Boscawen Park is situated in the Malpas direction from Truro. It has several football fields and…read moreTruro Cricket club also have their field next to the park. There are also plenty of children's play equipment such as slides and climbing frames. This park is County Council maintained so is kept to a high standard. There are around 10 hard tennis courts which you can rent for an hour a time in the summer. However these courts can be quite expensive and are often in use around May time. There are toilets in the park which are generally clean and to a decent standard.

When I was a child I would regularly visit Hendra Park, and occasionally still do. On one side of…read morethe road there is the childrens part which has climbing frames and slides, while on the other side there is a football pitch and small skate park. Both parts are maintained by the County Council and there are also toilets on the childrens side. However these toilets are not great. There are fences stopping children from running onto the road on the children's side. In the day there are usually quite a few children and parents in Hendra park but it is rarely very busy. In the summer the County Council sometimes put on entertainment such as 'Punch and Judy' shows so keep your eyes peeled for these.

great fun when I was little - how brilliant!read more

This is a large park, the north and south grassy areas separated by a vast expanse of tarmac road…read morethat cuts into the middle of the park, with the Royal Citadel and disabled parking at one end, and the other end leading to West Hoe Park. This tarmac expanse is often used for military parades, concerts and funfairs. Notable landmarks are the War Memorials, Sir Francis Drake statute and Smeaton's Tower Lighthouse, which is open to the public, and has it's own twitter account @smeatonstower

This is my all-time favourite National Trust garden! It is located on the banks of the River Fal…read moreand numerous paths meander throughout the steep garden. In Spring there is a riot of colour from the daffodils, camellias, primroses, bluebells and cherry blossom. A bit later come the foxgloves and later still the changing colours of autumn - but there is a 'wildness' about it all, with wild flowers mingling with the cultivated, making the garden an absolute delight at any time of year. And, always, there is the sound of bird song and the distant clanking of the King Harry Ferry, which crosses the Fal from Feock to Philleigh. Of course, a visit to the garden is never complete without a visit to the superb tea room, shop and gallery. The garden is open throughout the year, although not every day in winter - so best to check the website before you visit. The house is privately owned and not open to the public but, if time allows, it is possible to walk through the parkland of Trelissick Estate, which again stretches right down to the shores of the River Fal. There is ample space for parking but, if you prefer, in summer, plan to arrive and depart by ferry via Falmouth, St Mawes or Truro.

I visited the gardens at Trelissick in the summer of 2008 and they really are quite beautiful. I…read moretook a gentle walk through the grounds looking at the large variety of plants in the gardens. Luckily, many were labelled as my botanical knowledge is not great. Despite the poor weather, it was a really relaxing experience meandering through the tranquil gardens. There are fantastic views across to Falmouth and the sea. The restaurant is nice, although a bit pricey (the money does contribute towards the upkeep of the National Trust properties though). There is also a shop which sells the usual National Trust goodies, some local produce, and plants that were seen in the gardens. Well worth a visit.

We've visited Brixham and its Harbour just the day before. The setting of both places is quite…read moresimilar: Nice views, lots of shops and restaurants, colourful and nice buildings. But Padstow is just so much busier. It was a weekday and it was completely packed. Felt like Camden Market on a weekend. I did appreciate the fact that there were a lot of dogs. It was fun for our dog. Southengland is very opened to dogs and very dog-friendly. And it was not - like some people say - full of dogs "belongings". Visitors are mostly a bit upscale and so are their posh dogs. And they take care of them and their "businesses" well. There are lots of interesting little shops and bakeries (Cornish Pies, yes!). Also a good number of restaurants lining up right at the harbour, mostly completely packed. It's a fun harbour, but really a bit too busy for me. It's really too packed. Finding a parking spot was easier than expected. We just headed down to the main lot right at the harbour and waited maybe 3mins. Prices were reasonable too. No need to do the Park&Ride. Is it worth a visit? Yes, it is. But it lacks some charm and a "real" feel like Brixham still has. We'd prefer the latter.

Padstow Harbour is an absolutely lovely, beautiful place - and would be more so if not quite so…read moremany people knew about it. Padstow is a very touristy place in the summer, even on weekdays, and since the promenade around the docks is rather narrow, you might easily feel a little claustrophobic among all those (other) tourists. Several pubs, restaurants and boutiques align on along the harbour front, of the pubs I recommend The Old Custom House (first building as you enter the harbour from the direction of the bus station). If you're a friend of St. Austell Brewery - you can get their brews everywhere, they own several of the pubs. Everything is nice and pretty in this place, all the buildings that face the harbour and bay. You can either embark on a long walk towards Padstow's two beaches from here or take the short ferry ride for UKP 4 (return ticket, smaller children UKP 2) to Rock, the small village on the opposite side of the bay (and walk e.g. to the popular Polzeath Beach from there - Rock itself has very little to offer). Or take stroll through the narrow alleys of scenic Padstow. But the harbour is truly the living, breathing centre. Rick Stein, the chef, is a well-known figure here, and you'll find Stein's Fish & Chips, Stein's Café, Stein's Delicatessen or Stein's Shop and so on spread over a very small area. You might want to rechristen the town Steinsville. ;)

During my stay in Devon and Cornwall, my most memorable visits were to several grand estates. This…read moreone was special because my family lives just down the road and it has some of the loveliest views of Plymouth across the River Tamar. You can visit the grounds (865 acres) for free, so my review is limited to that experience. For a fee you can visit the Mount Edgcumbe House and Earl's Garden. There is no garden like an English garden. This one was absolutely lovely since there were so many different and distinct areas as you rambled through the large estate. The manicured Italian and French Gardens led to the more rambling American Garden with a geyser in the middle. But really the most interesting for my son were the battery, with cannons, pointing out over the river. There is a Block House nearby that helps a child imagine defending the estate against all intruders.

One of the nicest places for a walk in the area with some great views. It's worth seeing the…read moreinteresting buildings within the park including the 18th century Folly, the Doric Thomson's Seat and the circular Milton's Temple. There are some lovely woodland trails to follow, many of which are suitable for everyone including wheelchair users. There are formal gardens too and the lovely Orangery and restaurant is well worth a visit.

Victoria Gardens are on the other side of the viaduct to Hendra Park, and quite close to Truro city…read morecentre. The gardens are well maintained by the County council. Victoria Gardens are usually quite quiet and it is a nice peaceful place to visit. Towards the top of the gardens there is a fishpond and there are toilets within the gardens. There is also a bandstand which during the Summer is used for musical events. In the past I have visited Victoria Gardens to eat my lunch, and found it a peaceful place to be. It is a beautiful garden which I would recommend visiting.

Carne beach is on the Roseland Peninsula on the South Coast of Cornwall. The beach acessed by…read morenarrow country roads meaning that the beach is often relatively quiet in the summer and mainly usually used by locals. There is a car park very close to the beach which is owned by the National Trust. This car park has toilets and an honesty box instead of a ticket machine. There are no lifeguards or cafe on the beach but the Nare Head Hotel overlokks the beach. I believe dogs are permitted on the beach. This beach is worth visiting if you are looking for a quiet beach however it is difficult to get to.