With the Easter holidays just around the corner, we thought we’d round up some of the exciting things for children to do in Cornwall. From egg hunts and trails, to theatre performances, exhibitions, art workshops and foodie events, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Cornwall this Easter.
Easter egg hunts and trails
There will be trails and egg hunts for little ones at all the National Trust properties across Cornwall this Easter, including Godolphin House near Helston, the Elizabethan manor house of Trerice near Newquay, Trelissick near Truro, and Glendurgan Garden, whose gardens lead down to the Helford River. Children will receive an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and a choccy treat at the end.
At Trengwainton, a subtropical garden near Penzance, children will find ten nature-inspired activities, including, seed planting, traditional games such as tic tac toe and egg and spoon racing, as well as plant bingo! Families visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan will enjoy hunting for Lowenna the lost lamb on a trail around the grounds of this 200-acre site near Fowey, with crafts and activities in the tipi tent afterwards.
Foodie events
Bude has not one but two food festivals each year, with the spring event being held on Easter Monday in the grounds of Bude Castle. Expect plenty of food stalls, demos and Easter treats. On the Roseland, Philleigh Cookery School will be hosting a family pizza making day where you get to perfect your dough making skills, and Nancarrow Farm will be putting on their annual Easter feast weekend on their organic farm near Truro. In West Cornwall, go seaweed foraging with The Fat Hen, where you’ll learn all about Cornwall’s wild edibles, followed by a feast of seaweed based dishes and recipes for you to try at home.
Visit a garden in bloom
Spring takes off in Cornwall earlier than in any other county in the UK, so by the time Easter swings around the county’s gardens are bursting with blooms and blossom. Some of the best gardens include Trebah on the Helford (where there’s also an Easter trail for children) which has a valley full of hydrangeas, and Tremenheere Sculpture Garden near Penzance. Also near Penzance in West Cornwall is Trewidden Gardens, whose 15-acre garden contains over 300 magnolias and camellias.
Family fun
This Easter, the Eden Project will be putting on all sorts of themed events, such as a chocolate trail around the rainforest biome, a pop-up market showcasing local producers and Easter arts and crafts in the tipi. Don’t forget to visit the new nature-inspired playground, which opened last summer. In Falmouth, children can learn everything there is to know about being a pirate of the high seas at the National Maritime Museum, with workshops on pirate skills, weaponry and food. Also in Falmouth, children can go on a quest for a dragon’s egg in a interactive show at arts venue The Poly, whilst Paradise Park near Hayle will be putting on a birds of prey flying display and an ‘Easter Golden Egg Challenge‘ throughout the holidays.
History and heritage
Further north, Cornwall’s favourite heritage steam railway will be hosting lots of family-friendly things to do — take part in the annual Lappa Valley Duck Race on the boating lake and follow an Easter trail for a chance to win a chocolate egg. At the mouth of the River Fal, the magnificent Pendennis Castle will be putting on an adventure quest where children will be able to explore the grounds to hunt for clues around the site or discover traditional Easter games — find all the eggs you’ll be rewarded with a special certificate and a tasty chocolate treat…
Get crafty
There’ll be craft activities galore at Wheal Martyn this Easter, including clay modelling, pottery painting, drawing, headband making or decorating an Easter basket. There will be also be hands-on craft activities at Tate St Ives over the holidays, where children will get to create their own creature to add to the gallery’s ‘Forest of Figures’ collection.
Join a beach clean
Beach Guardian organise beach cleans throughout the year, and there’s an Easter clean on Constantine near Padstow on Sunday 7th April. The National Trust organises several beach cleans in Cornwall; this Easter, they’re taking place at Pendower and Porthcurnick on 1st April, and at Hemmick Beach on the 6th April (all Roseland Peninsula).
