Things to Do for Kids in Cornwall

Dig for glory
Make the perfect sandcastle
1 Location is crucial.
Site your castle near a
stream so it’s easy to
divert water into the
moat. Also, make sure
the sand is neither too
dry nor too sticky.
2 A moat without a boat
is no fun at all. Create
a harbour on one side
of your castle, using a
piece of driftwood as a
gate. Periodic dredging
will be required.
3
Beach games
Beach bowling Using a bucket
and spade, make 10 sand skittles
arranged in a triangle and take
turns in bowling a ball at them.
3 Using a spade, carve
steps and terraces
on the flanks of the
castle. Add pebbles
and shells for windows
and seagull feathers for
medieval banners.
4
1
2
5
6
4 Don’t overlook your
outer defences. At least
one tide-restraining wall
will be required outside
your moat. This should
feature crenellations or
‘dribble sand’ towers.
18
Cornwall with Kids
Frisbee golf You’ll need a big
sandy beach at low tide for this
one. Mark out as large a circle
as you dare and dig a shallow,
frisbee-sized hole in the middle of
it. Throw the frisbee from the circle
and see how many ‘shots’ you take
to get it in the hole. Move around
the circle until you’ve completed
nine holes, taking a few steps
inside or outside the circle to lower
or raise the par for each hole.
Rapid runners Many Cornish
beaches have a shallow stream
flowing across them at low tide.
Buy model boats (or build your
own from picnic containers or
strandline debris) and race them
through the rapids. First one to
reach the sea wins.
Boredom busters
Car bingo Give players a sheet of
paper and ask them to write down
25 different numbers between one
and 99. The person in the front
passenger seat calls out the last
one or two digits from the licence
plates of passing cars. The winner
is the first to cross off all their
numbers and shout “Bingo!”
5 Main access should
always be via a bridge
with pebble parapets
(or a drawbridge using
flat driftwood). Cobbles
make ideal stepping
stones across the moat.
6 Special features
can include jetties to
outlying towers and
lighthouses, or tunnels
scooped by hand
through sturdy bastions
of the main castle.
Licence to thrill Make up phrases
based on the letters of licence
plates. For example, 234 IFS 00
could be ‘Ice-cream for Sally’, ‘Ian
fancies Susan’ or ‘I feel sick!’
Buzz words Pick a word, then turn
on the radio or play a story CD and
try to be the first to shout “buzz”
when the word is mentioned.
Early years
Cat on the Hill
by Michael Foreman (Andersen Press)
A simple, but poetic, season-by-season
account of the life of a stray cat in St Ives.
Dolphin Boy
by Michael Morpurgo (Andersen Press)
A close bond between a boy and a
dolphin brings life and energy back
to a Cornish village.
The Mousehole Cat
by Antonia Barber (Walker Books)
The classic tale of fisherman Tom and his
faithful cat Mowzer. Take a copy with you
to the fishing village of Mousehole, near
Penzance, where the adventure is set.
See page 90.
The Sand Horse
by Ann Turnbull (Andersen Press)
One windy summer day, an artist makes
a beautiful sand sculpture of a horse at St
Ives. It’s much admired by everyone on
the beach, but as they leave at the end
of the day, the Sand Horse hears the surf
calling to him and he longs to join the
white horses.
The Seashore
(Usborne Spotters Guides)
Essential reference book for all rock-pool
detectives (of any age) with colour
illustrations and short descriptions of
200 seashore species.
Shanti The Wandering Dog of Sennen
and the Land’s End
by Janeta Hevizi (Cornish Cove Publishing)
A free-spirited dog called Shanti goes
walkabout around Sennen, exploring the
village, the beach and the cliffs around
Land’s End. Follow Shanti’s trail if you’re
planning to visit Sennen yourself.
Ages 6-12
The Wreck of the Zanzibar
by Michael Morpurgo
(Egmont books)
It is 1907 in the Scilly
Isles and a time of
extreme hardship. Laura
Perryman’s diary tells
of a violent storm and
the unexpected harvest
that it brings. A tale of
high emotion and dramatic
events in which Laura
traces her family’s history
from present to past and
back again.
Kids’ stuff
Good read
10 great children’s books set in Cornwall
The True Story of Bilbo the
Surf Lifeguard Dog
by Janeta Hevizi and Steve
Jmo (Cornish Cove
Publishing)
Get to know adorable
Bilbo, a 14-stone chocolate
Newfoundland, who became the
world’s first qualified surf lifeguard
dog at Sennen Cove.
Teens
Rebecca
by Daphne du Maurier
(Virago)
A classic tale of love,
jealousy and intrigue,
set in the fictional stately
home of Manderley on the
south Cornish coast.
How to be a surfer
by C Nelson, D Taylor
& Z Sandler
(Puffin)
Step-by-step guide to
catching your first wave
and the surfing bug!
Cornwall with Kids
19
10 more things
you’ve got to try on holiday
Super surfer
You can’t go to Cornwall and not try surfing – even if
it’s just mucking about with a bodyboard. A proper surf
lesson, though, is not only fantastic fun, but you’ll gain
a real sense of achievement standing up and riding
waves like a proper little dude (even if it is only for a
few seconds before you wipe out!). Instructors will also
teach you about the beach flag system, how to avoid
dangerous situations and even how to fall off safely.
Fly a kite Low tide on a big sandy beach is best.
Catch a crab Try your luck off the harbour wall.
Take a boat trip Fish for mackerel or search for seals.
Look for treasure Scour the strandline for mermaids’
purses, cuttlefish bones, shells and feathers.
Go rock-pooling Compulsory! See the guide opposite.
Become an ice cream expert There are lots of local
ones to try, like Roskilly’s, Kelly’s and Callestick.
Plan a picnic Stock up on local goodies from
a farm shop and set off for the sand dunes.
Go snurfkling Paddle a surf board with a mask
and snorkel and see what lies beneath.
Hold back the tide Build a massive sandy wall and
see how long it takes the sea to knock it down.
Visit a lifeboat station Check out the cool gear and
don’t forget to drop some coins in the donation box.
Snazzy snorkeller
Follow these steps to happy, safe and leak-proof
snorkelling: Get gear that fits properly (hold the
mask up to your face and breathe in through your
nose – it should stick to your face) • Rub some spit on
the inside of the glass to stop it misting over • Start in
calm, shallow water and make sure you’re happy with
everything before swimming out of your depth •
If water seeps into your mask, tread water and pull
the lower edge of the mask away from your face to
allow it to drain out • Check every few minutes to
make sure you haven’t drifted too far from shore •
Be sun smart – wear a wetsuit and lots of sunblock.
Cool kayaker
Sit-on kayaks are all the rage in Cornwall. They’re easy
to paddle and great fun for messing about in calm,
shallow seas or exploring sheltered estuaries on the
south coast. You can hire them at several locations or,
better still, join a guided kayaking trip. Remember to
keep safe by always wearing a lifejacket (and helmet
if it’s choppy) and staying close to shore.
20
Cornwall with Kids
Seaside safari
Join an organized rock-pool ramble or set
off on your own, equipped with a good
guidebook, such as Seashore (Dorling
Kindersley, 2008). Remember to check tide
times to ensure that you do not become
trapped by the rising tide. Wear shoes with
good grip, take care to disturb animals and plants
as little as possible – particularly when looking under
rocks – and leave creatures where you find them. Find
out more about the Seashore Code from the Marine
Conservation Society (mcsuk.org).
Common blenny or shanny.
Barnacle rock pool/harbour
Beadlet anemone rocky shore/rock pool
Blue-rayed limpet rock pool
Brown shrimp sandy shore/rock pool
Common limpet.
Flat periwinkle.
Common cockle sandy shore
Common blenny or shanny rock pool
Common goby sandy shore/rock pool
Dog whelk.
Common limpet rock pool/harbour
Common mussel rock pool/harbour
Common periwinkle rock pool
Common ragworm sandy shore
Common starfish rocky shore
Painted top shell.
Dog whelk rock pool
Flat periwinkle rock pool
Green sea urchin rock pool
Hermit crab rock pool
Common periwinkle.
Common mussel.
Painted top shell rock pool
Razor shell sandy shore
Rock goby rock pool
Shore crab rock pool/harbour
Snakelocks anemone rock pool
Velvet swimming crab rock pool/harbour
Think twice before bringing shells
home with you – they may look
empty, but are often home to
other animals. This old whelk shell,
for example, is not only covered in
barnacles, but is also inhabited by a large
hermit crab. Why not make a digital collection
of shells using the close-up mode found on
many digital compact cameras.
Cornwall with Kids
21