Cornwall

[Gemini]

OH and I are planning a holiday in Cornwall this year.
I went in 1990, to Newquay, which I didn't like at all. OH has been to Cornwall a couple of times, but a long time ago.
We want to see The Eden Project, Minack Theatre, and lot of other things while we are there.
It is a long drive from here, so we shall probably stay somewhere else on the way there and back.

I know some of you live a lot closer to Cornwall and are more familiar with that area than we are. Any suggestions for a good area to stay, or any other tips, most welcome!

[MillieB]

We had a week in a cottage in Devon last year. We went to the Eden project for free. It needs tesco vouchers to the value of £6.50 each for senior tickets which you exchange for Eden project tickets on line. Very easy to do. Well worth a visit but can get busy . We were even able to take our dog (I know this doesn't apply for you but others might not know). You tell the carpark attendant that you have a dog and they direct you to a carpark close to the entrance with under cover parking. The domes are very interesting but very humid so take water in and wear layers as you don't need to wear anything warm inside the dome! I'm sure you will enjoy this day out and although there are walks outside around the domes, it is an activity you can do when the weather isn't that good.

[Oma]

We went to Bude many years ago when the children were younger we stayed in a log cabin , I remember going too a Bee farm somewhere on the route but so long ago I have no idea where, we also went to somewhere that had a very steep street leading to the shore line it may have been called something like Cleaverly or cleaves , as I say many years ago now but would like to visit again

[MillieB]

You are remembering Clovelly. It is in North Devon and they now charge for you to go down that steep cobbled street!

[Plantaholic]

Gemini, if you are planning to visit the Eden Project don't stay near there, it is a very uninteresting rather shabby area. If you want to go to the Minack you need to stay in or somewhere near to Porthcurno. We shall be close by the last two weeks of August. If you haven't been to St. Ives it is a must, go on the open top bus, parking very bad. It does get very crowded but well worth a visit. \I could go on and on, we love the area, very rural beaches.

[Oma]

That's the place MillieB I remember it was hard going but very pretty houses , wouldn't like to live there on a snowy wintry day must be murder getting up and down it

[Daisy]

Oma - hahaha, they don't often get snow in Cornwall. It's a good job with those steep narrow streets.

Picking up on what Mimi said about getting a shaded area if you take your dog to the Eden Project - go early, those spaces fill up very quickly, even in low season. (I know you won't be taking the cats, Gem - it's just in case other people read it). At the Eden Project you can get a bus between the car parks and the domes. Also wear sensible shoes - in parts of the tropical dome the floor can get wet and a bit slippery. Also it's quite a climb to the top. When you think it was originally a china clay mine, it's a truly amazing transformation! I love St Ives, too, and would love to go to the Isles of Scilly one day. Truro is interesting and quite compact. Definitely use Park & Ride!

We've walked several section of the South West Coastal path within Cornwall, and there are spectacular and ever-changing views, and all that exercise gives you the perfect excuse to stop for a Cornish cream tea.

[Gemini]

Thank you everyone. This is all very useful!

[Mimi]

Newquay can be a bit on the busy side as it is popular for hen/stag parties and for surfing but that said we stayed there for a week a few years ago and we loved it. I admit stayed in a hotel there and that was used mostly for somewhere to sleep, we toured around as much of Cornwall as we could in the time we had . St Ives is so pretty and the Eden project is really interesting and can be easily accessible with a very good bus service if you don't want to drive. Just to say, the Rainforest Biome can be a bit of a struggle, as you walk around it you climb higher, which can be a struggle for any one with breathing and mobility issues. As you walk around it there are plenty of signs warning of the change in temperature and humidity.

[Daisy]

Mimi - I love that humidity in the rainforest biome. I could live there! But for some people it can be a bit too much. Last time I went it took my camera a good 20 minutes to demist!

I haven't been to Land's End recently, but I think I was a bit disappointed last time.

[Plantaholic]

Lands End is now a money making enterprise but there are some lovely walks from there. Of course you could walk to John a Groats.

[Gemini]

LOL Plant

[Daisy]

Plant - I'd need a lot more than a week's holiday to do Land's End to John o'Groats!!!!

[Plantaholic]

Went to a talk by a lady who had cycled all the way twice and raised a lot of money for her church.

[Shemadee]

We had one of our first holidays without the children, once they had fled the nest, in Cornwall staying in a converted milking parlour. It was May and weather was perfect.