Blog Archive

Christmas and New Year in Cornwall - 2021/2022

The festive season in Cornwall is always full of fun and wonderment with so much to do and enjoy alongside family and friends. This year is promising to be extra special following on from a turbulent past couple of years.

At Badgers, we will be sure to add a dusting of sparkle and magic to our three gorgeous holiday homes enabling our guests to wind down and relax away from the hustle and bustle of day to day life and enter into the spirit of a proper Cornish Christmas and New Year!

Take a look at our top picks for events taking place over the holidays.

Tunnel of Lights: Artic Adventure

Wrap the family up warm and head on over to beautiful historic Charlestown where you can journey back in time when you visit the popular Shipwreck Treasure Museum's spectacular Tunnel of Lights: Artic Adventure.

Immerse yourselves in over 100 meters of tunnels located underneath the museum and enter into a bygone polar world frozen in time with huge haunting icebergs, shipwrecks and ice caves illuminated by a dazzling display of over 5000 sparkling lights.

You will be submerged into a frosty, icy wonderland - Brrrr. A light covering of snow will dust over you as your journey continues through these magical festively lit tunnels and with a playlist of artic sounds floating in the background, you will be truly transported into a frozen land of enchantment!

The tunnels are an experience to be enjoyed by all ages and absolutely not to be missed!

Plan your visit to The Tunnel of Lights: Artic Adventure

Artic Wonderment - Image Credit: The Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum

Santa's Special Trains at Bodmin & Wenford Railway

All aboard for the 'Santa Special' steam train ride ... now back in action for several magical dates during December 2021.

On arrival at Bodmin General Santa's guests will be welcomed by his helpers the mischievous elves before boarding a steam train for a journey of magic and excitement to Bodmin Parkway. Youngsters can write their very own Christmas wish list during their time on the train to personally hand over to Santa.

Festive activities will be the name of the game for all guests (young and old)! on arrival back to Bodmin General followed by a personal invitation to meet Santa in his vintage victorian coach, where each child (who has been good during the past year) .... will receive a present and have their photo taken with Santa - a perfect way to end this very special trip aboard The Santa Train!

Plan your visit to the Santa Specials

Santa Specials - Image Credit: Bodmin & Wenford Railway

The Heligan Night Garden

Be enthralled during a Christmas/New Year visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan to see their Night Garden Lantern Experience.

As dusk begins to fall the gardens will be lit by traditional paraffin lamps and you will also discover a sensational display of stunning flora and fauna lanterns placed within Heligan's most treasured and acclaimed sites.

Heligan worked alongside the renowned Liverpool Lantern Company to highlight and accentuate a nocturnal environment not often seen including among others owls, hares and butterflies.

An enchanting 1.5km pathway has been created winding through iconic gardens for guests to be captivated as their senses are bombarded with sounds of the night plus quintessential aromas of marshmallows and chestnuts being roasted in stunning fire bowls.

Along the way you will be greeted by Heligan's friendly donkeys and stare in awe at the spectacular beautifully lit festive Oak Tree, alongside a festive backdrop of seasonal wonderment. A sight to truly appreciate and in which to create special family memories to look back on in years to come!

Plan your visit to the Heligan Night Garden

Heligan Night Garden - Image Credit: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Simon Banks

Mousehole Christmas and New Year Lights

Leave the car behind and take the park and ride from Penzance directly into Mousehole where you will be bedazzled by thousands of glittering lights in the form of serpents, ships, Christmas trees and bells to name but a few, with brightly coloured lanterns strung around the harbour.

Up to 10,000 lights adorn the harbour side, quayside, many of the quaint village cottages and a cross illuminates St Clements Isle within the bay.

Run by volunteers the event is dependent on the generosity of visitor donations into buckets being vigorously shaken around the village by members of Harbour Lights Committee.

Most of the gift shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes remain open whilst the lights are on, allowing people to browse for Christmas and New Year gifts and perhaps indulge in a festive bite to eat along with a warming hot chocolate or two ....

Another one to enthral the whole family, kids will be enamoured by the glitz and colour and big kids will enjoy the chance to simply wind down and relax into the charming festive atmosphere of this iconic Annual event.

Plan your visit to the Mousehole Harbour Lights

Mousehole Harbour Lights - Image Credit: Visit Cornwall, Paul Watts

Visit Santa at Newquay Zoo

Father Christmas has decided to pay a visit to Newquay Zoo during the festive season this year and has set some time aside to meet special guests whilst he is there. Each little person will be given a present (not to be opened until Christmas day ...).

Be sure to pop in to say hi to the mischievous elves, who will be holding exciting workshops on how to make delicious sparkling reindeer food which can be taken home and sprinkled outside houses on Christmas Eve to shimmer and shine, making a magic path for Rudolph and his gang to follow, guiding them to see where every child's presents need to be left for unwrapping in the morning!

Take the time to visit some of the inhabitants big and small during your fun filled day at the zoo, such as lions, red pandas, otters, penguins, cheeky monkeys and Meer cats, plus a colourful birds and reptiles to name just a few. Younger visitors can have lots of fun in the adventure playground areas and let off steam in the wildlife garden.

There are plenty of cafes and pit stops to quell those munchy moments and provide fuel for more fun and hi-jinks in this lovely animal sanctuary.

Plan your visit to Santa's Grotto

Santa's Grotto at Newquay Zoo - Image Credit: Newquay Zoo

Posted:15 November 2021