Devon and Cornwall - where to go
 

My husband I have 5-6 days to spend in the general area. We like history, beautiful places to visit, maybe some walking. Neither of us are "beach" people really. We are traveling with a 2 year old, however.

And $$$ is question. Esp. with the exchsnge rastes - yeesh!!!

Thanks!

Please start with a "SEARCH THIS FORUM"...you'll find many an answer!

HI--here is a copy of something I recently posted to another inquiry. One problem for you--that I can imaginge would be an issue travelling w/a 2 y.o--is all the cobblestone streets--
Author: socialworker
Date: 04/22/2004, 11:22 am
Message: Abour 4 hours or so from London by train is the village of St. Ives. We were there in May one year (1998) and had 80 degree weather and sunshine. We stayed in a B&B just out of town, up a steep hill, (walkable if you are in reasonable cardiovascular shape) with incredible views. The couple who ran it reminded me of the Fawlty Towers couple and the people staying there were all wonderfully stereotypically British. It is a beautiful little seaside town that has palm trees. The water there is a lush shade of blue, reminiscent of the Mediterranean. It is a little touristy, but for the British. Sort of like Cape Cod for New Engalnders. We never saw any Americans, but it was May, not summer. And if you remember the nursery rhyme "I met a man from St Ives...seven wives...cats...kits, etc.."" (too long to type it all in here)--there really are cats everywhere there, so I guess the nursery rhyme has some basis in fact. Anyway, we loved it--stayed there 2 nights and just wandered around the little village and sat by the sea. If this sounds interesting, let me know and I will try to dig up the name of the establishment. However, there are many B&Bs in the town. The best part of the one where we stayed was that some rooms had unbelievable ocean views but the place is very modestly priced--or at least it was in May of "98.

Cornwall:
Restormel Castle near Lostwithiel sits at the top of a narrow lane in glorious countryside.

The Eden Project near St Austell is a must for plant-lovers and gardeners. Try and arrive at 9.30am or 2.30pm if you want to avoid the worst of the crowds, and try the restaurant for their organically grown food - worth every penny. If you don't want to take a car you can park at St Austell railway station and use the return bus link between St Austell and Eden.

For architecture, try Truro Cathedral and then ride the train to Falmouth from Truro. You also have the option to return to Truro by river boat - spectacular scenery.

Flambards Theme Park (near Helston and the Lizard Peninsula)with its re-creation Victorian Village and fairground rides will keep your youngster happy for half a day.

On the north coast you could try King Arthur's castle near Tintagel and not far from there is Padstow and Boscastle.

Devon:

Here, the landscape is more mellow, apart from the ruggedness of Dartmoor where you could visit Widdecombe-in-the-Moor (of Uncle Tom Cobleigh fame).

Further south you have a choice of steam-hauled train journeys between Totnes and Buckfastleigh or Paignton and Dartmouth.

A bit further off the beaten track is Salcombe - very posh and very pretty. Not far from there is Slapton Sands where there is a memorial to the memory of 749 US servicemen who were killed by German E-boat attacks while carrying out practice D-Day landings on the beach.

Hi
Hate to disillusion the earlier poster but the St Ives referred to in the Nursery Rhymne isn't the Cornish town, but the town near Huntingdon, famous for its medieval fairs. And you won't get much change out of 6 hours if you go there by train!
Devon/Cornwall are great destinations for adults and children. I suggest you have a look at the National Trust webpage (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) and see what is on ofer in the south west. They have many properties and gardens in Devon and Cornwall which would satisfy your wish for beautiful and historic. Plus a lot of them are really geared up to young visitors with animals, play areas etc. We particularly liked Castle Drogo, Lanhydrock House and Trelessick Gardens. They also own and maintain a lot of the countryside and coast of these counties and would be able to provide details of walks.
M
M

Somewhere along the north coast (near Tintagel, I believe, but check a good map!) is something called the Bedruthan Steps.

I could visit that place every day and never get bored!

It is essentially a very flat "beach" sprinkled with giant rock formations.

You walk down a series of very steep steps built into the cliff and can walk around the beach. Read the tide charts very carefully and PAY ATTENTION!!

The tide comes in faster than you can imagine - watching it cover the smaller rock formations (3-5 feet tall) in just a very few minutes is fascinating.

Be careful, though. People are stranded regularly and can't get back to the steps. So, take appropriate precautions (we usually back up the steps and turn to watch again), but do go and see the tide come in at the Bedruthan Steps.

Gayle

Wilsonlisa - We will be in Cornwall near the middle of June and after lots of internet searches finally settled for the little Yachting town of FOWEY(pronounced "Foy") We will be catching the ferry across the harbour to link up with transport to The Lost Gardens of Heligan and on another day to the Eden Project. The only other thing we might do is go to Padstow by bus to look up Rick Stein(Ha! Ha!) Fowey is Daphne du Maurier's hideout. Our hotel is more expensive than the one we will be staying at in London and Paris! Very expensive. Supply and demand I guess.

Hey Morgana, thanks for the info on the cats and St Ives and the nursery rhyme. However there *were* cats everywhere when we were in the St. Ives that is in Cornwall so that was how we made our faulty assumption. Also, I am glad we did not know that then b/c it helped us to choose a spot to visit and it turned out to be a lovely place.

Hi Socialworker
Hope I didn't come over as all pedantic! It's just that I was born quite near the St Ives in eastern England! Glad you loved Cornwall. The quality of the light and of course the scenery is quite stunning (the area has long been popular with artists) - and yet because it is a long way from the 'big sights' like London and York I guess it tends to get overlooked as a holiday resort for people travelling to this country. Did you try Cornish clotted cream with jam and scones?
M

HI Morgana--not at all pedantic!! I appreciate knowing the true story. I am just glad that I did not know back then b/c the nursery rhyme was how I picked St Ives when we were looking for a side trip to the English coast from London. We all (husband, son--who was 20 at that time--and I) so loved the place and we got such a kick out of noticing all the cats. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. And yes, the clotted cream was the stuff of which dreams are made!! It's hard to imagine anything more delicious.

Where are you staying in Foley? We will be travelling with our 11 month old at the end of May, and I am trying to find a place to stay in Cornwall.