Castle · 10:00–13:00 (3h)
Tintagel Castle
Cross the footbridge early; look for Merlin's Cave at low tide. Lunch at the Beach Café.
An outdoor castle in Tintagel, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Check pricesOutdoors
- Café on site
Photo: Mustangbarry
A dramatic morning crossing the footbridge to Tintagel's clifftop ruins, then a swim in Bude's free tidal sea pool in the afternoon. Best on a calm, dry day.
One dayTeensSunny dayCost £10:00–16:002 stops
The plan
- 10:001
- 14:002
Water Activities · 14:00–16:00 (2h)
Bude Sea Pool
Free tidal pool - bring wetsuits in autumn and check the tide times.
A 1930s semi-natural tidal swimming pool built into the rocks at Summerleaze Beach, refilled by the sea and looked after by a volunteer charity. Free to use and far calmer than the Atlantic surf beside it.
FreeOutdoorsPhoto: John Fielding from Norwich, UK
More days out in South West
South WestStonehenge and Old Sarum
Salisbury
The stone circle and its Neolithic houses in the morning, then the vast earthworks of Old Sarum, where Salisbury began, after lunch.
Stonehenge → Old Sarum
One dayTeensCost ££
South WestA Dartmoor barn weekend with otters and piglets
Shuttaford Barns, Holne
Base yourselves in a converted barn in a quiet Dartmoor valley with a games room for wet evenings, then spend a day around Buckfastleigh: piggy cuddles and tractor rides at Pennywell Farm, lunch at Buckfast Abbey, steam engines at Buckfastleigh station and otter feeding time at the sanctuary next to the steam railway. Everything is within 15 minutes of the barn.
Shuttaford Barns → Pennywell Farm → Buckfast Abbey restaurant → South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh station + 1 more
WeekendAges 3–7Cost ££
South WestRainy day on Bristol's harbourside
Bristol city centre
Three indoor stops a short walk apart around Bristol's floating harbour: hands-on science, the free city museum and Brunel's great ship. Good for curious 6-12s when the weather is grim.
M Shed → Brunel's SS Great Britain
One dayAges 8–12Rainy dayCost ££