1 Family Highlights ofDevon & Cornwall

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DEVON & CORNWALL FAMILYHIGHLIGHTS

Best Family Events SidmouthFolkWeek brings togethersingers, dancers and musicians tothis elegant east Devon seasidetown. You don’t have to go to an official concert: musicians,dancers and street theatre per-form for free all over town, espe-cially along the seafront. Specialchildren’s events are held all dayevery day in Blackmore Gardens.See p. 23.

Best Cities Cities are pretty thinon the ground, but visit Exeterfor its shops, museum, under-ground passages and historicquay, and Plymouth for theBarbican and amazing NationalMarine Aquarium. See p. 24 andp. 109.

Best Natural AttractionsWhere to start? The Valley ofRocks on Exmoor; Dartmoor’stors; Lundy Island (p. 48); thePenwith Moors; the HelfordRiver; the Isles of Scilly (p. 219);and just about the whole of the1000-km Southwest CoastPath.

It’s hard to pinpoint quite when my love affair with Devon andCornwall started. I think it all began long ago with family holidays

on a farm in the countryside near Mevagissey, days on the beach atCaerhayes and Gorran Haven, and memories of stopping for a picnicon Dartmoor on the way home. When I was a little older we spentfamily holidays in a caravan near Woolacombe in north Devon, thenin a cottage at Constantine Bay near Padstow in north Cornwall. Tripswith friends to explore Penwith and Exmoor followed; then there wereweeks of conservation work on Lundy Island and sailing holidays inSalcombe. I was lucky enough to move to Devon in my early 20s andhave lived on the eastern edge of Dartmoor for more than 20 years,along with my two sons. Together we have cycled the Camel Trail,walked on Dartmoor and camped on Bryher on the Isles of Scilly.Over the last 10 years my work has concentrated on researching(mainly on foot) and writing about the southwest peninsula for anumber of books and articles, and it’s clear to me why Devon,Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – and Exmoor – together provideideal locations for all kinds of family holiday, from simple bucket-and-spade fun on the beach to more active pursuits such as walking,cycling or sailing on the Salcombe estuary. A stunning coastline, someof the best beaches in the country, tranquil wooded estuaries, wildmoorland, picturesque villages, historic fishing ports, ancient castles,colourful local customs, and an equable maritime climate give thisregion an edge. Add to that good family attractions, a huge choice ofplaces to stay, from beachside camping to top-class family hotels, sun-shine, ice cream, pasties and clotted cream – what more could anyfamily want?

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Best Animal Parks ParadisePark in Hayle: a myriad of exoticbirds, small animals for toddlers,plus indoor play for wet days –and a strong educational element.Living Coasts in Torquay: allmanner of seabirds in a virtuallynatural environment. The BigSheep near Bideford for animalfun and frolics for all ages. See p. 205, p. 115, and p. 50.

Best Aquarium The NationalMarine Aquarium in Plymouth:

the biggest and best aquarium inthe country. See p. 110.

Best Beaches There are dozens,from quiet sandy coves to widesurfing beaches: Blackpool Sandsnear Dartmouth; RickhamSands near Salcombe; LanticBay near Polruan; Sennen Cove,Gwithian Towans, WatergateBay at Newquay; WidemouthBay near Bude and so on. Seearea chapters.

Best Islands Lundy Island offthe north Devon coast for thoselooking for adventure; St Agneson the Isles of Scilly, the mostsouthwesterly island in the UK.See p. 48 and p. 224.

Best Boat Trips Three hoursalong the World HeritageJurassic Coast from Exmouthon a Stuart Line cruise, spottingperegrine falcons and dolphins.See p. 30.

Best Forest Haldon Forest nearExeter: cycle tracks and walks,sculptures, special events for chil-dren – and good refreshments.See p. 96.

Plymouth Barbican

Paradise Park, Hayle

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Best Outdoor ActivitiesCycling along the Camel Trailfrom Wadebridge to Padstow;sailing on the Salcombe estuarywith the Island Cruising Club;horse riding on Exmoor. See p. 115, p. 118, and p. 51.

Best Museums The WaysideMuseum, Zennor – memorabiliaof life in rural west Cornwall;Dingles Fairground HeritageCentre near Launceston;Falmouth’s Maritime Museumhas a huge range of hands-onactivities for children. See p. 203, p. 90, and p. 174.

Best Castles Berry Pomeroynear Totnes for places to hide –and ghosts; Castle Drogo onDartmoor – the youngest in thecountry – for location. See p. 112 and p. 88.

Best Gardens Trebah Gardenson the Helford river: gunneratunnel, bamboo maze, Tarzan’sCamp, beach, children’s trailsand activities; Tresco AbbeyGardens in the Isles of Scilly

features sub-tropical splendour.See p. 179 and p. 225.

Best Farmers’ Market/ShopTavistock – farmers’ market and huge daily pannier market.Trevathan Farm Shop at St En-dellion, plus café and children’splay area. See p. 102 and p. 165.

Best Miniature Train RidesTake a ride on the Lappa ValleySteam Railway near Newquayto all sorts of family fun; theBeer Light Railway trundlesthrough beautiful gardens atPecorama above the sea in eastDevon. See p. 177 and p. 27.

BEST ACCOMMODATION

Best Family-Friendly OptionFor the best hands-on experiencewith small animals TorridgeHouse in north Devon is prettywell unbeatable. See p. 76.

Best Grand Hotels Fowey HallHotel in southeast Cornwall istotally committed to the needs offamilies, with very flexible accom-modation options. See p. 141.

Best Seaside Hotels For thebest indoor and outdoor facili-ties for children – and parentsare well catered for too – try theBedruthan Steps Hotel nearNewquay. See p. 187.

Best B&Bs Trevone BeachHouse near Padstow: bright,cheerful, environmentally aware;Mincarlo on the Town Beach, St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly.See p. 161 and p. 227.

Land Ahoy!

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Best Self-CateringAccommodation Masses! NorthBradbury at Chittlehampton forthat personal touch, Bosinvernear St Austell for large groupsof children and mass animalfeeding; Gitcombe near Totnes;Burnville Farm in West Devonand Cot Manor near St Just forpeace, tranquillity and a spot ofluxury. See p. 76, p. 186, p. 121,p. 100, and p. 212.

Best Campsites GwithianFarm and Kenneggy CoveHoliday Park in southwestCornwall for straightforwardcamping and good facilities nearthe beach; Wooda Farm Parknear Bude if you’re after a littlemore onsite entertainment;Westermill Farm on Exmoor for wildlife and landscape. See p. 209, p. 209, p. 158, and p. 56.

BEST EATINGOPTIONS

Best Child-FriendlyRestaurants Cap’n Flint’s inSalcombe is deservedly popular;The Springer Spaniel nearLaunceston genuinely welcomeschildren; the WheelhouseRestaurant in Mevagissey haslife-size pirate models! See p. 123, p. 143, and p. 190.

Best Child-Friendly CafésMother Meldrum’s on Exmoorserves Witches’ Fingers; The OldDairy Café at DownesTraditional Breed Centre has agood family room – and ani-mals; Channel View Café inExmouth has an indoor playarea. See p. 60, p. 79, and p. 35.

Best Vegetarian FoodWillow Vegetarian GardenRestaurant in Totnes (with dedicated family room); andHerbies in Exeter – both long

Torridge House, North Devon

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established and brilliant. See p. 122 and p. 38.

Best Teashops Particularlygood are the Quay Café atFremington (turn up by bike);The Corn Dolly in South Molton;and Anne of Cleves in Totnes.See p. 61, p. 78, and p. 111.

Best Ice Cream Roskilly’s onthe Lizard; Salcombe Dairy insouth Devon; and CallestickFarm in mid Cornwall. See p. 213, p. 109, and p. 177.

Best Outdoor EatingThe Three Mackerel, aboveSwanpool beach near Falmouth;Juliet’s Garden Restaurant onSt Mary’s; Stein’s Fish & Chips,Padstow; BBQ at the Smugglers’Rest, Talland Bay. See p. 192, p. 233, p. 166, and p. 142.

Best Views The PorthgwiddenCafé Bar in St Ives; the SeabreezeCafé at Torcross; the Turk’s Headon St Agnes; the Beach Café atSennen Cove, looking out acrossthe Atlantic Ocean. See p. 218, p. 122, p. 234, and p. 214.

Traditional Cream Tea

Enjoying a bite to eat

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