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...apart from Eden Project* and Heligan. 🙂
We're off there soon for a week and wondered what hidden gems are out there. Don't mind traveling a bit but ideally no more than an hour each way.
And what's the best beach near there for bodyboarding?
Thanks!
(*unless it has changed massively in the 16 years since we last went!)
climb the cornish alps?
St Austell brewery and get trollied on Proper Job 🙂
https://www.staustellbreweryvisitorcentre.co.uk/
Charlestown - Cute small habour town with some history and a museum and some old ships
Mevagissy (tiny streets.) quite touristy but not as bad as padstow
Kingswood for a short walk in the woods
these are the three things we did last week. We were on the other coast and came over for a trip around.
Cardinham Woods is close to there if you want some MTB/strolling about type action.
Falmouth. The only place in the country where i enjoy the park and ride, or in this case, park and float.
The maritime museum / St Mawes & Pendennis castles and a mad busking dancer in the high street.
A bit of a drive from St Austell (30 mins?) but worth a day out and free to enter, you only pay for the activities. Check about booking activities before you go though because things like the aquapark get booked up quick as we found out and had to go back.
https://www.adrenalinquarry.co.uk/
Retallack resort is 30 mins north (on route to padstow) and has fun water activities (flo rider is ace but pricey). We had fun hiring bikes in padstow and cycling the route to wadebridge and back.
Are you going with kids?
We've been down there loads of times with ours. Tons to do. Monkeys in Looe, Aeroplanes in Newquay, Pendennis Castle, Polperro (but avoid the model village as it is beyond shite), Flambards (on Tesco vouchers) is they are the right age.
For a nice walk head down to Lerryn, cross the river on the stepping stones, walk along the river for a bit and loop back around the woods to the start.
Best beaches for bodyboarding will be on the north coast - Perran, Holywell Bay or Chapel Porth.
From Chapel Porth, it's a nice walk up past Wheal Coates to St Agnes Head.
Beaches are fairly quiet for waves on the south coast in our experience, which was great when the kids were small, so north coast for bodyboarding - loads to choose from. Could go as far up as Harlyn south of Padstow and then wander in to Padstow when most of the crowds have gone. Not too far from St. Austell to Fowey, nice wander around. If going over to Falmouth then go down to Roseland and over on the King Harry Ferry if Driving or down to St Mawes and get the ferry over to Falmouth, and as others have said Maritime Museum, Pendennis Castle etc. Plenty of National Trust places around too if you're members. Toss a coin for who's driving and go on one of the vineyard tours, and if on bikes you can get to the Camel Valley one off the Camel Trail.
Are you going with kids?
16yr old daughter - so prime grumpy ar$e stage! 🙂
Book her a Spa day at the Carlyon Bay Hotel to help her get over any remaning GCSE angst.
Another vote for the Adrenalin Quarry and the Maritime Museum. And if you're up for the extra travelling time the seal sanctuary is worth a visit... It's a bit "down-at-heel" at the moment, but a real heart-warming story and somehow a lot less "preachy" than Eden.
If you have a bike with you Woody's Bike Park is just up the road and a very good way to spend a day.
Otherwise, head out west where the real Cornwall is 😉