Things To Do On Your Holiday In Cornwall

Cornwall is a beautiful place to visit, with over 350 miles of coastline for you to explore and numerous castles, gardens and museums for you to visit - there will never be a shortage of things to see and do. We have tried to give you a comprehensive list of places to go and things to do but if you know of something that we haven’t mentioned, please e-mail us as we are delighted to add suggestions to our listings.

Amusement/Theme Parks
Castles
Culture
Festivals and Events
Houses and Gardens
Museums
Nature/Wildlife
Shopping
Sports and Activities
Towns in Cornwall

Amusement/Theme Parks

ATV Motor Sports Centre, Truro
Three large circuits for quads that the public can use, learners, intermediate & the intermediate 2 circuit for the more advanced rider. Experienced Lantra Qualified instructors will give each rider a careful rundown of the controls, before they have some practice laps on the learner’s circuit.

Ben's Play World, St Austell
Indoor adventure centre for children, featuring mega slides, giant tubes, ball pools and much more.

Brocklands Adventure Park, Bude
Go karting, bumper boats, wildlife park, pony rides and more family fun.

Cornwall karting, Wadebridge
Cornwall karting, Wadebridge

Crealy Adventure Park, Wadebridge
The Crealy Adventure Park is a great place for children to meet animals, from the tiny guinea pigs to the large shire horses, for which the park is famous.

Dobwalls Adventure Park, Liskeard
Two miniature railroad networks, woodland walks and adventure areas, rides, and exhibitions.

Flambards Village Theme Park. Helston
The award winning Flambards has something for all the family from the Victorian Village and Britain in the Blitz exhibitions to the best fairground rides in Cornwall.

Hollywell Bay Fun Park, Newquay
Rides and entertainment ideal for kids. Including go-karts, pitch and putt and bumper boats.

Jeepers Karting, Hayle
Karting for all the family with Zip race karts and family fun karts. Jeepers offer beginners tuition and helmets are supplied. Spectators welcome and refreshments. Open Easter until 1st October. Tel : 01736 754960

Tamar Valley Donkey Park, Saltash
Home to about 30 donkeys, offers donkey rides, encounters with lots of animals and lots of other family attractions

The Quad & Kart Centre (Meheniot Supertrack), Meheniot
Guaranteed to be a day out the whole family will remember.

Castles

Carn Brea
Offers great views on a clear day as far as the North Coast. The Coast to Coast Cycle route passes within a mile of the summit. The castle is in private hands.

Castle Dore, Fowey
A prehistoric earthwork, between the 1st centuries BC and the 5th Century AD, 225 feet in diameter, off the beaten track.

Cromwell's Castle, Isles of Scilly
17th-century round tower positioned on a rocky promontory guarding the anchorage between Bryher and Tresco.

Garrison Walls, Isles of Scilly
Extensive defensive walls and earthworks dating back to the 16th century.

Harry's Walls, Isles of Scilly
16th-century fort built over St Mary's Pool harbour, but never finished.

King Charles's Castle, Isles of Scilly
Remains of a castle built for coastal defence on the north side of Tresco.

Launceston Castle, Launceston
Castle set on the high motte (mound) of a stronghold built soon after the Norman Conquest, in a delightful unspoilt former market town.

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
Pendennis Castle was built in the middle of the 16th century by Henry VIII as one of a pair of forts, with St Mawes Castle, to protect the Fal Estuary from the threat of invasion from France and Spain.

Restormel Castle, Lostwithiel
Surrounded by a deep moat and perched on a high mound, the huge circular keep of this castle, built at the turn of the 14th century, remains in good condition.

St Catherine's Castle, Fowey
Built as one of several fortifications running along the south coast in 1536 to protect Fowey harbour from French Invasion, it’s now managed by English Heritage.

St Mawes Castle, St Mawes
Perfectly preserved coastal fortress built by Henry VIII. In partnership with its twin, Pendennis, it guards the entrance of the Fal Estuary.

St Michaels Mount, Marazion
A former Benedictine Priory and castle set on a small island in the middle of Mount’s bay, only reachable by boat when the tide is in.

Tintagel Castle, Tintagel
On the North Cornish Cliffs, spectacular views up and down the coast. Allegedly the remains of the fortress used by King Arthur.

Treen Castle Treryn Dinas, West Cornwall
Near Porthcurno was an Iron Age fortress.

Culture

Blue Hills Tin Streams, St Agnes
Tour of tin streams with the opportunity to see the processing of the mineral to finished articles. Tin giftware and jewellery cast on site.

Callington Mural Trail, Callington
Is unique in Cornwall. Artists, both amateur and professional have enlivened many walls of the town with a fascinating mixture of colourful and interesting murals.

Carnglaze Caverns
Consist of three man-made caverns formed as part of a slate quarry in the Loveny Valley, near the village of St Neot, Liskeard. In recent years Carnglaze Caverns has found notoriety as an unusual concert venue.

Charlestown Shipwreck Centre, St Austell
There are more than a quarter of a million shipwrecks around the coasts of Britain and the Charleston Shipwreck Centre illustrates a sample of these in photography and salvaged cargo.

Chysauster Iron Age Village, Penzance
This Celtic settlement was originally occupied almost 2,000 years ago, but has been well-preserved. Carn Euny also has a magnificent example of a 'fogou' - an underground system of passages and chambers, whose true purpose is shrouded in mystery.

Cornish Cyder Farm, Truro
The Cornish Cyder Farm produces strong traditional scrumpys, sparkling ciders, country wines, jams, preserves, brandy and has lots of friendly farm animals to entertain the children.

Cornish Mines and Engines, Redruth
Cornish Mines and Engines is an engine house and collection of beam engines and other industrial artefacts owned by the National Trust.

Dairyland Farm World, Newquay
A family-owned farm and entertainment complex offering not only the traditional farm interests but varied amusements for visitors of all ages.

Geevor Tin Mine, St Just
Geevor Tin Mine, situated on the Atlantic Coast of the far west of Cornwall, is the largest preserved mining site in the United Kingdom.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro
The theatre attracts just close to 180,000 visitors each year and has hosted companies such as Rambert Dance Company and The Royal Shakespeare Company as well as a wide range of entertainers.

Jamaica Inn, Launceston
The coaching house immortalised by Daphne du Maurier in her novel of the same name, has stood on a high point Bodmin Moor for more than four centuries.

Lane Theatre, Newquay
The Dramatic Society was founded in May 1931 and has been presenting plays ever since. Lane Theatre now boasts a superb 136 seat theatre with excellent facilities for disabled people. There is free parking and a licensed bar. The theatre normally stages four shows a year with two plays during the Summer season and productions in the Spring and Autumn. For advance bookings and further information you can ring 01637 876945.

Lanyon Quoit, West Cornwall
The particularly impressive Lanyon Quiot, with its huge 6m long granite capstone, was the burial place of some prehistoric chieftain 5000 years ago.

Levant Mine, St Just
The engine house of the Levant mine, famous for its rich undersea deposits of both copper and tin, is situated on a cliff edge five miles from Land’s End.

Men-an-tol, West Cornwall
Legend has it that parents would pass their children through the hole in the central stone in the hope that doing so would cure them of rickets and other ailments. Men an Tol is reached via a longish walk up a track, the stones are some 200 yards to the right, about half a mile up the track from the main road the B3306.

Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
The Minack Open Air Theatre is in one of the most beautiful settings anywhere in the world, perched high on golden cliffs above the turquoise sea.

Mineral Tramways Discovery centre, Pool (near Camborne)
An ideal place to find out about the old mineral tramway routes between Hayle, Portreath and Devoran as well seeing the remains of the mines they served. With trails and footpaths, the area is ideal for exploring the industrial heritage of Cornwall.

Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance
The Gallery has recently been refurbished, both it, and the eye-catching new art space, The Exchange, in nearby Penzance "showcase the very best of national and international contemporary art".

Penlee House Gallery and Museum
Housing exhibits from the Newlyn School of Artists, and of works from the Lamorna and St Ives Groups too, and artists such as Stanhope Forbes and Henry Scott Tuke to name but two. The gallery also has a dazzling display of photographs from the late 19th century, but with some taken as early as the 1870's.

Poldark Mine, Helston
Located in the picturesque Wendron Valley, Poldark Mine has free admission to the main site and offers something for all the family.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Porthcurno
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum records the history of the telegraph station and the defensive tunnels built to house it during the Second World War.

Rough Tor Huts Circles, Bodmin Moor
As you walk from the car park to the summit you pass the remains of numerous Bronze Age Hut Circles. The remains of granite stone field boundaries are also thought to date from this period. Once you have scrambled to the Summit more stone circles can just be made out far below.

St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre
The brewery has been brewing beer on the same site for more than 100 years and is Cornwall's oldest independent family brewery

St Just church, Roseland
Arguably situated in one of the most tranquil and picturesque locations in Cornwall, surrounded by a well kept and beautiful churchyard. At high spring tides water laps the churchyard wall. There is a delightful 2 mile walk through woodland to nearby St Mawes.

St Leven church
A mile or so along the road from Porthcurno Beach in West Cornwall is St Leven. It nestles in a hollow, isolated a few miles from the Village, dates from the 13th century.

Steam railways: Lappa vally, Newquay
A narrow gauge railway which opened in 1849 as a mineral line from Newquay to East Wheal Rose and was reopened in 1974 as a tourist attraction. Bodmin and Wenford - the only standard gauge railway in the county to run both steam and diesel trains. Launceston - operates in the summer from Launceston via the Kensey Valley to New Mills

The Hurlers, near Minions, Bodmin Moor
Three ancient Stone Circles dating from 2500 to 1800 BC, one circle is particularly well preserved. Nearby is Trethevy Quiot, the remains of a Bronze Age tomb.

The Lizard
Underlain by a unique metamorphic rock - serpentine. Dark green veined with red and white. Easily worked into lampholders, eggs, candle holders, and other souvenirs. Though serpentine ornaments were particularly fashionable in Victorian times, Lizard Village still has several serpentine turners, working their craft in Season. There are lots of craft and gift shops, and several galleries.

The Merry Maidens Stone Circle near Lamorna
believed to date back to the Bronze Age. Legend has it that these nine stones are maidens turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath, the two nearby stones being called the pipers.

Truro Cathedral, Truro
Cornwall's only cathedral. Built in the 1880s, the cathedral's 250ft high spire still dominates the city.

Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre, St Austell
Museum illustrating the history of china clay extraction in Cornwall since it was discovered in the county.

Festivals and Events

January
• Eden's Winter Festival
Mid-January to early February, held at St. Austell's breathtaking Eden Project, with an ice skating rink, storytelling, live music, films and even choir concerts within the Temperature Biome.

• SECTA Catering and Hospitality Trade Show
Late January / early February, various themed events take place at the Looe Bay Holiday Park, on the eastern side of Looe.

February
• Hurling the silver ball, St Ives and St Columb
A very old custom descended from epic handball matches of Celtic legend consisting of a large silver ball being passed through the crowds, and large festivities.

March
• St. Endellion Easter Festival of Music. Port Issac, North Cornwall
Music from a variety of composers and eras compliment this series of performances. The beautiful setting for this festival is the collegiate Church of St. Endellion.

• The Cornwall Spring Garden Festival runs from about March to the end of May and is a riot of perfumed colour. Exotic blooms, tree ferns and bananas, early flowering daffodils and eight foot high Brazilian 'rhubarb' - all thrive in Cornwall’s sub-tropical climate.

• There are also many Easter Egg Trails in various gardens.

April
• Trevithick Day
Late April, taking place each year in Camborne. This popular event celebrates the region's rich mining past and features a host of free entertainment along the main streets

• Giant Bolster Weekend
Late April, a festival based around the village's legendary character of Bolster, a bad-tempered Cornish giant, who is remembered with street entertainment and fun theatrical performances

• Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show, Bocconoc

May
• Rip Curl English Surf Championships
Early May, surfing competition based at Fistral Beach.

• Padstow Obby Oss
Early May, believed to be England's most historical dance festival of its kind, with a strong Celtic theme.

• Daphne du Maurier Festival
Mid-May, taking place in Fowey, a ten-day event with performances by many stars of the stage and screen, including music and concerts. The Daphne du Maurier Festival also features guided walks and many local performers from all over Cornwall.

• Run to the Sun Festival
Late May, a major event where huge numbers of VW enthusiasts arrive in their showy beetles and camper vans, featuring excellent evening entertainment, including famous DJs, discos, live music and many top comedians. Newquay's Run to the Sun usually attracts crowds of almost 40,000 people and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

• Helston Flora Day
Early May, yearly event in Helston, with street markets and parades of dancing.

• Cornish Asparagus Festival offers the opportunity to taste, buy and learn about one of the country's most sought after delicacies. Penmere Manor Hotel, Falmouth.

• Red Stripe British Longboard Surfing Championships, Newquay.

• Furry dance, Helston, the dance is an expression of the joy at the triumph of life (Spring) over Death (Winter).

June
• Looe Festival by the Sea
Early June, a two-day event at Looe. Expect to find many fishing-related events, including tours of trawlers and local fishing boats, cooking demonstrations using freshly caught fish, a flower festival and plenty of dancing.

• Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge
Early June, enormous three-day event in Wadebridge, boasting an enormous amount of entertainment, with various marquees, displays, a steam fair and market stalls. Attended by over 100,000 people.

• Polperro Festival
Mid-June, week-long festivities in the Polperro area, with a number of concerts, local Morris dancing and short plays.

• Mevagissey Feast Week
Late June, a feast of seafood as St. Peter is remembered, the Patron Saint of Fisherman. A carnival and fete also takes place, amongst other well-attended events.

• University College Falmouth's Summer Shows
Mid-June, various art displays and showcases on student works, lasting five days.

• Sea Shanty Festival
Mid-June, the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival is always a crowd puller and features traditional music, singing and performances along various waterfront venues.

July
• Stithians Agricultural Show
Mid-July, a huge yearly agricultural show drawing crowds of more than 20,000 people and offers much more than just farmyard animals.

• The Budweiser K Festival, Newquay
Late July, a prominent music gig attracting many of the country's leading bands at the time.

• Interceltic Watersports Festival
Late July - the week-long event sees competitors from seven Celtic nations competing in kayak events, rowing, sailing, surfing, diving and windsurfing. Various venues.

• Looe Lions Carnival Week
Late July, a full week of entertainment for all the family.

• Pendeen Band week
Mid-July - various musical events, Pendeen.

• Ruan Minor Vintage Car Rally
Late July.

• St Endellion Music Festival, The Collegiate Church of St Endellion, Port Isaac
Late July.

• St Mawes Social Club Regatta, The Quay, St Mawes
Early July.

• Wadebridge Wheels, a classic car rally, Royal Cornwall Showground
Early July.

August
• Newquay Harbour Sports Day
Early August, when visitors can compete in a range of activities, including swimming, surfing and sculling.

• Rip Curl Boardmaster
Early to mid-August, one of Newquay's most famous and talked about events, incorporating an array of trendy lifestyle sports, such as surfing, skateboarding and BMX riding, together with a host of entertainment and shows, including a selection of events centred around Fistral Beach.

• West of England Steam Rally
Mid-August, a huge steam-related festival with well over 200 individual steam engines, rural crafts and magnificent working fairground organs, based at Tywarnhayle Farm in the village of St. Agnes.

• Fowey Regatta
Mid to late August, one of Cornwall's most popular sailing regattas, taking place every year over the third week of August, with a carnival parade, flying display by the Red Arrows and many other family events.

• Bude RNLI Lifeboat Day
Late August, with various events based around Bude's waterfront.

• Cornwall Folk Festival
Late August, based in Wadebridge and offering a varied mixture of folk music, street entertainment and dancing. This is an historic festival dating back around 40 years.

• Bude Jazz Festival
Late August/early September, one of England's top jazz festivals, lasting around eight days and boasting in excess of 200 different jazz-related events around the Newquay area, including many concerts both outside and in a number of the town's indoor venues.

• Falmouth Week Festival/Henri-Lloyd Falmouth Week
Mid-August, a historic sailing regatta with a host of activities on land, including a carnival. The Festival dates back to the 1820s and lasts eight days and has gained much popularity in recent years. Expect dinghy races, champagne racing and plenty of night-time entertainment for everyone.

• Bude Carnival
Mid-August.

• Bude Horticultural Show, Parkhouse Centre, Bude
Late August.

• Camel Sailing Week, River Camel, Wadebridge
Mid-August.

• Camelford Agricultural Show, Halwill Barton, Camelford
Early August.

• Hayle Festival. Every year Hayle hosts a lively community week including an arts show, a horticultural show, an Old Cornwall Society exhibition, a Lions Club Fun Day and a flea market, culminating with the summer carnival on the last day.

• Mount Edgcumbe Classic Car Rally & Fayre, Mount Edgcumbe House and Park, Torpoint
Early August.

• Newlyn Fish Festival, Newlyn, Penzance
Bank Holiday Monday

• Padstow Carnival
Early August.

• Padstow Lifeboat Day, Various Venues, Padstow
Mid-August.

• Pasty Day festival, Morvah Parish Church, Morvah
Early August.

• St Agnes Carnival
Early August.

• St Keverne Ox Roast, Various Venues, St Keverne- 1st Wednesday in August.

September
• Fish Festival
Mid-September, lots of seafood celebrations, based around Newquay harbour.

• Bluegrass Festival
Mid-September, lasting three days, this notable musical event has become known for its banjo playing and is usually to be found at the Hendra Holiday Park.

• British Bodyboard Surf Contest
Late September/early October, a major event in the surfing calendar, with strong waves around Newquay's top beaches.

• St Ives September Festival, various venues, St Ives
Late September

• Cornwall Food and Drink Festival
Celebrating the year of food and farming, encouraging young people to understand more about where and how our food is produced as well as bring you tasty and great value local produce.

October
• The Lowender Peran Festival
Mid-October, a true Celtic celebration of Cornwall's rich history and heritage, with a series of concerts, markets and appealing workshops.

• Halloween Night Party
Around October 31st, ticket-only event taking place at Newquay Zoo.

• Roseland Festival
Late October/early November, with various music, film and dance-related events all around the Roseland Peninsula.

• Falmouth Festival of Literature and Arts
Early October, a chance to meet many prominent artists and writers, with various events taking place over three days, all around the town.

• Falmouth Oyster Festival
Late October, a huge annual event which heralds the official start of the oyster harvesting season, with plenty of tasty oysters and seafood dishes to sample, together with cookery demos and a variety of live music based around the Events Square.

• Faery, Angel & Healing Fayre, St Johns Hall, Penzance.

• Lowender Peran Celtic Festival, Perranporth
Celebrating Cornwall's distinctive heritage of traditional music, dance, songs, story telling and our links with Brittany, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

• St Just Feast, St Just
Late October, when St Just was a prosperous mining town, the annual Feast was a sumptuous affair with various odd sports involved. Nowadays its a bit more prosaic but involves various activities around town and a small funfair.

November
• Truro City of Lights
Procession of glowing lanterns passing through the streets of Truro in an amazing display of light, music and dance. The project is now in its 10th year and attracts thousands of visitors. For further information: 01872 274555.

• Camborne Music Festival
An annual competitive festival for amateur instrumentalists and vocalists of all ages and abilities.

• Bonfire Night
Around November 5th, another good excuse for a superb public fireworks display, with plenty of hot food and drinks to keep you warm.

December
• Festival of Christmas Lights
Early December, Newquay Zoo is decorated with colourful lights and seasonal decorations.

• Made in Cornwall Christmas Show
More than 170 local businesses from Bude to Penzance will be taking part selling a wide range of food, paintings, clothing, jewellery, woodcraft, cosmetics, ceramics, toys and gifts for Christmas.

• New Year's Eve
December 31st, venues around Newquay certainly know how to see in the New Year and offer a night to remember for a very long time, including fancy dress events.

• Mousehole Christmas Lights
Mid December - the town decorates the boats in the harbour, its buildings and hillside creating a wonderful spectacle.

Houses and Gardens

Antony House and Woodland Gardens, Torpoint
Superb early 18th-century mansion set in beautiful parkland and fine gardens.

Boconnoc House and Gardens, Lostwithiel
A superb country mansion set in extensive grounds and gardens.

Caerhays Castle & Gardens, Mevagissey
An imposing 19th century castle designed by John Nash set in 60 acres of woodland gardens and with a private beach. Plant hunters will enjoy looking at the rhododendron hybrids, magnolias and camellia williamsii.

Cothele House and Gardens, Saltash
Medieval house with superb collections of textiles, armour and furniture, set in extensive grounds

Eden Project, St Austell
Cornwall's best-known attraction. The site consists of 2 vast landscaped space age greenhouses, or biomes, containing a variety of temperate and tropical plants.

Glendurgan Gardens, Helford
One of the great sub-tropical gardens of the South-West on the Helford Estuary.

Godolphin House and Gardens, Hayle
Privately owned Tudor and Stuart Grade 1 mansion complete with Elizabethan stables. Surrounded by formal gardens (c.1500), orchards and bluebell woods.

Lanhydrock House and gardens, Bodmin
Magnificent late Victorian country house with extensive servants' quarters, gardens and wooded estate.

Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mevagissey
80 acres of superb grounds with a complex of walled gardens and a huge, productive vegetable garden. Set in one of the most mysterious estates in England.

Morrab Garden, Penzance
Sub-tropical gardens located between Penzance's town centre and promenade.

Mount Edgcumbe house and gardens, Torpoint
Grand country house set in 865 acres of country park on the Rame Peninsula.

Old Mill Herbary, Bodmin
3 acres of semi-wild terraced gardens along the banks of the River Camel in Bodmin.

Pencarrow House and Gardens, Bodmin
Historic Georgian House, beautiful gardens and superb collection of pictures, furniture and porcelain.

Penhallam, Bude
The low, grass-covered ruins of a medieval manor house, surrounded by a protective moat.

Pine Lodge Gardens, St Austell
Thirty acres of variedly landscaped gardens including woodland walk, Japanese garden and ponds and lakes.

St Michaels Mount, Marazion
Island castle set in the middle of Mount's Bay.

Trebah Gardens, Helford
Known as the ‘garden of dreams’, spectacular 26 acre Cornish ravine garden that descends 200 feet to a private beach on the River Helford located near Falmouth in Cornwall.

Tregothnan Estate, Truro
Extending over 40 hectares, the Tregothnan garden is the largest historic garden in Cornwall. The collection of plants is highly regarded in the botanic world.

Trelissick Garden, Truro
Tranquil garden near Truro with wonderful views of the River Fal. Set on many levels, containing a superb collection of tender and exotic plants

Trengwainton Garden, Penzance
Trengwainton Garden located in Madron near Penzance. Woodland garden with views over Mount’s Bay. Exotic trees and shrubs including tree ferns create a prehistoric feel.

Trerice, Newquay
Elizabethan manor house situated 3 miles from Newquay. Now owned by the National Trust

Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly
'A perennial Kew' - home to 20,000 exotic plants with species from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa.

Trevarno Estate, Helston
A historic Cornish Estate, explore its magnificent gardens and grounds, organic skincare and handmade soaps workshops.

Trewidden Garden, Penzance
Trewidden is renowned for its collection of camellias and exotic shrubs.

Trewithen Gardens, Truro
Fine early Georgian house in its splendid setting of wood and parkland.

Museums

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St Ives
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden features works in bronze, stone and wood in addition to paintings, drawings and other archive material.

Bodmin Jail, Bodmin
Bodmin Jail, which was built as the County Prison in 1778 and was notorious for its cramped conditions and public hangings, is now a fascinating museum.

British Cycling Museum
This is a must for anyone interested in the history of cycling over the past 125 years. The museum is aptly located in an old Victorian railway station in Camelford. The museum opened in 1992, the passion of an enthusiast that had amassed a large collection of cycling equipment and memorabilia.

Cornish studies libraries, Redruth
Cornwall's largest collection of local books.

Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station
The Lizard, the largest and oldest satellite station in the World welcomes more than 80,000 visitors a year. Over 60 Giant Satellite dishes, a multimedia Visitor Centre, a guided shuttle bus tour and a web based museum of communications, ‘Connected Earth’.

King Arthur's Great Halls, Tintagel
King Arthur's Great Halls was designed and built in the 1930s to encapsulate the world and legend of King Arthur.

Marconi Centre, Poldhu Samll
Local museum honouring the work of Marconi in Cornwall.

Military Museum
Bodmin has traditionally been the home of Cornish regiments.

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
A branch of the main London Museum, with a particularly good collection of small boats on display.

Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Cornwall’s oldest and most prestigious museum, famed for its internationally important collections.

Telegraph Museum at Porthcurno
Shows how this communications station functioned over the years.

The Cider Barn
A new cider-making barn rebuilt from part of the wartime RAF station at Predannack. Come and enjoy tasting the wide selection of different ciders, wins, liqueurs and meads. We also have an outdoor display of ancient Cider presses too.

The Tate Gallery St Ives
Opened in June 1993 in a purpose-built building with five galleries offering an introduction to modern art.

Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre, Penzance
Established in 1990, the museum has an elaborate collection of lighthouse equipment that helps to tell the story of how an organisation, Trinity House, has built and maintained lights around the coast of England and Wales for over 400 years.

Wayside Folk Museum, Zennor
A charming local museum that gives you background to the folklore side of history.

World of Model Railways, Mevagissey
The World of Model Railways has a main layout with over 30 trains travelling through varied landscapes and is home to a well-stocked model shop.

Nature/Wildlife

Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay
Overlooking a popular Newquay surfing beach, the Blue Reef Aquarium is a stunning collection of marine displays from the Cornish coast to as far afield as the Caribbean.

Bodmin Moor
The Moor is dominated by dramatic granite tors which tower over the sweeping expanses of open moorland. Marshes and bogs on the high moor drain into shallow moorland valleys before the rivers cross onto softer shales around the Moor and carve themselves deep river valleys, providing shelter for rich, damp oak woodland.

Carnglaze Caverns and the Rum Store, Bodmin
Carnglaze consists of three underground caverns reaching over 100 metres into a wooded hillside between Liskeard and Bodmin.

Cheney Mill Farm Park
Is set in 12 acres and is a family run business, run with families in mind. It offers a ‘hands on’ experience - including feeding farm animals and handling small mammals, together with a range of other small animals and birds. Other facilities include picnic areas, café, outdoor play area, adventure golf course, battery bike race track and mini mechanical diggers

Cornish Birds of Prey Centre, Wadebridge
Over 50 birds of prey, many of which take part in regular flying displays plus 'hands-on' experiences.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust
They organise a wide range of wildlife related events and activities. Go onto their website to find out more about these: http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cornwall

Dairyland Farm World
A favourite with families for over 30 years, it is a working dairy farm with plenty of play areas such as the ‘Bull Pen,’ a huge undercover play area with climbing nets and ball pools. There is a Heritage Centre, a Tractor House & Smithy, a Milking Parlour and a Nature Trail through the valley with woodlands and lakes. Also, there are pony and tractor rides.

Friends of Luxulyan Valley, St Austell
Site concerned with the conservation of Luxulyan valley near St Austell. The valley consists of 2 miles of woodland with nearly 40 types of ferns and the Par River running through.

Land's End, Sennen
Land’s End, with its rugged wave battered cliffs, is the most westerly point in mainland England and the most visited outdoor tourist attraction in Cornwall.

Monkey Sanctuary, Looe
Home to a social colony of woolly monkeys and a small group of rescued capuchin monkeys, provides advice and support for primate rescue centres around the world.

Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital & Sanctuary
A genuine sanctuary and hospital for approximately 1500 birds a year needing care with the aim of returning healed birds to the wild. Free admission with donations kindly accepted.

National Seal Sanctuary, Helford
The National Seal Sanctuary is a haven for injured and orphaned seal pups set on the picturesque Helford Estuary in the lovely village of Gweek.

Newquay Zoo, Newquay
This is Cornwall’s only zoo and has become one of the leading wildlife parks in the country.

Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Hayle
Paradise Park carries out conservation work on native UK species, including the Cornish Chough, Otters, Owls, and Red Squirrels. It is also home to rare and endangered parrots, and is an excellent and informative day out for any family.

Screech owl sanctuary, Newquay
Provides care and rehabilitation for sick and injured owls and ensures their safe release back to the wild where possible.

Tamar otter sanctuary, North Petherwin
Delightful attraction for all the family and the only place in the West Country where British otters are bred on a regular basis open 10:30- 6, feeding the otters at 12:00 and 3:30.

Tamar Valley Donkey Park, Saltash
Home to about 30 donkeys, offers donkey rides, encounters with lots of animals and lots of other family attractions.

The National Lobster Hatchery, Pastow
An important contributor to the management of coastal marine resources and in particular, to the restocking of lobsters. Local fishermen that have caught pregnant female lobsters bring them to the centre and the baby lobsters are born in captivity without predators that would decimate the new offspring. The young lobsters are then raised to a size where they can be released back into the sea. Open 7 days a week throughout the year, the work of the hatchery is on view for everyone coming to the visitor centre.

Shopping

Shopping In Cornwall
Cornwall’s narrow alleyways, cobbled streets and pedestrian zones put the fun back into the art of shopping, especially when they host a maze of arts and crafts, local markets, antiques, unusual boutiques and a plethora of surf and beachwear goods. For a wide selection of Cornwall's offerings spend a day in the city of Truro, art-lovers should steer to St Ives, antique hunters head to Lostwithiel, and for that something special you can't beat Falmouth's eclectic cluster of local arts, nautical novelties and contemporary boutiques.

The West Cornwall Shopping Park
Located in a prominent position on the main A30 dual carriageway, adjacent to Hayle - a new development which opened in September 2006.

Trago Mills
In the scenic Glynn Valley near Liskeard offers more than just bargains – it also provides leisure facilities and activities for the whole family.

Wharfside Shopping Centre, Penzance
‘The shopping centre with the best view in the whole country’ has something for everyone.

Sports and Activities

Active-8
A locally based specialist holiday activity company that arranges the very best holiday activities in Cornwall using only approved and qualified centres. Day activities and short-break packages on offer include Mountain biking, Coasteering, Climbing, Abseiling, Adventure activities, Rock Climbing, Windsurfing, Sea Kayaking, Surfing, Body Boarding and a whole lot more. Within reason, Active-8 will organise any adventure activity that is available within Cornwall.

Adventure international
(Bude – 01288 355551)

Bodyboarding
At Rob Barber’s bodyboarding school, Newquay there’s coaching on offer for complete novices, top level competitors and everyone in between. (Tel: 07974 729639)

Briton’s Slip Sailing School
(Falmouth, 01326 211100, http://www.omegaweb.co.uk/britons/index.htm, also have power boats)

Bude & North Cornwall
Burn View, Bude, EX23 8DA Book online, green fee

Budock Vean Hotel
Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, TR11 5LG Book online

Camel school of sailing
(Rock, 01208 862881, also have power boats)

Cape Cornwall G&CC
St Just, Penzance,TR19 7NL

Carlyon Bay
Carlyon Bay, St Austell, PL25 3RD Book online, green fee

China Fleet CC
Saltash, PL12 6LJ Book online

Clowance Estate
Praze An Beeble, Camborne TR14 0PT Book online

Coarse Fishing
There are ponds and lakes offering coarse fishing dotted all over the County. Many of these are owned by South West Water. 40 acre Porth, near St Mawgan, is the largest coarse fishery in the County. Both Upper and Lower Tamar Lakes near Bude, as well as being coarse fisheries, are an important winter stop-over for migrating birds. The privately owned Dutson Pond near Launceston holds some nice carp.

Cornwall Surf Academy
Operates in and around Newquay, Hayle/ St Ives Bay and The Lizard. They cater for beginner and improver surfers.Tel: 0870 240 6693, email: info@cornwallsurfacademy.com

Culdrose
Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose

Cycling and walking
Cornwall is blessed with over 268 miles of spectacular coast path; its inland routes twist and turn across lush countryside, wild moors and sheltered valleys. The Blue Badge Cornish Riviera Guides can offer a wide range of guided tours in and around Cornwall. There are many bike hire shops in all the main towns: Whole day, half day, and evening hire. From mountain bikes to adult tourers to child trailer bikes to tandems.

Camel Trail, Wadebridge
a seventeen mile-long cycle and footpath, runs along the beautiful Camel Estuary from Padstow to Wadebridge (6 miles) and, for the adventurous, on another 8 miles to Bodmin Moor.

The Cornish Coastal Path
is a very beautiful long distance footpath that winds its way all round the coast from Devon in the North, via Lands End, to rejoin Devon again at the south (268 miles)

Pentewan Valley Trail, near Mevagissey
a shorter version of the Camel Trail, traffic-free and level, hence particularly suitable for families. Nearly 3 miles long, past the sluice ponds, through ancient oak woodland and alongside the River. Car parking at both ends. Cycle hire available.

Botallack and Wheal Owles
Though it is difficult to imagine today Botallack once provided employment for over 1000 men, women, and children. In late spring the cliffs are a mass of bluebells and pink thrift.

Great Flat Lode Trail, near Redruth
Part of the Mineral Tramways network of three linking mainly off-road trails following the route of now disused mining tracks, meandering through the former tin and copper mining belt around Redruth and Camborne. Though not as level as the Camel or Pentewan Trails, the slight gradients of the Great Flat Lode Trail add to the interest.

The Coast to Coast
15 miles. Starting from Portreath on the North Coast along the bed of the Portreath Tramroad, to Devoran and Restronguet Creek on the River Fal. Following the course of the Redruth to Chasewater Railway down the Bissoe Valley. Past Brunel's Stumps (all that remains of the arsenic works), under the Viaduct and on to Devoran.

Cardinham Woods
4 and a half miles of mainly level off-road cycling in Forestry Commission-owned woods through the Glynn Valley near Bodmin. Particularly suited for families. Other trails within the Woods are open for walkers, horse riders and experienced cycle riders. Even picnic tables and refreshments available when it’s time for a break. And a barbecue area too.

The Cornishway
180 miles, some off road, stretching from Lands End to Bude on the County Border. Though mostly on road, much of the Cornishway follows country lanes, through some of the most attractive scenery Cornwall has to offer.

The Clay Trails
3 interlinked trails through the stark beauty that is China Clay Country - silver grey spoil heaps, flooded worked out pits often an amazing turquoise blue colour, pit sites often now reclaimed by nature, and so now wooded. Though largely gravel suitable for cycling, walking, horse-riding and wheelchair accessible. (I) Par to St Blazey 3 miles, (II) Bugle to Eden 4 miles, and (III) Wheal Martyn to Eden 5 miles each way.

The Hallwalk Fowey to Bodinnick and Polruan
At any time of year one of the prettiest circular walks in Cornwall with wonderful views across the River to Fowey and down the estuary to Polruan. 2 miles.

The Godolphin Estate
(Godolphin Cross, Helston) is an historic landscape offering extensive walks and wonderful views over west Cornwall from Godolphin Hill.

The Strangles
Boscastle to Crackington Haven. Wonderful walks are to be had in either direction along the Coast Path from the unspoilt fishing village of Boscastle. Walk North to High Cliff, the highest point on the coast of Cornwall where you can look down on the wonderfully named Strangles.

Rough Tor Bodmin Moor
A strenuous 3 mile walk (more a hike) across open moorland with some scrambling to reach the very top of Rough Tor, the second highest point in Cornwall. Standing on its summit on a clear day it is possible to see both the Atlantic North Coast and the English Channel of the South Coast.

Falmouth
Swanpool Road, Falmouth, TR11 5BQ

Falmouth sailing school
(www.falmouthschoolofsailing.co.uk), Powerboat, Sailing & Cruising School in Falmouth. RYA Powerboat & Sailing Courses, VHF Radio & First Aid Courses, Yachtmaster, Dayskipper & Competent Crew Courses, Individual or Group Lessons and Junior Classes

Fowey sailing school, Fowey
Offers a range of RYA courses, bareboat charter plus tuition on owner's yachts. Charter trips to France, the Scilly Isles and around the English, Scottish and Irish coastal waters can be arranged with tuition included if required.

GolBowood Park Hotel & Golf Course
Valley Truckle, Lanteglos, Camelford, PL32 9RF

Harlyn surf school, Padstow
Harlyn Surf School prides itself on being more than just a "1-lesson" surf school.

Hibiscus surf school
A specialist surf school for women: enables women of all ages and abilities to be taught by and learn from women in relaxing, fun, yet professional lessons http://www.hibiscussurfschool.co.uk/

Horseriding
Climb in the saddle and explore beaches, woods and countryside by horseback. For a list of riding schools visit http://www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk/documents/RidinginCornwall.doc Cornish Camels offer Camel Trekking from May - Sep, or you can visit them throughout the year (01326 231119) For general outdoor sports and activities contact:

Isles of Scilly
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NF

Kayaking
Are you a kayaking virgin or an experienced paddler? Whichever bill you fit there's somewhere for you to wet your paddles in Cornwall. Contact Outdoor Adventure, Bude (tel:01288 362900) or Stithians Lake Watersports (01209 860301)

Killiow Golf Park
Killiow, Kea, Truro, TR3 6AG Book online

Lanhydrock
Lostwithiel Road, Bodmin, PL30 5AQ green fee

Launceston
St Stephen, Launceston, PL15 8HF Book online, green fee

Looe
Bin Down, Looe, PL13 1PX Book online

Lostwithiel G&CC
Lower Polscoe, Lostwithiel, PL22 0HQ Book online, green fee

Merlin
St Eval Road, Mawgan Porth, Newquay TR8 4DN

Mevagissey Sailing School is based in the harbour
It offers a competitively priced hands-on introduction to sailing, ideal for families or small groups, or the more ambitious may wish to sail on more extended cruises to the Channel Isles, the French coast of North Brittany or the Isles of Scilly.

Mounts Bay Luggar Association
(http://www.mbla.co.uk/)

Mullion
Cury, Helston, TR12 7BP

Mylor sailing school, Falmouth
holiday courses, family courses, individual tuition, powerboat courses, Tel: 01326 377633 Email: info@mylorsailingschool.co.uk

Newquay
Tower Road, Newquay, TR7 1LT

Ocean Sports, Pentewan
They supply a comprehensive range of watersports equipment including: Diving Equipment, Wetsuits, Water-skis, Canoes, Surfing Equipment. Diving Air supplied. You can also hire: Bikes, Wetsuits, Bodyboard, Diving Equipment and stunt kites. Tel: 01726 842817

Paragliding/ Parachuting
To see Cornwall from up in the air contact Cornwall Hang Gliding and Paragliding (01209842877) Parachute training is available at Cornwall Parachute Club based at St Merryn Airfield. (Tel: 01841540691.) Kite surfing - This cutting-edge extreme sport is a fusion of windsurfing, surfing, wake boarding and power kiting, and once you have mastered the technique the speeds and jumps attainable are absolutely mind-blowing. Contact Mobius Kite School (08456 430 630)

Perranporth
Budnic Hill, Perranporth, TR6 0AB green fee

Porthpean
The Puffins, Porthpean Beach Road, St. Austell, PL26 6AU Book online

Praa Sands
Praa Sands, Penzance, TR20 9TQ green fee

Raven surf school – Bude
One of the UK's premier surf schools. Learn to surf with former British, English and European surfing champion Mike Raven. Tel: 01288 353693

Roadford Lake
(Kilkhampton, 01409 211507),

Roadford Lake
(Kilkhampton, 01409 211507)

Rock climbing
Cornwall is the home of sea-cliff climbing and boasts rock faces for all levels of climber. For listings of climbing routes see www.ukclimbing.com, for instruction try Outdoor Adventure, Bude (tel: 01288 362900) Compass West, Sennen (tel: 01736 871447) or Explore Climbing, Penzance (tel: +90 (0) 539 3672101)

Roserrow G&CC
St Minver, Wadebridge, PL27 6QT Book online, green fee

Sailing
There are many sailing schools all along the Cornish coast, so why not feel the wind in your sails and take to the open sea. We have put together a collection of some of the main sailing schools to help you:

Salmon and Trout Fishing
More properly called game fishing, using either the fly or spinner; several of the County's rivers boast runs of salmon and sea trout, the most notable being the Rivers Camel and Fowey and their tributaries, the Lyner and the Inney, a tributary of the River Tamar.

Scuba diving
Rugged underwater geology, numerous historic shipwrecks and the diversity of marine wildlife swimming teamed with warm clear waters makes Cornwall a wonderful place to dive. For more information visit www.cornishdiving.co.uk or www.saldivingcompany.com

Sea Angling in Cornwall
Whether you fancy an hour’s mackerelling from a boat in the still calm of a summer evening, or an all-day wreck fishing trip, or surfing casting off the beach. There’s plenty of choice along and off the Cornwall Coast.

Sennen Surfing Centre, near Lands End
“achievement doesn’t come sweeter” Tel: 01736 871227

Siblyback Lake
(Liskeard, 01579 346522)

Spa indulgence
For a relaxing and rejuvenating experience that doesn't involve splashing around in cold seas, braving the weather or even going outdoors, take a trip to a spa: indulge and be pampered as you relax with a hot-rock therapy, Reiki, reflexology and massages that will leave your whole body tingling with new energy. For a full list of establishments go to: http://www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk/documents/Spafacilities_000.doc

Sports Activities
One of the pleasures for many visitors to Cornwall is a simple stroll along the coastal footpaths admiring the wild flowers and beautiful scenery, past standing stones and deserted coves. For others it's the thrill of riding some of the best waves in Britain. Whatever your preference there’s bound to be something here for you:

St Austell
Tregongeeves Lane, St Austell, PL26 7DS green fee

St Enodoc
Rock, Wadebridge, PL27 6LD

St Kew
St Kew Highway, Wadebridge, Bodmin, PL30 3EF

St Mellion Hotel G&CC
St Mellion, Saltash, PL12 6SD green fee

Still water trout fishing
The most well-known is that offered by South West Water's man-made Lakes. (see the South West Water homepage for more information: http://www.southwestwater.co.uk) Some are in really beautiful surroundings. Argal near Falmouth, nestles in a wooded valley, and is a superb-stocked rainbow trout fishery. There are a few privately owned waters too. Temple Trout Fishery, Bodmin, two lakes in a beautiful location on Bodmin Moor of 2.7 and 4.5 acres holding stocked Rainbow, and Brown Trout Averaging 2lb, though club record is well over 10lb.

Surf’s Up! Surf School, Polzeath
One of the UK’s leading surf school. Recognised for progressive and innovative teaching techniques. Tel: +44 (0)1208 862003

Surfing
Cornwall is a world-renowned top surfing destination. With a variety of reef breaks and beach breaks scattered along both the north and south coasts, there is a wave for all weather conditions and for every level of surfer. Some of the best surfing destinations include Newquay, Watergate Bay, Fistral Beach, Polzeath, Sennen and Perranporth.

Tehidy Park
Camborne, TR14 0HH Book online

The Adventure Centre at Lusty Glaze beach
Newquay is an idyllic place for a day of fun and adventure. This centre offers a range of activities including coasteering, climbing and abseiling, surfing and one of the longest and highest Zip Wire in Europe.Tel:01637 872444

The British Surfing Association
Has a National Surfing Centre in Newquay - they offer surfing courses for all ages and abilities – Tel: 01637 850737, or call their national office in Penzance 01736 60250. http://www.britsurf.co.uk

The Winter Brothers Surf School
Unlike any other surf school in Great Britain in that the instructors, Dean and Steve Winter, have both represented their country in the British and European Championships and have won many titles including English and British Champion. Tel: 01637 879696 / 07814 786457

Tregenna Castle Hotel
St Ives, TR26 2DE green fee

Treloy
Treloy, Newquay, TR7 4JN

Trethorne
Kennards House, Launceston, PL15 8QE Book online, green fee

Trevose
Constantine Bay, Padstow, PL28 8JB Book online, green fee

Truro
Treliske, Truro, TR1 3LG

Upper Tamar Lake
(Kilkhampton, 01288 321712),

West Cornwall
Lelant, St Ives, TR26 3DZ green fee

Whitsand Bay Hotel
Portwrinkle, Torpoint, PL11 3BU green fee

Towns in Cornwall

Bodmin
On the edge of Bodmin Moor

Boscastle
Take a walk along the unspoilt North Cornish Coast

Bude
On the North Coast, popular with families

Falmouth
Guarding the entrance to Carrick Roads

Fowey
Seaport, popular with sailors, streets rising from the waters edge

Hayle
Set in the wide sweep of St Ives Bay, 3 miles of golden sands, with the magnificent backdrop of Godrevy Lighthouse.

Launceston
Guarded by a Norman Castle atop a hill, narrow streets around the town square

Looe
Watch the fishing boats land their catch, sunbathe on the town beach

Mevagissey
A beautiful harbour, narrow streets to explore

Mousehole
In the far West, with a very beautiful harbour

Newlyn
The largest fishing port in Cornwall, take in the sights, sounds and smells

Newquay
Self styled surfing capital of Britain and all round family resort

Padstow
On the Camel Estuary, best known for the May Day ‘Obby Oss’

Penzance
Gateway to West Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly.

Perranporth
3 miles of golden sands

Polperro
White washed cottages in valley tumbling down to the harbour

Polruan
Full of character and old style charm, and well worth the foot ferry trip.

Port Isaac
On the North Cornwall Coast with delightful walks to Polzeath and Tintagel

Rock
A sailor’s delight, on the Camel Estuary

St Agnes
Great for walking

St Ives
In the far west of the County: magnificent beaches, cobbled streets.

Tintagel
Explore the King Arthur legends amongst the Castle ruins

Truro
With a fine cathedral, the County's Capital City

Wadebridge
On the River Camel, crossed by a 17 span arch bridge