Photo: Werner Wilmes, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
A week by car with two bases, west Cornwall first and the north coast after. Harbours, beaches, an island castle, a giant greenhouse and a flat bike path, with an open afternoon every other day so nobody has to be hurried.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
An easy first day on foot in a little fishing town of narrow lanes and golden sand. A beach in the morning, the harbour at midday, a gallery for any shower and a sunset beach.
A wide, gently sloping sandy beach on the sheltered side of town, with a railway line above it. A calm place for a first paddle and a sandcastle.
Go when Morning, when the sand is quiet and the tide is going out.
Local tip Swim between the red and yellow flags where there are lifeguards, and check the tide times. Keep little ones close, since a bank of sand can drop away quickly.
The county’s own lunch: a folded pastry case filled with beef, potato, swede and onion, eaten warm from the paper. It travels well in a beach bag.
Local tip Eat it on the harbour wall and hold it firmly, since the gulls watch every bite.
The old fishing harbour at the heart of the town, with boats, gulls and small beaches on either side of the quay. Walk the lanes behind it and watch the tide come in.
Go when Midday, with a pasty or an ice cream on the quay.
Local tip Watch your food, because the gulls here are bold and quick. Walk the lanes behind the harbour for small shops and quiet corners.
A gallery of modern art in a white building above the beach, with big windows over the sea. A good rainy-day stop, and short enough for children if you pick a few rooms.
Go when Afternoon, or whenever the weather turns.
Local tip Choose a few rooms rather than the whole gallery, then look out of the big windows at the beach below. Check ahead for what is on.
Cornwall is known for its dairy, and a cone of clotted cream ice cream is a small ritual of the holiday. Eat it on the sand with sticky fingers.
Local tip Take wipes, a water bottle and a rubbish bag for the beach.
A long, open surf beach facing the Atlantic, with soft sand and big waves. A fine place to watch the sun go down over the water.
Go when Early evening, around sunset (about 8:41 PM), when the light is gold on the sand.
Local tip This is a surf beach with strong waves and rip currents, so paddle at the edge and swim only between the flags where lifeguards are on duty.
Crisp battered fish with thick chips, salt and vinegar and sometimes mushy peas. A seaside classic, and best eaten outdoors in a jumper.
Local tip Order early, since queues build at tea time in August.
A short, gentle day with the afternoon left open. A castle on a tidal island, a beach beside it and a seawater pool in Penzance. The morning is set by the tide, so check it the evening before.
A long beach on the bay, looking straight across to the island. A good place to start while you wait for the tide, with rock pools at low water.
Go when Morning, at low tide for rock pools.
Local tip Look for crabs and small fish in the pools at low water, and keep an eye on the tide, which comes in across the flat sand.
Bread, cheese, fruit and a flask of something warm, eaten on the sand while the tide moves. Easy for a group and kind to the budget.
Local tip Pack it in a bag you can carry across the causeway, and take your rubbish home.
A castle and a small harbour on a rocky island in the bay. At low tide a stone causeway links it to the mainland, and when the tide is in, boats take over. Check the tide times and the crossing ahead.
Go when Morning, with the crossing planned around the tide.
Local tip The causeway can only be walked at low tide, and a boat runs when the tide is in. Check the tide times and the crossing ahead, and wear shoes that can get wet.
A warm scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream, served with a pot of tea. In Cornwall the jam goes on first, then the cream on top, though people argue about it.
Local tip Share a pot and a plate of scones between two small children.
A big triangular seawater swimming pool on the Penzance seafront, built in the Art Deco style in the 1930s. Check ahead for when it is open to swimmers.
Go when Midday, then lunch on the seafront.
Local tip It is filled with seawater and open to the weather, so take a towel and warm clothes for afterward. Check ahead for the swimming season.
The harbour towns here land fresh fish daily. A simple plate of grilled fish or a fish pie in a family restaurant suits tired legs after a day outside.
Local tip Ask what is freshest, and choose a place with high chairs if you need one.
A longer day on the far western tip, with a drive of its own. Take it slowly and keep the open sea views for the end of the afternoon.
A small harbour village with a long white beach, a slipway and a lifeboat station. A calm start before the headland, with room to run on the sand.
Go when Morning, before the car parks fill.
Local tip Sennen has a long beach with good surf. Swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty, and stay out of the water near the rocks and the slipway.
Buy a pasty on the way and eat it on a bench looking at the sea. It keeps everyone going on a long day with a lot of walking.
Local tip Take water, because the cliff paths have little shade.
The most westerly point of mainland England, with high granite cliffs and a long view of the Atlantic. Take the cliff path and look for seabirds on the rocks. Keep children back from the edge.
Go when Midday, with a walk along the cliff path.
Local tip The cliffs are high and the edge is rough. Keep to the paths and hold the hands of small children. Look for the Longships lighthouse standing on a rock offshore.
An open-air theatre carved into the cliff above the sea, made by hand from the 1930s. Even without a play, the stone seats and the blue water behind are worth the walk. Check ahead for visits and shows.
Go when Afternoon, with the sun over the water.
Local tip There are many steps and uneven stone, so it suits older children better than a buggy. Check ahead for visits and for performances.
A small bay of pale sand and clear water below the theatre. Steep steps lead down, so it suits a day with energy. Check ahead whether lifeguards are on duty.
Go when Late afternoon, when the sand is warm and the crowds thin.
Local tip Swim between the flags where there are lifeguards and check ahead whether any are on duty. The beach shrinks a lot at high tide, so check the times.
Cornwall’s crab is caught off these shores. A crab sandwich or a plate of crab salad, with chips, makes a simple supper after the beach.
Local tip If anyone has a shellfish allergy, ask before you order, and pick the fish instead.
A day out to the southernmost point of mainland Britain, with the afternoon left open. A cove of green and red rock, a lighthouse headland and a fishing cove with old cottages.
A cove of dark green and red rock, sea stacks and white sand, reached by a short walk down from the cliff car park. At high tide much of the beach is covered, so check the tide times first.
Go when Morning, as the tide drops.
Local tip Check the tide times before you go down, because the sea fills the cove and cuts off parts of the beach. The walk down is short, and the path back up is steep.
A soft, yellow Cornish bun that is flavoured with saffron and filled with dried fruit. It is sweet and chewy, and it is a good snack for the walk back up from the cove.
Local tip Split one between two, since they are large and rich.
The southernmost point of mainland Britain, with a lighthouse nearby and a rough coast of rock and sea. Stay on the paths and keep a close eye on children near the edge.
Go when Midday, with the sea air and a view.
Local tip Stay on the paths and well back from the cliff edge. The rocks beyond the point have caught many ships, so look at the sea and keep your distance.
A bowl of hot soup and a crusty roll in a cafe at the end of the land. A warm break on a windy headland.
Local tip Sit by the window and watch the waves while the children warm up.
A small fishing cove with thatched cottages and boats pulled up on the shingle. A quiet place for a picnic and a look at the sea.
Go when Early afternoon, then a slow drive back.
Local tip Park at the top and walk down, since the lanes are narrow. The cove is a working fishing place, so keep clear of the boats and the gear.
The coves here are working fishing places, and a plate of local fish with potatoes is a short, easy dinner before the drive back.
Local tip Book ahead in August, and ask about the day’s catch.
A moving day, from the south coast to your north coast base. A castle, a boat museum and a huge greenhouse, with all the driving done in the afternoon rather than at the start.
A museum about boats and the sea on the Falmouth waterfront, with small craft to look at and a tower with a view over the harbour. A good stop in any weather.
Go when Morning, with the town still quiet.
Local tip Look for the small boats hanging in the main hall, and take the lift or stairs up the tower for the view over the water.
The waterfront has a string of cafes with sandwiches, soup and pasties. Choose one with a view of the harbour and watch the boats come in.
Local tip Eat early, because the road north needs the rest of the day.
A fort that Henry VIII built on a headland to guard the harbour, with cannons, tunnels and wide views of the sea. Plenty of space to run, and good for children who like castles.
Go when Midday, with a picnic on the lawns.
Local tip The headland is open to the wind, so bring a jacket. Children can look at the guns and walk the walls, with an adult close by at the drops.
Two huge domed greenhouses, one with a rainforest and one with a warm, dry climate, built in an old clay pit. A good rainy-day place, and it sits on the road north.
Go when Afternoon, a good stop on the way north.
Local tip Allow plenty of time and take a light layer for the cooler outdoor paths and a lighter one for the hot rainforest. Check ahead for what is open and how to enter.
After the greenhouse, stop in a town on the road toward Padstow and eat early. A simple pub or cafe meal, and then settle in at the new base.
Local tip Keep the children’s bags within reach for the evening, since the last drive is the longest.
A flat, gentle day on the north coast with the afternoon left open. A fishing harbour, a bike or walking path along an estuary and a wide sandy bay.
A busy fishing harbour and small town on the Camel estuary, with a quay, narrow streets and shops. Walk the harbour wall and look at the boats.
Go when Morning, with the boats coming and going.
Local tip Park outside the town and walk in, since the streets are narrow and busy in August. Try a crab sandwich or an ice cream on the quay.
Padstow is a fishing harbour, and the fish and shellfish come off the boats. A fresh crab sandwich or fish and chips on the quay is the local lunch.
Local tip Eat on the quay wall and keep your food well out of reach of the gulls.
A flat, car-free path on an old railway line that runs beside the estuary. Hire bikes in Padstow, or just walk a few miles. It suits young riders, and there are no hills.
Go when Midday, once the path has warmed up.
Local tip Hire bikes in Padstow, including child seats and small bikes, and ride toward Wadebridge. It is flat, so turn back whenever the youngest tires.
Small cafes sit along the path, and a slice of cake and a pot of tea is a good reason for a rest in the middle of a ride.
Local tip Lock the bikes and take a long break; nobody is racing today.
A sheltered sandy bay a short drive from town, with rock pools and soft sand for children. Swim only between the flags where lifeguards are on duty, and check the tide times.
Go when Afternoon, left open for the beach.
Local tip Swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty, and check the tide times. Watch for rip currents on the way out, and never swim alone.
Back in town, pick a family restaurant for fish pie or a plate of pasta, and walk along the quay afterward. An easy end to a flat, slow day.
Local tip Book a table for a time when the children are still fresh.
A last day on the north coast: a surf lesson to start, a fishing village for lunch and a castle on the cliffs for the afternoon.
A big sandy beach where beginners learn to surf on soft boards. Book a lesson ahead with a qualified instructor, and find a spot between the flags if you swim.
Go when Morning, for a lesson, with the tide on its way in.
Local tip Book a lesson ahead through a qualified instructor and ask that a lifeguard patrols the beach. A rip current pulls out to sea, so if you are caught, stay calm and float, raise a hand and shout.
Hot drinks, sandwiches and fruit after the waves. Bring a flask and dry clothes, since the wind chills quickly after a lesson.
Local tip Warm drinks help the children more than food right after the water.
A tiny fishing village with steep lanes, whitewashed cottages and a harbour full of boats. Leave the car at the top and walk down.
Go when Midday, with a pasty on the harbour wall.
Local tip The lanes are steep and tight, so park at the top and walk down. The way back up is a good reason to stop for an ice cream.
The ruins of a castle on a cliff headland, linked by a footbridge, with a long link to the stories of King Arthur. Expect many steps. Check ahead for the footbridge and for the weather.
Go when Afternoon, with good shoes.
Local tip Count on many steps and open edges, and hold small hands. Check ahead for the footbridge and for the weather, because strong wind can change access.
Choose a favorite from the week, a pasty, fish and chips or a cream tea, and have a last relaxed meal together before the drive home.
Local tip Pack the car before you eat, so the last morning is easy.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June to September are the best months for a beach trip to Cornwall. This plan is built for late August, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 7 days in Cornwall, planned for late August. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.8 to 31.8 miles between its stops, and 60.0 miles in all across 7 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in the CotswoldsAbout 300 km away
8 days in London, Oxford and the CotswoldsAbout 360 km away
6 days in Ireland: Dublin and the Wild Atlantic WayAbout 400 km awayOther guides with a page about Cornwall. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageCornwall, the free travel guide
Time OutThings to do in CornwallThe GuardianCornwall travel featuresPhoto by Christopher Sanderson on Unsplash · Photo by BEN ELLIOTT on Unsplash · Photo: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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