The Lizard Peninsula

[MyCatIsFat]

This is a part of Cornwall that I have not visited.

Want to see Mullion, Kynance, Coverack, Cadgwith, Porthleven, Godolphin House, Trebah.

Any ideas for other places to visit (I already know Penzance quite well).

Any recommendations on places to stay - holiday park or cottage (early May).

Thank you

[Sixtiesqueen]

Church cove is pretty, too.

If you go to Kynance, check the tide times first. Only go when the tide is going out.

Sorry I can't help with anywhere to stay.

[MyCatIsFat]

Thanks. I hadn't thought of tide times.

[bigbadbarry]

No advice apart from to say it is utterly beautiful :)

[ElsieMc]

I have stayed in a cottage in this area. It was originally with Classic Cottages and called Colenso House. There is also another cottage in the same ownership nearby. It was very nice, but it has moved to another agency, Unique Homestays, which I am afraid has priced it out of the market for me. What a shame as we would have liked to return.

I am not a big fan of Church Cove, but liked Kennack Sands which is a family friendly beach with cafes/shops on the edge.

One memorable day we walked from Cadgwith (don't take your car into the village, it's too tight) over the tops of the cliffs towards Kennack Sands. There were wild ponies and spectacular views. We actually saw a submarine as we looked out onto the Atlantic.

[MyCatIsFat]

Thank you for your ideas and recommendations. Looking at the map it would probably be sensible to try all the villages and coves on the peninsula as there are many that look gorgeous but which I hadn't heard of.

Peculiar - as I used to go to Cornwall mist years

[Meglet]

We're going back to Lizard village for the third year running this summer. It's stunning, and warm even when it rains.

Let me find a link to the cotttages we have used.....

[Meglet]

Lizard holiday cottages

Mum books summer lodge for all of us, but she has also stayed in Camelia Lodge which is owned by the same person. I think they're quite expensive though (she pays, I wouldn't be going on hols otherwise). They are just a short walk from the coastal path.

[SilkStalkings]

Trebah is absolutely gorgeous, best day of our trip. Take swimming/paddling things as you end up on the beach. We got there, had lunch in the cafe, spent the afternoon exploring and playing on the beach and then had tea back at the cafe as the food was so good.
Kennack Sands is lovely, plenty of parking and rockpools.
Seal Sanctuary is not bad value for money if you have small kids as you can use your ticket more than once on your stay. You can let the kids off their leads a bit in the playgrounds and sit with a coffee and watch the view of the creek. We also liked Coronation Park playground/boating lake in Helston for the same reason.
We stayed at Love Lane glamping site (next to Roskilly's Farm) which was nice but infuriatingly vague and disorganised, I wouldn't return.

[tisrainingagain]

Hi

We are going to The Lizard at the end of May and will be staying 500 m from Kennack Sands here:

www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/cornwall-holidays/sea-acres/sea-acres-holiday-park.htm

Have never been before but really looking forward to it!

[tisrainingagain]

Sorry, here is the link:

www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/cornwall-holidays/sea-acres/sea-acres-holiday-park.htm

[MyCatIsFat]

Thank you all for the recommendations and links. Difficult to decide where to stay as I will be on my own so B&B in a small hotel will cost as much as hiring a caravan or staying in a very small cottage.
It does look gorgeous. It reminds me of 'old unspoilt Cornwall' that I used to vist as a child.
I have jotted down your suggestions for places to visit.

Thank you.

[Fatphase]

I like Church Cove at Gunwalloe sadly the parking is extortionate unless you are a member of the NT. One of our favourite beaches is Poldhu Cove and the parking there is very reasonable. The beach is life guarded , has a small cafe/shop and loos. Its great for body boarding but also has a stream running all the down to the sea which is great for paddling and younger children - although my DC had a fascination with letting their crocs float out to sea!!!

Kennack Sands is also worth a visit. I second Roskilllys Icecream. Do go down to Lizard point - its lovely on a clear day. We also love Coverack.

Falmouth is worth a visit on a wet day if stuck for somewhere to go. There always seems to be lots going on and there is also the Maritime Museum, if its really wet and miserable.

We love the fish n chips from the van in Gweek - but you need to drive through the village to find out which evenings it is there.

[Meglet]

tisraining we saw basking sharks at Kennack last August. I have a feeling they are often seen earlier in the year too. And for some reason I recall kids 'wildlife rangers' sessions on the beach, we missed then because we were doing something else that morning.

The Lizard lighthouse is well worth a half day visit.

[MyCatIsFat]

I am a member

I noticed quite a few NT sites in the area. Godolphin House looks interesting and is on the list. I hope to see the Floral Dance but goodness knows where you park as it will be so busy.
I'm just a bit worried about driving as I don't like roads that run along the cliffs. I think I'll just stick to the wider lanes.

I do like Falmouth.

[stokeymum39]

As a child we used to stay at the Cadgwith arms, and I know they still have rooms. The parking is a 10 minute walk, but it's ideal for exploring the area.
We regularly go back to visit, as it's where I met my husband 37 years ago!!

[mummytime]

I first joined the NT because they have the best car parks in Cornwall.

[ShoeWhore]

Oh I love the Lizard - haven't been for a long time but it was fantastic. We liked everywhere I think! Roskilly's ice cream is ace.

[SilkStalkings]

I had a marvellous walk all by myself (heaven!) from Roskilly's, past the nearby quarry, through some amazing bush-covered footpaths and out in the sunshine by the sea. Felt like I was in a book.

[GeorginaWorsley]

Late to this thread but we go every year for two weeks and love it.
We use Cornish cottages online and stay around Mullion or Polurrian.
I second everything everyone has said above.

[serin]

If you are a member of the NT, I would go to Glendurgan gardens rather than Trebah. They are virtually next door to each other and both lead down to the same beach! I think Trebah is a bit of a rip off, but then there are five of us to pay for. Glendurgan also has lovely tea rooms, Maze and a big adult swing thingy.

The King Harry ferry is worth a trip across the river Fal.

There is a sweet little café in Helford called down by the riverside, lovely place to stop for a scone. Here

The Blue Anchor pub in Helston is an amazing old building with its own brewery.

Culdrose RNAS airbase, has airdays, with Red arrows etc. you can visit and tour the base on other days but need to take your passport with you.

The Paris hotel in Coverack is the friendliest I have ever been in. They treat you like a local not a tourist and the food is lovely. Don't be surprised if you go for a swift half and end up still playing pool 3 hours later.

[GraceK]

Apolgies for delay in adding to this thread - saved it during kids bedtime then promptly forgot about it.

If you're down on Thursday 8th, then that's Helston Flora Day. The streets inside the town get closed off at about 6:30am - as the first dance leaves the Coinage Exchange at 7am. If you are only planning on staying for some of the day or are prepared to keep going back every 4 hours to feed the meter, then there are often spaces in the Co-op supermarket's car park (off Trengrouse Way which stays open). Otherwise there are usually temporary car parks in fields round the outskirts.

There are dances at 7am, 10:30am (the children), midday & 5pm plus the Hal-en-Tow which is a bit like a sung medieval mystery play from 8:30-10-ish at various sites through out the town. Plus a massive fair at the bottom of the hill near the boating lake. It's a fantastic day for all the family & the sort of local festival that is very common on the continent but largely died out in the UK. We go every year (as my Dad's from down there) and are about to find out if we'll get fined for taking our DD1 out of school for it - we consider it an important enough (& fun enough) part of her heritage not to miss out.

Would also recommend Nauti But Ice at Porthleven for an amazing selection of ice creams & cakes. Gweek Seal Sanctury - not cheap but you can get in twice in one week with a ticket & feeding seals can't be a cheap thing to do.

Trip to St Michael's Mount is always fun & NT - we often just do the trip over by boat one way & walk back along the causeway the other way if the tides are right with a run round the gardens & a cream tea. The park on the Penzance side is nice too.

We tend to go to Trebah for the food & then drive round to Glendurgan for the walk as it's NT and the other isn't.

Our favourite beach is Poldu at the very top of the Lizard (next one along from Church) - it has a stream running down the beach so you can build river courses & moats as well as sand castles. It has good rocks for climbing, a small cafe & loos.

We have used //www.helpfulholidays.com & they live up to their name.

[SilkStalkings]

Oh and there was a brain damaged seal at the sanctuary who stole my heart last summer.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Go to Cape Cornwall and see the waves crashing against each other where two seas meet

[Yddraigoldragon]

We have actually stayed in the apartment above Nauti but Ice in Porthleven! Lovely place, especially when the waves are crashing!
I think the rental company was called Porthleven Holiday Cottages or similar. Lots of one bed apartments available there.

[ssmile]

It's a beautiful part of Cornwall....shhhhh...don't tell too many people as it's charm is in its quiet beauty and landscape, hidden coves, pasties and ice cream. Kennack sands has full range of camping and holiday parks good safe beach for families with some surf. Good walk from coverack to roskillys farm my DD1 first did it aged 3yrs but she is fit walker . Coverack has a great windsurfing school based in the harbour. There is a youth hostel there for cheap beds and ltd camping in its orchard.