Hello,
My family of 4 will be in Cornwall end August. We fly into Newquay and are staying in Mousehole. We would like to rent a car to explore, and then we were thinking of taking the train from Penzance to Heathrow directly at end of trip. Wondering how best to do car rental, both logistically and budget-wise. Maybe take public transport from Newquay to Mousehold (we arrive around 6pm), and then the next pick up a rental car from Penzance, and then also drop it off there? Any tips most welcome. Our hotel has parking so not an issue. Thank you!
Posted by
Preston UK
2008 posts
Are you flying into Newquay direct from NYC? If so it's probably best to delay hiring the car and then do it from Penzance to avoid driving jet lagged and to be able to drop the car off in Penzance for the train.
If you're flying into NQY short-haul it might be cost effective to hire the car at the airport to avoid expensive transfers.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
2190 posts
I think you’ll be best off renting from the airport and returning there. I doubt there is efficient public transport from the airport to Mousehole and a taxi will be expensive.
Cornwall will be busy in August so plan accordingly- book your restaurants well in advance (ie weeks ahead) and get out early to get a parking space anywhere.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
1055 posts
Traffic and parking are serious issues in Cornwall and August is peak season. Has your accommodation got parking. If not, ask them where you may be able to park. Be prepared for difficulties finding spaces in the towns.
Posted by
Preston UK
2008 posts
It seems to be perfectly possible to hire a car at the airport and drop it off in Penzance and that would be my preference unless jet lag its an issue in which case definitely do not drive from the airport.
Whilst you will always be able to find somewhere to eat if there are places that you particularly want to eat at (and there are a lot of fine restaurants these days in Cornwall) you need to book them NOW. We will be near Newquay for the first two weeks of August and we already made a couple of reservations a few weeks ago. For the Fish House in Newquay all we could get is a midweek 9pm booking for dinner, for example.
Posted by
10285 posts
We did a Rabbies Tour of Devon and Cornwall, from near Victoria Station in London last year.
The tour was great, we had about 14 people in our small bus. Our guide knew how to avoid the worst traffic by taking the back roads.
He was great.
We have rented cars in the past and driven in Great Britain and love its amazing countryside. We have found that traffic in southern England is very heavy and probably Devon and Cornwall are really terrible. Also, parking in most of the cities or towns we visited was hard to find.
I would not advise renting a car, take a tour like what we did. The tour was very reasonable and we hit all the high spots in the area.
Posted by
OP
New York City
21 posts
Just to add, we are flying in from Dublin so won’t be jet lagged! And our hotel in Mousehole does have parking.
Posted by
Preston UK
2008 posts
I presume the opportunity to take a tour has now gone if you already have a hotel booked. As long as you're comfortable with driving on the left and alive to the particular issues of driving in Cornwall (narrow roads, Cornish "hedges" and lots of traffic in places not really made for it) then just hire from NQY and drop off in Penzance if you can.