Join us for a week of Easter exploration in our five-day holiday guide for the whole family.
Day one
When you’ve arrived at Old Lanwarnick you’re forgiven for not wanting to travel far on your first day. Days of adventure are always better spent on a full tummy. A welcome pack of local products includes a cake, a loaf of bread, butter, and eggs from the Old Lanwarnick hens. After a hearty breakfast explore the 25 acres of unspoiled countryside. Roaming free is the order of the day here.
Children delight in meeting Old Lanwarnick’s resident chickens, ducks and horses. There are plenty of open fields for a kick about or a good old-fashioned game of rounders. For quiet contemplation, the pavilion on the hill has incredible views. Grab a good book and relax in the sheltered pergola.
Day two
Children and young-at-heart adults will love a visit to Porfell Wildlife Park. What started out as a small farm, is home to monkeys and meerkats, exotic animals including beautiful birds, old reptiles, a graceful zebra, eland and even a crazy ostrich! Its Maasai Village is a chance to visit the African plains, with traditional huts displaying Maasai crafts, clothing and history. At the children’s farm, little ones can get up close to the animals and even have a cuddle with a furry friend.
Wild Future’s Monkey Sanctuary is also well worth a visit. It is home to 40 rescued monkeys and you can find all there is to know about these incredible animals and what goes into caring for them from their experienced carers who are always on hand. Children will love the Wild Play Area, while grown-ups will delight in the sheltered wildlife gardens that overlook Looe Bay. All can reconvene at the tea room and gift shop for a cuppa and a catch up.
If you need to pick up supplies on the way back to Old Lanwarnick, Liskeard has some handy food shops and supermarkets.
Lemurs at Porfell Wildlife Park
Day three
A visit to the harbour towns of Looe and neighbouring Polperro is a must. Start the day in Looe with a morning coffee at one of the many cafés before grabbing your bucket and indulging in some crabbing off the harbour wall. Easter is often warm and sunny in Cornwall so, Looe’s stretch of sand is ideal for sand castle building or paddling your toes. The sea air is bound to give everyone a healthy appetite so we recommend heading for a fish and chip lunch at Dave’s Diner, one of the oldest family businesses in the town.
There’s a great walk from Looe to Polperro. It’s a strenuous 5.5-mile route along the South West Coast Path so not good for small children, but family groups can ‘divide and conquer’ meeting at Polperro for a Cornish ice cream. Or there is a bus route back to Looe. For seafarers, why not take a boat trip out to Looe Island? The island ‘s owners have now gifted it to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. It is a marine nature reserve, teaming with life, looked after by nature warden, Claire who now lives on the island.
Day four
No holiday to Cornwall should be without a day at the beach and golden sands abound along this stretch of coastline. Talland Bay, which you’ll find between Looe and Polperro, is a lovely sheltered stretch of sand with plenty of rockpools to enjoy. There’s a small car park here and The Beach Café serves delicious lunch and snacks. There’s also a beach shop and kayak hire for getting out on the water.
West of Polperro is Llansallos. Owned and look after by the National Trust, access to the beach is via a wooded track. The path is steep but the reward is a quiet stretch of sand that has a small waterfall on its western side. Along the coast from here, Lantic Bay is great for a paddle and a picnic. Again the path is steep, but well worth the effort. Beaches with easier access include East Looe and Hannafore. These both have parking, toilets and cafés and wonderful sea views out across the bay.
What better way to finish a day on the sand than with a pub supper. The Plough in Duloe is a welcoming inn with an excellent home-cooked menu packed full of local ingredients.
Day five
While it would be fantastic if the sun shone every day in Cornwall, that’s not the case. So, what to do if the weather turns? The Eden Project is an amazing place for the whole family. This global garden is home to massive covered biomes which include the world’s largest indoor rainforest. There are always lots of interactive displays for children and even a Minibeast Mansion!
Bodmin Jail is a unique indoor attraction. Despite its somewhat gruesome sounding name, this is a world-class immersive experience. Follow the footsteps of the condemned on the Dark Walk where theatrical effects transport visitors back to a murky past with tales of smuggling, mining and the prisoners themselves.
Great Tree Farm is the ideal stop-off on the way home. Tuck in to some good old Cornish fish and chips at The Coddy Shack or sample some fantastic surf and turf at the Little Barn steak and seafood restaurant.
Early bird discount alert! Save 15% when booking your stay with Old Lanwarnick before January 16th 2023. Quote summer23 when booking
