TAKE SIX Budget-friendly days out in Cornwall
Pendennis Castle
Free to visit for English Heritage members (family membership of English Heritage starts at £69 for the year), Pendennis Castle has amazing coastal views, especially from the top of the Tudor Keep. There’s a family trail, interactive exhibitions, an indoor soft play area for under-fives, and plenty of outdoor space for picnics. During school holidays, themed events (such as jousting or pirates) are hosted, but these are an additional cost.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/pendennis-castle/
Camel Trail
If you’ve chucked the family bikes on the back of the ’van, or perhaps fancy a jog or a walk, check out the Camel Trail. It runs from Padstow to Wenford Bridge via a largely traffic-free route. It’s 17 miles end to end and passes through natural habitats of otters, bats, kingfishers and marsh orchids. The Camel Trail follows an old railway line, so it is also pretty flat and ideal for families of all ages and abilities.
sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-onthe-national-cycle-network/cameltrail-padstow-to-wenfordbridge
Cornwall by Rail
If navigating Cornwall’s narrow roads with those unforgivingly solid hedges makes you nervous about driving your motorhome, hopping on a train is a great alternative. With regular services to tourist destinations, our children enjoyed the novelty of the train rides and we appreciated the scenic views.
Under-fives go free, kids aged five to 15 years go half-price, and Cornwall Ranger tickets give you unlimited off-peak travel for a day if you are real rail enthusiasts!
greatscenicrailways.co.uk
Swanpool Nature Reserve
This beautiful nature reserve is home to an abundance of wild birds and rare plants – and a creature found nowhere else in the UK, the trembling sea mat (which looks more like a plant than an animal). The reserve has a flat walk of about a mile. Crazy Golf is available for £4 a round, with no need to book ahead, and for those with more energy and a bigger budget, there’s kayak hire at the nearby beach. The café is very popular and their Quirky ice creams are an absolute essential to your trip!
swanpool.org.uk
Bude Sea Pool
Fancy a swim in seawater? Or are you keen paddle boarders? Consider this semi-natural tidal pool. It’s around 91m long and 45m wide at its furthest points. It is free, but run by a charity, so donations are welcomed. The water depth and temperature vary, so check the conditions before visiting.
budeseapool.org
Roskilly’s
Roskilly’s is a working organic Cornish dairy farm, with free admission. You can meet the resident calves, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens and other animals, enjoy a walk around the delightful meadows and ponds, and treat the kids to a delicious ice cream.
roskillys.co.uk