Holidaying in Cornwall doesn’t have to be expensive, and after paying for your holiday and travelling down, the most expensive bits of your holiday are covered. Booking self-catering accommodation at Hendra means you don’t have to eat out and many of Hendra’s facilities are free.
As a family run park, with the youngest family members being children themselves, we know how important it is to keep the children entertained. That’s why over the last few years we have reinvested in the Park to have even more fun and free activities on for young children. There’s an ever changing entertainments programme, soft play, and Henry’s Pirate ship, which was new last year, where kids will love playing pirates all day long! The Hendra Safari Train is a firm favourite with kids, and a great opportunity to meet Henry or Henrietta. Not forgetting the older children who will love some of our entertainment acts, which this year includes an Ed Sheeran tribute, Titan the Robot, along with a silent disco, and the coolest acoustic acts on the Newquay bar scene (in the summer at Mario’s).
Beyond Hendra there is plenty to do too. Take a look below and you can get a cost-cutting, but not fun-cutting, itinerary for your holiday in Cornwall.
Hit the beach!
The beach is why you are here, after all, and it is completely free! You don’t even have to pay for parking with the Newquay land train going from Hendra each morning at 9.15 and returning at 4pm every day. You can pack a picnic and enjoy one of Newquay’s seven beaches. Closest to the town centre is Towan, right next to harbour, or Fistral which is Newquay’s, if not Cornwall’s (or even England’s), most famous beaches, renowned for surfing. There’s no better place to soak up the sun than at Fistral. People that like things a little less busy will enjoy Little Fistal, just around the corner from Fistral. Further afield there’s the Great Western Beach, the original surfers beach, Towan, Lusty Glaze and Porth – all fantastic for families.
Rock Pooling
Why not do some rock-pooling whilst on the beach? It is completely free and kids will love seeing the different creatures. Grab a bucket, scoop up some rock pool water and see what you find! Be mindful not to leave them in there for too long though, as they may get distressed.
Explore some caves
Holywell Bay’s unique pink cave can be found at low tide tucked under the southern cliffs of Kelsey Head. It isn’t easy to find, and from the beach it is just a mere slit in the rocks. There are steps that lead to the several pools ascending towards a hole in the cave roof. The steps can be very slippery, so be careful.
The outline of the pools has a creamy-white calcareous (chalky) deposit which has built up from the mineral rich water dripping from the roof. This deposit is also tinted with pink, red and blue and looks grotto like. It is worth taking a torch to explore. It is not recommended that you visit the cave alone, and it is advisable to check tide times too.
Another interesting Cave is at Crantock, which has a unique carving, though there is a sad tale.
In the early twentieth century a woman was horse riding along Crantock beach. She and her horse got cut off as the tide came in and the rough seas swept them away drowning them both. Her distraught lover carved a poem into a rock, in a cave on the beach, along with a portrait of his lost love and her horse.
This poem and carving of the anonymous woman can still be seen today when you walk across the beach, past the dunes, and on to explore the caves.
Cycle the Camel Trail
Grab your bikes and head to the Camel Trail. This disused Cornish railway line is flat and offers fantastic views across the Camel Estuary and of the Cornish countryside. Follow the Camel Estuary from Padstow to Wadebridge, at five miles long it is a leisurely cycle. Afterwards enjoy Padstow, the famous picturesque fishing village, or Wadebridge- a lovely market town and shoppers, or window shoppers, will love the independent shops that Wadebridge has to offer.
If you want a real adventure, then continue the route through the deep and beautifully wooded Camel Valley to Bodmin via another disused railway line. The path winds it way to the edge of Bodmin Moor where it comes to an end below Blisland, a pretty moorland village.
Visit Trenance Gardens, Newquay 
Trenance Gardens is in-between Newquay and Hendra. This is a very pretty spot, especially during the summer when the flowers are all in bloom. This a great place to spend an afternoon, and a good place to take a leisurely stroll – and it is completely free. There’s a rose garden and a boating lake, with ducks and swans.
There’s a park for toddlers and older children too, along with picnic spots and cafes. You can buy duck food from the Lakeside Café, at 50p, or if you want to not spend anything then why not use some leftovers? You probably know that you can’t feed ducks bread, but did you know that you can feed ducks shredded lettuce? Rocket, Kale and Iceberg are all great choices, along with sweetcorn, and peas (you don’t have to cook them but make sure they are thawed first!), oats and seeds. Why not make your own bag of duck feed before you go?
So there we have it, some awesome free activities in Cornwall!
