Why Cornwall Should Be on Every Adventurous Family’s Bucket List

Where to Explore, What to Do, and When to Go for the Ultimate Outdoor Escape

1. Why Visit Cornwall With Your Family
2. When Is The Best Time To Visit Cornwall
3. Outdoor Family Adventures In Cornwall
4. Where To Stay
5. Planning Your Cornwall Adventure

Cornwall isn’t just a holiday destination — it’s a wild invitation.
To breathe salty sea air. To hike dramatic cliffs. To chase the tide out across golden beaches.
And for adventurous families, it’s one of the best places in the UK to escape the ordinary and reconnect with nature, movement, and each other. It’s our neighbouring county, so it only takes us a couple of hours to get to Cornwall, but on the right day, it feels as if you have travelled abroad with the golden sand, clear waters and holiday feeling we get when we arrive.

At A Little More Outdoor, we believe in travel that excites, educates, and energises — and Cornwall delivers on all fronts.

We’ve hiked the headlands, camped beneath the stars, and splashed in icy turquoise seas with the kids — and every time we leave, we’re already planning the next visit.

Why Visit Cornwall with Your Family?

Cornwall is rugged, real, and rich with stories. It’s where legends of King Arthur echo through castle ruins, and tin mines cling to windswept cliffs. But beyond the postcards, it’s also a playground — a place where kids can run wild on coastal trails, learn to surf, or build entire sandcastle kingdoms without ever touching a screen.

Here’s what makes Cornwall a must-visit for families craving a little more outdoor adventure:

• 🌊 Wild coastline and secret coves
  
• 🥾 Miles of dramatic South West Coast Path
  
• 🏄 Family-friendly surfing and watersports
  
• 🏕️ Unique places to stay: from clifftop yurts to cosy eco-cabins
  
• 🌱 Laid-back pace perfect for slow, meaningful travel
  

When Is the Best Time to Visit Cornwall?

The truth? There’s no bad time to explore Cornwall — just different adventures depending on the season.

What to Do: Outdoor Family Adventures in Cornwall

Cornwall’s best moments happen outside. Whether you’re hiking, swimming, climbing, or simply beachcombing, there’s always a new adventure around the corner.

🥾 Hike the Coastal Paths

The South West Coast Path winds for over 300 miles around Cornwall’s cliffs, coves, and headlands. We’ve spent many early mornings and golden evenings out here — just the two of us, running stretches of it side by side, hearts full and legs burning.

One of our favourite memories? Running the coastal path at sunset — golden cliffs to one side, crashing surf to the other, and no one else in sight. There’s something about moving together in nature that makes everything feel clearer.

For family-friendly hikes, try:

• Lizard Point loop: We spent hours here with the kids, peering into rock pools, finding tiny crabs, and watching the waves crash below. They loved clambering over the rocks and spotting sea birds with their binoculars.
  
• Kynance Cove to Lizard Point: The walk is stunning, especially if you’re camping nearby (like we did!). The path winds over windswept grasslands and drops down into the cove, where the kids ran straight into the sea — squealing with cold and delight.
  

🏖️ Beach Days With a Twist

Cornwall beaches are for wild-hearted families, not just sunbathing.

We still talk about the time we went sea swimming together at Kynance Cove. The tide was out, revealing deep rock channels and caves to explore. The kids braved the chilly water (with a lot of laughter and shrieking), then spent ages spotting tiny fish.

Some of our favourites:

• Perranporth: Perfect for surfing and sandy games
  
• Polzeath: Great for first-time paddleboarders
  
• Porthcurno: Add in a show at the Minack Theatre and it’s an unforgettable day
  
• Kynance Cove: Magical at low tide — with rock arches and sea caves waiting to be discovered

• Newqauy: Where we learnt to surf together

🧗‍♀️ Climb, Paddle & Explore

If your family loves movement and challenge, Cornwall’s made for it:

• Sea kayaking: Paddle around hidden coves near Fowey — great for older kids and confident swimmers.
  
• Coasteering in Port Gaverne: Climb, jump, scramble. The kids felt like real explorers.
  
• Cycling the Camel Trail: An easy win — we packed a picnic, stopped by the estuary, and let the ride be as slow and scenic as we liked.
  

Visit The Many Local Attractions

Cornwall is designed with tourists in mind, and if you visit during the peak season, you’ll find numerous small theme parks, zoos, and animal sanctuaries, as well as a range of adventurous activities.

We love:

• The Seal Sanctuary
• The Eden Project
• Newquay Zoo

Where to Stay: Family-Friendly Bases in Cornwall

Cornwall is full of welcoming places that encourage outdoor living and down-to-earth fun.

🏕️ Camping with Character

One of our most memorable stays was camping near Kynance Cove, just a short walk from the beach. Waking up to the distant sound of waves, coffee brewing on the stove, and a stroll down the clifftop path before breakfast.

There are loads of family-friendly campsites with space to run free, toast marshmallows, and fall asleep tired and happy.

Some to try:

• Cornish Coasts Holiday Park (near Bude)
  
• Henry’s Campsite (on The Lizard — quirky, colourful, and full of character)
  
• Newquay Bay Resort

🏡 Cosy Cottages & Cabins

If you prefer four walls, Cornwall’s packed with rentals that combine comfort with wild surroundings — we love the ones with sea views and woodburners for post-beach chill-outs.

Our Favourite (us here pictured above):

• Deerpark Cabins, Cornwall – Forest Holidays

The Heart of Cornwall: Why It Works for Outdoor Families

Cornwall encourages you to slow down. To walk instead of driving. To listen to the wind on the cliffs, not your inbox. And when you’re travelling with kids, it gives you space. To talk. To laugh. To reconnect.

It’s the kind of place where:

• Time feels abundant
  
• Muddy feet are a badge of honour
  
• And every adventure starts with, “Let’s just see what’s around that next bend…”
  

For us, it’s not just about the places — it’s about the moments:

• The giggling races down a sand dune
  
• The quiet cup of tea after a run along the cliffs
  
• The way the kids dive headfirst into nature when you give them the space
  

Planning Your Cornwall Family Adventure

Whether you’re after an active half-term break, home educators getting a bargain outside of term time, a summer escape, or just an excuse to swap screens for sea spray, Cornwall is a ready-made outdoor classroom, playground, and retreat for families who want more.

Pick a base. Choose a few trails or beaches. Don’t overplan — just make space for freedom and discovery.

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