Cornish pick sees
Dominic Herbert has hard choices to make on a family adventure in Cornwall
We had big decisions to make each day on our family holiday in Cornwall. Just which of the glorious beaches should we visit exactly?
Stretching along this sparkling, rugged coastline in the far south west corner of England, the sand dunes and ocean waves last as far as the eye can see. So you really are spoilt for choice.
We started our seaside adventure at Crantock, near Newquay, as it was on the doorstep of the Trevella Holiday Park, our home for the week.
The National Trust, which looks after the beach, describes it as “an expanse of golden sand, great for sandcastles and surfing”.
Our six-year-old son Harry, with his body board under one arm and bucket and spade under the other, wholeheartedly agreed.
We joined the army of parents chasing their children in and out of the sea, digging holes in the sand and sliding down the dunes.
The great thing about Crantock is not only its beauty but also its size, so even in the height of summer there is always plenty of room to pitch up for a day of fun.
Trevella Holiday Park is a short drive, or a brisk walk, from the beach and an ideal base.
Our caravan had everything we needed but you can pay extra for a luxury lodge and there are some with hot tubs.
If you are not brave enough to put up a family-sized tent you can do the next best thing and go glamping.
Safari Lodges, safari tents and geo domes, are all available at the park, as are lots of pitches for your traditional tents and touring caravans.
The heated outdoor pool is worth a dip but make sure you book a slot at reception when you first arrive as it is very popular.
Plus there is crazy golf and the neighbouring adventure playground.
After all that exertion you can enjoy a drink at the smallest pub in Crantock, the Piskie (Cornish for Pixie) on the holiday park, which sits around eight people.
If you want a bit more room at the bar, then you can pop down the road to the 400-year-old Old Albion Inn in the village.
It would have been easy for us just to pitch up at Crantock beach every day but we would have missed out on so many coastal treats. We spent a day at Porth beach to the east of Newquay, which also boasts a sandy beach and safe bathing. A rain shower didn’t dampen our spirits and after taking shelter in our beach tent we were soon back in the sea. The sandwiches and ice cream from the seaside cafe topped off a terrific day.
Fistral beach needs no introductions and we had an enjoyable afternoon watching some skilled surfers riding the waves.
Rick Stein’s restaurant, which is right on the sands, serves up curries inspired by his travels as well as traditional fish and chips.
There are no fewer than 11 beaches in Newquay, including Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze and the Harbour beach. Further afield there is Holywell Bay with its double rocks poking out of sea, as seen in TV series Poldark, as well as famous surfing beaches
There is always plenty of room on the beach to pitch up for a day of fun
to the north, Watergate Bay, Harlyn and Polzeath. A special mention for the RNLI lifeguards who do a brilliant job to keep everyone safe.
Away from the beaches, we spent a wild afternoon at Newquay Zoo, home to an amazing array of exotic animals. Harry enjoyed his exchanges with the
parrots, lions and penguins and not to mention the meerkats, lemurs and a very slow-moving sloth.
Sticking with the wildlife, Sealife Safaris at Padstow offer boat trips to discover marine species including grey seals, minke whales, basking sharks and bottlenose dolphins.
We also had a memorable day out at the Eden Project, the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
You can explore the amazing biomes with the Mediterranean and tropical rainforest trees and plantations and get hands-on with the interactive exhibits.
Thanks to some impressive state-of-the art technology, Bodmin Jail is now a fascinating tourist attraction, bringing to life some of Cornwall’s darkest secrets.
Grim tales of punishments, executions and child criminals are made even more enthralling with theatrical effects and cinematic
visual tours. More of Cornwall’s
past can be discovered at Tintagel Castle, which also has stunning cliff top views.
Camel Creek Adventure Park in Wadebridge has plenty of family rides and play areas across 100 acres.
For the more adventurous and energetic there is the Adrenalin Quarry near Liskeard where you can try your hand at karting, the zip wire and a giant swing.
We took a trip to the fishing ports of Newlyn and Mousehole near Penzance.
Steeped in history, you can watch the boats bobbing about in the bright blue harbours.
Both are great for some good old-fashioned rock pooling for the kids. Suffice to say, you don’t have to look too far for a cracking fish and chip dinner.
We ended our brilliant week where it started, back on Crantock beach for a final dip in the sea and dig in the sand. And another tough decision – what flavour ice cream?
Discover grey seals, minke whales, basking sharks and dolphins