Cornwall - Interesting places/attractions to visit (open to anything)

[Bananachews]

Hi everyone. My 5 year old has pointed to Cornwall on our family scratch map for our 2027 family holiday which I am over the moon about. We have always wanted to go to Cornwall and never have so we want to make the most of our time there.

At the moment we are probably looking to stay at one of the Haven sites, however after driving 7/8 hours to get to Cornwall in the first place we are more than happy to drive around to visit the most exciting places, we don’t want the haven sites to restrict us as we aren’t sure when we will be able to go back due to the length of travel. Not sure how long we will be there for either (we are at very early stages of planning, but most likely 7 days due to the travel time).

The only place I want to go to for definite is the Eden Project, and our son wants a nice beach (which I’m presuming is everywhere). Maybe somewhere he could have a surfing lesson? We also have a baby who will be approaching 2 by the time we visit. My husband loves Cider and a quick google said there was a brewery tour somewhere?

I would love if you could tell me your favourite places to go. Happy to hear both family friendly suggestions and adults only as we potentially may be going with grandparents who may want to split off by themselves and/or take the kids on their own at times as well. I have done a quick google but it’s so overwhelming I thought it would be a good idea to get some opinions from people who have been or live there as a starting point.

We genuinely are open to anything - caves, beaches, walking, zoos and aquariums, wandering around towns and shops, brewery tours etc.

Thanks

The Minack theatre and St Micheals Mount

"I’m now starting to understand that Google maps is not realistic for how long it actually takes to get around Cornwall in the summer!"

Cornwall is the only place I've almost ran out of petrol. Coming back from Minack and praying I'd get to the petrol station in Falmouth. Petrol counter was on zero those last few minutes.

That’s basically what I heard about Sennen. People have got into difficulty there. My great uncle lived there for years (not Cornish) in a house built into a cliff so he should know.

Shifting sandbanks in Sennen too. Dangerous.

Pendennis Castle is well worth a visit - English Heritage so free entry to members.

Bedruthan Steps is beautiful.

Ours loved the seal sanctuary at Gweek and our eldest declared St Michael's Mount to be her favourite place ever. She would have been four then.

For your first time I would recommend staying central and have a car. So look at Newquay area. From there within 30-45mins you have:

north coast surfing at any number of beaches
Padstow with crabbing and wildlife boat tours
Healey’s Cyder Farm - cider, animals, brewery tours, orchard tractor ride
Screech Owl Sanctuary
Lappa Valley - fun family park
Finding the holy wells at Holywell
Any number of beautiful life guarded beaches
Eden
Lost Gardens of Heligan
NT properties - Trerice, Trelissick, Lanhydrock
Newquay Zoo

Camel trail, you can hire bikes to ride along it.
i prefer the beaches on the south coast. Less busy and a little more sheltered. There are some lovely little coves that are not overcrowded even peak season.

My late DSis lived in Looe with my Cornish BIL so we enjoyed lots of boat trips ( BIL has a small traditional fishing boat) we have seen seals and dolphins while out fishing.

BIL & DSis didn’t visit the north coast during peak season because it was too crowded but they often had a trip to Padstow to eat at Rick Steins or to have take away fish and chips from there.

There is a smoke house cafe somewhere near Looe ( can’t remember exactly where) called Inkies. Very popular and you can combine it with a woodland walk to see local waterfalls, because it really is the middle of nowhere.

There are some great national trust properties dotted around. Newquay is not somewhere I would choose to go particularly around the Boardmasters festival. Traffic queuing is on a different level that weekend.

There is a steam railway line if you have a steam engine fan. There are loads of places that do surfing.

We rented a cottage when DS went to Boardmasters one year. It was easier than driving him down then returning to pick him up. It was close to the A30 and only 20mins from the festival site so I could pick him up each morning. He could have a shower and a nap then spend the day with us before returning for the evenings. Being inland we had quick access to the main A roads and could tour around a bit. It was also close to a Marks and Spencer’s so I decent food for the week.
Tge problem with coastal sites is it can take an hour to get to the main A roads along the narrow single track roads.

North Coast beaches tend to have the roughest seas, South Coast makes for generally calmer seas for little ones. The beach at Marazion is calm and overlooks St Michaels mount but its a rough sand, for proper lovely fine sand Hayle is a great option, although North Coast it's a bit more protected. There are quite a few holiday parks in the Hayle area, most holiday parks come with entertainment in the evenings for adults and little ones if that;s what you like. Asides from Haven there are also John Fowler sites in the furthest end of Cornwall. St Ives, St Agnes, Polzeath, Padstow areas etc are all really expensive destinations.
I'd look to see if I could find something cheap in the St Austell area for a few nights and explore that area, the Eden Project, Charlestown etc then head down towards the Hayle area for a longer stay. I'd choose May over August, in August the prices of accommodation double, if not triple! The roads are gridlocked, it takes double the amount of time to get anywhere than it does outside of the school holidays. I personally think you will get more for your money in May than August.

If you go to the seal sanctuary at Gweek, make sure it's on a day that Gear farm are open, they do the most amazing pasties. Give them a call and reserve them in advance.

St Micheal's mount is fabulous! I find the first session in the morning is best as it gets so busy there. Then spend the afternoon on Marazion beach, it's lovely for toddlers!

My kids love Coverack beach, there's a cafe, pub and an ice cream and the car park isn't too far away. On a calm day the water is shallow for a long way out so it's good for small kids. The harbour is so pretty. Check tide times as there is no beach at high tide.

If you have a very healthy budget you can take a flight over to the Scilly Isles which are stunning. I wouldn't recommend taking the boat like we did, I'm normally OK with boats but it makes a lot of people feel sick.

I would avoid Kynance cove with little kids. It is absolutely stunning but it is busy, a long walk from the car park and the currents are really strong.

Take cagoules.

I forgot to say we stay in or around the Lizard.

I'm by no means an expert, but have been twice and I loved the Camel cycling trail and NT Lanhydrock (nice day out with kids, see if you can find a free voucher in the newspaper before you go). I didn't rate the Eden project but I did go in COVID times when parts of it were closed, and I also live nearish to Kew.

For me The Eden Project was a complete waste of a day. I like plants and a bit of greenery but I was completely underwhelmed.

Cornwall is huge. Pick an area you fancy and stay local. I love the ruggedness of north Cornwall, the area around Tintagel and Boscastle.

My DD absolutely loved the porthcurno museum - I guess she was 8/9 when we went there so not tiny but still quite young. (She did grow up to be an electronics engineer though!)

Tintagel
Eden Project
Padstow
Polperro
Crabbing (we did this in Looe which is where Beyond Paradise is set if you are a fan!)
Bodmin Jail and surrounding moor
We did Land's End, Minack and St Michael's Mount in one day
And beaches!

All things DS loved when he was a similar age

Another potential place to stay in pentewen sands , lovely little site with a swimming pool , evening entertainment, restaurants and is connected to a beach . It’s close to lost gardens of heligan and eden project

The short ferry ride between Rock and Padstow.
Newquay Zoo.

By the way, a previous poster said Hartland Point and Milky Way, but you won't find them in Cornwall. They're in Devon.

St Ives is my favourite place - can be a pain to park as gets v busy in high summer so if you can get the train, that would be stress-free way to travel in - lovely journey up the branch line too! There's a surf school place at Porthmeor beach for your ds, but all the beaches there are nice. The Tate is good if you like art and in the centre of the town, there's Barbara Hepworth's old studio / museum which is well worth a visit, lots of her sculptures in the garden.

I second all the posters suggesting Minnack Theatre and St Michael's Mount - both are really special.

Any Cornish beach can be dangerous in the wrong weather conditions.

Check the weather and tides, don't go in the water if in doubt, educate yourselves about what rip currents look like, choose lifeguarded beaches and ask their advice if unsure.

what’s it like for teens/young adults? Any suggestions? Coming early July

We’re coming down this weekend for an event at the Minack, how mad is it likely to be at this time of year?

OP sorry to highjack, glad you’re getting some good suggestions for your trip

The lost gardens of heligan is ace for 5 year olds and adults!
Penzance lido is also very good

That’s what I found out about at Sennen. Never researched any others apart from St Austell.

Camel trail - cycle wadebridge to padstow and back
Stop for wine at Camel valley
Bodmin
Eden project
Falmouth
Trebah gardens