Newquay and Cornwall ideas for a weeks holiday?

[SaferHaven]

Hi me and my pre-teen daughter have a week booked at a holiday park just outside of Newquay.

Having not been to Cornwall since a school activity holiday as a teen I’m wrestling with the temptation to use that week to explore as much as we can but also embrace the relaxation of slow days using the sites facilities and the odd beach trip.

The 2 things I have booked are surf school for us both and the Eden project as I’ve always wanted to go. However is there any other things we should look at visiting?

We like all sorts of activities apart from stately homes (castles are fine) and anything to do with cycling.
The drive down is looking to be around 6 hours so once there don’t really want to do a massive amount of time in a car although happy to use public transport instead if easy/available.

Any tips very welcome, thanks.

There’s a town called bude about 40 mins away from Newquay. It’s the most gorgeous little town with absolutely breathtaking beaches. Widemouth bay is beautiful. Theres also Boscastle and Tintagel not too far away. Padstow is gorgeous as well. Im
a big Cornwall fan if you can tell!

Pick up leaflets from the service station(s) as you get into the south west. That will give you some pointers about activities & places to visit.
Try this website too:
www.visitcornwall.com/

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are lovely & if you’re DD is into nature/animals, Steve Backshall is in residence over the summer doing performances.

Something really different is the Hidden Valley Puzzle Park. It contains a few escape room & puzzle trails (of varying difficulty) & can take the whole day.

I visited polgoon winery and did a tour with my daughter. I know she’s underage but it’s a gorgeous place and they have a variety of yummy food truck/popup eateries in the summer.

There is also a beach sauna you can book in Falmouth. It’s fun to spend an hour going from the sauna into the ocean and back gain.

I grew up in Cornwall. Bude is an absolute arse to get to from Newquay - you will spend ages in the car on windy roads, as a lot of locals like to drive at a constant 37mph regardless of the speed limit. This would definitely not be my first choice to visit.

Closer days out are Tintagel, St Agnes (parking can be a pain but it has a lovely beach, a microbrewery and good food, and the cliff walk between St Agnes and Chapel Porth beach - probably my favourite Cornish beach - is beautiful, with loads of old tin mines. They also do a great ice cream at the NT cafe there.), Falmouth or Padstow / Rock (you can get a boat between them). For Padstow and Rock, book restaurants well in advance.

Things are getting busy and if you want to relax I'd just stick with 2 activities, when you go to the Eden project go to mevagissey and spend a day on that coast. Otherwise beaches, crantock or holywell bay. If you really want to venture further afield get up early or go somewhere different in the evening. Don't spend hours in the car..there will be a lot of traffic and people in most resorts.

No way is Bude forty minutes from Newquay!

Not worth going all the way up there given the amazing beaches far closer to (and in) Newquay

If cycling is your thing then I would strongly recommend the Camel Trail which has plenty of bike hire options:

https://cameltrail.co.uk/

Thanks all for your tips some good ones to add the list.