EXPLORE CORNWALL FROM PLENTETH ->
Two coasts, countless adventures and plenty to discover.
Tucked away in the countryside near Truro, Plenteth makes a wonderful base for exploring Cornwall. Head north for surf, dramatic coastline and big Atlantic beaches, or travel south for sheltered coves, fishing villages and the beautiful Roseland Peninsula.
Whether your perfect Cornwall day involves rock pools and muddy boots, gardens and history, a long lunch by the sea or simply finding a beach and staying until sunset — there's always somewhere new to explore.
Two Coasts. One brilliant base.
🌊 Head north
Think Atlantic waves, surfing, rock pooling, huge sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets.
Newquay and its surrounding coastline make an easy day out from Plenteth, with plenty of beaches and coastal adventures to choose from.
🌿 Head south
Head towards the Roseland Peninsula for a different side of Cornwall — beautiful coves, wooded creeks, coastal walks and family favourites including Porthluney and Carne Beach.
Pack a picnic, take the dog and make a day of it.
Cornwall for curious families...
Cornwall has a wonderful habit of turning an ordinary day out into something you didn't expect to learn about. A walk along the beach can become a lesson in tides. A rock pool becomes a miniature ecosystem. Cliffs reveal geology, old engine houses lead to stories of mining and engineering, and a walk through a garden can take you around the world through plants.
For home-educating families — and anyone whose children ask a lot of questions — there's an enormous amount here to spark curiosity.
🦀 Rock pools & marine life
🪨 Rocks, fossils & geology
⚙️ Mining & engineering
🌱 Plants, gardens & ecology
🏰 Castles, archaeology & Cornish history
🌊 Oceans, tides & weather
No lesson plan required. Pick an adventure and see where the questions take you.
Beach days and coastal adventures...
You can't come to Cornwall without spending some time by the sea. From buckets and spades to body-boards, coast paths to rock pools, everyone has their own idea of the perfect beach day.
Porth & the Newquay coast
Big skies, Atlantic waves and plenty of opportunities for beach days, rock pooling and exploring the north coast.
Porthluney Beach
A beautiful family-friendly beach on the Roseland Peninsula, overlooked by Caerhays Castle and surrounded by classic Cornish scenery.
Days out for curious minds...
Some days call for something completely different — and Cornwall has plenty of those too. Discover its mining heritage, wander through extraordinary gardens, explore historic houses and castles, visit working harbours or find out how Cornwall's landscape and communities have been shaped by the sea. And when the Cornish weather decides not to cooperate, there are plenty of adventures that don't require a beach towel.
🌿 Gardens & Nature
Explore Cornwall's extraordinary gardens, woodlands and plant collections.
- Lost Garden of Heligan
- Cardinham Woods
- Lanhydrock and Respryn Woods
⚙️ Mining & heritage
Discover the industry, inventions and people that helped put Cornwall on the world map.
- Wheal Martyn Clay Works
- King Edward Mine Museum
- Carlyon Farm Dry
🏰 History & places
Castles, historic houses, ancient landscapes and stories stretching back thousands of years.
- Pendennis Castle
- National Maritime Museum Cornwall
- Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery
🌧️ Rainy-day adventures
Because a little Cornish rain doesn't have to spoil the day.
- Atlantic Reach Swimming Pool
- Hendra Swimming Pool
- Cinema in Newquay, St Austell and Truro
- Hall for Cornwall
Adventures for all generations...
One of the joys of a family holiday is having time to do things together — but that doesn't mean everyone has to want the same kind of adventure. Cornwall works wonderfully for different generations. Children can hunt in rock pools while grandparents enjoy the view. Some can head into the waves while others find the café. Take a gentle garden walk one day and a big coastal adventure the next.
At the end of it all, everyone comes home to Plenteth.
Cook together, swap stories from the day and decide where tomorrow's adventure will take you.
Our kind of Cornwall...
We don't think the best Cornwall holidays need to involve racing from one attraction to another.
Some of our favourite days are the simplest ones — a picnic on the beach, discovering something unexpected in a rock pool, walking somewhere new, eating outside, getting caught in the rain or staying to watch the sun go down.
We'll keep adding some of our family's favourite places and discoveries here, so you can explore a little of our Cornwall during your stay.
And if you're staying at Plenteth and wondering where to go, just ask us.
We're always happy to share ideas.
Your Cornwall adventure starts here...
Beach days, wild discoveries, slow mornings, muddy boots and time together.
Make Plenteth your base and discover Cornwall your way.
Sleeps up to 10 guests. Dog friendly.