Suggestions for Cornwall
 

We'll be in Northern Spain this summer and my wife wants to take a vacation to Cornwall for a week or so. We're thinking of flying into London and then renting a car and driving there. We figured it would be a good idea to have a car so we could get around the area easier. Can anyone suggest a good "base of operations" for us to stay while we're there? We have a three year old daughter, so we're looking for some place family friendly.

It would be nice to be walking distance to a beach. And nice to have some shops, restaurants, etc. close by as well. But it doesn't need to be a big resort or anything like that. A quaint town or village would be more our speed.

Also, if there are any "must see" places around Cornwall or on the way from London, please let us know.

Thanks in advance.
- Eric S.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Unless you particularly want to visit London, you might be better flying to an airport closer to Cornwall e.g. Bristol. We flew to Newquay several years ago and found it a great family friendly place to stay. Not as scenic, but not as touristy as the more popular resorts.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

I agree with Missile about flying to an airport that is closer to Cornwall because it is a long drive with a 3 year old.

Newquay, St Ives and Falmouth are the 3 main places that I would say fit your requirements. Obviously there are a great many wonderful beaches but a lot of them are purely that and do not have the other facilities that you are looking for.

Rosemary

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

as the others say, it is (in UK terms anyway) a long drive, you should anticipate 4-5 hours of driving.
a train would take the strain, especially with a youngster, and then get a hire car locally.

as a base Plymouth has most things - not actually in Cornwall but on the border in Devon and a good place for stopover before moving on with good train service from London.

You will find there are plenty of places to stay, large or small hotels, there is alot of catering for tourism in the county.

hth

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

A train from London to Plymouth is a good idea it is a historical place to visit but it does not have a beach so then the hire car to tour Cornwall sounds excellent. Cornwall has so many small quaint places that it would be difficult to highlight where you should go.

Rosemary

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

from Plymouth it is only a short hop to Looe, south coast beaches, whilst dad can go for a bit of shark fishing

other than that didnt do too much in Cornwall, always too busy putting ships out or getting on a train back home
;)

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

There is a toll on the bridge into Cornwall. The list of places like Looe is endless.

Rosemary

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

It may come as a shock to those of you based in the South, but there are only flights to London from Asturias, and then only 5 a week. It is a 2-3.5 hour drive to the next airport (Santander, Bilbao, Valladolid, La Coruna) and they only go to London too

Eric S. Just to say, Cornwall is pretty similar to Asturias, except no mountains and worse weather and food :)

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Nothing wrong with a DECENT cornish pasty or Devon cream tea with lashings of clotted cream....weatherwise I agree with you.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

So says our city dweller friend who recently moved from a trashy tourist resort to a flat in a drab northern town, which also has less than perfect weather.
As for the food, I'll settle for Cornish every time.

Regarding the journey, there's is always the option of the Santander/Plymouth ferry to get you near enough where you want to be.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Yes - Madrid airport is probably the nearest which will get you to Bristol.

Don't underestimate driving times in the south west peninsula - especially in summer. Even Bristol to the far south west might take five or six hours.

Padstow has it all as far as I'm concerned but Cornwall is a big county and has many things to see.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

I can recommend the Headland Hotel on Fistral beach (main surfing centre) on the outskirts of Newquay. Its the Hotel where they filmed The Witches (Roald Dahl). We stayed many times with young children and it has activities, early suppers for kids and they will even look after them while you have your dinner at leisure. That said I haven't been for a few years and so would suggest you look at the website.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

For sure there's plenty of very good restaurants in northern Spain but Cornwall has more Michelin star restaurants per capita.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

but you keep telling us the only place for decent food is Asturias
load of rubbish

good food can be found in so many places in any town or city around the world, if only you got off your penny-farthing you would see it.

some of the best meals I have ever had have been in a street market in Singapore, cooked whilst you wait, and one of the places anyone could take mum or the girlfriend (so long as the wife doesn't know)

but you keep on winding us up with all this best and worse posting
enough to drive people away from the site
:thumbdown:

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Of course you can. Your can get great and terrible food in almost any city or country in the world. Only you will have to research harder to find it in some places than in others

Btw, I once spent a weekend in Granada and the food was amazing

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

CM - Granada isn't in Asturias, yet.
have to agree with you, there are so many places for good food here, the other week we had a lunchtime meat paella for 2 for €10, the BH was so impressed she wants to go again, just as the first in that lunchtime they weren't up to speed in the kitchen.
have had some really good food in Devon and Cornwall, the only problem is having to wait whilst they catch the Oggies.
:rofl:

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

If you have a car while you're in Spain, why not go over on the ferry from Santander to Plymouth? Might work out cheaper than flying and hiring a car in UK?

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

I think it would be much cheaper to go as a foot passenger and hire a car in Plymouth , Brittany Ferries often do "mini cruise " deals ..

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

We could offer our services as tour guides.

Rosemary

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Thanks all for the input. Yes, I saw that it was about 5 hours to Cornwall from London. I'm not that worried about the drive with our daughter. She loves to travel. In fact, we drove to Valencia last summer, which is about 8 hours. And she was so happy in the car both ways. (Portable DVD player really helps).

I looked into airports and saw that there is one in Newquay. But it didn't seem like there were any good connections to there coming from Spain. I've just had a look at Bristol as well. And same story there. Maybe the best option is fly to London, train to Plymouth, and then rent the car.

One other question. The water will be plenty warm enough to swim in July or August, right?

Thanks.
- Eric S.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

depends on how brave you are - the Med it ain't
:eek:

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

South coast is warm enough in July and August, north coast is a bit more refreshing.

Rosemary

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Well, we're used to the beaches in northern Spain. :)

- Eric S.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Another vote for Padstow as a base - has everything, including wonderful beaches. and the estuary water is warmer than the sea.....Try and visit The Eden project, it´s stunning. I would also vote for the ferry and hiring a car in Plymouth.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

and Paul Ainsworth and Rick Stein to cook for you.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Hmmm... Think we might have done time together in Padstow, Iris Mary...;)

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

I did look at the ferry. It's 20 hours from Santander to Plymouth. And we'd have to get to Santander first. EasyJet has a direct flight from Asturias to London, so that seems like a better idea.

Thanks, we'll look at Padstow.

- Eric S.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

As much as I like Newquay, the centre of town of town can get lively at night with stag and hen do's.
We used to stay on the edge of town, easily walkable but quieter.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Have you looked at flights to/from Exeter airport. One hour drive from Plymouth.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

Thanks. But that doesn't look too good either. They have some flight to Spain, but only to the south or the islands.

- Eric S.

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

its too short a hop for the Ryanair/Ezyjet flights, by the time they have got up they will have to come down again, not fuel efficient.
despite what people think both do fairly long trips, such as Rome to Canaries etc. didnt realise myself until I sat down and read their flight plans to/from other countries (not bedtime reading but a giggle in the smallest room)
:rofl:

Re: Suggestions for Cornwall
 

This link to the official Cornish tourist board might be of help to you.
http://www.visitcornwall.com/