Check out the range of amazing things to do in Cornwall this October half-term.

From kicking back and relaxing on the beach, to bracing cliff-top walks and exploring some of the county’s hidden gems – there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained.

Hang out at Mother Ivey’s Bay

We may be a little biased, but we think there’s no better place to spend your time in Cornwall than here, at Mother Ivey’s. Whether you’re burying Dad in the sand, building sandcastles, having a paddle on our privately owned, dog friendly beach or taking advantage of the park’s large open play area for a game of catch – there’s something for the whole family. You’ll also find a range of beautiful wildlife and our fantastic pirate ship play park – the perfect place for creating stories of smuggling, battle or simply as the ultimate lookout.

Spook yourself silly with the National Trust

With Halloween falling so close to half term this year, kids can look forward to a variety of fantastic spooky days out and events during their time off with the National Trust. Solve spooky clues at Lanhydrock House to win a prize, or head west to Trengwainton Gardens to see who can carve the scariest pumpkin, before trying some Halloween inspired treats in the tea-room! If gluing and sticking is your thing, head to Trerice and embrace the playful side of Halloween, with their paper plate pumpkin painting and glitter glue spider webs!

Meet new friends

The county is teeming with fluffy, furry and fascinating creatures. Head into Padstow and discover the National Lobster Hatchery, home to a large rare orange lobster, a variety of crabs, starfish and lots of baby lobsters in the maternity unit. At the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, you’ll find a wealth of aquatic pals, from the long whiskered sea-lions, to otters and penguins – there’s plenty to see and do. If it’s feathered friends you’re after, the Screech Owl Sanctuary is the place to go. Make sure to see the flying displays and be awed as a variety of owls swoop, swish and soar above you.

Learn something new

Whether it’s heading to the Eden Project and discovering exotic plants, or visiting the National Maritime Museum to explore the county’s nautical past – there’s plenty of places to learn new things. We recommend making the trip to Porthcurno Telegraph Museum and discovering how this tiny seaside village was once at the forefront of modern technology. Don’t miss out on taking part in daily creative make-and-take activities – from colouring in, to making paper gas masks, there are lots of free activities to keep the kids entertained for hours.

Explore the coastline

The best things in Cornwall are free. With over 600 miles of coastline, 400 beaches and plenty of footpaths and cycle trails to explore, there are plenty of ways to keep the kids entertained outdoors. Head to the Camel Trail for a fun-filled day discovering Cornwall on two-wheels – or wrap up warm and go in search of the film locations used in Poldark, Alice in Wonderland and Roald Dahl’s the Witches.