Where in Cornwall can the kids pan for gold while you buy some, well, gold? Where in Cornwall can you tour an ancient tin mill, sample some fab local grub, play crazy golf, make some pottery, build a bear and wander around 18 acres of lush countryside all in one place? Cue Cornwall Gold and Tolgus Mill, Redruth’s all-in-one fun afternoon for the family.
Cornwall Gold and Tolgus Mill is just a couple of miles outside of Redruth’s town centre on the way to nearby Portreath. It is also smack bang in the heart of the county’s famous tin mining landscape. The Cornwall Gold part of the attraction refers to the largest jewellery showroom in the Duchy that boasts a dizzying array of elegant pieces, all inspired by the gorgeous Cornish landscape that surrounds Redruth. Also here is Cornwall Pearl, which is a service that allows you to pick your piece as you learn all about pearls along the way.
The Tolgus Mill part of the attraction is a historical gem that’s free to explore. Over the past few years, the Grade II listed mill, which dates back to 1865, has been regenerated so that it once again produces tin. It was once used to extract the last remaining tin from local mining waste but now it’s a place where you can learn about this difficult process at source. Some of the tin is combined with silver and gold, with many pieces being sold in the showroom. Do check ahead to make sure the mill is open when you visit, however.
Panning for gold is another fab activity for your little treasures here. There’s actually been real gold in the troughs that can be panned alongside some fool’s gold too. Create and Paint is another fun activity which sees kids joining workshops and making their own pretty pieces of pottery. Then there’s the Bearworks, which is a workshop where kids can design their own teddies. Finally, Krazy Golf sees the whole family, well, work that one out for yourself…
For tuck, the Cornwall Pantry is worth a visit. Here, you can tuck into an eclectic range of traditional local dishes that use locally sourced seasonal ingredients. This is always open but, as with Tolgus Mill, do check ahead to make sure that the gold panning and Krazy Golf are open before you head to this unique venue. A mill, a jewellery showroom, crazy golf, gold panning and pottery workshops in one place? All that glitters must be Cornwall Gold.