I stayed in perfect holiday park for Cornwall family break – with heated pool, safari tents & 16 acres of woodland
GETTING caught out by the tide isn’t the ideal way to kick off a holiday.
But there we were, beneath blue skies and sunshine in Cornwall, when the sea suddenly came in.
And it really came in fast.
With the help of other beachgoers, my family of five scooped up our now-soaked belongings and made a dash to higher ground – in the nick of time.
Thankfully, we had the perfect base to retreat and dry off.
Tucked away in 16 acres of woodland, a ten-minute drive from Hayle town and five miles to the coast, Parbola Holiday Park is just the place for a peaceful staycation.
With only a handful of caravans, plus some safari-style tents, it’s blissfully quiet, with a quaint little shop to keep you stocked up during your stay.
Dog-friendly, and complete with a heated outdoor pool, the site is a new offering from Lovat Holiday Parks.
Our caravan had everything we needed for our four-night Cornish getaway, from the three spacious bedrooms (one double and two twin rooms) to the numerous plug sockets and a well-equipped kitchen.
The open-plan living room had a sofa with enough room for all five of us – me, my wife Leyla, and our three kids, Ceyda, 15, Ela, 12 and nine-year-old Kaya.
Most read in Travel
It’s worth upgrading to a caravan with a balcony – this is where we retreated with soggy towels after our morning at Hayle Beach.
Relaxing on the deck, and warming ourselves up in the sunshine with a drink, was the perfect end to our first beach day.
But with the picturesque Cornish coast at our fingertips, we had plenty more to explore.
Next on our hit list was Crantock, near Newquay, around a 45-minute drive up the coast from Parbola.
Backed by sand dunes, and with the River Gannel running through it, it’s loved by everyone from picnicking families to paddleboarders.
I felt reassured by the fact there were lifeguards on duty, and the shallow rockpools felt safe, even for my nine-year-old son.
Armed with buckets and spades, we made a beeline for Cargo, a coffee truck on the beach.
It serves organic coffee and pastries from a small independent bakery a few miles away, plus handmade Cornish ice cream.
We ordered mango sorbet for me, chocolate for Leyla and mint choc chip for the kids – it was some of the best ice cream we’ve ever tasted.
With energy – and a few extra calories – to burn, Kaya and I hunted rockpools for shells, while Leyla and the girls read their books on the sand.
It really was a picture-perfect holiday spot.
But it didn’t take long for the kids to work up an appetite again.
It’s not just ice cream that’s done well in these parts, though.
Cornwall’s cuisine packs a punch – and our base in Parbola was surrounded by great places to eat.
We spent one evening in the pretty port of St Ives with its fishers’ cottages, art galleries and turquoise bays.
You could check out modern art at the Tate or walk through Barbara Hepworth’s abstract designs at the Sculpture Garden.
With stomachs rumbling, we landed at The Searoom, a tapas bar overlooking the harbour where we feasted on king prawns, crispy brie, marinated olives and local bread with miso butter.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Surrounded by my family, with good food, endless people watching and a sunset on the horizon, felt like bliss.
Cornwall, just like its ever-changing tides, was about to sweep me away.
Go: Cornwall
STAYING THERE: A seven-night stay in a three-bedroomed holiday home (sleeping six) at Parbola Holiday Park in September costs from £450 in total.
Call 0333 200 2565 or see lovatparks.com.