Project but tis pricey.

Lanhydrock is gorgeous. National Trust with a huge car park, bike trails, cafe and walks. And a park!

Near Lanhydrock is Respryn which is a GORGEOUS woodland walk!

It’s a little drive but Porthpean has a lovely beach.

get the train down to Truro for a bit of shopping, cute cafes and heavenly pancakes.

Im local and I quite enjoy Wheal Martyn!

Have the loveliest holiday xx

Are they adventurous? You've got this ten mins drive away:

www.adrenalinquarry.co.uk/

I’ve never heard of Hidden Valley! Looks amazing!

I love finding gems like this locally! ❤️

We went to the Lost Gardens of Heligan with dc aged 10-16, and everyone found something to enjoy there.

Last summer we booked a mackerel fishing trip off Looe harbour. My 13yr old loved that.
Bodmin jail was good,though completely different to when I last visited ten years ago,they really have ploughed alot money into it,when before it was more of a ruin.
We also visited the mines which are close by,my son wasn't so interested in this but i loved it!

Some of the clues and puzzles at Hidden Valley had us adults scratching our heads, but maybe I shouldn’t admit to that! My two are 13 and 16 and say they would love to go back.
There are things there geared for younger kids too though.

It's lovely to get the ferry from Fowey to Mevagissy which is a very seasidy town!

Wow, I didn’t expect so many responses so quickly! Lots of things to check out so far!

I had already looked at the monkey sanctuary and I think that’s definitely something we would like and I’d seen adrenaline quarry, expensive but they’d love that massive inflatable. I’d love the big swing that flies over the sea but I don’t think I’d be brave enough 😂

Ill look into all the other suggestions thank you, does anyone else have anymore?

The gardens of heligan are amazing and my kids really enjoyed lappa valley

Pop to Plymouth and swim in the Tinside Lido. You'll need to book tickets online for a session time before you go. Go over on the Torpoint Ferry for a bit of variety - also much shorter journey from Looe than going around via the Tamar Bridge.

Golitha Falls near Liskeard is beautiful and cool for a walk on a hot day. Inkies Smokehouse is in the car park and gets BUSY so you might get lunch there, but tbh you can queue for an hour just to get served so don't bank on it. It is AMAZING food though!

Eden Project is an obvious one, but it's expensive.

Par beach is OK, but a trek when you ha e the whole of the Rame Peninsula to choose from close to hand.

Jump on the train to St Ives (change at St Erth) for the day.

Kynance cove is beautiful but check tide times. Poldhu cove is lovely , has a cafe there so we had cooked breakfast on the beach! We rented canoes near st Michael's mount, can't remember the name but it was a stand on the beach there. Trebah gardens are brilliant to walk round, really stunning and big leaves (pretended we were in Jurassic park😂) I have just realised my suggestions are actually about an hour or so from Looe- have confused myself between a minibreak we went on in Looe and a holiday in helston. But if you don't mind a drive they're lovely places!

We visited the Adrenaline Quarry last week and the kids loved it. Everything is crazy expensive down there at the moment though, we've done the Fowey to Mevagissey boat trip before and planned to do it again - except its £80 for us this year 😧
Polkerris is a beautiful beach where they hire kayaks and paddle boards.

@Silverswirl Hidden Valley is perfect for a 10 and 13 year old. It's that rare gem - an attraction suitable for older DCs and teens.
We've been three times- although the first visit was the best.

Another one here who recommends Hidden Valley.
Definitely good for older kids too.
It's such a different attraction to the usual sort of place.

The Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is lovely although quite a way down , also the Minack theatre is worth a look even if there is nothing on ( although it’s worth checking) . Mevagissy is definitely worth a visit , it’s lovely .

I think you’ve all almost filled out week! Can anyone tell me what’s at Polperro? Is it just a beach or are the shops/restaurants etc there?

The Hidden Valley website doesn’t seem that informative and I’d never have even looked but with so many recommendations we are going to do that one of the days. Is it suitable for rainy days or are we best to pick a dry day?

We have been to the seal sanctuary, it’s really lovely! Small but we filled a good afternoon there. It’s worth visiting at feeding times as the seals are so comical! However it’s an hour and half from Looe so we might give that a miss this year.

@mmmmmchocolate highly recommend lunch in the blue Peter pub in Polperro. Delicious food, great drinks, proper pub, friendly staff, right on the harbour.

Lots of other pubs, cafes and restaurants in Polperro and a few nice shops too.

This is probably about an hour or so drive away (so maybe too far?) but Kernow Adventure Park was a big hit for us a few years ago. It's a water park in a disused quarry lake.

We went paddle boarding for a bargainous £10 per person per hour including wet suit use! You get basic instruction and off you go. It's on still water so easier than on the sea or river and wasn't overly busy.
(It's more like £20ppph where we live and that's without a wetsuit!).

They also had an inflatable assault course .

A lot of Hidden Valley is outside so a dry day is best. It's basically a series of treasure hunt sort of games around the grounds.
Then there is a house you enter and have to do puzzles and find your way out.

Do not go to Polperro !!!!! I’ve been in Cornwall for a couple of days and called into Polperro today and it’s really not worth the cost of the car park . We were there just after 1 and most of the restaurants were closed until the evening and there are hardly any decent shops . I can recommend the glass bottom boat trip around Looe island which was great fun , and we saw a seal .

Readymoney beach in Fowey is tiny but lovely for swimming as it's really sheltered and feels really safe. There's a pontoon to swim out to, and a fab beach shop for ice cream. Fowey is a lovely town for a walk round with some good food and little shops. And it's gorgeous 😍