Holidaying with Teenagers in Cornwall
Keeping everyone happy on holiday can be a challenge - especially when teenagers are involved. Striking the balance between family time and giving them the independence they crave isn’t always easy. If your goal is to tempt them away from their mobile phones and into experiences you can enjoy together, we can help.
Merlin Farm Holiday Cottages offers ideas on a range of teenager friendly activities and nearby attractions designed to keep the whole family engaged, from outdoor adventures to memorable days out. Centrally located in Cornwall, Merlin Farm is the perfect base for exploring everything the county has to offer - whether that’s beaches, festivals, surf, walks or family attractions. Back at Merlin Farm’s relaxed, uncrowded location, there’s plenty of time to reconnect over family board games and card games.
With space to relax, freedom to explore and plenty to keep teenagers entertained, Merlin Farm makes it easier for families to reconnect and create holidays everyone actually looks forward to.
Firstly Mawgan Porth beach is a short walk away from Merlin Farm, where you can go rockpooling, explore caves and bodyboarding on a RNLI lifeguarded beach. Kingsurf surf school offers lessons for all levels of ability – from complete beginners to advanced surf coaching. Whatever level you may be they guarantee you will leave full of enthusiasm and fresh knowledge. There is also King Coasteer - who offer a life-enhancing adventure like no other. Rock-hopping, shore-scrambling, swell-riding, cave-exploring and wild swimming around some of the most beautiful secret spots of North Cornwall. There is also a pitch & putt and crazy golf which will keep teenagers entertained for a shorter amount of time.
Less than 2 miles up the road is St Eval Kart Track, Cornwall's largest karting circuit. Featuring a family circuit which is designed to cater for 12 years olds and above including mum and dad too, a dedicated Cadet circuit for 7-11 years olds, an Adult only track for something a bit more full on, and not forgetting the little ones – a dedicated circuit for 3 to 6 year olds.
Want to truly impress your teenagers while keeping peace of mind? Merlin Farm is perfectly located just three miles from Boardmasters Festival - a must-do teenage rite of passage. Stay with us and enjoy the best of both worlds: you can offer lifts to and from the festival, allow your teens to camp on site while you relax nearby, or even join them for the experience.
Camper access opens from 5 August, with the full Boardmasters line-up running Friday to Sunday. With the flexibility of day tickets or full weekend passes - with or without camping - Merlin Farm makes the ideal base for parents who want to stay close, comfortable, and in control while their teenagers make unforgettable summer memories.
7 miles away Retallick Water Sports Centre offers an Aqua Park, Flo Rider, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Wakeboarding sessions.
Teenagers and Adults alike will love the animal encounter experiences on offer at Screech Owl Sanctuary (10 miles away). You will find yourselves with several meercats on your lap or a lemur on your shoulder! Highly recommended (we loved it!). Book in advance and in addition to entry ticket price. The Owl flying display is also very enjoyable and interesting (don't forget to duck!).
Cornwall has some of the most picturesque and varied cycle trails in the UK. Cycle along rivers and coastlines, through woodlands and mining heritage sites. If you aren't bringing your own bikes you can easily hire them on most of the trails.
Hangloose at The Eden Project (20 miles away) offers thrilling activities such as a zip Wire ride over the Biomes, aerial trekking course, a giant swing, climbing and base jump. If your stay is over the Winter months the Eden Project also has a seasonal indoor ice skating rink, usually from October to February.
For the ultimate thrill seeker a hands-on Trial Flight Experience is offered at nearby Fly Newquay providing a fantastic opportunity to take the controls and fly a plane. Experience the exhilaration of taking off over the scenic Cornish coastline, whilst following through on the aircraft's dual controls and when you're ready - you have control!
Flights are available in a two seat (Cessna 152) or you can take up to two additional passengers to share your experience in a four seat (Robin) aircraft.
The Bodmin Jail Attraction (18 miles away) features a 'Dark Walk' experience; incorporating the latest technology & theatrical effects in four linked experiences that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the life & death within the prison walls and the region as a whole. Ghostly voices from Cornwall's murky past will appear alongside highway robbers, smugglers & prolific former inmates; following their journeys through sentencing, life in prison, and finally the condemned cell leading to the Execution Zone.
Are your teens into horse riding or want to learn to ride? Whether you want to gallop along the sandy shoreline, trot across the moors or plod steadily along the bridleways, horse riding in Cornwall offers experiences for all. Visit our horse riding page for more info
Other suggestions include Pixel Pop and Rage Cage in Newquay, Kayaking or Paddle Boarding at Newquay Activity Centre (6 miles away), Dreadlock Escape Rooms (14 miles away), Junior Driving Experience at Perranporth Airfield (16 miles away), Big Dunk's Paintball, Outdoor Laser Tag, Airsoft & Combat Archery (20 miles away), Cornwall Segway (9 miles away), Adrenaline Quarry (35 miles away) and Cornwall Football Golf (18 miles away).
Accommodation at Merlin Farm
Our self catering cottages sleep four in two bedrooms (one king, one twin). Harlyn and Porthcothan Cottages are are particularly well suited to families with teenagers - the twin room has its own en-suite shower and toilet, so everyone gets their space and no one’s queuing for the bathroom.
Please note Merlin Farm does not encourage or accept bookings of exclusively teenagers, accepted only within a family containing adults.
