Hi

Well my family and i are diving form Teesside to Cornwall(via an overnighter Gloucester) this thursday for whit week and i have a few questions that i hoped some holiday- truth members may be able to answer as we have never ventured there before.

Are theere any major roadworks we should know about?

Can you recommed some good beaches with childrens facilities(loo icecreams etc) but not too commercial?

Can you recommend some child friendly tourist attractions?

Can you recommend some wet weather activities(long term forcast is not good)?

Also any eating recommendations (must be child friendly but not nuggets fare) that are near anything you recomend.

So far we have chosen to vistit Eden, St Ives,Watergate bay and hire bikes and do the camel trail for half a day.

any tips and advice will be very gratefully received.

thankyou

If you must go to Eden, don't go in the morning. All the coaches arrive between 10 and 11am and queues are horrendous (it was really busy last September out of holidays, I dread to think what it's like at half term). Wait until the afternoon as most buses leave between 2 and 3. Take some food too, the cafe was too small to cope with demand.

Goonhilly down is a decent half day out if it's raining.

You'll find loads of ideas for days out HERE.

Pippy

Where abouts are you staying quirky and how old are your children. boys or girls ?? there are soooo may different attractions in cornwall.

Agree you should do the camel trail but leave it for a good day. You will need to book the bikes in the morning before you get there as its half term week. i recommend you do the wadebridge-padstow section . That stretch along the estury is stunning on a sunny day we enjoyed it so much we did it twice. You can cycle down to padstow , chain up your bikes with the hundreds of others and wander around there for a bit. Many people seem to cycle down , get some fish and chips from Rick steins fish and chip shop (exspensive but worth it) and sit on the harbour wall, have a wander + a beer of 2 then cycle back. You will be so knackered and saddle sore you wont be wanting to do a lot more. !!!

http://www.destination-cornwall.co.uk/Camel%20Trail/The%20Camel%20Trail%20Guide.htm

lyn

Hi thanks for the replies

daveyp thanks re Eden, traffic jams and queueing i was going to avoid the weekend and monday as thought that it could be silly.

Lynn the girls are 2 and 4, your tip re the bike ride and Padstow sounds fab thanks so much!!! loving the fish and chips too!! we are booked in at Jamie Olivers new restaurant too whilst we are there and i have been eying up the Blue fish restaurant in St Ives too anyone been ?? my hubby is a keen cyclist where as im more of a walker so i imagine i;ll be saddle sore to say the least.

crossing my fingers for better weather.

If you enjoy walking quirky - this is a nice sight for info on that type of thing. and ideas for plenty of things that wouldnt cost the earth http://www.cornishlight.co.uk/ We did quite a lot of walking around bodmin moor. did the 3 mile hike up rough tor but maybe not with a 2 + 4 year old. our boys are 15,13 and 10 so they quite like that sort of thing.

You will be spolt for choice as far as attractions for the little ones - a week wont be enough. There are sooo many hands on farm and animal type activities and the like, not to mention all the fab beaches if the weather picks up. Check out the tourist board sights in the links above and see what you fancy,but every pub or attraction you go in will have plenty of leaflets.

lyn

Quirky . i remember now a little while back - arnt you staying at Bosinver??. We are staying just down the road here http://www.poltarrow.co.uk but not until August. I think St Ives will be a fair old trot from there .

lyn

thanks Lynn

We are staying at Bosinver, your accomadation looks lovely. We estimate that St Ives would be an hour or so away. So not too bad.

We are wanting real traditional Cornish holiday and the research that we've done so far looks stunning. We are fortunate to live by the coast plus the Yorkshire dales and moors and are keen campers(as are you if im right) and are keen to embrace all the culture and tradition thats on offer -or is that my posh way of saying bring on the cream teas and pasties!

Im definately not a camper . But we do love getting away from things and enjoy exploring and walking .but prefer a nice cosy cottage. Devon and cornwall are lovely.

funnily enough when we go abroard we usually spend most of the time on the sunbed

lyn

ps. Ah cream teas - dont get me started on those. and yes the pasties are good too. quite a selection savoury and sweet

Hi there

Can anyone help?

Trying to find a cottage in Cornwall (Looe, St Austell area) for 4 people plus dog in August.

Appreciate that most places are already booked up but any suggestions on last minute availability.

Thanks
Bizzilady

have you looked at http://www.cottages4you.co.uk . they usually have fairly late availability. or maybe try the tourist board. they do a booking service and they should know of any availability still for August or any new properties just on the market

lyn

try http://www.helpfulholidays.com they still have availibilty for August in Cornwall

In 1982 I had never been to Cornwall but we decided Llandudno (the only place we had stayed when kids were young) was simply too wet. Every year we went it rained and in 10 years we never got more than a day and a half on the beach despite changing dates, going for one and two weeks so decided on a change. I got brochures from every resort from Bournemouth to Minehead and decided on Bude.

Fell in love with the place so much we bought and ran a guest house till the kids moved out and we still live here.

From my bungalow I can see 30 miles down the coast to trevose Head (through the palm trees oin my garden).

Bude has safe sandy beaches and the town shops are just a 5 minute walk away. Plenty of accommodation local self catering camping and guest hoses with a few decent hotels. It has very little crime and has been a wonderful place to bring up my family.

There are good coach connections from exeter and bristol but no trains.

has lovely walks local amenities and a friendly amiance. It does not get the problems of Newquay night life and I can thoroughly recommend it.

trevor macey

Bizzilady,I have just replied to your other thread.

hello to all from cloudy yorkshire.

Ive booked for next august at The Trebarwith hotel, Newquay. Anyone have any info? as there are no reviews on this hotel. We've decided to stay in England next year after this years holiday from hell abroad. Plus its the same price abroad now as this country but at least you know what your getting food wise etc.

My kids will be 13,11 and 4 next year and are easily pleased. My husband however is already talking about leaving his x box behind.... what will he do for a week?

I'd appreciate any feedback. Stayed for years at Powells hotel, adelphi street (I think) in paignton as a nipper so looking forward to it already.

ttfn x