Nature Days Out For the Family in Cornwall

This is a collaborative post.

As the weather starts to warm up, we want nothing more than to get out and about with the family on a fun day out. There’s no use wasting sunny days on indoor play parks, museums, glamping and camping, so if you’re looking for some incredible places in nature to explore while the sun is shining, then Cornwall is undoubtedly one of the best places to head. With over 400 miles of coastline boasting incredible beaches, an abundance of stunning gardens and plenty of moorland and woodland to explore, Cornwall is the dream location for many family getaways. Here are just some of the things you can get up to in Cornwall as a family who loves to explore in nature!

Glendurgan Gardens

A garden for all seasons, Glendurgan Gardens look beautiful and diverse year-round. In spring the gardens are alive with daffodils, magnolias, bluebells and camellias, while the summer months see the garden transformed into an exotic and tropical paradise. In the colder months, the golden hues of autumnal colours bring a new look and feel to the garden.

While there are plenty of gardens in Cornwall for nature lovers to explore, Glendurgan Gardens is certainly one of the best for families. As well as the gorgeous grounds filled with beautiful blooms and intricately laid out garden landscapes, Glendurgan has plenty of family fun, featuring an extensive hedge maze, Giant’s Stride rope swing and a delightful river beach to spend the day at play.

Porfell Wildlife Park & Sanctuary

Providing sanctuary for a wide range of exotic animals, many of whom were neglected, injured or unwanted, Porfell Wildlife Park is home to an incredible assortment of fascinating creatures. Most of the animals who live at the sanctuary have been retired from zoos, and the extensive collection includes zebras, capybaras, lemurs, wallabies, meerkats, lynx, porcupines and marmosets, amongst others. You’ll be able to get up close to many of these animals, taking part in feeding sessions and learning more about their needs. For little ones, head over to the children’s farm where you can pet and feed smaller animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as seeing the donkeys and goats!

A Day at the Beach

A trip to Cornwall would not be complete without a visit to the beach! Home to hundreds of sandy beaches, you’ll be spoiled for choice for where to go. If you’re embarking on a child-friendly holiday in Falmouth, then Gyllyngvase Beach is a popular choice for families as it is equipped with toilets and a beachside café, as well as offering some exciting rock pools to explore at low tide. Heading to the north coast of Cornwall, you’ll be rewarded with incredible surfing conditions and golden sandy strips perfect for play, as at the ever popular Perranporth beach.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary

As a coastal county, it may come as no surprise that Cornwall is home to a wide variety of marine life. With the beauty of being able to witness the spectacular displays of dolphins diving, sleeping seals and an abundance of wading birds searching for their dinner, comes the responsibility of care for these creatures in the event that they become unwell or injured. One of the best marine hospitals in Cornwall is the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, which provides a home and care to a number of seals, sea lions, otters and penguins! As well as being able to see these incredible animals and birds, the Seal Sanctuary is located on the Helston River, meaning that the Sanctuary sits on an area of outstanding natural beauty and a site of special scientific interest, so there is plenty to explore. After meeting the seals, follow the woodland trail through this stunning area – the kids can even complete a quiz as they go! We went to visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary recently and we absolutely loved it – read my review on the blog!

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan have a sense of magic and mystery to them, having been lost to nature following the First World War. Now restored to their former glory, the gardens are packed full with exotic jungle plants, brilliant blooms and quaint vegetable gardens. Set in a 200-acre estate, there is certainly no shortage of things to explore here. Alongside the main garden area, highlights for families would include the farm area, where cows, sheep, goats and ducks find their home, a natural playground for children, and a trail of impressive sculptures designed to work with the growing garden. More adventurous kids will love heading down to ‘The Jungle’, where you can follow ramps and cross stepping stones and a rope bridge to better explore the tropical paradise found at Heligan. (Read my dedicated blog post about Heligan to learn more.)

Eden Project

One of my favourite places on the entire globe… I absolutely love returning to Eden Project every year. It’s my happy place. Probably the two biomes are the most famous part of Eden: the Mediterranean and Rainforest biome, it’s possible to spend hours in each of them and that’s just the biomes. With lots of outdoor activities and seasonal fun, the Eden Project is a brilliant place to visit with a family.

These are just a few of the great child-friendly places to visit in Cornwall for families who love to explore in nature. Are there any must-visit places in Cornwall that you love? Leave a comment below with your recommendations!