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Off to Marazion with the family for a couple of weeks. Going to do Flambards (I know, but the kids love it), Pendennis Castle for the Jousting, St Ives, Lizard and a few beach days if the weather permits.
Can anyone recommend anything a bit “odd” or off the beaten track to do whilst we are down there? As a family we like a bit of strangeness every now and again.
Don't be dissin' Flambards!
Big fan of Ferdy, I am.
As i kid i loved Trencrom, old iron age hill fort - loads of (absolutely bloody ancient) rocks to climb over and hide behind, genuinely the best games of hide and seek i've ever had!
Go and actually see a play at the Minack Theatre.
The Telecoms museum at Porthcurno is ace.
Go for a day trip on the Great White Stomach Pump to the Scillies.
Go the Lizard and do the tour of the lighthouse.
Carn Euny has a Fogou & chamber thats quite cool, not masive though
no idea if is any good, but saw a flyer for this when we were down http://www.shantybaba.com/lantern-ghost-storywalk.html
Going to do some Shanty Baba story walks. We did them years ago before we had kids and he is excellent.
Considered Minack, but there is nothing on that we wanted to see. Going to Bugsy Malone in St Ives though.
We'll be doing Lizard too, but I didn't know that the Lighthouse was open to the public. Will check that out.
Keep the suggestions coming!
I loiked (genuine typo there LOL) Cape Cornwall.
The coastal path looks stunning, esp round Devils Cauldron.
Lost Gardens of Penhaligon.
visit "men an tol" and climb through the hole 3 times.. its supposed to protect from ills, and/or make you fertile... its a couple miles north of penzance.
its a stone circle type affair with a polo shaped stone at the centre
err theres a nice cafe at godrevy if you're a NT member...
Go to a locals Pub.
Plenty of “quirky” there.
Inhale some radon.
When you’re near Flambards, a slight detour to Ann’s pasties is recommended -
Go to a locals Pub.
Plenty of “quirky” there.
I recommend The Swordfish in Newlyn.
Drive to Cape Cornwall and walk around to the Cot Valley and back. The chippy and pub in the square at St Just are good too.
Nearby is Botallack and walk down to the old mine buildings - probably the most famous ruins in Cornwall
Chapel Porth (nr St Agnes) and walk the coast path to St Agnes Head and back - very atmospheric even on a rainy / foggy day.
If you are going to porthcurno, go early and leave early. It was mental a couple of weeks ago. The museum is well worth a visit but empty. Go to the beach early before it fills up and then do the museum.
Park in the upper car park, the lower one is ridiculously tight, I had to wait 45mins for someone else to move so I could get out of the space I was in.
If going to St Ives, pop into Barbera Hepworth gallery and then visit Tate.
Eat in the cafe on the beach front of Porthmeor (across road from Tate)
If it’s pissing down all those will be rammed, but still worth it IMO.
St ives has a swimming pool complex on the hill too..
Beware of Arial Bombardment from seagulls if you are carrying a Pasty or Chips (or both)
Go and see https://thefishermansfriends.com/ on the Platt at Port Isaac - free gig (with charity bucket) on many (but not all) Fridays
We did the coast to coast with the kids 40km 95% disused railway line, with a few short road sections, 5 year old, 7 year old, twins in traiker trailer & my not vey cyclist wife all managed it.
Was such good fun . https://cycle.travel/route/cornish_coast_to_coast
Botallack tin mine is a good half day and exploring the coast and old mine workings is quite good fun.
Also drive down the track opposite the Falmouth packet for a couple of miles, past the campsite to the car park. Some nice beaches, good rocks for jumping off and rock pooling, good snorkelling and very few people.
The sword fish.... dear God.... I wouldn't.
He asked for ‘quirky’....
Go see the Rogue Theatre with their outdoor summer performance at Tehidy Woods...great story telling and family friendly. We go see most of their shows and love them...off next week for one of the evening performances.
I'd recommend the Telegraph Museum in Porthcurno, but then I'm biased (disclaimer - I work there). But seriously, if you're even slightly into science, technology or how we got to the global connectivity we have today, it's an eye opener. Traffic in Porthcurno can be a bit silly occasionally, but if you're there by 10:00 you'll be fine.
The beach / bay at Porthcurno is quite special too, though it's hardly quirky (google search "Pedn Vounder" to see it at its best). You'd be crazy not to call in at the Minack if you're in the village, even (especially?) if you don't want to see a show. It's an amazing place to look round when there isn't a performance on, but in summer that's only for a few hours each day... check their website carefully. But it's a place like no other, and on lots of "must do" lists.
Elsewhere, try Geevor, St Michael's Mount (it'd be rude not to if you're in Marazion), or Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens. If there are any horsey people in your family you might want to look at horseback archery or horseback sea-swimming.
If you're bringing your bike and want any pointers, PM me.
And if you're taking Canopy's advice - and you should - make sure you go through the hole in the right direction. Else you'll get whatever the last person was cured of!
See if the fisherman's friends are playing on the Platt at port Isaac
I can thoroughly recommend all the above, and would add that there is stuff in Newlyn to do with the definition of 'sea-level'.
We did a 'ghost walk' in Penzance once. It was blummin' brilliant!!!
Chippy in Newlyn when you've done your quirky stuff and are starvin.
IIRC there's a cool fish market just along from Penzance.
I’d recommend the Telegraph Museum in Porthcurno, but then I’m biased (disclaimer – I work there).
my 6yr old loved it, and was suprisingly good at morse code. My great-grandfather was the superintendent there in the late 1930's.
Micheals mount was crazy busy as well, 45min queue to get into the house!
You could always go and find Ordnance Datum Newlyn.
Trenmenheere Sculpture Gardens are also nice for a walk around and just outside 'Menzpants'. Nice cafe/restaurant too.
Take the kids on a treasure hunt round Marazion to see how many of these they can find.....
You can be a whole family of Binners. 😉
The coastal path looks stunning
It is and chunks of it can be done using buses to get back to your starting point. St Just to St Ives is very nice.
pop into Barbera Hepworth gallery and then visit Tate
Yes to this.
Nearby is Botallack and walk down to the old mine buildings
and this. Also do the tour of Geevor tin mine.
What about the meadery at newlyn for a quirky basic restaraunt?
goonhilly earth station?
Windsurfing taster at Coverack?
Swordfish has changed hands recently, trying to go foody, taken down my uncle's mural from by the door, so may not be as quirky anymore, cheap generic signs .
Tregonning Hill on a clear day to see everywhere.
Hogs pudding from Lenterns in PZ. Look at the Egyptian House on your way past.
Rubbish and Junks in Praa Sands is pretty quirky, that's if the roof hasn't totally fallen in yet.