Help please on Cornwall.

[brewyn]

Hi all. I'm looking at visiting cornwall this year for a 10 night stay, staying in our camper conversion which is only a peugeot boxer so hoping it wont be too much of a problem finding somewhere to park up.

now there is myself, my wife, 2 young children, and 2 dogs.

we need to find somewhere that will be good for us all, we all like fishing, walking, and relaxing. but we also need to consider the kids, we need somewhere where maybe there is a swimming baths, a good park and maybe the odd arcade or fairground.

now we have been on google earth and have come across st ives, penzance, and torpoint which seem to all have a town, but having never been to cornwall I'm struggling to decide.

Now the bad parts, Due to having little funds this year a holiday is hit and miss and were hoping to avoid the expence of travelling from place to place as we would normaly do. were hoping to do more relaxing than spending but trying to keep the kids happy from time to time.


can anyone please contribute knowledge and experience and illiminate any possibility of this turning out a disaster.

many thanks for reading.

Tony.

ps, funds are low so no outragous ideas like like buying the kids ice cream lol, only kiddng.

 

[Tigatigatiger]

When the kids were little we would try and find a simple campsite (no or small shop, loos and showers) with access to the beach.

We were happy-no where to spend cash and they were happy, other kids to play with, access to the beach-plus we all had access to showers and loos (we were camping in tents).

If you don't want to move around to much I would find yourself a small 5 van site either with, caravan club or camping and caravaning club. Of course you maybe able to wild depending on when you go? school holidays are just crazy down there!

Hope you have a lovely time.

 

[vwalan]

in august the population here x20 is norm forget arcades and fair grounds .go to blackpool if thats what you are looking for. cornwall is about walking on the beach ,drifting about the moors. theres a few arcades in a few towns but it aint blackpool .its walking round a fishing village like looe or mevagissey. or sitting on the north coast watching the surfers till its too dark for them to see. walking from one end of newquay beach when the tides out to the other end . or taking a coastal path from polzeath to daymer bay then coming back along the road and having a quick one in the pub while the kids play on the swings. enjoy your stay there, is so much to do but differant from fairground and slot machines.get a wet suit from asda and get surfing . cheers alan.

 

[Alzi1967]

arcades and fair grounds .go to blackpool if thats what you are looking for.

But if you have got kids steer clear of Blackpool.Its not child friendly anymore !!...

Its all Stag nights , Hen Nights and Drunken Brawling ,Drugs , Mugging etc..

That reminds me I need to get the hell away from here !!!

 

[Tigatigatiger]

I have lovely memories of great childhood holidays in Blackpool, the sun was always shinning, days on the beach, evenings walking along the prom-we walked bloody miles! Could either have 50p or so to play on the amusements or go on a tram-the amusements always won.

Went back a few years ago-arrived late afternoon, left first thing next morning. Rode all the coasters in the pleasure beach, couldn't find anywhere nice to eat, place full of drunks. I am no prude, I do enjoy a drink, and a good night out, but it was all to much.

So sad as it was such a great place!

 

[winchman]

To be honest we do like Cornwall, but.
We went to Florida a few years ago and came back skint as you do.
We had a week booked on a site in Dorset, we wondered weather or not to cancel, but we went, we had a very good holiday and didnt spend much, we have found Dorset cheaper and not as busy.
What part of the country are you in?
I would also reccomend the lleyn peninsula in north wales, its small so you dont have to travel far, has some good camp sites, I have the phone number of one in a blokes back garden.
It is possible to do it on a low budget too
Follow the link on my website to places to go North Wales, of camping links for more info and pictures

 

[vwalan]

every where is nice in uk if we get goo weather ,south wales ,yorkshire moors etc . in cornwall its hard to free camp by the coast but go inland and its ok. dont keep using same spot so locals dont keep seeing same van .inland you can just about park in any village or town carpark .or sports center car park. i,m sure you can /will find lots of nice places . just keep your eyes open you find a place then come back to it later. dont hang around all day.
cheers alan.

 

[brewyn]

To be honest I live in another sea side resort just across the way from blackpool, Its called southport. blackpool is just about ok for a day out to see the illuminations or sea life but thats about it, southport is no better and

wales is a place we go quite regular, infact we have not long had a fantastic weekend at penmon point anglesy, but that was just my wife, myself and the dogs.

we dont mind not going to arcades but I think a swimming baths is a must, we will need to get showers etc. unless we find a reasonably priced site with the basic facilities near to te sea.

sadly my 2 boys are a nightmare, they would kill each other if they were made to sit and watch the sunset. we could sit and fish all day every day just taking in the scenery, and taking walks in the evening.

But it just wont work with a 11 and 6 year old, we have tried it and it ends in tears every time. I'm borred dad, I'm hungry dad, can I have an ice cream dad, when are we going home dad. ive learned to do alternate what we do so we all have a bit of fun and relaxation.

so forget blackpool, out of the 3 towns I mentioned can anyone suggest which might be the best???

cheers

 

[GregM]

We are planing a similar holiday this year. The only difference is we have exchanged our last lot of tesco points for holiday vouchers which we can use for park resort camp sites.

We have enough vouchers for about 4 nights, so we get some wilding time that we all enjoy but then a few days on a site with all the facilities we need or kids want.

We just need to decide if we want to do one camp site for the 4 nights or two sites for 2 nights each with wild camping in between, oh and we need to decided where abouts we want to go .

 

[vwalan]

you could do penzance st michaels mount area then a night in the moors heading to st ives. all around there are places to kip but you may have to visit the towns to entertain the kids. of course barby one after a few days and roast the other just before you come home .or make a stew of them bith you can warm it up every night when you return to the van after a skin full down the pub .ha ha . cheers alan.

 

[Caggsie]

Our best holidays have been when we are short of cash. Best ones were on a field, vans around the edge, big space in the middle. Dads n kids playing cricket, footy, badminton and us ladies around the edge drinking the wine cheering the teams on. Doesn't cost a bean, get the kids playing together, adults socialise etc.

When there isn't any of the trappings of modern life kids don't want it. Get back to basics.

 

[winchman]

Our best holidays have been when we are short of cash. Best ones were on a field, vans around the edge, big space in the middle. Dads n kids playing cricket, footy, badminton and us ladies around the edge drinking the wine cheering the teams on. Doesn't cost a bean, get the kids playing together, adults socialise etc.

When there isn't any of the trappings of modern life kids don't want it. Get back to basics.

Thats very true, I have just had some very good trips out with a £4 fishing pole and a pot of worms, he loves it.

 

[Deleted member 2636]

Our best holidays have been when we are short of cash. Best ones were on a field, vans around the edge, big space in the middle. ---- Doesn't cost a bean, get the kids playing together, adults socialise etc.

The trouble is finding somewhere that you can still do this

 

[winchman]

The trouble is finding somewhere that you can still do this

Thats a good pint.
I do know of a couple of sites with just the shower blocks and a playground on, mostly in North Wales but one in Lancashire near Ormskirk, my favourite is one in a blokes back garden next to a river, in a small welsh village with a pub and cafe what more do you need?