Activities in Cornwall

Kathi
Dec 25, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Feb 7

Strolling around villages or beaches all the time is also boring. So here are a few suggestions for your days out when you haven't planned anything yet.

!!! Please note: There are also a few activities listed that only take place on certain dates.

Waterbridge - Padstow Camel Trail Bike Ride

The Camel Trail is a well-known hiking and cycling trail. It connects the small harbour towns along the Camel estuary. If you're in the mood for exercise, you can walk along this trail or hire a bike from Bike Smart bike hire and then ride it to Padstow. For all non-sports enthusiasts: I promise you, it's a very flat and not very long way there. Once you arrive in Padstow, you can enjoy the typical pasties as a snack. If you still have time, you can visit the National Lobster Hatchery.

Die National Lobster Hatchery (https://nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk/)

Not the typical aquarium but just lobsters. Now some of you might think that this could be boring, but you'd be wrong. There is everything from small lobsters to huge colossi. You can of course book a guided tour, but this visitor centre also provides lots of interesting information about the breeding and conservation of lobsters. You might even be ready to adopt one of the lobsters!

Carnglaze Caverns

Cornwall is known for its past in the mining industry. Nowadays, of course, they don't work like they used to, but there are still some wonderful underground caves from that time. The Carnglaze Caverns are two caves with several underground lakes. You can illuminate them by switching on the light yourself. And it's really amazing how clear the water is down there. Of course, you not only learn how the water got there, but also about the hard labour that used to be carried out there. But that's only half the story. As soon as you have finished your tour of the caves, a magical tour awaits you. In the truest sense of the word, the path is lovingly decorated with little fairy gardens and you can even make a wish.

Surfunterricht (https://www.wavehunters.co.uk/)

As already mentioned in the article about the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall, this part of the UK is known for its great surfing beaches.

My absolute favourite is Watergate Bay. There are several surf schools there, but we've had particularly good experiences with Wavehunters - they have good boards and great service. Beginners can take instructive surfing lessons, but of course you can also simply hire a surfboard and set off on your own. The beach is also supervised throughout the day and there is a swimming and surfing area.

However, surfing enthusiasts should pay attention to the opening hours, regardless of the beach. If you want to surf into the sunset late in the afternoon or evening, most board hire companies are closed. However, the prices are moderate, so it may be a good idea to hire a board for your entire stay (if you can transport it).

Bootstour von Trelissik nach Falmouth

Ferries depart from the famous Trelissik estate at various times of the day. The house is also worth a visit. We recommend taking a tour of the building and the beautiful gardens before the boat trip. There are also great opportunities for children to explore the grounds. In Falmouth, there are plenty of cute shopping opportunities and a few cafés where you can buy a small lunchtime snack. You can then take the boat back in the afternoon.

Falmouth Music Festival

Have you always wanted to get to know the typical music of Cornwall? Every year in mid-June (this year on the 17th) a great music festival takes place in Falmouth - with a variety of food stalls from all cultures and of course varied music that can be heard every few metres from the alleys...

St Ives Food Festival

Every year in May (14th this year), St Ives hosts a colourful and delicious food festival on the beach. Of course, there's not only food here, but also lots of little serenades with souvenirs. This time there wasn't just the typical Cornish food, but delicacies from all over the world - from Turkey to Greece. After lunch and an enjoyable time on the beach, you can of course visit the old town, which is almost reminiscent of Greece with its many white houses. This fishing village with its many galleries has a lot to offer art lovers in particular.

Barbara Hepworth Garden

This name may be familiar to some. Barbara Hepworth worked and lived in Cornwall. She was a very talented artist and you can still see her sculptures in the little garden in St Ives. The old studio cottage in the garden looks as if Barbara was still working there. This visit is a real must for all art lovers.

Royal Cornwall Show

This festival is one of the most famous in Cornwall. It is a spectacle for the whole family and is all about farming. You can marvel at huge bulls, but there are also rabbits, birds and much more on display. We highly recommend the stand next to the food tent, which gives out the wildest creations of scones to visitors free of charge. Of course, the small fairground area with its many rides, such as the Ferris wheel and the carousel, is also great fun. In the Main Arena, in the centre of the grounds, there are performances and riding competitions throughout the day. There are a wide variety of stalls all around. But keep your eyes peeled, there are prizes to be won and free giveaways everywhere. Some of the stands are also really informative.