The summer crowds have gone and the light turns gold by four o’clock. October half term in Cornwall is a quieter that the summer holidays so it’s a great time to explore the attractions
So what will you do with the week? From Saturday 18th October to Monday 2nd November, you’ll find trails, Halloween experiences and family days out across Cornwall, from the far west to the Tamar. Some run every day, some happen once. Below are a few of our top picks.
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Things to do in Cornwall this half term
There’s so much to choose from, spread between Porthcurno and the Tamar. Most run day after day, so you can fit them around the weather and whatever else the week throws at you. The museums are indoors, the two trails are out in the woods and gardens, and the adventure parks give you both.
The Haunted Bunker Experience, PK Porthcurno
PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications sits above the beach at Porthcurno, where the undersea telegraph cables once came ashore and messages arrived from the other side of the world. Its Second World War bunker is cut into the cliff behind it. This half term, something else is sending signals from down there.
Go deep underground and follow the darkened tunnels through ghostly tales, flickering shadows and messages nobody can account for. Keep your eyes and ears open on the way through.
When: 24th October to 2nd November. Times, prices and booking are on the PK Porthcurno website.
Nautical Nasties, National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Sailors have always brought stories back with them, and not all of them stand up to much scrutiny. At Falmouth’s Discovery Quay, Mr Squelch has gathered the worst of them from sailors, ghosts and the briny deep itself, and he’s telling them out loud.
There are three things to do, and you can do all of them in one visit:
- The Haunted Bookshop: Nautical Nasties — a storytelling show made with Coppice Theatre, with sea monsters, creepy puppetry and some highly questionable science. Monday 26th to Friday 30th October, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
- Peculiar Portrait Trail — hunt down the spooky portraits hidden around the museum. Daily, 10am to 5pm.
- Make and Take — turn a ghoulish glare into a portrait of your own in the craft sessions. Daily, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, last entry 3.15pm.
When: 24th October to 1st November. Everything is included with standard admission, under 5s go free, and admission gives you unlimited visits for a year.
Spooky Creek, Camel Creek Adventure Park
Camel Creek near Padstow gives over most of October to Halloween, and there’s enough packed into it to fill a whole day.
Meet the witches in their grotto and carve a pumpkin, with one free for every child while stocks last. Follow the Potion Trail through the Maize Maze, and get close to the animals in the spooky encounters. The House of Horrors and the Halloween 5D film Panic House are there for anyone after a proper fright, while the family games, spooky disco and selfie spots keep things lighter.
One date stands out. There’s a fireworks display on Wednesday 28th October, which makes that the evening to aim for if you only go once.
When: 17th and 18th October, then 22nd October to 1st November.
Spooky Eye Spy Trail, Wheal Martyn Clay Works
Wheal Martyn tells the story of china clay, the Cornish mineral that ends up in everything from paper to toothpaste. Its grounds run through woodland, and this half term there’s something watching from among the trees.
Collect a worksheet, walk the trail and match the mysterious eyes you find to the faces on your sheet. It’s the one to pick when everyone needs to be outside and moving.
When: 24th October to 2nd November, daily from 10am to 4pm. Included with general admission, no booking needed, and worksheets are at the admissions desk.
Skeletons of the Sea, National Lobster Hatchery
The National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow is a working marine conservation project, which means the creatures there are real and so is the science. This half term it turns its attention to what lies beneath the shell.
Follow the clue trail through the aquarium, meet the resident lobsters and find out how a creature with its skeleton on the outside manages to grow at all. The centre is small, but there’s a lot packed into it, and the hands-on activities are built for young marine biologists.
When: 17th October to 1st November. Prices and opening times are on the National Lobster Hatchery website.
Hal’owl’een trick and treat trail, Screech Owl Sanctuary
The Screech Owl Sanctuary near St Columb is a family-run, award-winning sanctuary beside the Goss Moor Nature Reserve, and its trail runs right through the holiday.
There’s a good reason to take part beyond the treats. Every penny raised goes towards reopening the owl hospital, so injured birds get the care they need before going back to the wild.
When: 24th October to 1st November.
Chase from PAW Patrol at Lappa Valley
Chase is visiting Lappa Valley near Newquay for two days, appearing at intervals throughout the day on both. His visit is included with standard admission, so if there are PAW Patrol fans in the family, bring a camera.
There’s a whole day out around it. You start at Benny Halt, where you board the 15-inch gauge Main Railway and ride out through the countryside to the old mine workings at East Wheal Rose. From there the 35 acres are yours: three narrow-gauge railways to ride as often as you like, a multi-level indoor soft play in The Engine Shed, a 12-hole Adventure Golf course and pedalo swans on the boating lake. Dogs are welcome across most of the attraction.
When: Sunday 25th and Monday 26th October. Everything is included with standard admission. Lappa Valley members go free but still need to pre-book, and these days are expected to be busy, so book in advance through the Lappa Valley website.
