Free/very cheap family activities in Cornwall?

gardis

We're going to Cornwall next month with a very tight budget. My children are 3 and 4. Can anyone recommend some free stuff to do (museums that sort of thing)? We'll be on the beach as much as we can but we like to see the sights when we go on holiday.

Thank you!

angel00079

Which part of Cornwall?

Pee

I'm not aware of any free museums. There is a museum of Witchcraft although I think it shut down after the floods, I think it has reopened now. That is Boscastle.

The coast path is nice to walk, although I don't know how about with children. Castles? Especially if you are an EH or NT member.

Mum_of_3_3

Truro Museum is free, I haven;t been there since I went on a primary school trip many, many moons ago, but it's worth a go. Be warned that it's very expensive to park in Truro so you may be better off using the park and ride.

I've copied & pasted this from a reply I made to another person, hope it helps you too:

If the weather is good there's loads of free places to visit.

A few of the lovely towns & places I would recommend to people visiting Cornwall are: Mousehole (pronounced Mousawl not mouse-hole ), Padstow, Polperro, Veryan, St Mawes, St Just-in-Roseland, Looe, Port Issac, Port Gaverne (lovely beach for small kids), Sennen Cove, St Ives, Lamorna Cove, Mullion, The Cheesewring on the edge of Bodmin Moor and St Nectan's Glen near Tintagel (you can only get there on foot).

Also the Cornish Guardian/West Briton always has money off vouchers in it.

Hope this is of some use.

M_o_3

Helen105

My kids were thrilled when we went to St Michael's Mount when the tide was in. It is owned by the NT so if you are a member you can go round the castle free but the kids were much more excited when we waded back over the causeway as the tide started to go out.

Your kids will probably also enjoy the National Seal Sanctuary at Gweek. I thought it was a bit pricey but I think it is available through Tesco Clubcard deals so with a bit of foreward planning it could be affordable.

If you are a NT member then there are quite a few good places in Cornwall and we had a nice afternoon out when we took the passenger ferry over the Helford River and walked along the cliff path to Glendurgan house where the kids enjoyed the maze garden.

tori.k

Cornwall isnt cheap sadly, but if you pop into the grockle( tourist information and pick up a copy of the primary times or the black bird, its got loads of information on local things that are going on most are cheap or free, like a day on the beach with a marine biologist looking for things in rock pools, local storytelling, activitys in the woods (making bird feeders etc) local paper is good for half price vouchers, also check the backs of car park tickets they often do half price deals.
Dairyland is ideal for kids your age and trethorn, give collyford lake a miss they always run cheap deals but your hard pressed to fill more than an hour there,
crealy and flambards are only really good for older kids.
feel free to pm me with the area that your staying and i can let you know whats around.
Ehaz ha sowenath whafh tho why ha tho goz henath!
( Health and prosperity ever to you and yours)
your have a wonderful time here...enjoy your hoilday

aloiseb

I have just joined NT for Scotland, because we are going to Cornwall and want to visit NT places, but can't afford £60+ upfront as charged by NT (England).

Apparently you can still get in to English NT places, but I don't think you get the car park sticker so might have to leave membership card on view when parking? (well, that's what we're going to try, anyhow...)

Are there any tips from locals about cheap-ish parking for beaches, please? (Luckily the beaches themselves are still free!)

tori.k

Tregirls (hawker's cove) nr padstow run a field for about £2 a day, if your very early you park along the road at Rock for free then you have the beaches at Rock/Daymer & Polzeth, Daymer and Polzeth a short hile along the coast path, other than NT honesty boxes Port quinn etc you can look to pay around £3 in parking,
have a great trip

Edit that we just got back from a walk at Harlyn they are charging £3.50+:mad: whats the world coming to....

Pee

aloiseb wrote: »

I have just joined NT for Scotland, because we are going to Cornwall and want to visit NT places, but can't afford £60+ upfront as charged by NT (England).

Apparently you can still get in to English NT places, but I don't think you get the car park sticker so might have to leave membership card on view when parking? (well, that's what we're going to try, anyhow...)

Are there any tips from locals about cheap-ish parking for beaches, please? (Luckily the beaches themselves are still free!)

I would photocopy the membership card, as you'll need to take it in with you...

zfrl

gardis wrote: »

We'll be on the beach as much as we can but we like to see the sights when we go on holiday.

I thought the sights in Cornwall were the beaches & the scenery. I have spent many a happy holiday cliff walking and seeing the moors. All free!

aloiseb

Sorry, but I don't think my teen- and tween-agers will buy walking and lovely views for a whole week...even NT properties are pushing it! Need some "cooler" ideas.....surfing beaches are good, rockpooling acceptable. Eden Project was wacky enough to be fun last time, too.

Think I may do what I did last year, hand the spending money budget over to them and tell them they can have it when we get home if they don't spend it on holiday!