Takes the family to the seaside for a three-generation trip packed with adventure and fun
KELLY WILLIAMS
WITH stretches of golden sands, secret coves, turquoise waters and fishing villages tucked away underneath rugged cliffs, Cornwall is the perfect British staycation.
As a 36-year-old whose best friend spent (and continues to spend) every summer there during the school holidays, I kind of wondered why I was so late to the party.
Along with my mum and my two children, we set off on our drive to Hengar Manor, an impressive 18th century townhouse set in 35 acres of parkland reaching to Bodmin Moor.
It was the children’s adventure activities that set the place apart with an energetic entertainment team and a Go Active kids’ programme including archery, fencing, zorbing, den building, sea scooters, snorkelling, crossbow and golf.
For those who want to do their own thing, there’s a swimming pool and spa which offers relaxing massages and other therapies.
On site, there’s the Tavern bar and grill alongside a family room where the entertainment kicks off every evening at 7pm, with comedians, bingo, magicians, singers and shows.
Our accommodation was a new Meadowside static caravan, which was clean and comfortable with everything we needed for our stay.
After preparing a picnic in our home for the week, our first day was spent at one of Cornwall’s many stunning beaches on the north coast, Polzeath, a 20-minute drive away.
A beautiful bay with endless sands, funky eateries and surfers of all ages braving the waves, we soaked up the sun, armed with buckets and spades and watched the world go by in our own little paradise.
Other beaches nearby include Harlyn Bay, great for rock pooling, and slightly further afield, Fistral and Watergate Bay at Newquay. It felt great having so much beauty on our doorstep.
Next day, the Eden Project was on our to-do list. Nestled among striking contemporary gardens, massive biomes house the largest rainforest in ‘captivity’, there are Mediterranean landscapes, stunning plants, crop displays, art installations and exhibitions.
An educational charity, the Eden Project’s purpose is to connect us with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future while raising money for transformational projects and learning programmes.
The exhibition during our visit was ‘invisible worlds’ and an enthusiastic character plucked my daughter out of an audience of children who sat with their mouths gaping in fascination as we learned about the worlds beyond our senses – too big, too small, too fast, too slow, too far away in space and time.
We heard the untold stories of our planet, uncovering the true and extraordinary story of life on Earth, where every teaspoon of soil and drop of water teems with life from zombie ants to minibeasts that can survive in a vacuum.
I took the opportunity to scare the living daylights out of my mum by sending her zooming down the longest and fastest zipwire in England with me, over the top of the biomes from the Hangloose Olivia and Harry Williams on the beach in Cornwall Adventure centre.
There are plenty of other deathdefying activities, including Vertigo – Britain’s first 360-degree swing – the giant airbag and The Drop.
With a new-found taste for adrenaline, our next day out was to the all-weather Camel Creek, tucked in 111 acres of Cornish countryside.
A haven of family-friendly rides, giant play areas and animal encounters, we spent all day at the park which boasts 40,000 square feet of indoor play and plenty more to do in the 35 acres of outside space.
Even my four-year-old son’s fearless streak emerged as he bypassed the teacups in favour of the more terrifying-looking 50ft Vertigo ■ APP For Cornwall provides news and information about events and attractions directly to your phone. Log on to appforcornwall.com for more.
drop ride, being just about tall enough to climb aboard.
We enjoyed a water fight in a dedicated area kitted out with water balloons and elaborate catapulting equipment, making memories we will cherish forever.
Screech Owl Sanctuary in St Columb was next, home to one of the biggest collections of owls in Britain, with more than 40 different species from all over the world.
Here, we met and touched tame owls and learned about them.
The owls have been hand-reared for educational purposes and range from some of the smallest in the world to among the largest.
Staff are on hand to answer any questions and tell you lots of fascinating facts.
My little boy was delighted to be chosen to wear one of the gloves for a small owl to perch on during a flying display.
The sanctuary is not just home to owls, there are meerkats, pygmy goats, emus, alpacas and miniature Shetland ponies.
There’s plenty more to see and do within a short car drive of Hengar Manor including Newquay Zoo, Dairyland Farmworld and Bodmin and Wenford Railway.
Poldark fans, meanwhile, will enjoy a visit to the atmospheric Bodmin Moor with its rugged landscape and open skies.
Also on the doorstep is Bodmin Jail, where visitors get to explore the life of an 18th century prisoner, as well as Tintagel, a medieval fort with links to the legend of King Arthur and his knights.
Although I’ve never been lucky enough to spend any of my childhood holidays in Cornwall, it was nice to be able to give those memories to my children and spend precious family time together in beautiful surroundings.
I took the opportunity to scare the living daylights out of my mum by sending her zooming down the longest and fastest zipwire in England with me...