Family-friendly days out in Cornwall

Cornwall has plenty of exciting days out, come rain or shine. The coastline is the obvious place to start, with miles of glorious footpaths to explore. The National Trust looks after hundreds of miles of the coastline and you can download walks from their site as well as take a look at any of the 50 or so big Cornish houses and gardens they manage - perfect for a day's exploring, with a picnic safely packed in your rucksack. And of course Cornwall's waters are rich in marine life, so you can jump on a boat and head out to see seals, dolphins and, if you’re lucky, basking sharks.

Cornwall also knows where the money’s at, and there are more family-focused farms, zoos, theme-parks and indoor attractions than you can shake a stick at. But if you're feeling the pinch, nothing quite beats sitting on a beach or a harbour wall with a pasty and watching the world go by – just watch out for the seagulls…