A family holiday on The Lizard isn’t all about buckets and spades. From surfing to hunting down the county’s best ice cream, here are some of Friendly Guide’s favourite family activities. Information taken from our LIZARD POCKET GUIDES and THE LIZARD GUIDEBOOK.
Boat Trips
Boat trips are a great day out for families with children of all ages. The focus is usually on wildlife and you can see everything from schools of dolphins to the occasional basking shark. It’s also a fantastic way to spot birds that nest out of sight on the Lizard’s steep cliffs - not to mention the cliffs and their geology look fantastic from the water. Porthleven has lots of choice, Coverack, Mullion and Cadgwith have small part-time operators (usually local fishermen). Check online or head to the harbour where boat trips are advertised – you can’t miss them.
During the summer, coastal and wildlife tours and fishing trips can be organised from:
- Coverack (photo above top)
- Porthleven
- Cadgwith
- Mullion Cove on the Flowing Tide (photo above)
Flambards Theme Park
Flambards Theme Park has rides for all ages plus static displays of helicopters and aircraft from next-door Culdrose air base. It can be very busy during school holidays, especially on overcast days.
- Accompanying carers enter free, but you need to provide certification at the ticket booths
- Has on-site restaurants and stands for ice creams, drinks and snacks
- Plenty of on-site parking
- Disabled-friendly activities and facilities
Roskilly's
Roskilly's is ice cream heaven. It's a working dairy farm producing the milk that goes into their excellent ice creams. They also have animals in petting enclosures with pigs, goats and other farm animals to see as well as walks beside wildlife ponds. You’ll find it near St Keverne.
- An on-site restaurant also serves up full lunches and dinners if you need a feed
- Toilet facilities
- Disabled access
- On-site parking
- Dogs welcome on leads
Helston Folk Museum
Helston Folk Museum, or The Museum of Cornish Life is full of all sorts of fascinating objects from prehistory to tin mining and modern agriculture. Some of the best are domestic objects from the 1960s and 70s, many coming with fascinating stories about life in Cornwall through the ages. Admission is free.
- Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
- Pop-up on-site cafe
- Play area for under 5s
- On-site toilet facilities
- Wheelchair accessible
Water Sports
Cornwall is the watersports capital of the UK. The Lizard has plenty to offer when it comes to surfing, kayaking, and coasteering. Strong winds mean this part of West Cornwall is also great for windsurfing.
Your best bets are:
- Coverack Windsurf Centre
- Surf School at Poldhu and Mora Surf School at Kennack Sands
- Lizard Adventure for coasteering and kayaking
- Sailaway St Anthony for kayaking and sailing
