Just a few random thoughts...

In St Ives, try to have lunch at the Porthminster Beach Cafe. Great views, excellent food, relaxed atmosphere. Open evenings too, but a bit dearer then.

A few miles west is the hamlet of Zennor. Excellent short walk down to the cliffs and sea. Spectacular scenery. Nice quaint pub, too.

Lands End - avoid. Ruthlessly commercialised and fenced off. If you want to feel you're at the end of the world, try the very bottom bit of the Lizard peninsula - the most southerly point of mainland GB. A hundred times more atmospheric than Lands End.

Eden Project is going to be pretty busy over Easter, so try to avoid the weekend or bank holiday. I like to get there at 10:00 when it's just opening. Most people don't go until lunchtime, so you get a couple of relatively peaceful hours. The restaurants, both at the top in the visitors centre and at the bottom between the biomes, are surprisingly good and not outrageously dear. The food quite inventive for such a large operation. Do keep a look out for notices about special events - there's often live music, or story telling, or dance and so on. The main thing with Eden is to take it really, really slowly & relax. Sit on a bench in the temperate biome and watch people go by; smell the mediterranean odours of pine and oleander; sip a G&T from your Thermos flask....

Regards

- Tony -

Lands End may be a bit over-commercialised, but I wouldn`t go so far as to say it`s to be avoided. Just go and take it for what it is, a tourist centre, then find your way round to the cliffs, away from all the cafes and attractions, and see what really brings people to Lands End. For anyone with children, the small farm is worth a visit. So go to Lands End, but the Lizard, I agree, shouldn`t be missed out. St. Michael`s Mount is OK too, but walking across is a bit tricky if you`re not good on your feet, but there is a boat as well.

Hi

Have a look through the following thread, lots of ideas for things to do in Cornwall...

CLICK HERE

Pippy

Just got back from our umpteenth visit to Cornwall, and as ever, it didn`t disappoint. The weather could have been better, but we did get about 4 nice weather days out of the 2 weeks, so tried to make the most of them. It certainly isn`t true that there isn`t anything there for the younger generation, if the number of youngsters we saw was anything to go by. I know that LandsEnd is over commercialised these days, but I do have a certain fondness for the place, especially as it`s possible to still find what makes the place so special, by going through the complex to the cliffs beyond, the scenery doesn`t change, even if the management does.
We didn`t make it to St. Michaels Mount this time, but enjoyed looking across the water to make sure it was still there. Instead, we took a trip down a few leafy lanes to Lamorna Cove,between Lands End and Penzance, quite pretty, but slightly over-run with scuba divers, their equipment was lying all over the place.
One place that we always go when in Cornwall is Lizard Point, I`ll never tire of it. There is a house down there that I`ve got my eye on for if I ever win the lottery. If it isn`t for sale, I`m going to knock and ask how much theyb would take to move out! It isn`t anything special to look at, but oh boy, what a position it`s in, right on the cliff top with the waves bashing away at the bottom!
We went to the Screech Owl Sanctuary, a very enjoyable day out, made more so by the fact that it`s quite a hands on sort of place, the staff seem to have very good rapport with the birds. We enjoyed the Birds of Prey centre as well, but the owl sanctuary had the edge.
We did lots more, but I`d better stop waffling, or `I`ll be getting myself thrown off here, suffice it to say lots to see and do in Cornwall, whatever your age!

I live in Southern Germany but return to the UK quite often each year to see family, our summer visit being the longest, at this time we always take a few days to visit somewhere on our own . Cornwall is always first on the list we find there is so much to see and do (in Germany we live close to the Alps so we are no strangers to beautiful scenery) two years ago we visited the Eden project and found it really interesting. We were disappointed with Lands End but agree The Lizard is really worth a visit. I think Cornwall has something to offer for everyone, beautiful beaches, scenery and shopping in some of the larger towns.

I have to agree.

Have just returned from our usual 2 weeks in Cornwall, and as usual, had a lovely time.

We went to Turkey in May but I have to say I look forward to Cornwall far more than our trips abroad.

There`s nothing like waking up in the morning and looking out of our chalet window onto St.Ives Bay.

Hi,
We were n holidays in Cornwall and Wales in June and loved it. Eden project was our main objective in the holiday and we were not disappointed. It is definately worth a visit - and lots of people we met there had been there numerous times. It changes with the seasons so its really a place for all seasons.....

Maria

The argument about Lands End makes me smile sometimes.
You used to go there and stand on a bleak, windswept cliff and look at the ocean. Maybe have an ice cream as well and, if you were really adventurous, have your picture taken under the signpost.
Not exactly a fun day out for the kids though, as they probably wanted to be on the beach.
There are at least things for kids to look at now and I suspect that quite a few adults enjoy the visit.
The Hotel is also excellent. I've stayed there a couple of times and I don't think there are many places in the world where you can wake up to a more spectacular view.......well, OK, maybe Thira on Santorini, but only by a touch, and for a lot more money!

The Eden Project is something else but don't forget Tim Smitt's first project , the Lost gardens of Helligan, which is truly amazing given that it was done without all the technology of Eden.

Id love to get to the Eden project sometime. But i would think every man and his dog will be there at Easter!

This time of year shouldn't be too bad. Bank holidays and peak holiday times can be very busy at Eden but it's always best to get there fairly early.
There's quite a lot of walking involved , by the way, as the paths through the domes zig zag - you can actually walk a few miles and the tropical dome gets pretty warm and humid.

My Dads club about 30 elderly people hope to go to visit the Eden Project next year Sept / Oct time.
They would like to stay Mon to Fri somewhere where they can have at least half board and some evening entertainment.
Do any of you no antwhere that may be suitable?

I would just like to mention the Porthgwidden beach cafe as well as the Porthminster. It is also very good with great views and wonderful food

http://www.porthminstercafe.co.uk/pg_lunch.htm

We are going to Cornwall at the end of September and staying not too far from the Eden Project.

Are there any better days than others to visit the Eden Project - in terms of crowds etc I imagine it is best to avoid the weekend.

Any hints or tips would be most welcome.

Pippa

Hi Pippa, We stayed at Sun Valley Holiday Park, just outside St. Austell and we were advised to do Eden Project early on Sunday morning or later in the day in the week but don't go on a wednesday as it gets extremely busy. Plan to do it on Sunday morning like I said as most people are still recovering from their long journeys.

Les

You've had some good advice of this thread already but I just wanted to add my recommendation for Eden.

Its an outstanding project and attraction!

Thank you for the tips.

We too will be arriving after a fairly long journey on a Saturday so not sure we really want to tackle the Eden Project on the Sunday morning!!

We will just take our chance I think!!

Pippa

Wait until the afternoon before going. Coach parties leave the hotels after breakfast to arrive for opening, then leave just after lunch.

Eden is open later in the summer and we saw everything at a relaxed pace in half a day.