Family Christmas break ideas for 2006

Family-friendly luxury in Cornwall

With its mild climate, superb scenery and sandy beaches, Cornwall is a real favourite for family holidays at any time of year. Make it more memorable and relaxing by treating yourselves to a stay in a luxury hotel, where the kids will be entertained royally and the most tiring thing you'll have to do is decide where to go for your Boxing Day stroll.

Where to stay
Luxury hotels are often far from family-friendly, but Fowey Hall Hotel prides itself on pampering all of its guests, no matter how young they are. Christmas is no exception, with a thoughtful balance of separate activities for children and grown-ups and quality time together.

The fun starts on 23 December with afternoon tea and fortune tellers for the adults and supervised playtime and supper for the young. Later, the parents can relax over a candlelit dinner while their children watch films with the hotel's resident nannies.

There's plenty more to keep everyone happy during their stay at Fowey: a family breakfast in bed on Christmas Day for private present opening, a Boxing Day treasure hunt around Fowey, lots of organised games and activities for the children and romantic meals for the adults, plus free time for walks on the beach or enjoying local attractions. The four-night Christmas break costs from £885 per person, all-inclusive; children under 12, £250, with reductions for older children depending on whether they have their own room or share with their parents.

If your budget won't stretch that far, the Cornish Tourist Board can give information on other family-friendly hotels running special festive breaks.
For details:
Fowey Hall Hotel www.foweyhallhotel.co.uk
Cornwall Tourist Board www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk

What to do around and about
Finding somewhere scenic for a Boxing Day stroll is no problem when you have the South West Coast Path on your doorstep. There are fabulous sea views to soak up, and you might even spot some of Cornwall's resident dolphins. The coast is dotted with sheltered beaches, great for playing games and building sandcastles. Gardens can be fun, too, even at this time of year.

The famous Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell are open all year (apart from 24-25 December) and there's always plenty to see. Thanks to Cornwall's mild climate and the garden's sheltered position, subtropical plants such as banana palms and giant rhubarb thrive outdoors in the 22-acre 'Jungle', and there are more sights, including a sparkling grotto, in the rest of the grounds.

There are more exotic plants at the nearby Eden Project, one of the area's newest attractions. Its distinctive bubble-shaped greenhouses - a snug retreat on colder days - contain plants from the world's tropical rainforests and Mediterranean countries. Admire the orange groves and cocoa plants, then head for the huge ice-skating rink or the outdoor garden, which is magically lit in winter with flaming torches and strings of lanterns.
For details:
South West Coast Path www.nationaltrail.co.uk
Fowey Tourist Information Centre www.fowey.co.uk
Lost Gardens of Heligan www.heligan.com
Eden Project www.edenproject.com