Kid friendly places to stop on car journey - midlands to South Cornwall

artichoke

hi all

I am trying to plan our journey by researching a few good places to stop for an hour on route.

We will be on M1 and then M5 and then on down through Cornwall...we dont mind coming off the motorway and diverting a bit if it provides us witha good place to stop for an hour or so..

Obviously what is a "good place to stop" depends on your family....

we are looking for somewhere we can have a picnic or buy a bit of food but the main consideration is somewhere for the kids to run around and play, so either a pub with a good playground, or a park, or even a motor way services that has an outdoor playground. It looks like after Bristol the M5 goes quite near the coast - is there a bit of coast near a motorway junction where it is easy to park up and the kids could play on the beach?


Does anyone have any recommendations for places to break up the journey.

Thanks

We will be travelling in August to expect it to be busy everywhere!


Art

vikingaero

Trago Mills at Newton Abbot?

dangers

The M5 does run close to the coast, but Portishead doesn't have a beach, Clevedon does, albeit pebbles and then There is Weston- but the beach is probably a 15 min journey from the motorway.

Portishead does have the Lake Grounds - a large green area next to the coast line with a play park for the kids. It's not too far from the motorway either. There is also a cafe, although I've only really used it for ice creams!

p00hsticks

artichoke wrote: »

hi all
We will be on M1 and then M5 and then on down through Cornwall...

How are you planning to get from the M1 to the M5 ? (The two don't interconnect) ?

zolablue25

Portishead is fantastic for fossil hunting. Just sit on the 'beach' and you will see hundreds of small fossils (about 1cm long/diameter). Great way for the kids to spend an hour.

nickj_2

we always stop at tiengmouth and shaldon , just the other side of exeter , plenty to keep kids entertained for an hour or so , plenty of eateries

zolablue25

Good point from Nickj. Shaldon forest is really nice for a stop particularly if the weather is fine. I go cycling around there with my daughter and there are some nice paths to stroll around or just have a picnic at the main centre by the car park.

artichoke

thank you everyone - i am going to plan out the journey properly this weekend so will have a look at all these suggestions...

art

mac666_2

Holden Forest park is great for kids. Loads of space to run around.

Also Trago mills is just off the A38. They have a free park and also a few pay for bits. Just stay out of the shop or you'll find your car suddenly a bit fuller.

pollywiggle

Trago Mills - my kids used to beg & plead to stop there on the way to Cornwall!