Things to do at Easter in Cornwall.

Are you planning an Easter break in Cornwall this year? As always, there is plenty to do during the Easter holidays in Cornwall, including some great family-friendly events.

Easter is on the early side this year, with Easter Sunday falling on 5 April. As it’s close to the start of spring, Cornwall will not be at its warmest, but there will still be plenty to explore amongst the first signs of spring. You might even be lucky enough to catch the beautiful bluebells at Godolphin during your stay!

Here’s the Cornish Escapes guide to things to do at Easter in Cornwall.

Easter Break Activities in Cornwall.

The National Trust’s Easter egg trails have become an annual tradition for many of us, and there is a great choice of properties in Cornwall hosting an egg hunt this year. Try the trail through the gorgeous formal gardens at Lanhydrock House or around the Tudor grounds of Trerice near Newquay.

The Eden Project is known for its spectacular springtime displays, as is its sister garden at Heligan.  Glendurgan and Trebah gardens near Falmouth are lovely sheltered spots for a bit of spring sunshine. Further west, stroll among the dappled paths of Trewidden Garden near Penzance, or admire the daffodils at its neighbour, Trengwainton Garden.

There are also Easter trails in the dramatic setting of Pendennis Castle in Falmouth.

For an Easter holiday treat to remember, book tickets for a performance of Giants at the beautiful Minack Theatre. Kids can take on a Viking Quest at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall or enjoy the traditional egg rolling in Padstow, there is plenty for families to do in Cornwall this Easter.

Celebrate Easter the Cornish Way.

What are the traditional Cornish ways to celebrate Easter? One of the key events in the Cornish Easter calendar is “Goody Friday”, a day away from the fields and the mines when families would get together for a springtime walk. Join in with this time-honoured celebration by packing a picnic of saffron buns and pasties and heading for the coast path. Expect to see plenty of other families marking Easter in this traditional way.

Easter Sunday itself is celebrated in much the same way as it is in most of the country: (possibly) church followed by a hearty roast lunch, the day punctuated by regular chocolate breaks. Book well in advance for a pub or restaurant Easter Sunday lunch, or pick up some local meat and produce at one of Cornwall’s many farm shops to cook in your holiday cottage kitchen. Trevathan Farm near Padstow rears its own beef and lamb, while Trevaskis Farm near Hayle sells home-reared pork. For Good Friday fish, head for Newlyn.

Easter Food in Cornwall.

We love food in Cornwall, so it is no surprise that Easter comes with its own menu of delights. Saffron buns, also called revel buns, are the Cornish version of hot cross buns. They are an essential part of any Easter feast, and we love the spicy edge that the saffron gives. 

A Cornish Easter tea will also feature hevva cake, a hearty fruit cake – try this hevva cake recipe for a proper Cornish treat. Add fairings (ginger biscuits) and of course, scones with jam and a generous dollop of clotted cream. Traditionally, all this is served as high tea in the early evening – after your full roast dinner!

If you want to give Cornish chocolate as an Easter gift, try Chocolarder, a Falmouth-based company that uses responsibly sourced and creative ingredients for fabulous results. Combine your Easter walk with a visit to Trenance Chocolate Factory, which is a short diversion from the coast path at Mullion Cove. We also love Josh’s Chocolate, mostly for its delicious flavours but also for its beautifully illustrated, Cornwall-inspired packaging.

Easter Egg Hunts in Cornwall.

If simply buying chocolate is too easy, you can always hunt for it. As ever, there are plenty of Easter egg hunts going on across Cornwall. These lively trails are a fun way of bribing, sorry, encouraging the kids to explore some beautiful gardens.

The National Trust is the trailblazer for Easter egg hunts. You can search for your closest Easter trail on the NT website; however, we can recommend Lanhydrock, Trelissick and Trerice as three great Cornish venues.

There’s an Easter Quest at Pendennis Castle in Falmouth (English Heritage), which sounds like a lot of fun. Keep an eye on the Eden Project’s website to find out more about their family-friendly Easter programme.

Attend An Easter Church Service In Cornwall.

If you would like to attend an Easter Sunday service during your Cornwall holiday, the county has a choice of welcoming churches from a range of denominations. 

St Ia in St Ives, St Mary’s in Penzance and of course, Truro Cathedral, are among the largest Church of England churches in the area. However, to feel a more traditionally Cornish way of life, seek out one of the county’s many small village churches. 

St Senara at Zennor, home of the famous medieval mermaid carving, is one of the loveliest old Cornish churches. Follow the service with a traditional Easter roast at the pub or the nearby Gurnard’s Head, then a good stank (Cornish for hike) along the coastal footpath.