We went back to Cornwall last year for the first time since I was a kid, and I was gutted to discover that the one really good attraction – the miniature railway at Dobwalls – closed back in 2007.
There’s now a good child-friendly cafe at the other end of the Camel Trail at Wenford Bridge, so you can start in Wadebridge or Bodmin and head out that way if you fancy a family-friendly day on the bikes that doesn’t end at Padstow.
I’m not a fan of doing Padstow with kids. Trying to herd a toddler and baby through crowds, constantly making way for cars (I can’t believe car access isn’t more restricted) and worrying about the toddler leaping in the unfenced harbour isn’t my idea of fun. Pasty from Chough’s was good, though.
Cardinham is good too. As well as the bike trail, there’s various walks including a themed trail for the kids, plus a decent cafe.