Winter is a great time to come and stay at our child-friendly holiday cottages, Cornwall. The county is quieter than the busy summer months, yet there are plenty of exciting and fun things to do at local Cornwall attractions and in the region throughout January. Check out the fun-filled things you can do while staying at our luxury cottages the whole family is sure to enjoy.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is open all year-round, and during the winter months, there are a lot of cute animals to see. Learn about and experience the animal welfare that is carried out at the sanctuary, which is, in fact, the only one in Cornwall! You can hear about the dramatic rescues and meet some of the seals and sea lions whose individual stories you can learn about. During the winter, the kids will love to see the cute seal pups being rehabilitated until they are ready to be released back into the wild. The hospitals and pools are full, making the winter months the best time for visiting the sanctuary.
Paradise Park at Hayle is one of the best places to visit with the family and is open to 6pm all winter. If the weather isn’t too good, and the rain is forcing you inside, head to the park for endless fun in the JungleBarn soft play area, and special toddler zones for the littler kids. When the weather is better, Paradise Park is also a great place to have a day out at, as there are daily otter and penguin feeds, guided walks through the park, and over 140 species of birds to see. You can also tuck into a big roast lunch to fuel the activities for the day.
In the spring and summer months, the Minack Theatre is alive with impressive open-air productions, held across a stunning backdrop of the Cornish coastline. In the winter months, when it’s a little too cold to be sitting out and watching exciting performances, you can visit the theatre and appreciate the full breathtaking beauty of this location at a quieter time. Visit the cafe and shop, learn about the theatre’s fascinating history at the exhibition centre and explore the sub-tropical gardens in the winter sunshine. You can gain a re-admission voucher for the Minack Theatre for free, allowing you to return and visit this wonderful spot whenever you like for a year; so you can see the theatre and Porthcurno Bay in all its glory later in the year!
If you have another day of rain, head to nearby Falmouth and the Maritime Museum, located on the harbour front. The award-winning museum celebrates everything to do with the sea, boats and Cornwall and has 15 galleries exploring the history of Cornish and British maritime, as well as rotating exhibitions. This January there are daily activities for under-fives, including storytelling and singing sessions, as well as craft activities for all children.
Head to the north coast and go wave watching. During the winter months, storms batter the north coast more ferociously than along the quiet south coast. Winds sweep across the Atlantic and whip the waves into a frenzy, but this does not deter any surfers, who take the opportunity to ride some of the best waves seen in Cornwall. Wrap up for a bracing clifftop walk and watch out for some of the most dramatic and exhilarating waves seen in the whole of the country and capture them with your camera, then head to a cosy beach cafe to warm up later.
While Cornwall’s gardens are undoubtedly their best during the spring months, at Cornwall’s subtropical gardens, many plants and flowers thrive all year round. Head to Trebah Garden, Glendurgan Garden, or the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to see some of the beautiful plants on display. If you’d love to be amongst nature, but the weather isn’t the best, then pay a visit to the Eden Project, where you can explore tropical biomes and Mediterranean gardens under the protection of a giant bubble!
If you have brought your dog with you on your family holiday in Cornwall, they will love the chance to run across deserted beaches, over rugged moors and through the leafy woodlands found near out cottages. There is also the breathtaking coastline to wander along, with the South West Coastal Path providing you with solid paths that even the young children will be capable of walking over. When you are layered up in your woolly jumpers, a walk in the winter sunshine will be refreshing and much needed after the over-indulgence of Christmas!
You can’t take a trip to Cornwall without sampling the delicious food. The county is becoming more and more popular with its gourmet and artisan foods, which you simply have to try when on your holidays, along with the traditional fish and chips, Cornish pasties and cream teas. You are sure to come across a pasty shop – or two – in every town, along with cafes selling cream teas. If you want to have the best of the best, Falmouth’s Harbour Lights is an award-winning fish and chip shop, and not at all far from our cottages.
There are plenty of other activities and events on in Cornwall this winter, so come and explore all the county has to offer!
THE VALLEY is proud to be the only 5 Star Gold Self Catering holiday village of its size in the whole of Cornwall
