On Sunday we discovered the amazing Tehidy Country Park and woods in Camborne, Cornwall. It’s the perfect free family day out to explore nature, see wildlife up close and get some fresh air on an afternoon. Read on to discover why Tehidy Country Park and woods appeals to all ages and is ideal if you are looking for things to do with kids in Cornwall.

What can you do at Tehidy Country Park and woods in Cornwall with kids?

It’s a lovely family day out in nature with lots of animals to see in their natural environment. The star of Tehidy Country Park has to be the grey squirrel! There are so many grey squirrels and they are very friendly!

We took some seeds with us and they ate them right out of our hands! Quite often we were surrounded by several squirrels who were, no doubt, trying to see if we had food for them.

There are several lakes with many ducks, birds and swans. Ben managed to get very close to a large swan for a photo. He was terrified the swan was going to hiss at him or go for him, but it almost stayed there posing for the photo too!

The kids had great fun seeing the squirrels being so friendly, feeding the ducks and swans. We took birdseed and recommend the same as it’s not natural or healthy to feed them bread or other unnatural foods.

The park is surrounded by woodland and was perfect for the time of year we visited – autumn! The trees were changing colour and losing leaves, making the park very beautiful with all the yellow and orange tones.

There are waterfalls to see and streams, with stone bridges to cross over into the woodland which the children also loved to run across.

In the woods are more walks and some lovely ancient trees to admire. Look out for rope swings hanging for branches for extra fun!

Tehidy Country Park is going to be one of our favourite spots for Sunday afternoon walks in all seasons.

Where is Tehidy Woods in Cornwall?

Tehidy Country Park and woods are in Camborne, West Cornwall.

Here’s the address for the road with the car park we used by the Beech Wood entrance:

South Drive, Tehidy, Camborne, TR14 0EZ

Is Tehidy Woods free?

Yes. There is a free car park right next to the entrance to Tehidy Woods Country Park and woods. It’s a country park with lots of woods, paths and lakes which anyone can walk around.

There’s a great Tehidy Country Park map at the entrance as you enter from the car park. Take a snap of this on your smartphone so you can find your way around the walking paths.

You can also find a map of the whole park with walks here: https://www.cornwallhousing.org.uk/media/3625017/Tehidy-Country-Park-Map.pdf

There’s so much to explore that we didn’t have time to see. We entered from South Drive and did the Beech Wood up to Otter Bridge and then walked back along the path above the private residential area and back down to the parking on South Drive. There are lots more woods to explore next time we visit.

What is Tehidy Woods parking like?

Parking is free right next to the entrance to Tehidy Country Park. We went on a Sunday afternoon, around 1.30pm in November (out of season) and the car park was pretty popular, with a handful of spaces left. We were able to park, but I can imagine it may get a lot busier than this! Sunday afternoon after lunch is quite a popular family walking time, however!

Parking is free which is great. We parked at South Drive, but there is also parking at North Cliffs and East Drive.

We also noticed some parking spots on the way to the official car park, alongside the road, so there are options if the car park itself is full.

We parked here at Tehidy Wood Parking.

Who owns Tehidy Country Park?

Tehidy is owned and managed by Cornwall Council as a Country Park. It’s the largest area of woodland in West Cornwall. As well as parking facilities, there is also a cafe near the entrance at South Drive and toilets.

The cafe wasn’t open when we visited.

You can find more information and opening times for the cafe at https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/parks-leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/country-parks/tehidy-country-park/

Here’s some information from Visit Cornwall about Tehidy Country Park:

“Tehidy is the largest area of woodland in West Cornwall.

Now owned and managed by Cornwall Council as a Country Park, Tehidy has over 9 miles (14.5km) of paths and 250 acres of peaceful woods and lakes to explore, together with a café and a picnic area. There are five main access points including North Cliff car park, and South Drive car park.

Tehidy was formerly the estate of the Bassets, one of the four most powerful families in Cornwall with extensive lands and mineral rights in this western part of the county. Inland at Carn Brea, the prominent hill near Redruth, you can see the Basset memorial, built in 1836 to honour Sir Francis Basset (1757-1835).

Visitors may stroll around the lake, explore leafy glades or wilder areas of woodland or be immersed in the rich flora and fauna. With a different type of beauty for every season, Tehidy is an enchanting place to visit all year round.”

Is Tehidy Country Park dog friendly?

The Beech Wood is a dog-free zone, which is possibly why there are so many fearless squirrels?!

This is also great if you have a child with cynophobia (a fear of dogs) or an adult.

The rest of the woods are open to dog walkers.

Click here to discover what Tripadvisor reviewers have to say about Tehidy!

Have you ever been to Tehidy Country Park and woods? Let me know in the comments!