Kids Love Cornwall Living2019
5 of the best family days out
The Duchy is home to some spectacular attractions and days out, so it would be rude not to add at least some of them to your family itinerary!
1 Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Part of The Sea Life Trust, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek has grown since 1958 to become a pioneer in seal care. The Animal Care team dedicate their lives to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of seal pups from around Cornwall’s coastline. With a visit here, you can mix learning with play, with a variety of children’s activities to engage them in both fun and educational ways. As well as Cornish grey seals, the sanctuary is home to Asian short-clawed otters, southern sea lions, Californian sea lions and even Humboldt penguins, plus a number of paddock animals, making this a zoological experience that the whole family will love.
sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org
2 Newquay Trampoline & Play Park
Newquay’s brand new all-weather attraction offers kids and adults alike the chance to dodge, dunk and dive to their hearts’ content. With wall-to-wall trampolines, a dodge ball arena, trick zones and dedicated play areas for under 8s, however old your little ones, they’re sure to have a blast! Click here to find out more.
3 The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Having been lost to a veil of bramble and ivy when the estate’s workforce went off to fight in the First World War, before beginning a tremendous restoration more than 25 years ago, today, the gardens of Heligan estate comprise 200 acres of verdant history, mystery and romance. Explore the network of magical gardens, woodland walks and farmland brimming with interest. Navigate acres of raised boardwalks in The Jungle, discover a host of insect and invertebrate life at The Insect Hotel and meet Heligan’s friendly collection of animals. All of this, plus much, much more, makes for one of the Duchy’s finest natural playgrounds.
4 The Tin Coast
Cornwall is steeped in mining history and nowhere is this more evident than along Penwith’s Tin Coast. One of our favourite spots along this seven-mile stretch is Botallack, a site that would have once been alive with the buzz of industry. Botallack was a sub-marine mine, working half a mile out to sea beneath the sea bed, and there’s evidence to suggest that mining took place on the site as far back as 200AD, perhaps even as far as the Bronze Age! When you’re done exploring, why not refresh yourselves at Botallack Count House Workshop? Originally a stables for the mine horses, a workshop for the mine’s carpenter and then a classroom for Penzance School of Mines, the Count House is now the perfect pit stop, combining refreshments with a fascinating insight into how Cornish mining changed the world.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/tin-coast
5 Trebah Garden
One of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and rated among the world’s 80 finest gardens, Trebah offers visitors a year-round experience. As well as boasting its own private beach, which fronts onto the Helford river, Trebah runs Children’s Trails throughout the year, which have been devised to be both educational and fun, appealing to kids of all ages. This is a great way to make the most of your family’s adventure, offering the chance to see different parts of the garden. There are three different play areas as well, designed respectively for under 5s and over 5s. These include The Paraglide – one of the garden’s most memorable experiences – and Tarzan’s Camp, a fantastic wooden play area enclosed within a canopy of trees.