Treat the whole family to the ultimate all weather attraction. There are heated pools (indoor and out) where children can enjoy the rapid river, fun flumes and giant tap – big kids can have a go too!When you’ve worked up anappetite visit the Terrace bar and restaurant for lovely lunches.
Get up close and personal with a host of wildlife on a day out at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. Set in 40 acres of beautiful Cornish countryside in the village of Gweek, this is the only fully operational seal rescue centre in Cornwall. Come face-to-face with resident seals, otters, penguins and sea lions as they swim, play and feed. Dog friendly with a fantastic café for when you’re feeling peckish (check out our special offers page to get 20% off your visit).
A great day out for bird watchers. This 270 acre man-made lake has a nature reserve on its doorstep and nearly six miles of bank dotted with bird hides. If water is your thing, the lake also offers excellent watersports facilities for everyone including disabled access. Try your hand at sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing!
Home to an unrivalled collection of work from the famous Newlyn School of painters, Penlee House Gallery is an inspiring day out. Discover why artists were attracted by the brilliant light of west Cornwall and explore the galleries other exhibits - including an archaeology collection. Don’t miss out on the Orangery Café’s delicious homemade cakes when you visit!
Celebrate Cornwall’s farming heritage at Dairyland Farm world Near Newquay - where you can discover what life is really like down on the farm. Go inside the milking parlour and see the cows been milked, or visit the Cornish heritage centre which takes you back in time to the 1800s. The surroundings are lovely, with nature trails and lakes and a massive indoor play centre, The Bull Pen, to keep the youngsters well entertained.
Find out about the work of Wild Futures and meet some of the monkeys they’ve rescued at The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe. Walk around and meet the monkeys or, if you want to get a little more hands on become a primate keeper for the day, help to prepare food and enjoy a special behind the scenes tour. Stop for a cream tea in the café or relax and enjoy the views as your little ones let off steam in the play area.
The National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow is a centre of excellence for lobster science and a fascinating place to visit. Handily situated next to the town’s main car park and within a stone’s throw of the beautiful Camel Estuary, it is open seven days a week. Exhibits include a very large rare orange lobster, a variety of crabs, starfish and lots of baby lobsters in the maternity unit.
Take a guided tour around the brand new visitor centre and production facility – which needs to be seen to be believed! It boasts a vat that is two storeys high and an aerial walkway that lets you look down on all that is happening below. Visiting Healeys is a great day out for all ages - with a museum, farm shop, tractor rides and restaurant which does the best cream teas, using their own homemade jam.
An exciting and interactive day out for visitors of all ages, Wheal Martyn is at the heart of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and, run by The Wheal Martyn Trust, is dedicated to preserving Cornwall’s rich china clay heritage. You can follow the ‘historic’ or the ‘nature’ trail and learn about the Cornish china clay industry. The observation deck overlooking a real working pit is one of the highlights of any Wheal Martyn visit.
Come rain or come shine, you’ll be in a sunny mood on a visit to Holywell Bay Fun Park. Close to a beautiful sandy beach, the park is aimed at families of all ages with a variety of rides and attractions - from soft play for toddlers, to more adventurous activities for the big kid in all of us. You’ll find go karts built for speed and two-seater cars which will rocket around a specially built track. For fun with added water, try out the blaster boats. Parking & entry to the park is free just pay for the rides and attractions you use.
Explore 80 square miles of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Bodmin Moor is the warmest and wettest moor in Britain, perfect for discovering granite tors which tower over expanses of open moorland. Attempt a climb of the famous Brown Willy, the highest point in Cornwall at 417 m or visit the Cheesewring, a 30ft-wide pile of gravity defying granite boulders.
Siblyback Lake Country Park near Liskeard offers a wide range of activities on and off the water, in a dramatic landscape on the edge of Bodmin Moor. The lake is perfect for all forms of watersports from skiing to windsurfing, sailing and kayaking as well as cycling, walking and climbing. The more adventurous can try wakeboarding on the first full cable system in Devon and Cornwall - and you can even fish for trout at Siblyback Lake. After expelling your energy on the water, indulge in a Cornish cream tea at the water’s edge café.
A great day out for exploring Cornwall’s water sports opportunities, Tamar Lake offers sailing, windsurfing and kayaking - with tuition from qualified instructors and equipment for hire, or you can launch your own craft. The walk around the lake only takes an hour, and afterwards you can try a cream tea at the recently renovated café overlooking the lake. To make the most of the facilities why not stay on the adjacent campsite?
An ‘International Camellia Society Garden of Excellence’ and RHS recommended, Trewithen’s woodland garden is a botanical treasure trove of famously rare and highly prized plants. There are red squirrels being bred in a special enclosure, and there is something to discover at every turn of Trewithen famous for their plant hunter origins, royal connections and astonishing variety of species.
Gyllyngvase Beach is fantastic whatever the weather. If you fancy a little bit of adventure, Gylly’s rock pools always serve up a wealth of treasures. Gylly’s gentle waves are perfect for body boarding, paddle boarding or just a light swim. If you prefer a more relaxed approach, head for the Gylly Beach Café – open from 9am until late and with a terrace overlooking the water.
Golitha Falls is a magical day out for all the family. There’s a simple circular walk that is accessible for wheelchair users and babies in buggies for the most part. A treat for bird fans, where you might spot kingfishers, dippers, nuthatches, tree creepers or even buzzards - information boards tell you what to look out for on the way.
