Fun Parks
There are several “theme park” style days out within an hours’ drive away to give your kids chance to burn off any excess energy! These include:
Trethorne Leisure Park – located 30 minutes away close to Launceston, Trethorne combines a fun park and animal park in one place with its large selection of animals including goats, lambs, llamas and poultry and a vast play area – including a 45,000 sq ft indoor area as a weather-proof back up plan! There is a “Farmhouse Restaurant” on site and also 10-pin bowling. It also has the advantage of an 18-hole golf course open to non-members if your “family day out” needs to offer an alternative activity!
Hidden Valley – “next door” to Trethorne is a lovely day out which combines fun with learning. The Hidden Valley, besides being a beautiful nature reserve complete with a Beech Hedge Maze, miniature ride-on railway and a Hobbit’s Garden, also has treasure hunt-style trails. There a different sets of clues suitable for primary school age children and also more challenging for 12 years and over. All trails lead to a “Crystal Maze” style Vault where you have to crack the codes against the clock! It is a great day out for all the family and has a tea room with scrummy homemade cakes!
The Milky Way – a 20 minutes’ drive north on the A39 will bring you to the award winning Milky Way which provides all weather family entertainment including Roller Coasters, Dodgems, a living maze and live Birds of Prey and magic shows throughout the day. It also has a huge indoor play area with giant slides and an assault course. New for this season is a new restaurant with an extended menu.
Launceston Steam Railway – 30 minutes away on the outskirts of Launceston, you will find Launceston Steam Railway to experience the Steam Rail journeys of over 100 years ago. There is a Workshop and Rail Museum and railway buffet on the station. Trains run most days on a five mile round trip along the original North Cornwall Railway line to Newmills station. There is a riverside farm park at Newmills with a café and picnic tables and many indoor and outdoor games which are particularly suitable for younger children. From Newmills there is also a choice of footpaths including a hilly walk to Tregadillet and its renowned pub, the Eliot Arms, or a 2 mile more level walk to the Hidden Valley.
Crealy Adventure Park – located between Padstow and Wadebridge, Crealy offers the thrills and soakings you would expect from a roller coaster, Thunder Falls Log Flume, Raging Rivers and a ride ominously called “The Beast”! There are cafés and food stalls, Pets Corner and daily appearances of Swampy the Crealy mascot!
