I’m currently searching for the best family holiday spots in the UK. I’ve been looking for somewhere special, and I think I may have found it.
I want somewhere that’s so amazing you are drawn to it and want to return every year to create more special memories.
I’ve never been to Cornwall. I know, crazy, right? I’ve heard SO many good things. So many people rave about just how stunning the beaches are and how pretty the region is. Naturally, I had to go and see for myself.
I had no idea where to stay in Cornwall other than I didn’t want to go anywhere that was crazy busy. After months of searching for the best holiday cottages and places to stay in Cornwall, I came across Court Farm Holidays. Now, let me tell you, I’m extremely fussy when it comes to holiday accommodation. I feel like if it’s not nicer or doesn’t offer something more special than my own house, why would I bother staying there?
You know those holidays where the accommodation isn’t up to scratch, and you kind of end up just wishing you were back at home with all your home comforts? This wasn’t one of them!
Sycamore Cottage at Court Farm Holidays really did have the X Factor. No, it doesn’t come with someone singing Wonderwall or Halo by Beyonce on the porch, but it does stand out from all the other properties. And I’ve stayed in quite a few!
So, I’ll give you a little tour of Sycamore Cottage. Then I’ll let you know what we got up to. Just in case you’re staying in the area and are wondering the best things to do with kids near Bude.
- Service – 10
- Uniqueness – 9
- Location – 9
- Comfort – 10
- Cleanliness – 10
- Facilities – 10
Please note we received a discounted stay. #gifted #ad
Sycamore Cottage – One of Cornwall’s Best Holiday Cottages
Let me start with my favourite part of this cottage. My top advice when you look to book somewhere? Make sure there’s a comfy-looking bed. Because if you have crap sleep in an uncomfy bed all week, you’re not going to enjoy your holiday.
The bed in Sycamore in the master bedroom is absolute bliss. It’s the comfiest bed we’ve slept in, and it’s huge. It’s also a luxury to have a TV in your bedroom for those evenings when you just want to crash in bed and watch a series.
The next best thing? Probably the hot tub. The perfect place to watch the sunset. And every evening when we went in, a flock of birds would always circle in the sky. It was quite magical! There’s a handy enclosed garden, which is useful for both parents with young kids and if you plan on bringing your pooch. Yup, Sycamore is dog-friendly too.
The decor throughout the cottage is lovely. I had the pleasure of having a tour of all the cottages on Court Farm, and one of the things they love doing is upcycling. So there are loads of cool things in all the cottages made from old bits and pieces. It has a shabby chic/industrial kind of vibe.
I immediately noticed the ‘cocktails’ sign in the kitchen, which definitely encourages you to sit down and have a few drinks! Every little detail in the cottage is well thought out, and it has all the bits and pieces you need for a hassle-free stay. There’s a spare room downstairs that has a little sofa and a desk where you can sit and read and be creative.
There’s a huge TV in the lounge and two sofas. Upstairs, you’ve got a main bedroom, a second double bedroom (with an en-suite) and a third twin room (the kids loved their room).
Sycamore Cottage just had everything we needed. It was the perfect base for exploring Bude and the surrounding area.
Court Farm holidays – Facilities
Looking for holiday cottages with a pool in Cornwall? Tick. Tennis courts? Tick. Oh, and you’ve also got access to a games room with a pool table, a beauty treatment room and a firepit area where you can spend evenings toasting marshmallows. Seriously, this place has thought of everything.
I booked a treatment, and it was so good to be able to just wander over from our cottage to the treatment room. It was extremely relaxing and in a lovely room on-site. My husband and I managed to go and play pool one evening while my mum had the kids.
The swimming pool is great because it’s kind of indoor and outdoor. It has got a glass cover on it that opens up when the weather’s nice, so you kind of feel like you’re outside. You can also enjoy swimming on rainy days no matter what the weather’s like.
The kids loved the play area and all the toys they had out. Plus, the little kid’s toy room which is handy for bad weather days. Another thing you often forget to think of when you’re booking a holiday is that there’s a shop nearby. Well, there’s a wonderful local village shop about a 30-second walk from the accommodation. So if you need to grab some milk or a bottle of vino, it’s so easy.
Beaches near Bude, Cornwall
If you’re staying in or near Bude, there are so many options when it comes to beaches! There are nine local beaches to try and tons more if you fancy venturing a little further afield. Our favourite for the kids was probably Summerleaze Beach.
There are a few cafes right by the beach, and you can stroll into Bude if you fancy a nice meal. Plus, they’ve got an amazing seapool, which is so nice to take a dip in. The kids can paddle in the shallow section, too.
We also tried Widemouth Bay beach, which was a little rocky in places, but it has sandy patches, and the sea is lovely. Crackington Haven is really pretty and rustic looking with jagged rocks, but it wasn’t great for the kids, so we couldn’t spend long here. It’s a nice quiet escape for adults, though in picturesque scenery.
Here is a list of all the local beaches to try. We also decided we wanted to drive a bit further to find beaches with a different kind of vibe to try.
Rock Beach near Padstow is absolutely beautiful. The water is such a vibrant blue, and the soft sandy beach is worth a visit. It’s not that easy to properly swim here, but you can paddle and watch the boats go by.
You can also catch a boat across the water to explore Padstow. It’s easy to combine a beach day with a trip to picturesque Padstow. Polzeath Beach is also very pretty, and it has some cool surf-type beach bars and restaurants. Daymer Beach, just down the road, is nice, but it’s more off the beaten path, and we found there were quite a few jellyfish!
Places to visit near Bude
Bude sea pool – As mentioned above, it may be the main tourist attraction, but we loved being able to take a dip in this unique pool.
Treguddick Distillery – I was looking for somewhere to try some non-alcoholic spirits, and I found Treguddick. You can book a tasting tour or just pop in to try some samples of all their spirits for free. We ended up buying a coffee liquor and a non-alcoholic ginger spirit. They’ve done the place up really nicely. They’ve got a pretty outside area and some games for kids. It’s a good spot to go for a quiet brunch.
Port Isaac – Another big tourist attraction that you kind of have to see. Be aware that the walk down and up is quite challenging. It’s quaint and picturesque once you get to the bottom. We found a good cafe where we enjoyed one of the best cream teas I’ve had in ages. The Chapel cafe is set in a wonderful chapel building, and they sell some lovely gifts and local products. Port Isaac was good for an afternoon stop-off or half-day visit.
Rock Beach and Padstow – Again, I’ve already mentioned these, but we liked the combo of the beach, and the little boat ride across to Padstow so much we came here twice during our holiday. If you’re up for travelling a little further out from Bude, it’s well worth the trip.
Boscastle
Witchcraft museum, if that’s your thing, the kids found it quite fascinating. Perhaps one of our favourite spots to visit locally. It’s so pretty and peaceful here. I loved walking along the river out to sea. There’s a really nice fish restaurant here, which we didn’t get to try, but it’s on my list for next time.
Clovelly
We stopped off here on our journey home as it’s actually in Devon, not Cornwall, but it’s not too far from Bude. It’s certainly a unique place to visit but heads up, it’s not pram friendly AT ALL! We dragged the pram up and down because we had no other way of getting our youngest down there.
I feel like Clovelly is marmite; you’ll either love it or think this isn’t for me. It has a pretty little harbour and a very small beach once you get down the bottom, but in terms of good cafes and restaurants, there’s not much, and you’re kind of stuck once you get down there! Though I imagine for a couple without kids, it could be very romantic.
I hope you’ve found this article useful and it helps you to plan your trip to Bude. As I’m sitting here writing this, it has brought back all the memories, and I’m feeling the urge to go back there next year. As a family holiday, it had everything we needed, and it was pretty special.
The kids absolutely loved the beaches, and the facilities at Court Farm Holidays were amazing. I wouldn’t hesitate to book Sycamore Cottage again. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to drop me an email, and I’ll help point you in the right direction.
