Winter Holidays in Cornwall: Things to Do Around the Lizard Peninsula
Looking for inspiration for an accessible winter holiday in Cornwall? Staying at Trevassack Holidays, right in the heart of the Lizard Peninsula, puts you in the perfect spot to explore one of Cornwall’s most dramatic and peaceful regions, without the summer crowds. During the winter, the Lizard Peninsula offers a quiet, atmospheric and richly varied base for exploring, especially if you’re interested in nature, coastal drama, walking, and hidden corners. Whether you want wild coastal walks, cosy indoor attractions or budget-friendly family fun, here are the best things to do near Trevassack Lake this winter, with accessibility details for each activity.
On The Doorstep – Free and Easy Things to Do
You don’t need to travel far to enjoy your stay:
Trevassack Lake (Free)
Sit lakeside and take in the scenery – the shelter on our little beach is ideal for sheltered spotting of overwintering birds and enjoying the stillness of the water. Or read that book you never got round to opening and breathe in the convalescent Cornish air. There are Natural England pathways just down the road that take you up around Trevassack Lake over Goonhilly Downs for a gentle winter stroll, but they are often boggy and overgrown so not wheelchair or pushchair-friendly.
Stargazey Nights (Free)
The rural setting of Trevassack means very little light pollution – in fact we’re in a Designated Dark Skies Site, next to Goonhilly Earth Station Nature Reserve which is a Go Stargazing Site. Wrap up warm and watch the stars appear (on clear nights you might even see the Milky Way). The level paths make it easy to position a wheelchair or chair in a good viewing spot (or just watch from the comfort of your hot tub!).
On the Water - River or Lake (Paid)
The water isn’t generally open during winter except for dedicated swim sessions and pre-arranged events, but talk to staff to see if you can book a bespoke sailing or kayaking session with CST Experiences, right on the lake, or possibly Helford River – a unique way to enjoy a winter holiday in Cornwall (guests get 15% discount).
Short Drives: 10-20 Minutes Away
A few places we think are worth a short trip in the car during the winter months
Cornish Seal Sanctuary
A must-visit in winter when rescued seal pups are recovering before being released back to the wild. The site is hilly, but accessible buggies/shuttles are available for visitors with limited mobility. Accessible toilets are located at the top and bottom of the site. Plus, your admission ticket gives you access for a whole year! This makes it an excellent winter visit: quieter visitor numbers, the chance to see active rescue work, and a combination of indoor and outdoor exhibits
Coronation Park Boating Lake
A relaxed, family-friendly space with level, paved paths around the lake, perfect for a winter picnic or feeding the ducks. There is also a play park for children and an events’ space. Accessible parking and toilets are available nearby. Please note, the nearby parking is paid and they are very strict with issuing tickets, so if you can walk a short distance, we recommend parking in the fairground carpark a bit further along the Porthleven road.
Coverack Harbour Promenade (Free)
This picturesque fishing village is quieter in winter, making it perfect for a peaceful stroll along the flat seafront. There’s disabled parking near the harbour and accessible public toilets. Take the time to read the information board about the incredible geology of the beach one of a few places in the world where you can walk across layers of the centre of the Earth!
Museum of Cornish Life, Helston (Free Entry)
A fascinating indoor option showcasing Cornwall’s social history with a surprising amount to explore. The ground floor is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps available for most other areas. Donations are welcome.
Penrose Estate Walks
Park in Helston fairground and walk/wheel a couple of miles of level pathways through the NT Penrose Estate woodland with regular benches along the way. There are lovely views of Loe Pool along the way then halfway to Porthleven is the Stables Café for a drink and a loo stop. You can carry on all the way to Porthleven, but it gets quite steep near the coast.
Roskilly's
If you want an ice cream, this is the place to go. If you want an ice cream in the countryside and a wander around a working farm with nature ponds and feed the animals, this is definitely the place to go. The car park is next to the entrance and the ground a little rough, but manageable. The trails take you through the 20 acres of wild woods so if the weather has been wet, it’s not the easiest, but the main farm area is concreted to explore the Milking Parlour, small shop and most importantly, the Croust House where lunch and ice cream are served.
Calves, birds, sheep and pigs are penned right next to the (free) car park so are easy to visit for any mobility, if they’re feeling friendly enough to come to the fence!
Mid-Range Drives: 20-40 Minutes Away
Worth going a bit further for, even when it's freezing out:
Lizard Point & Lighthouse Views (Free)
Britain’s most southerly point is always worth a visit. Watch seals basking on the rocks or spot seabirds riding the wind. There’s disabled parking in the National Trust car park and a relatively level, surfaced path to the viewing point plus often NT staff and wildlife volunteers eager to discuss what to spot, often with telescopes (Note: the Wildlife Watchpoint is only open from April (so in deeper winter you may not get the full watchpoint experience). Paths around the lighthouse area are maintained, but some rugged cliffs and steps remain; careful footwork is needed and beyond the lighthouse, you can often spot dolphins, grey seals or choughs from vantage points.
Kynance Clifftop View (Free)
Famous for turquoise waters in summer, Kynance is even more dramatic in winter – storm watching, bold seas and more dynamic light make it a photographer’s delight. If the steep path down to the beach isn’t accessible for you (there is a long way around to the café for mobility vehicles but not to the beach itself), the clifftop paths from the National Trust car park still offer jaw-dropping views and great photo opportunities.
Helford River South Side River Walks (Free)
Choose from several public footpaths along the Helford River for a peaceful, budget-friendly walk. Some routes are flat farm lanes suitable for sturdy wheelchairs or scooters – check online for accessibility information before heading out but the riverside walk to Tremayne Quay is pretty good.
Trebah Garden
Stunning Cornish gardens leading down a steep valley to the riverside beach – it’s too steep for manual wheelchairs, but fine for pushchairs and mobility vehicles, including the Trampers available to hire (book in advance). The visitor centre is wheelchair-friendly, as is the café and garden shop. They often hold talks and workshops – check their website for details. https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/event
Cornwall Gold
Something a little bit different, this is at its core, an enormous jewellery shop, but they’ve put on other attractions to make it more of a destination, such as crazy golf for when the sun shines, gold panning (free!), oyster catching, Build a Bear, paint pottery and witness first-hand how tin is extracted and formed into beautiful jewellery at the Tolgus Tin Mill – it’s free entry but you pay for what you want, so worth popping in if you’re in the area – there’s a café at the very least. As one reviewer on their site states, ‘it’s so much more than a shop!’.
Disabled access is through all the main areas and there are disabled toilets but some areas, including the Tin Mill have uneven or gravelled surfaces.
Further Afield
Want to explore more of Cornwall or looking for a day trip to break up the journey home?
Eden Project
A main attraction here in Cornwall, and a fair drive from us at Trevassack, but if you like plants, sculpture and futuristic architecture, it’s a must-do. They’re pretty well set up, with accessible parking spaces and toilets, miles of sloping pathways down into the ex-clay pit site, free wheelchairs (some powered, which is useful here!) and free entry for carers or personal assistants. There is also hire of a single off-roader mobility scooter, but make sure you book ahead to access the more challenging areas of the site. If you have visual impairment, there are text readers and braille guides to support you.
Entry is via a Visitor Centre, with flat level access, lots of helpful staff and the Changing Places facility plus ADI toilets and an accessible café.
This place is out-of-this-world – the viewing platform gives you a sensory delight with sights, sounds and smells to indulge before delving down in to the lush surroundings – or traverse the Rainforest Canopy walkway (mostly accessible). In the winter you can take a manual wheelchair out on the ice rink! And year-round, the zip wire whizzes you over the biomes, with the option to arrive an hour early for exclusive disabled access.
All in all, this is a very well set up and unique enterprise, particularly for sensory needs – perhaps a day’s stop off on the way home out of Cornwall?
Tips for an Accessible Winter Break
- Dress for the weather: Layers and waterproofs are a must for coastal walks and storm-watching – but never get too close to the sea in bad weather.
- Double check opening times: Some gardens and heritage attractions reduce hours or close in winter.
- Call ahead for support: Attractions like the Seal Sanctuary can arrange shuttle transport for visitors with limited mobility.
- Plan around daylight: Short winter days mean mid-morning to mid-afternoon is the best time for exploring.
- Floods, tides and storms matter: Especially for coastal walks or cove visits, check tide tables and weather warnings.
Staying at Trevassack Holidays means you’ll return to warm, fully accessible accommodation with level entrances, wet rooms, profiling beds (where needed) and on-site Changing Places facilities so you can relax after your adventures. Whether you’re stargazing, storm-watching or exploring Cornwall’s coast, the Lizard Peninsula offers plenty of free things to do and accessible adventures that make winter one of the best times to visit.