If anyone has questions or recommendations, please add them here, to keep the details handy for everyone.
We'll be staying just inland from Bude, but will probably take trips out to the farthest reaches of the county. What’s the best places to take four kids (all boys, ages range from 8-16). How cold the sea will be in October? And where are the best pubs... And which "attractions" we should avoid... And anything else you think we ought to know!
...I recommend surfing along the north coast as a must, wet suits recommended for October (and most other times!) Jamaica Inn on Bodmin moor, haunt of smugglers, wreckers and ghosts (scare the kids to sleep!) Tintagel castle for exploring, great sea views and tales of Arthur and Merlin. Zennor for mermaids! Watch the sun set over Bude beach or Polzeath. Fowey, Mevagissey or Polperro fishing villages, small shops, harbour and boats bobbing. Bedruthan Steps for spectacle: black rocks & great waves, don't swim, just soak in the atmosphere. There's a NT cafe nearby, along the clifftop. Newquay for the 'surf' scene, but not great for kids at night, St Ives is nicer. Men-an-Tol for miracle cures, the Cheesewring for curiosity. Botallack tin mine at the bottom of the cliffs, Cornish miners worked hard for a living. Sennen or Mullion, because they're there. Lands End or Flambards (nr Helston) or Goonhilly Earth satellite station, if its wet and you want to stay indoors. Mousehole. 'Walk on water' to St Michaels Mount. The Lizard lighthouse winking the day to an end. Try this links for a brochure: http://www.cornishlight.co.uk ...
...Jamaica Inn!!! Don't bother. Porthcurno is a must. The most beautiful beach anywhere. Campsite at Treen open till the end of half term and you can walk down the cliff path...
... Porthcurno is lovely. See it here http://www.trencrom.freeserve.co.uk/porthcurno.htm / and here http://www.sennen-cove.com/pk.htm /. This links to Jamaica Inn. http://www.jamaicainn.co.uk/ This one recommends a few pubs etc! http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/
... One area that never fails to please is the drive between St.Ives and St Just on the coast road (B3306) - it is probably the most unspoilt area of countryside in Cornwall and is like going back in time. There are great cliff walks around the area and depending on the direction you take, always something to see at the end - be it Geevor tin mine and Levant steam engine nr. Pendeen or St. Ives and all that has to offer. You are also very close to Chysauster and Lanyon quoit - all very historical and ancient.
Minack theatre is always worth a visit too - just above Portcurno which was mentioned before...
.. .Must agree about the road between St. Just and St Ives just take it slow cos its my fave bike ride!!! Smugglers Den Cubert for top food...
... We all particularly enjoyed: walking Lydford Gorge, and Watersmeet; surfing at Widemouth nr. Bude and Trebarwith Strand nr. Tintagel; Castle Drogo; the organic produce from the little shop on the north edge of Dartmoor not far from Drewsteignton (Happy Hogs?? might be its name.) It was wonderful to be in the midst of some proper, undulating countryside for a change; and your waterfalls, rivers, streams, aaaaaah!!
Some of us liked the Maritime Museum at Falmouth, and the Eden Project (but with 6 of us from 45yrs - 8yrs our varied interests made it impossible to please all of us all of the time!!)...
We thought that we would pop down to the south west for a couple of days. Anyone prepared to reveal their secret elusive hideaway to a fellow bongoer? We are after anywhere which is quiet and ideally with access to a beach nearby. Not worried about facilities 'cos we got a portaloo from Lidl!! Friendly farmers who open up a field??
... If it’s a beach you want head straight down to Bantham, it’s (in my opinion) the most beautiful beach in Devon with a small campsite at the top of the hill in the lane, just before you drop into the valley. Its defiantly my favourite place to be with great waves ,beautiful scenery and great bass fishing if you know where to go..shhhhh. But I usually just wing it and park closer to the village and kip in the van... no ones ever moved us on. Nice pub called the sloop with great food; great bass fishing if you know where and a good surf spot, the beach has life guards toilets etc and Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Torbay are just around the corner...
This is Mt Edgcumbe: http://www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk/Exhibit ... Events.htm
Fireworks Festival, Plymouth: Any visitors might like to see this. It's an annual event (in August) and it's free! http://tesa.org.uk/fireworks/index.htm
Website link with useful relevant info, where to stay, what to do etc:
http://www.westcountrynow.com/
We had great fun summer 2007 and they say if you contact them you may be able to camp but I doubt it would include any if much amenities. 
