Holidays in Cornwall aren’t all about extreme water sports, hikes along the South West Coast Path and days lolling on the beach. There are plenty of attractions that babies and toddlers will love, and where parents of young children can relax, explore and have fun too. Here are some of our favourite toddler friendly days out:

Eden Project, Bodmin

Where else can toddlers step into a rainforest, explore the Med and get up-close to nature with weather-proof, child-friendly facilities at hand? Exploring our natural environment, children can step inside jungle huts, take a walk in the rainforest canopies, enjoy story-time in the iconic biomes and ride a tractor-train up through the gardens. As well as themed events throughout the year, during winter Eden hosts toddler ice-play sessions on the ice rink.

The Eden Project

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth

Boats, helicopters, pirates and sea life… experience maritime adventures with your feet firmly on dry land. At the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, kids can take the helm of a model sailing boat, checkout the underwater gallery and climb aboard a rescue helicopter. With interactive exhibitions designed especially for younger children, family trails and half-term art and craft workshops, it’s no wonder that this was the winner of the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum award 2014.

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth

St Ives beaches

The pearly beaches hemming St Ives are a haven for children wielding buckets, spades and bodyboards. Treat tots to a ride on the coastal train from St Erth, and footsteps from the station you can dip your toes in the Caribbean-blue waters lapping Porthminster beach. Head into town and tuck into Moomaid ice cream (made from local cows) while you watch the boats on harbour beach, build sandcastles and spot dolphins from The Island’s Porthgwidden, and splash in the waves with the surfers on Porthmeor.

Becoming a surfer on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

Paradise Park, Hayle

With plenty of animals to gawp at, from flamingos and red pandas to parrots and giant rabbits, Paradise Park really is paradise for young children. Join in with penguin feeding time, pet the farm animals, hop onboard the mini train and watch free-flying bird shows. Wildlife takes centre stage, but there are also plenty of park areas and the indoor Jungle Barn with slides and soft play for rainy days.

Paradise Park, Hayle

Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay

Peering into the underwater kingdoms on display at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium, children will feel as if they’ve just dived into the Finding Nemo film set. Come face to face with all sorts of sea life from clown fish and sea cucumbers, to spider crabs and a giant octopus. The highlight is the underwater tunnel, where children will be mesmerised by close encounters with stingrays, reef sharks, turtles and tropical fish.

Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay

Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith

Get dizzy on the Giant’s Stride swing, find the heart of the cherry laurel maze, wend through the bamboo jungle and take shelter under giant Gunnera plants. Glendurgan is the perfect setting for a day out in the garden with toddlers: tumble through sub-tropical gardens, picnic on the beach, skim stones in the Helford River and scoff ice cream in the family-friendly café.

Swinging at Glendurgan Gardens!

Enjoy all of these toddler friendly days out in Cornwall while you’re staying in one of Carbis Bay Holidays’ cottages in and around St Ives. Our family friendly cottages are ideal for babies and young children, and we provide all sorts of equipment from travel cots and toys to highchairs and toddler steps.

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From trails hugging the coastline to paths wending through woodland, many of Cornwall’s walking routes are accessible to a push-chairs; so there’s no need to miss out on any of the eye-popping landscapes when you’ve got tots in tow. Explore Cornwall with your little ones on these six accessible buggy walks in Cornwall that soak up some of the county’s stunning scenery.

Buggy Walks from Penzance to Marazion

This easy-peasy two-mile stretch flanking the glory of Mounts Bay proves that the South West Coast Path isn’t just for serious hikers. With sailing boats and the sea-bound St Michael’s Mount on one side, and trains chugging past on the other, there’s plenty of eye candy for buggy-bound toddlers. The trail is level and wide with plenty of places to stop for a picnic, skim pebbles or build a sandcastle on the beach.
Start Point: Penzance train station
More Information: www.southwestcoastpath.com

Buggy Walks in Tehidy Woods Country Park

Fancy a stroll through enchanting woodland where little ones can feed ducks, spot squirrels and play Tarzan on rope swings? With over 9 miles of walking trails ranging from an easy 1/2-mile loop around the lakes to longer routes in the North Cliffs woodland, Tehidy Country Park offers the perfect terrain for buggies and bikes. There’s an excellent family-friendly café too.
Start point: Tehidy South Drive entrance (SW650432)
More information: www.cornwall.gov.uk

Spot a Squirrel in Tehidy Woods

Buggy Walks from Sennen Cove to Land’s End

Cornwall’s western tip boasts some of the region’s wildest, wave-hewn scenery. And if you follow National Cycle Route 3 from Sennen Cove to Lands End (which runs parallel to the coast path) you can still appreciate much of the jaw-dropping panorama from a wide, level path. It’s about a mile to Lands End visitor centre, from where you can reach the south-westerly tip of Britain and look out to Longships Lighthouse.
Start Point: Mayon Green Car Park, Sennen
More information: www.southwestcoastpath.com

The Southern Most tip of Britain at Land’s End

Buggy Walks along Bude Canal

Start your stroll along Bude Canal from the Weir café and wildlife centre, where little ones can enjoy interactive wildlife exhibits, a playground and lakeside farmland. From here follow the canal towpath seaward, spotting herons, egrets and otters in the nature reserve, before emerging beside the wharf, beaches and sea lock at Bude.
Start point: The Weir Bistro & Wildlife Centre

 Buggy Walks from Daymer Bay to Polzeath

Set off from the pearly crescent of Daymer Bay (backed by Brea Hill and the wonky steeple of St Enodoc Church), and walk along verdant cliff tops at the mouth of the Camel Estuary. A mile and half of wide, well maintained path takes you all the way to the surfy village of Polzeath, and you can pause on route for a spot of rock-pooling at the rugged Greenaway Beach.
Start Point: Daymer Bay car park
More information: www.phototrails.org

A picnic with a view between Daymer and Polzeath

Buggy Walks from Swanpool to Gylyyngvase

For a snapshot of Cornwall’s south coast scenery try this short, easy stroll between two of Falmouth’s beaches. Start in the sub-tropical foliage of Queen Mary Gardens, beside Gyllyngvase beach, and follow the tarmacked coastal path over the cliffs, taking in spectacular views of Pendennis Castle and Falmouth Bay. The next crescent of sand, Swanpool beach, is perfect for a paddle, skimming stones or a wedge of homemade cake from the beach café.
Start Point: Gyllyngvase Beach (SW809316)
More Information: www.falmouth.co.uk

Homemade cakes. A well deserved treat!

All of these walks are ideal to explore from one of Carbis Bay Holidays’ superb range of family friendly cottages. We make holidays with young children easy, by providing toddler-friendly accommodation equipped with travel cots, toys and highchairs.