VAN ADVENTURES IN CORNWALL
Hello from Cornwall!
If you are following me on Instagram you will know that I am over a month into living in the van full time, and as lots of people have been asking for campsite and location recommendations I thought I’d share them here. I’ll try to update this too as I explore more of the beautiful Cornwall.
STONEHENGE
Surfing at Constantine Beach
On my way to Cornwall I always pass Stonehenge, and this time I decided to make a pit stop to break up the journey. Head to The Grove and you will find lots of other vans there, as well as an amazing view of this historic monument! Just be wary of the lane full of potholes - take it slow or you might have stuff everywhere when you arrive like I did!
ST MERRYN, PADSTOW
St Merryn is a lovely little village near the beautiful Constantine bay. The beach at Constantine is stunning, and the surf is good too. Must do’s whilst there are: visit Rick Steins’s Cornish Arms for food and drinks, The Lobster Shed [which is part of The Pig hotel]. Trevose bay, Boobies bay and Harlyn bay are all nearby and great beaches to park up the van and surf. And of course you must check out Padstow - which is a short drive away. Padstow is a cute fishing village, and is great for a mooch around the shops, pick up some Cornish fudge, and have a pasty from the iconic Choughs Bakery! I stayed in a great little campsite called Trewithen Farm which is 45 minutes walk to Harlyn Bay. Harlyn Bay is the perfect spot to park up for the day on the beach, and hopefully get a surf in if the weather is playing ball. Another great little spot for the day is Hawker’s Cove - you park int he car park and walk through the woods to get to the stunning beach. This is a perfect bbq beach, and overlooks the beautiful Daymer Bay.
WATERGATE BAY, NEW QUAY
Just a 20 minute drive from Padstows towards Newquay is Watergate, where you’ll find the famous Watergate Bay Hotel. This is one of my favourite spots in Cornwall so far because it is quieter than the chaos of Newquay, but still vibey. The View at Watergate is one of my favourite campsites - it is located on the top of the cliff with ocean views and only a 10 minute walk along the cliff to Watergate Bay beach, where you can surf or grab a coffee / food. You can also can use the facilities of Watergate Touring Park whilst staying at the View [including a pool!]. On the other side of the cliff there is a car park which will cost you £3.50 for the day - this is a great spot to park in and grab a coffee or smoothie bowl form The Hangout, or rent a board from Westcountry Surf School. I spent a few days parked here for the day and enjoyed some mega sunsets, and then drove down the road and parked up on the side of the road for free [#233148 on Park4Night]. Wax is also a great little hangout for a glass of vino or pizza after a day at the beach - top tip, try their chocolate pizza - absolutely unreal.
The view on the coastal walk from Basset’s Cove towards Gwithian
BASSET’S COVE, ST IVES
About 40 minutes from Watergate on the way to St Ives is a must-do hike! Park in Basset’s Cove car park [which in itself an amazing spot to park the van for free]. I walked along the coast to find the seals at Portreath, and this walk there and back is about 2 hours, plus there is a cute cafe on the way for a pit stop coffee. There are some brilliant spots to park the van up along this route too, but I’d avoiding trying to sleep there as it is National Trust owned - I got a knock on my window one night and politly asked to move on. I ended staying at an awesome campsite called Gwithian Farm Campsite. It was £15 per night [no electric] and was a ten minute walk through the dunes to the beautiful Gwithian beach.
Parked by on the Esplanade at Fistral Beach for the day
CRANTOCK, NEW QUAY
Crantock beach is a stunning beach just off Newquay’s Fistral Beach - and is much quieter than Fistral and Watergate. I camped a 5 minute walk away from the beach in Porth Joke campsite - a hidden gem, and a steal at only £8.50 per night [without electric]. It is part of Treago Farm, and has great facilities, a cute little shop, bar, and even a little lake at the bottom of the hill. Wifi warning - it’s located in a bit of valley so the signal wasn’t great when in the campsite. Down the road towards Porth Joke beach is The Bowgie Inn, which is a great spot for beer or dinner.
FISTRAL, NEW QUAY
Fistral Beach, the Esplanade is a great place to park the van for free during the day - you will get moved on in the evening though. The views over Fistral Bay are epic, and it’s a great spot for surfing. Fistral Beach Bar on the other side of the beach and is a great spot for sunset drinks and food. A good place for brunch is Shiva Cafe/Yoga/Pilates - it’s in a bit of a random location but the food is worth it! Try the sweet potato stack - unreal!
POLZEATH
Robbie Loves Campsite is located a ten-minute walk from Polzeath beach. Made up off gorgeous rolling fields at the top of the cliff, you can just about see the ocean from your camp spot. I’ve stayed here a couple of times, and love the laid back vibe that it offers. It has everything you could need including a shower block, washing up facilities, and even a work room with WIFI. It costs £12 per person, per night. Plus, Polzeath can get very busy as it’s a popular place to surf, so having a spot to park for free is a bonus!
SENNEN COVE
On my way down south i popped into St Agnes and got a coffee and snack from The Sorting House, and then made a pit stop mooch around St Ives. Then I headed on to Sennen where I stayed at Trevedra Farm Caravan and Camping Site which overlooks the ocean, and has fantastic facilities including a shop, cafe and everything else you need. You can walk down to the beach for a surf too. Down the road on the way to the harbour is a car park at the top of the hill with stunning views! i parked up here to work for the day, whilst checking out the surf conditions.
PENZANCE
100% you have to visit Porthcurno beach - head to the car park, grab a coffee from the Beach cafe, and then follow the footpath around the coast and you will have the most insane view! The water is so clear. If you head 5 minutes down the road in the van to Treen you can stay in the Treen Farm campsite, or if you don’t need the facilities park up in the car park and a lovely man will come round to collect £6 from you. It’s a great spot, with beautiful sea views, and Pedn Vounder beach below you. Back towards Sennen I highly recommend heading to Pendeen lighthouse for a gorgeous sunset. Stay at The old coastguard campsite for just a tenner a night, and stunning ocean views.
I will continue to update this as I move about and explore more!