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We've decided our staycation this year will be to take the Campervan all the way down to Cornwall. Early stages of planning so far, but Dartmouth and Fowey are 2 places we want to visit. Any campsite recommendations for the Camper (+1 child) would be much appreciated. Any other touristy type things to do? Eden and the theatre on the cliff are our only ideas so far so open to suggestions. Cheers
i'd say avoid the tourist rubbish if you want to see cornwall. its a huge county, porthcurno (the theater you mention) is a long way from fowey and west cornwall (as in penwith) another world to cornwall again.
Dartmouth is in Devon, btw. It would be a fair bit of a detour on your way there or home, too. Nice though!
Its a stunning place, I like to stay at Ayr campsite in st Ives, its a great super clean site and no load idiots at night which is what you get at the massive sites, stunning views and a really short walk to the town and beach
And theres Sennon cove which is stunning and more quite and peacfull area, its right near porthcurno beach which is where the minack theatre is (cliff) theatre and the nicest beach you will find in GB
From these locations every thing is fairly close, St Micheals Mount is awesome thats in Penzance, theres so much to see and do down there you wont get bored, plenty of biking to be done too
Here
http://www.cornwallbeachguide.co.uk/secornwall/whitsand/whitsand.htm
Got to be one of the most beautiful places anywhere and away from the crowds
shhhh, don't tell anyone though
How big is the camper? I can recommend a really nice quiet campsite but access would not be suitable for a big motorhome.
Some really good riding down there as well road and off road, depend on how old your kid is there is Flambards http://www.flambards.co.uk/
Whatever you do, don't go into Lands End proper - just park up and have a quick wander over to the cliff top from the car park. Even better, walk there from Sennen or Porthcurno and save yourself the parking fee.
have a look at the wild swimming coast book for some inspiration. as others have said, sennen and porthcurno are stunning, i love st just because its a bit quieter and the coast around cape cornwall is amazing. make sure you pop in to the maritime agency lookout huts as they normally let children have a go on the big telescopes! perranporth and praa sands are also worth a look.
personally, i'd avoid st ives between june and september, its busy and the seagulls are chavs.
We stayed at Pentewan Sands on the recommendation of a local. It was faultless. It's own beach. A new swimming pool, nice shop etc. even evening entertainment if you want that sort of thing. We'd love to go back.
Stayed here for 10 days last summer on the overflow site and it was great 3 different beaches that were a short walk away great biking along the coast just wish I had taken my kayack!
http://www.motheriveysbay.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/sets/72157635286375190/
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9615462789_8861da2528.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF3953[1]">
kongman28 - MemberWe stayed at Pentewan Sands on the recommendation of a local. It was faultless. It's own beach. A new swimming pool, nice shop etc. even evening entertainment if you want that sort of thing. We'd love to go back.
We visited some friends who were staying there a couple of years ago and I thought it resembled a huge refugee camp! Quite noisy (lots of people had music blasting out) and row after row of tents.
One of our favorite haunts when down Cornwall in the camper van is http://www.presingollfarm.co.uk
Get up early and head down to the NT carpark at Chapel Porth and grab a good spot for breakfast watching the waves. Good beach but does depend on the tide times, although if waiting for the tide to go out then the cliff top walks in either direction are nice, with some old mine workings to explore and add interest for children.
Miners Arms at Mithian is nearby for good food. Worth booking at weekends. http://www.miners-arms.co.uk/menu.php
I recommend meadow lakes near st Austell good chilled out place just the right amount of things eg pool and kids farm etc - well priced to
Also ayr in st ives is lovelly - pricy
Wow, loads of great info thanks. Need to start booking campsites now to avoid last minute rushing around. Eskay-it's a VW T4 swb. No stranger to wild camping up here in Scotland but I'm guessing its different than Cornwall. Oh, and lands end is already a no go, but what about Eden on the way down/back?
Chapel Porth and Hedgehog icecream
End of thread.
Yes of course hedgehog ice cream, how could I miss that off when mentioning Chapel Porth.
Mr Cheese, take a look here: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356397763990/
A beautiful campsite, quite small (about 20 tents). It is in the middle of nowhere (no pubs etc) basic facilities (a couple of flushing toilets and a couple of composting bogs) and two showers.
There is a small horseshoe cove that is about 3/4 mile walk down a footpath: http://www.cornwall-beaches.co.uk/south-east/lansallos-cove.htm
Great for kids, good rockpooling when the tide goes out. I take my harpoon and go spearfishing and always come back with something to bbq for evening meal. If you are into snorkeling you will enjoy this beach, there is a lot to explore and see around the headlands (conditions permitting).
You will need to book.
Good base to explore the region.
Just googled Hedgehog ice cream. Think I might double the length of our stay 😆
Treen campsite is great for the minack and a short walk to the beach in between. Really nice friendly site.
We also like sennen which is not that far away.
Henry's campsite on the lizard is worth a trip and way different to most but very nice if a little expensive. Home made cider and eggs and big communal fire pit. Good pasties at Anne's..
Last yr I stated at a small site called polly joke nr ( but far enough away from) Newquay. Really lovely quiet spot and great beach. No dogs though.
Polzeath is nice and low key surfy with a nice safe beach. Tristram campsite is right next to the beach.
We tend to tour about with a few days here/ there etc in our van often depending on the weather.
Cornwall's a big old county (ok, a [i]long[/i] old county) so you might want to pick one specific part. Penwith (far west) and the Lizard are both very different from the rest of Cornwall, and from each other but I love them. There aren't especially full of "attractions" per se but if you're happy just to be outside, the walking / swimming / beaches are fantastic.
People have mentioned the Minack, the open air theatre at Porthcurno. Really should be on your list, but check their website for opening times (or better yet, ring them when your down here). They have matinee performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as kids shows on Wednesday and Friday mornings in the season, so you can't rely on just turning up and getting in. There's also a real gem of a museum at the bottom of the hill, telling the story of how Porthcurno was the silicon valley of the earliest telecomms technology. Re-opening after a major refurb in June (www.porthcurno.org.uk).
The Penwith moors are also good for rambly walks, specially if you're into you prehistoric stuff. There are loads of random stone circles, ancient sacred wells and the like - try googling Men-an-Tol.
Are you aiming to get any riding in, as that could influence what part of the county you aim for?
ETA: Roskilly's Ice Cream farm (on the Lizard) is a fun half day out if your youngster is the right age - needless to say it's got a great cafe too!
If you're used to driving in Scotland, though, be prepared for a lot more traffic, most of it being driven very slowly and in a slightly lost, hazy fashion! All part of the experience, you just have to go with it, I'm afraid!
Just googled Hedgehog ice cream. Think I might double the length of our stay
Best pre-book cardiac treatment then, they ain't playing about when it comes to cream.