As one of the UK’s top destinations, Cornwall should definitely be on your family holiday wish list. During the past few years we have enjoyed so many self catering holidays in Cornwall that I realised that it was time I shared some of my favourites to give you inspiration for your future adventures.
We love the freedom of self catering breaks and when you have so many brilliant family attractions, beaches and activities on your doorstep it’s nice to be able to plan your days at your own pace.
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Self-catering holidays in Cornwall with kids
So, where have we stayed in Cornwall that we rate? Here’s our top picks for self catering holidays in Cornwall that we have tried and tested with our family:
Looking for more holiday inspiration? Read our guide to family holidays in Cornwall.
The Valley Cornwall, Truro
The Valley near Truro offers luxury cottages and even has dog-friendly options for families with pets.
We stayed in a two-bedroom, dog-friendly cottage which was situated close to the on-site dog walk and access to a public footpath that ran beside the resort. It was tastefully decorated with Italian furnishings and vaulted ceilings in the master bedroom.
The Valley Cornwall also has exclusive facilities for the use residents including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a games room, tennis courts, and restaurant and bar.
The girls loved the indoor swimming pool and wanted to go there daily. It wasn’t the right season for the outdoor pool but I can image this being a great hub for families in the summer as it’s right next to the bar and a good-sized playground.
These luxury cottages in Cornwall can sleep up to six people, come with free wifi, and free hire of a lot of baby and toddler essentials.
Here’s a tour of the Haven cottage we stayed in. Find out more by reading our review of The Valley Cornwall luxury cottages.
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Holiday cottages | dog-friendly | 8 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: The Valley Cornwall website.
Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell
If you want to get away from it all for some quality family time then we can recommend a stay at Bosinver Farm Cottages. It’s like a small village of luxury holiday cottages dotted around a woodland valley.
Each morning children gather in the farm yard to feed the ducks, chickens and sheep with Farmer Dave. They even get to collect their own egg, and some days the experience ends with a pony ride. It’s the stuff of toddler dreams.
The cottage resort also has its own wild kids club with outdoor activities running each week, plus a luxuriously warm indoor pool, a gym, tennis courts, games room, indoor soft play and woodland activity trail with zip wire and rope swing.
The cottages come in all shapes and sizes, accommodating up to 12 people with plenty of dog-friendly options. They are superbly decorated, and fitted out with everything families with young children could need for their stay.
Here’s my guide to things to do in and around St Austell.
Have a read of our review of a Christmas stay at Bosinver Farm Cottages.
Here’s a video we made too:
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Holiday cottages | hot tubs | dog-friendly | 4 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: Bosinver Farm Cottages website.
Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay
This award-winning holiday park just outside the UK’s surfing capital has holiday accommodation to suit every family, plus some excellent leisure families. You can pick from glamping pods and a wide range of holiday homes or bring your own caravan, motorhome or tent.
Our girls love the Oasis fun pool which is the best indoor swimming pool we have experienced at a holiday park. The programme of children’s entertainment, both during the day and night, is also excellent.
You can read all about our stay at Hendra in Newquay last Easter school holiday or outside of the school holidays in July when we stayed in a Gwithian Premium holiday home.
Take a look at our week in Cornwall while staying at Hendra Holiday Park:
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Holiday homes | touring pitches | glamping | dog-friendly | 2.5 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: Hendra Holiday Park website.
Waterside Cornwall, Bodmin
If you love active holidays then you have everything you need on site at Waterside Cornwall.
This family holiday resort boasts an indoor swimming pool, gym, cycle hire, a boating lake, segways, tennis courts and foot golf.
We stayed for a weekend in the autumn and didn’t have a spare moment to go off and explore elsewhere in Cornwall, which would have been a travesty if it was not for the fact we get to the county quite often.
The holiday accommodation options at Waterside include one, two and three bedroom lodges, plus a country house for larger groups. There are also lodges with hot tubs.
We stayed in a three-bedroom lodge which was ideal for a multi-generational break or holiday with friends. It came with two ensuite bathrooms, a family bathroom, huge living room/kitchen-diner, and a sofa bed which meant it could sleep up to eight people.
Another great feature of the resort is its clubhouse and restaurant. Even during a self-catering break here you have to visit the Three Lakes Restaurant, which serves delicious food for reasonable prices.
Find out more about our stay in my full review of Waterside Cornwall.
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Lodges | hot tubs | no dogs allowed | 12 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: Waterside Cornwall website.
Western Meadows Glamping, Launceston
We love glamping and this is definitely one of the best places we have stayed for a chilled out rural location and excellent facilities.
Each of the three safari-style tents comes with its own bathroom complete with shower and loo, a master bedroom, twin beds and a cabin bed sleeping six people in total.
Dogs are welcome too. It’s perfect for first time glampers looking for a bit of luxury.
Children have plenty of freedom to play in the field and parents have peace of mind that they are having fun within sight of their veranda. In one corner there’s a small playground with trampoline and more centrally there’s a communal fire pit.
Also on site is a small but very well stocked honesty shop.
Read more about our luxurious camping break at Western Meadows Glamping or take a look at our video:
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Glamping | dog-friendly | 12 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: Western Meadows Glamping website.
Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth
Perran Sands is a Haven holiday park on the beach in Cornwall with all the benefits of an entertainment programme, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and accommodation for all budgets.
We stayed on the campsite which is located in sand dunes on the cliffs above Perran Sands Beach. There are also lodges and mobile homes as well as glamping tents and pods.
Read more about our stay at Perran Sands Holiday Park.
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Camping, glamping, mobile homes | dog-friendly | on a sandy beach
Find out more: Perran Sands website.
Also on the North Cornwall coast is Trevornick – another popular site. Find out more in this Trevornick review.
Seaview Gorran Haven, Boswinger
This five star holiday home park on the South Cornwall coast has the most incredible sea views. We visited with our touring caravan at the end of the summer season and I can honestly say it’s the best vista we’ve had from our old Tin Box.
The site no longer offers touring pitches but there are holiday homes and lodges to buy or hire.
Another brilliant thing about Seaview Gorran Haven is the space for kids to run around. There’s a massive playing field with play grounds, a sports pitch and picnic tables where parents can relax and let the children crack on.
In the summer there are communal barbecues to use in this area so you can enjoy al fresco dining with friends well into the evening. Even Tin Box Dog had a large dog-walking area with views across the coastline.
And if you fancy a dip there’s a heated outdoor swimming pool set in it’s own little sun trap. Take a look at our review of Seaview Gorran Haven.
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Holiday homes | lodges | dog-friendly | 0.7 miles from rocky beaches
Find out more: Seaview Gorran Haven website.
St Ives Holiday Village, St Ives
St Ives Holiday Village is in the perfect location for exploring St Ives and the West Cornwall coast. It has holiday homes, bungalows and lodges scattered around a 100 acre woodland site. We stayed in a pet-friendly lodge at Easter and were really impressed with the accommodation.
Onsite there’s a programme of family activities in the clubhouse day and night. You also have famous attractions like Lands End and the Minack Theatre within a short drive.
A huge bonus is being so close to stunning sandy beaches like Carbis Bay and Porthminster which are gorgeous to visit whatever the season.
Find out more about our short break at St Ives Holiday Village. Here’s what we got up to around St Ives during our stay:
Handy information about these self catering holidays in Cornwall:
Lodges | bungalows | holiday homes | dog-friendly | 2.5 miles from sandy beaches
Find out more: St Ives Holiday Village website.
Holiday parks in Cornwall
Take a look at our full guide to the best holiday parks in Cornwall, including sites right on the beach, with plenty to do and close to family attractions.
Touring caravan sites in Cornwall
If you have your own caravan then here’s some great family-friendly touring caravan sites to try. Some welcome tents too!
Prefer a family hotel in Cornwall?
If you’d prefer a family hotel in Cornwall then take a look at our reviews of China Fleet Country Club in Saltash, Fowey Hall Hotel in Fowey, and Sands Resort Hotel & Spa and The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay. Both are great for families and offer parents a spot of luxury too!
Things to do in Cornwall
Whether you have a couple of days or a full two week family holiday in Cornwall you’ll not be short of things to do.
Take a look at my recommended things to do in Cornwall with a dog, outdoor activities to enjoy with kids and places to explore Cornwall’s myths and legends.
And if you’re unlucky enough to visit when the weather is rough, don’t despair! There’s still plenty of things to do in Cornwall in the rain.
Looking for more holiday inspiration? Read our guide to family holidays in Cornwall.
Self catering holiday packing list
If you’d like a starting point on what to pack for a self-catering break then I have a self-catering holiday checklist for you.
Remember to check the website of the place you are staying or give them a call to confirm exactly what’s included. We’ve found it can vary dramatically.
Disclosure: we were invited to review a lot of the places included in this post but the agreed coverage did not include inclusion here. I have mentioned them again because we genuinely rate these places.
If you’re interested in self catering holidays in Cornwall then why not pin this post?
