When you’re enjoying a child-friendly stay here at Glynn Barton, you’ll find that there aren’t many other places so centrally located in Cornwall that offer such a variety of things to do nearby; you’ll find peaceful beauty spots, fun family attractions and lovely coastline to explore. There’s so much to choose from that it’ll be hard to know where to start when you stay with us! Our list of the top 10 things to do when you’re here should help you narrow down your options!
Visit the spectacular cascades of Golitha Falls
Fancy a woodland walk with a difference? These breathtaking waterfalls are along a stretch of the River Fowey through the ancient oak woodland of Draynes Wood. One of the best-known beauty spots on Bodmin Moor, the scenery varies, from wide wooded glades to a steep sided, craggy gorge where the falls are at their most dramatic; there’s also less common wildlife and plants to keep an eye out for! Call in at Inkie’s Smokehouse after for a well earned lunch!
Put your pedal to the metal at Lanhydrock
Whether you’re bringing your bikes or hiring them at Lanhydrock, the woodland cycle trails at the National Trust’s Lanhydrock Estate are well worth the trip! The gentle green trail is perfect for families and beginners, with harder trails available for more capable riders. Once you’re done cycling, pop into the stately home and its magnificent gardens to unwind and don’t forget a cream tea at the café by the adventure playground after.
Soak up some history at Charlestown
St Austell Bay is home to the last open 18th century Georgian harbour in the UK, Charlestown. When you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time; if you go to Charlestown, pay a visit to the Shipwreck Museum, which houses almost 8,000 artefacts from more than 150 shipwrecks, the largest private collection of its type in Europe! Plus you can explore an entire network of underground tunnels!
Take the kids on a unique “Glow Trail”
The perfect location to recharge and relax, Cardinham Woods has everything you could want from an outdoor woodland adventure, with stunning viewpoints, stream-side paths and secret glades to explore. It currently has an extra reason to visit for families; the Shaun the Sheep Glow Trail, an accessible trail perfect for families with children aged 5 to 13. It makes for a great day out! Buy your glow pack from the Ranger Hut to discover the hidden clues and finish off with a chocolate brownie at the café after.
Try some of the best Cornish pasties around
When you’re on holiday, one of the big things to do is sample the local cuisine. In Cornwall, that means cream teas and pasties! Some of the best pasties around are by Kittows. Luckily we have some at Glynn Barton so make sure to stop by the little shop to sample his goodies!
Climb up to the Cheesewring
The rugged wilderness of Bodmin Moor is dotted with numerous granite tors, with the Cheesewring among the most unique. Standing on the eastern flank of the moor, the rock outcrop looks like piled slabs, with a local legend saying it’s the result of a contest between a man and a giant. The tor is a mile from the village of Minions and four miles from Liskeard, so you can pick and choose your walk. Keep an eye out for the wild ponies too.
Walk to Cornwall’s two highest points
On the north part of Bodmin Moor stand Cornwall’s two highest points, Brown Willy and Rough Tor. It’s possible to do a circular walk that climbs the summit of both, taking in spectacular views of the moor out to the north Cornish coast. The walk takes you through prehistoric settlements, overlooking the Fernacre stone circle and is just one of countless walks you can do on the moor. It’s a great adventure for all leg lengths – make sure you take a picnic to keep everyone going. Its about a 3 ½- 4 hour round trip.
Have a hoot at the Screech Owl Sanctuary
Who doesn’t love owls? They’re intelligent, elegant creatures and the Screech Owl Sanctuary is an important resource for rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing the beautiful birds back into the wild. There’s so much more to the sanctuary too, with meerkats, racoons, alpacas, ponies and much more. There’re owl encounters, flying displays and much more each day, so it’s perfect for keeping the kids busy!
Take a dip before enjoying some pizza
The sandy beach at Readymoney Cove, just south of the harbour town of Fowey, is great for families. Sheltered by cliffs, the beach’s calm waters are ideal for a relaxing dip in the height of summer. Once you’re done at the beach, take the short walk to Fowey along the esplanade exploring the hidden gardens and secret peeky holes. Find your way to Bufala, a pizzeria that makes beautifully simple, thin and crispy Roman-style pizzas, great for when you’ve burned off energy in the sea!
Ride the waves with Wavehunters
Whether you want to ride the waves on a surfboard, try your hand at paddle boarding or discover more about Cornwall’s marine life on a sea safari, Wavehunters offer amazing adventures for thrill-seekers and calm-seekers alive. Their surf school is situated at Polzeath Beach, one of the safest and most reliable surf spots in Cornwall. They also have a great photographer on hand to catch your successes, or in my case, nose dives!
