Camping in Cornwall
Camping – you either love or hate it. Camping holidays in Cornwall can be spectacular, they can also be very wet. Thankfully, the British are a hardy breed and well used to day after day of rain so pack your boots and follow some of our tips for enjoying a camping trip to Cornwall.
Travel – don’t get caught in those long traffic jams. Changeover day in Cornwall, the day that people leave and arrive usually falls on a Friday and a Saturday. This can cause complete chaos on the roads and you should not be surprised when a half an hour drive takes many hours more. If your work commitments allow consider travelling mid week for one of the journeys, or set of at the crack of dawn or late at night. If you are planning a day trip around Cornwall try and avoid the main roads at peak times. BBC Radio Cornwall provides good travel reports both on the radio and their website.
Local Produce – there are too many specialities from different regions in Cornwall to mention all but ones not to be missed include Cornish Pasties, ideally swilled down by a bottle of local brew, why not try Cornish Knocker from Skinners Brewery. If you are a fan of Cornish Clotted cream then make sure you have some with a cream tea. For upmarket nibbles try some Yarg cheese complimented by one of the delicious wines from Camel Valley.
Local Festivals – there are a number of these and it is best to do some research before you book your trip. Iconic ones include Helston Flora Day, the ‘Obby ‘Oss Day Festival in Padstow and the Oyster Festival in Falmouth.
Off the beaten track – there are many places which are off the mainstream tourist trail, where you will enjoy a quieter time but no less interesting. Consider The Lizard peninsular for spectacular scenery and coastline, St Agnes for north coast surfing, good pubs and a traditional Cornish town. St Ives is a spectacular place to visit for shopping, restaurants, art galleries, night life and beaches. Unfortunately with limited parking you may find yourself frustrated by the traffic jams and shortage of free car parking spaces. Avoid all of this and choose a campsite in a surrounding area and hop on the train into St Ives. This train line is probably one of the most spectacular branch lines in the UK.
Walking holiday – Don’t forget to pack your walking boots as Cornwall and the South West region boasts 630 miles of superb coastal walking. Consider staying in a smaller village on the coast for easy access to this spectacular walking. When you surf the internet for campsites, check out their location on Google earth and start planning your walking trips.
Fresh fish – Don’t forget to sample the large array of fresh fish that Cornwall has to offer. There are many fish restaurants dotted around the county with the flag ship Rick Stein Fish Restaurant located in Padstow. Book well in advance if you would like to eat here and look at their website as they regularly have special lunch deals which will help keep your costs down. For a fascinating insight into the fishing industry and an education on different types of fish then a visit to Newlyn Fish Market is a must. And with the added bonus is you can purchase your dinner!
Camping in Cornwall will be the highlight of your year and we are sure that if you follow our top tips you will have a very relaxing and entertaining time. Enjoy!
