Our favourite Christmas activities

Santa by Steam is a magical train journey through the Cornish countryside complete with a visit from the railway elves and Santa himself. The one-hour rides depart on Saturdays and Sundays from Bodmin General Station leading up to Christmas and includes a Christmas tipple or hot chocolate. Bodmin General Station is a 25-minute drive from Rock.

Whether you prefer to wear your winter wetsuit or festive fancy dress, a winter dip is a common tradition on the North Cornwall coast. Head down to the beach for the Polzeath Christmas day swim, usually starting from 11am with hot chocolates and mulled tipples served afterwards. Woolly hats, hot water bottles and dry robes are recommended!

From 22 November until 05 January, the Eden Project hosts a variety of festive activities for the whole family. Experience the joy of Christmas with a visit to Father Christmas and his elves, a skate on the ice rink, an immersive Christmas lights experience and much more. The Eden project is near St Austell, just a 40-minute drive from Rock.

If you fancy a walk across the Rumps this winter, the National Trust visitor hub at Pentireglaze is hosting a selection of festive activities, along with serving seasonal treats in their cafe. The Reindeer Trail starts from 29 November to 5 January, with musical acts performing on the weekends during the run up to Christmas.

Running from 22 to 24 November 2024, the Fowey Christmas Market is a Christmas must. Wander around the harbour taking in the twinkling lights as they reflect off the water. Head to the Christmas marquee and indulge in locally produced food and drink or stock up on gifts from the lovely mix of market stalls. Fowey is a 50-minute drive away from Rock.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are offering a whole host of festive activities from 15 November to 4 January. With 200 acres of gardens to discover and everything from a visit to see santa to a enchanted evening lantern experience, there is lots to see and do. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are a 55-minute drive from Rock.

This year you can see Father Christmas within the beautiful Elizabethan walls of Trerice House in Newquay. Join him in the drawing room on weekends in December to share tales and traditions of Christmases past. Once you have finished your visit, you can explore the colourful gardens or visit the Barn Café for a festive treat. Trerice is a 40-minute drive from Rock.

Wonder around the cobbled streets of Lemon Quay this winter and visit Truro Christmas Market. Running from 22 November to 24 December, you will find various local crafts, seasonal treats and festive tipples set against a backdrop of festive lights and music, giving the family plenty to explore. Truro is a 50-minute drive from Rock.

Add a sprinkling of Cornish magic to the festivities this year and whisk your nearest and dearest away for yule tide on the wild North Cornish coast. Take a look below at our availability this Christmas.