by Niki Greig
Cornwall has long been a sought after destination for many holiday makers simply due to the abundance of things to do for all ages. Here, we round up some of the best and more importantly cheapest. Everything in this list costs under £10 per person or even better, free!
1. Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Penzance
Although it appears to be an ancient ruin, creation of this magnificent theatre was in fact started in 1929 by a local woman wishing to put on a play. An evening visit to see one of the plays starts at £8 a head. For the 2012 schedule see here.
For those with kids, a better option is a daytime visit as there is currently a series of puppet shows being put on that are included in the daytime admission of £4 per adult, £2 per child – for a list of dates click here. With this ticket you can also learn the fascinating story of the theatre, wander the splendid gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic.
Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Sennen Cove C&CC Site, Cardinney camping and caravan park and Lower Treave caravan and camping park.
2. Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St Austell
These gardens are unmissable for the green fingered. They are the most popular private botanical gardens in the UK and it’s not hard to see why. Covering an area of 400 hectares, the garden has been extensively and painstakingly restored after falling into disrepair after the loss of many estate workers during the war.
Highlights include Camellias and Rhododendrons, country themed gardens including the Italian garden and the exciting Jungle, a must-visit for kids!
Adult entry to the park comes in at £10, children are £6 and the under fives are free. Alternatively you could opt for a money saving family ticket which is £27 for two adults and up to three children. Further info can be found here.
Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, Heligan holiday Park and Pensagillas Park .
3. Cycle the Pentewan Valley cycle trail, St Austell to Mevagissey, Cornwall
Part of the National cycle trail, this seven-mile route follows an old railway line and, being traffic free, it is perfect for those with young children or for those wishing to relax and enjoy a scenic cycle.
The path runs from St Austell to the sea and whilst on the route you can sample a real St Austell Ale at the Ship Inn. The route takes about an hour and you end up in the exceptionally pretty fishing village of Mevagissey where you can enjoy freshly caught Cornish fish and chips, well earned after a hard cycle!
Bring your own or hire bikes at Pentewan valley Cycle Hire for £10 per half day an adult, £6 per child. To check out the route click here.
Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: The Meadows, River Valley and Pleasant Streams Farm camping.
4. Go Seal Watching in St Ives Harbour
Seal Island lies just three and a half miles to the west of St Ives, along the Cornish coastline. The trips, dependent on the tides, leave from several points around the harbour. When you arrive at the Island the boat goes astern to a small inlet for 15 to 20 minutes to allow you all to watch the seals either bask in the sunshine or frolic in the water.
If you are lucky enough you might even see other wildlife such as basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises and whales hunting for food at some point on the trip too. The trips last approximately one hour and are suitable for all ages and are, of course, subject to sea and weather conditions.
Price wise, adults are a very reasonable £10 and children are £8. Tickets are bought from Derek who you will apparently find outside the lifeboat station! Or give him a call on 0777 300 8000. For more information click here.
Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Ayr Holiday Park, Polmanter Touring Park and Balnoon Campsite .
5. Cycle the Camel trail, Bodmin/Wadebridge to Padstow
This popular eighteen-mile trail runs from Bodmin to Padstow and is ideal for all members of the family to use as it is nice and flat, being a former railway line. Take in the stunning scenic wooded countryside of the Camel valley and pass through picturesque Wadebridge. Why not pack a picnic and stop along the way, the return journey would be much easier! The journey takes approximately two hours long and is completely free; you only need to save money for a delicious cream tea at the quaint fishing village of Padstow. Park up in Bodmin and bring your own or hire bikes from here. If you’ve got younger kids, Wadebridge might be an ideal start point to go either inland or out to the sea. To check out the route click here.
Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Little Margate, ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.self-catering-ruthern.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank"> Ruthern Valley and Little Bodieve.
Whatever you get up to on your Cornish holidays this year, we hope you a good time. Do let us know of your caravanning adventures in the forum and make us all here at CaravanTimes suitably jealous!
