Our Top 10 Things to Do in Cornwall
the top 10 tried & tested places we return to again & again
We’ve had great fun exploring Cornwall in the 5 years since we moved to the Duchy but there are a few favourite things to do that we find ourselves returning to again and again. Pretty fishing villages, golden sandy beaches, and one or two of Cornwall’s more famous attractions – these are our go-to favourites whenever we get a day off or when we have family and friends visiting. And they’re all within a 15-40 minute drive from Tredarrup Farm.
So if you’re planning a holiday and looking for personally recommended, tried and tested great places to visit then you really can’t go wrong with any of the following in our top 10 things to do in Cornwall.
Top 10 Things to Do
1. Tintagel Castle
No trip to Cornwall is complete without a visit to the historic Tintagel Castle, birthplace of King Arthur. The views from the island are just breathtaking, so make sure your phone’s fully charged! It’s worth buying a guidebook in the visitors’ centre to get the most out of your visit, as the history of the site is fascinating. Children love the wooden swords in the gift shop too and spend hours playing Knights of the Round Table. Afterwards, soak up the atmosphere in the cafe at the foot of the castle whilst enjoying a delicious Cornish cream tea.
Top tip: Join Cornwall Heritage Trust in advance of your holiday – it’s just £25 for a family membership and gives you free entry to Tintagel Castle and other historical sites around Cornwall.
2. Boscastle
3. Port Isaac
4. Bodmin Moor
Top tip: Do check the weather forecast before heading out on the moor – when the mist descends it can be easy to lose your way.
5. Rock & Padstow
6. The Camel Trail
7. Eden Project
8. Polzeath & Daymer Bay
9. Fowey
Top tip: catch the mini-bus by the church to whisk you up the steep hill back to the your car.
10. The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Who doesn’t love a secret garden? Begun in the 18th century, Heligan went on to become a plantsman’s paradise. Sadly the outbreak of the First World War resulted in the Heligan estate falling into ruin, and the gardens lay abandoned and hidden until 1990 when they were rediscovered, now derelict and a forest of brambles. The restoration is amazing and we never fail to be inspired when we visit. The gardens and estate are huge and there’s lots to keep children entertained, including the jungle with its rope bridge and some rare-breed animals with piglets and lambs in the spring. And you can’t come away without bringing a piece of Heligan home with you from the plant shop to plant in your garden, so leave room in the boot.
Top tip: if you’ve time to spare after your visit, the picture-postcard fishing village of Mevagissey is nearby..

