15 ways for adults to have fun in Cornwall this summer
Cornwall is most people’s go-to location for the ultimate family staycation. There are countless child-friendly destinations, activities and restaurants, but what about the grown-ups? If you’re child free or have managed to palm the kids off on the grandparents for the weekend, you may need something a bit more sophisticated than Flambards Theme Park and a Cornetto. Here are 15 ways for adults to have fun in Cornwall this summer.
1. Hit the shops in Truro
Cornwall is full of local crafters, makers and artists. You can shop all this glorious homegrown talent in south Cornwall’s Truro, home to a host of independent brands and stores. For a great grocery experience, try the Great Cornish Food Store for entirely local food and drink. Pick up handmade lighting and interior accessories at Illustrated Living or Uneeka. Fine, kinetic jewellery – including flower lockets that beautifully unfold before your eyes – can be found at Victoria Walker Jewellery.
2. Try Cornish fizz at Camel Valley, Bodmin
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Head to the idyllic sun-drenched slopes of Camel Valley for a decadent afternoon of tasting and touring. A wine maker will guide you through the vineyard year and winery process. This will be followed by a fun wine-tasting, beginning with the vineyard’s most famous wine, Cornwall Brut.
3. Go high-wire zip lining in Penrhyn
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In need of an epic adrenaline adventure? How about Via Ferrata, the ultimate high wire adventure with a zip wire? Originating in the Alps during World War I to enable troops to cross mountains, a Via Ferrata is a climbing route like no other. Metal steps, suspension bridges and zip wires make it one of the most adrenaline-filled climbing activities worldwide. Now it’s come to Cornwall, so you can push your limits and journey across historic granite quarries on an unforgettable adventure.
4. Explore Cornwall by train
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Cornwall has long been famed for its picturesque scenery and breathtaking landscapes. What better way to see it than by train? Park in St Erth and take the scenic branch line to St Ives, which follows the sweeping crescent of St Ives Bay. Gaze out at the sea from the train window as you pass Carbis Bay and Hayle Towans, then stroll into St Ives harbour from the station to enjoy the shops, art galleries and restaurants. You could also take the St Ives Bay Line real ales tour for distinctive pubs serving real ales within walking distance of the St Ives Bay Line.
5. Pamper yourself at the Headland Hotel Aqua Club
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Open to non-residents, the Aqua Club is truly luxe. Indoors, it has a lap pool and hydrotherapy pool, while outside you’re treated to a heated vitality pool and Sunset Spa, which overlooks the Atlantic. Shielded from the wind by high glass walls, sit comfortably as you sip a cocktail with the sun on your face or watch it set with views over the Atlantic. The Aqua Club is available for adults only between 8am and 9am throughout the year and between 8pm and 9pm in the summer. Children under 12 are strictly prohibited from entering the hydrotherapy pools (indoor and outdoor) and the sunset spa pool.
6. Get in touch with your inner savage at Adrenalin Quarry
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Hurl axes like a demon and get in touch with your inner savage with axe throwing at Adrenaline Quarry. Similar to archery but much more fun, axe throwing uses the same layout of target, throwing line and safety line, with up to four throwers per target.
7. Have the ride of your life at St Eval Kart Circuit
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Located on the north Cornwall coast in between Newquay and Padstow, St Eval Kart Circuit is a fantastic outdoor go kart track. It has four tracks, including one dedicated to adults. Maximising the smooth flowing main track, the adult-only sessions really allow the karts to open up. Blast off and feel the adrenaline rush!
8. Go on a ghost walk at Bodmin Jail
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Experience Cornwall’s haunted history at Bodmin Jail’s immersive, interactive and entertaining Ghost Walk. Travel with your paranormal guides through the dark walk and original prison buildings, get insight into the other-worldly residents, and discover what goes bump in the night at one of the UK’s most haunted sites. The Ghost Walk celebrates the rich heritage of Bodmin, the formidable moorland that surrounds it, and the spine-chilling events that still echo through the belly of Bodmin Jail.
9. Try some Cornish cider at Healeys
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Deep in the heart of the Cornish countryside, Healeys family-run farm has been lovingly making award-winning cyders for nearly 40 years, including Cornish Rattler. If you’re a cyder fan, take Healeys’ Cydermaster Tour. Start with a vintage tractor ride tour through the 20 acres of orchards – home to 3,000 trees – on Big Bertha, the 1950s Fordson Major tractor. Finish by tasting three cyders.
10. Learn to throw a pot at Leach Pottery
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Encounter clay preparation, wedging, centring clay on the wheel and throwing basic cylinders at a beginner’s pottery workshop at Leach Pottery, one of the most respected and influential studio potteries in the world. Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, it was reopened as a museum, shop and studio in 2008 and is a lovely place to while away a quiet afternoon.
11. Jump off some of Cornwall’s cliffs
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Swim through fascinating sea caves and arches, explore hidden gullies and take on a range of cliff jumps, from small steps up to huge leaps for thrill-seekers: this is coasteering in Cornwall. Kernow Coasteering will take you on routes around the western tip of Cornwall, from St Ives around to Praa Sands.
12. Indulge in some fine dining at Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen
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If you are seeking exemplary Cornish fish, then Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen in Port Isaac is the modern classic place to be seen. Book a table with a sea view, and you will be in foodie heaven.
13. Go back in time at Lanhydrock
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Discover two sides of Victorian life at Lanhydrock, a quintessential Cornish country house and estate. The kitchen offers a thrilling glimpse into life ‘below stairs’, while the luxurious family areas, elegant dining room and spacious bedrooms reveal the comforts of ‘upstairs’ living.
Make sure you take a stroll around the extensive gardens and enjoy their year-round colour. The estate is well worth exploring too, with ancient woodlands and tranquil riverside paths.
14. Make your own chocolate truffles at the Coco Kitchen
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The Coco Kitchen in St Ives provides a range of workshops for adults. Create fresh cream truffles and moulded chocolates and try your hand at decorative work. You’ll learn to make a fresh cream ganache and produce at least three ballotins (traditional Belgian gift box) of delicious fresh cream truffles with your choice of flavourings, toppings and decoration. Wrap, ribbon and take it all back to your Cornish holiday cottage to enjoy.
15. Tour a Cornish micro-brewery in Launceston
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One free pint is included in Firebrand Brewing’s hour-long tour, so you’ll be able to sip the good stuff as you learn about how it’s made. You’ll then be guided through a beer tasting inside the taproom that overlooks the brewery.
Fancy a weekend away to yourself? Browse our range of short breaks in Cornwall.