Carlyon Bay Caravan & Camping Park

This beautiful family-run 16-acre campsite is well signed from the road, with a large entrance leading into an immaculate park abounding with exotic flowers, shrubs, palms and trees on manicured lawns set in 30 acres of mature woodlands and meadow.

The layout is meticulous, giving an air of spaciousness with widely-spaced pitches, even in the tent field, but with many leafy bowers and shaded corners for those who like to be secluded. The three modern toilet blocks are immaculate, with tasteful tiling, lit wall mirrors and vanity units, equal to any 5-star hotel bathroom.

The unique covered patio area, with dazzling hanging baskets, houses most of the other amenities, with a delightful seating area outside the Bistro, where you can enjoy breakfast, snack lunch or evening meal, or just collect it to eat in the privacy of your van. There is a footpath to lovely Carlyon Bay from the site, just 10 minutes away, where the children can safely swim, paddle or build castles on the golden sandy beach and the more adventurous can swim and surf in the rolling breakers.

There is family entertainment on the park in high season, from clowns and jugglers to brass bands, while the beautiful heated outdoor pool have sunbeds where you can laze behind the protective walls on a windy day. If you still ask for more, there is the Cornish Market World opposite the site, that is reputed to be the biggest indoor market in Britain, and described as an indoor Petticoat Lane with 300 stalls selling everything from apples to zips every Saturday and Sunday.

All the family will enjoy Charlie’s Adventureland with dodgems, water fun, adventure golf and an amazing range of undercover attractions in wet weather. There is a green bowling club and golf club adjacent - both welcome visitors for a friendly game.

However, it is the Eden Project that is the jewel in the Cornish Crown - and the world’s largest greenhouse – and this is less than two miles away. Set in the 35-acre grounds of an old China clay quarry, this magnificent creation has won many accolades, and is very much on the top of the ‘must see’ list of attractions. The project itself is a range of huge geodesic domes, ranging from a majestic rainforest to the warm temperate biome of the Mediterranean and containing plantations of cocoa, coffee and rubber. Discounted tickets are available from reception, with a ‘back door’ to avoid the queues!