Motorhome travel: 15 of the best campsites in Cornwall

Explore the best of the southwest with this selection of 15 of the best Cornish campsites...

Tehidy Holiday Park 

Harris Mill, Illogan, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 4JQ
01209 216489
Open: 30 March – 3 November

This is a family-owned, award-winning site with less than 30 pitches, making for a haven of peace and tranquillity midway between St Ives and St Agnes. There are 11 hardstanding pitches, electric is available and the pitches are surrounded by wildlife areas, hedging and shrubs. Woodland walks lead direct from site, with the Tolskithy Valley having a network of footpaths tracing the course of the stream and meadows. There are also footpaths starting in the village leading down through the woods to the local beach, and cycle routes also starting in the village. The Camel Trail is only 35 minutes away and a bus service is available at the site entrance.

On site you’ll find a shop stocked with basic groceries and local produce, a play area, games room, showers, laundry, a disabled and family room and WiFi. However, no pets are permitted at the campsite.

Heligan Caravan & Camping

Heligan Woods, St Ewe, Cornwall PL26 6EL
01726 842714
Open: 5 January – 18 November

You’ll be hard pushed to find a campsite with a more prime location than this – perched above Mevagissey Bay and adjoining the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan where there’s over 200 acres of gardens, woodland and wildlife. Heligan Caravan & Camping is a beautiful floral site itself, just two miles from the coast, with 29 hardstanding pitches and 25 grass pitches, most with electric hook-up. Dogs are welcome on site and there are walks available.

The site’s facilities include toilets and showers, a disabled wetroom, a shop, laundry and play area. Guests at Heligan are welcome to use the facilities at nearby sister park, Pentewan Sands, where there’s indoor pools and restaurants. There’s lots to do in the area including walking and cycling, many sandy beaches, the harbour at Mevagissey and, of course, one of Cornwall’s premier attractions – The Eden Project.

Sennen Cove Camping & Caravanning Club Site

Higher Tregiffian Farm, St Buryan, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 6JB
01736 871588
Open: 29 March – 5 November

You can’t get much further into Cornwall than the Sennen Cove Club site. Set on the Land’s End Peninsula, the north and south coasts of Cornwall are easily reached. If you enjoy walking you’re in for a treat here. Gwynver Beach is a 25-minute walk away and the beach at Sennen is 45 minutes. From there you can walk over the coastal path another 90 minutes to reach Land’s End. Then you’ll be at England’s most westerly point where you can enjoy spectacular scenery.

Or head for the impressive Minack Theatre. Performances get booked up but it is just as dramatic when there’s no play on, with the cliff dropping away into the sea below you, Hop on the A1 Atlantic Coaster bus if you don’t want to move the ’van. The site has a small play area, a playing field and a shop. There are also toilets and showers, a laundry and washing-up area. During high season a fish and chip van visits.

Trevella Park

Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5EW
01637 830308
Open: 23 March – 27 October

Trevella Park is known for its floral displays and is a superb site with lots of facilities but without the noise of bars and clubhouses. The site is just a few minutes from Crantock Beach and Newquay and offers a range of pitches from grass with electric up to premium touring pitches with their own private toilet and shower located by the pitch.

Amenities include toilet blocks with family shower rooms, along with a laundry. There’s also a shop on site. For leisure activities there is a heated outdoor pool (open from May half-term to mid-September), well-stocked fishing lakes, various play areas, crazy golf and a café. As well as all this there is even on-site dog grooming, because pets deserve to be pampered on holiday, too!

Cosawes Park

Perranarworthal, Truro, Cornwall TR3 7QS
01872 863724
Open: All year

Cosawes Park has a sheltered valley location near Truro, and is close to both the sea and the towns, meaning it has a great central location. There’s 100 acres of natural landscaping, set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere and no playgrounds or pools, the site is mainly adult orientated, however, well-behaved children, are welcome. Cosawes’ ethos is all about more ‘rustic’ camping but with quality facilities. Pitches range from basic grass, to premium pitches on hardstanding with full services. There are toilets, showers, disabled facilities and a laundry.

Budemeadows Touring Park

Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0NA
1288 361646
All year

Located just one mile from the nearest beach – Widemouth Bay – Budemeadows is set in nine acres of countryside surrounded by trees and hedgerows, where there’s lots of wildlife. The beach is a wide expanse of sand, which means it’s great for families and surfers. Shops and amenities in Bude are close by. In this seaside town you will find plenty of sandy beaches – don’t miss the sea pool at Summerleaze Beach that is filled at high tide and holds a pool of water after the tide drops.

Budemeadows is perfect for couples and families. Pitches are set out in small groups separated by picket fences and hedging to give a secluded feel. Yet there’s plenty to keep guests occupied on site – a heated outdoor pool, large playground, a bar, takeaway and games room. Practical facilities include toilets and showers, a disabled suite and a laundry.

Padstow Touring Park

Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8LE
01841 532061
Open: All year

Voted AA Campsite of the Year South West in 2016/17, Padstow Touring Park has a luxury toilet block with underfloor heating to keep you comfortable all year round. The site has views over countryside and is only one mile from the fishing harbour town of Padstow – access is easy via a public footpath into the historic town. Facilities include a disabled and family wetroom, a motorhome service point, electric hook-ups and hardstanding pitches, a children’s play area and a shop. The campsite is also dog friendly and an added bonus is the on-site coffee lounge where you can relax while planning where to visit first.

A bus route passes the site entrance with services to Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin, or you can hop onto the Camel Trail for mostly traffic-free cycling to the latter two towns. As well as exploring these areas you can get connections from Padstow to the popular seaside resort of Newquay.

Beacon Cottage Farm

Beacon Drive, St Agnes, Cornwall TR5 0NU
01872 552347
Open: 24 March – 1 October

The perfect choice for walkers and nature watchers, Beacon Cottage campsite is situated on the Heritage Coast as part of a family farm. The site is just 10 minutes’ walk from the National Trust’s Chapel Porth Beach, which is an unspoilt sandy cove with caves, rockpools and excellent bathing. It’s a short walk from another famous attraction – Wheal Coates tin mine – a relic of Cornwall’s mining heritage. You can also walk along a scenic footpath to St Agnes Beacon, while the village with shops, pubs and restaurants is a short drive. Beacon Cottage has level grass pitches with electric, in six small, paddock areas with sea views. Facilities are housed in converted barns and include showers, toilets, a laundry and shop.

Trethem Mill Touring Park

St Just in Roseland, Nr St Mawes, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5JF
01872 580504
Open: 29 March – 7 October

As the only five-star campsite on the Roseland Peninsula, Trethem Mill is a popular choice for those looking for a luxury site set in the tranquil area near St Mawes. On arrival, one thing that will catch your eye is the landscaped gardens that are usually alive with colour. The site covers 12 acres, half of which is dedicated to a dog walk and recreation area. The dog and nature meadow is full of leisurely paths where you can take a stroll enjoying the wildlife.

Pitches are hedged to provide privacy. All have electric hook-up and a TV point, while there are fully serviced and all-weather pitches available, too. The site shop sells a range of essentials, and the amenities include toilets and showers, three individual shower suites and a laundry. There’s also a dedicated motorhome service point. Due to access, this campsite recommends you follow campsite directions and not the sat-nav.

Trewan Hall Camping and Caravanning

St Columb, Cornwall TR9 6DB
01637 880261 (before 8pm)
Open: 11 May – 10 September

Trewan Hall is a seventeenth-century manor house set inland between Newquay and Padstow. Run by the same family for over 50 years, the campsite here is quite unique, being set among the woods, gardens and grounds of the hall. The atmosphere is welcoming and informal with pitches not allocated. Also, guests are invited to explore the 36 acres. On site is a 25-metre heated swimming pool that can be open-air or covered by an inflatable dome, depending on the weather.

Other facilities include a campsite shop, with fresh bread and cakes, along with groceries and camping equipment. There are toilets, showers, baths and a wetsuit wash area. In high season there is entertainment in one of the converted barns, and there are indoor and outdoor play areas. Trewan Hall is a short walk from St Columb Major, a historic market town, where you will find a range of shops, and pubs that serve food.

Dolbeare Park

Landrake, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 5AF
01752 851332
Open: All year

Dolbeare Park is situated in nine acres of parkland. At reception there is a small shop selling essentials along with an off licence. The site is dog friendly, with a dog walk, while many local beaches have no dog restrictions. Hardstanding pitches come with 16-amp electric for motorhomes and RVs up to a maximum of 38 feet. RVs over 28 feet must be booked and allocated pitches in advance. Site facilities include toilets and showers, a disabled room and a laundry.

Dolbeare is near to Plymouth, plus Whitsand Bay and the Rame Peninsula. There are many walking routes from the site and a pub serving food is just one mile away. Further afield is the fishing village of Looe and Bodmin Moor.

Trevalgan Touring Park

Trevalgan, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 3BJ
01736 791892
Open: 1 May – 30 September

We can’t suggest top sites in Cornwall without including the AA Campsite of the Year South West England 2017/18 Winner. Trevalgan Touring Park is a luxury, five-star site in a stunning location. Within walking distance of the South West Coast Path, the site is surrounded by open farmland and gorse and heather-covered hills. Trevalgan is just two miles from St Ives where there are cobbled streets, sandy beaches and secluded coves. What’s even better is the bus service from the campsite entrance, which means it’s easy to get to St Ives and explore the Tate gallery, as well as travelling on to the Minack Theatre and St Michael’s Mount.

With a five-star site you’d expect great facilities and the toilets and showers won’t disappoint; they are more akin to those of a boutique hotel and include family rooms and a disabled suite. There’s also a laundry, wetsuit wash, play area, shop and motorhome service point.

Carlyon Bay Camping Park

Cypress Avenue, Carlyon Bay, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3RE
01726 812735
Open: 30 March – 23 September

With 30 acres of meadow and woodland, Carlyon Bay is a campsite ablaze with colour in season thanks to borders full of hydrangeas and rhododendrons. The site is located on the south coast of Cornwall, between the town of Fowey and the historic port of Charlestown. In fact, you can walk along the coastal footpath and be in the town admiring the tall ships in the harbour in just 40 minutes.

The site is a peaceful place for those wishing to relax but there’s also plenty available for those with children or keen to keep busy. There is an outdoor pool, table tennis, crazy golf, a playground and entertainment in peak season. Other facilities on site include toilets and showers, a shop, WiFi and the Country Kitchen offering sit down and takeaway meals. Pitches are on grass or hardstanding, with electric, and some with full services.

Franchis Holiday Park

Cury Cross Lanes, Mullion, Cornwall TR12 7AZ
01326 240301
Open: 30 March – 30 September

Franchis Holiday Park is a top choice for those looking for a Cornish holiday on a small, quiet site. The site only has 21 touring pitches, with an additional 19 seasonal pitches and 12 privately owned caravans. The site is situated on the Lizard Peninsula, just five miles from Helston and 14 miles from Falmouth and Penzance. There is a bus stop just under a mile away.

The facilities at Franchis include two toilet blocks with showers, dishwashing sinks and a laundry. There is also WiFi and a large field dedicated to dog walking. There are no bars or discos on site. Franchis is a peaceful retreat with an abundance of wildlife and dark skies – it is recommended you bring a torch as there is no outside lighting in order to not spoil the night skies.

Trewethett Farm Caravan & Motorhome Club Site

Trethevy, Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0BQ
01840 770222
Open: 16 March – 5 November

Set just 2½ miles from the iconic ruins of Tintagel Castle, with its links to the legend of King Arthur, Trewethett Farm Club site is positioned on a clifftop and has outstanding views. The site overlooks Bossiney Cove and its sandy beach (the descent to the beach is difficult and access is restricted at high tide) and the South West Coast Path runs past the site.

Facilities here include electric hook-up, a motorhome service point, laundry and a disabled shower room. Hardstanding pitches are available and dogs are welcome. The site gives access to Tintagel town and the harbour of Boscastle – both are about two miles away. Polzeath beach is within 10 miles and is a stretch of wide, golden sand, ideal for family days at the coast. As well as the famous castle, Tintagel has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to suit every taste. There is also a bus stop within half-a-mile of the site.

This feature was originally published in the April 2018 issue of MMM magazine. Want to read more like it? Subscribe to MMM magazine today for your monthly dose of motorhome travel inspiration.