Spring comes early in Cornwall with plenty of things to do in March. The mild climate encourages primroses, azaleas and camellias to burst into bloom giving winter a final farewell. Families celebrate the Easter school break and Mother’s Day, and hot chocolate and comfort food are the perfect end to a bracing walk on one of the deserted dog-friendly beaches!
Our recommended things to do in March include plenty of Cornwall flora. Discover where to celebrate Daffodil Day, how to get free entry for Mum to Eden Project (you’ll have to spring for a cream tea though!) and full details about Falmouth Spring Flower Show. We also highlight 70 County / UK Champion Specimen Flowering Trees at Caerhayes Castle Gardens.
Other attractions include St Piran’s Day Parades, challenging Escape Rooms, animal feeding and dog-friendly beaches (until April 1st!). We also share where locals go to buy a Cornish pasty, but you must promise not to tell! Join us…
- Bite into a steaming pasty
- Watch the re-enactment on St Piran’s Day
- See Daffodils galore at Cotehele
- Celebrate Spring at Falmouth Flower Show
- Play Houdini at a Great Escape Room in Cornwall
- Spot a champion at Caerhayes Castle!
- Go behind the scenes at Newquay Zoo
- Dive into the Blue Reef Aquarium
- Walk on dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall
- Take mum to Eden (Free!)
Bite into a steaming pasty
National Pasty Week is one of the highlights of Cornwall in March. It takes place the first week in March which also includes St Piran’s Day on 5th March. St Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall so pasties are the main dish at any St Piran’s Day event.
According to the Cornish Pasty Association, over 120 million pasties are devoured each year. While big manufacturers such as Ginsters export their traditional and vegan offerings around the UK, every bakery and cafe in Cornwall serves pasties. The best, in my humble opinion, are made by Malcolm Barnecutt Bakery. With 50 outlets, you’re sure to find one near you.
Watch the re-enactment on St Piran’s Day
St Piran’s Day, on 5th March, is a good excuse for a parade, and one of the best is held in Perranporth each year. The parade is held on the Sunday closest to St Piran’s Feast Day and it starts from the beach at around 2pm.
Led by a traditional band, it tours the town streets as it heads to The Green for family festivities and performances of a traditional St Piran’s play. Grab a St Piran’s flag (white cross on black background) and a hot pasty and join the fun! Other towns that put on a St Piran’s Day parade include Truro, Penzance and Falmouth. Be there!
See Daffodils galore at Cotehele
Daffodil Day is officially 22nd March. These golden blooms brighten gardens of every size throughout March in Cornwall. Things to do include attending Daffodil Weekend at Cotehele, where National Trust gardeners extend this showy festival over two weeks in mid-to-late March.
As well as beds of scented narcissus, tiny Tête-à-Têtes and golden trumpeted daffs, the team also decorates the mediaeval archway into Hall Court with over 3,000 blooms.
Who knew there were so many different varieties to enjoy! There’s usually a Daffodil Discovery Trail for families to join in and daffodil installations (huge arrangements!) around the formal gardens. Other gardens known for their daffodils are Trelissick Gardens, Antony Estate, Tintagel Post Office and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Celebrate Spring at Falmouth Flower Show
If you love flowers, head down to the Falmouth Spring Flower Show that takes place on the last weekend in March. This annual event is now in its 113th year making it Cornwall’s oldest and longest-running flower show. The first show was actually opened by Princess Christian, Queen Victoria’s daughter, in 1910.
It still takes place in the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth. The site has its own award-winning Gyllyngdune Gardens, cafe and music venue so it’s worth a visit at any time of year. The Flower Show is free to attend and has 118 different classes including daffodils, children’s classes, floral art, orchids, cacti, rhodos, camellias and more. Things to do in Cornwall in March don’t get more splendid than this!
Play Houdini at a Great Escape Room in Cornwall
If you’re looking for indoor fun for all the family, one of the best things to do in Cornwall in March is book a place at one of the fun Escape Rooms. There are at least ten to choose from so there’s sure to be one near your holiday cottage in Cornwall.
Each Escape Room provides a series of brainteasers, puzzles and physical challenges that must be worked out to escape the locked room in the allotted time.
Escape Time in St Ives is one of the best, humourously hosted by Jimmy. DreadLock Escape Rooms in Lanivet near Bodmin is packed with mind-bending puzzles for up to eight guests and if you solve the Cluedo Bonus Puzzle you get a prize too!
Spot a champion at Caerhayes Castle!
March is the month when Cornwall’s National Trust and privately owned estate gardens are at their very best. Most were planted up by Victorian plant collectors over 130 years ago and now have some of the biggest and best Champion trees in the County and/or the UK.
Caerhayes Castle has stunning azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias that bloom early in their sheltered coastal location near St Austell. Owned by the Williams family since 1860, the gardens include over 75 registered Champion Trees that are the tallest or best example of the entire species. From acers and magnolias to camellias and rhododendrons, this is THE place to see the best of the best in horticulture.
Trebah Gardens boasts several Champion trees including a giant 24-metre-high Magnolia Campbellii, a 14.75 metre tall Chusan Palm and a 19.3m Japanese Maple.
Go behind the scenes at Newquay Zoo
Reopening after its winter break, Newquay Zoo is home to hundreds of animals from all over the globe. Promoting breeding and conservation programmes of endangered species, this zoo also offers some additional experiences to turn your zoo trip into something truly unforgettable.
The Penguin Experience (£95 for two including zoo admission) invites you to step inside the enclosure and throw fish to these cute Humboldt penguins. Ask questions, take photos and get to know more about these adorable creatures. There’s a similar 20-minute Tapir Experience, a Lemur Island Experience and a Junior Keeper Experience that allows wannabe zoologists to spend two hours behind the scenes with a friendly keeper.
Dive into the Blue Reef Aquarium
Another popular Newquay attraction is the Blue Reef Aquarium right on Towan Promenade. It’s a great place to spend a chilly or rainy day in March and it’s much less crowded than during the peak summer months.
Things to do in one of Cornwall’s largest aquariums include getting up-close to over 4,000 ocean animals, attending interesting talks, feeding times and shows such as “Meet the Sharks!” From tropical piranhas to loggerhead turtles, and clown fish to octopus, you’ll see amazing marine life that comes in all shapes and sizes.
The glass tunnel gives you a totally submerged look at marine life as it swims above and around you. It’s a fun and educational experience as part of your March visit to Cornwall.
Walk on dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall
Many beaches ban dogs from April through September, but four-legged friends are welcome on most beaches in Cornwall in March. Go for a bracing walk at low tide along Tregantle Beach. At low tide it becomes part of the 4-mile stretch of firm golden sand at Whitsand Bay.
Check the tide tables before setting off as at high tide the beach becomes a series of small inaccessible coves at the foot of the steep cliffs. Other long dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall suitable for walking in March include Fistral Beach, Newquay and Summerleaze Beach at Bude. You may even see some intrepid surfers riding the surging waves!
Take mum to Eden (Free!)
The Eden Project is open year-round and is a particularly warm place to visit in March. This top Cornwall attraction has tropical and Mediterranean biomes that are bursting with colour and edible fruit. The Eden Project offers free admission to Mums on Mother’s Day. It’s a fun family-friendly thing to do in March in Cornwall’s most eco-friendly attraction.
After exploring the indoor and outdoor gardens, head to the cafe for lunch or treat Mum to a delicious Cornish Cream Tea. The Gift Shop has some gorgeous last-minute Mother’s Day gifts too!
Well that’s our top 10 recommended things to do in Cornwall in March. Why not book a holiday cottage and discover hundreds more activities, beaches, pubs and attractions to enjoy during your spring break!
And, here’s what’s happening in Cornwall in April…
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.