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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Camping in Cornwall, near surfy beaches. Any recommendations for me?

51 replies

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/04/2012 07:20

It will be the end of the summer holidays that we go, and what I'd like is a site that is not too far from a surfing beach, because that's what my DC will do the entire time given half a chance. I've said I would go again this year, just need to get my head round wearing a wetsuit

We have a tent, sorry tis not a bell tent.

OP posts:

kahlua4me · 21/04/2012 07:29

Porth beach may fit the bill. I have not been in the campsite so can't comment on that but the beach is fantastic.

kahlua4me · 21/04/2012 07:31

Or Watergate Bay. Again I only know the beach, which is perfect for surfing, lots of space there

HatchedAtTheHutch · 21/04/2012 07:45

Seconding Watergate Bay

Dottymcdot · 21/04/2012 07:48

Treyarnon has a nice campsite, beach is smaller but still good for surfing (I'm told)

shouldbe · 21/04/2012 07:48

Polzeath on the north Cornish coast. Campsite is right next to the beach :)

cosysocks · 21/04/2012 07:52

Porth Mawgan is fab. Tiny little campsite but facilities clean and owners friendly. It's only a few minutes walk from fab beach, where there is a shop that sells fresh bread and lattes(essential for camp mornings), there is a pub and restaurant again within walking distance.
Can you tell I had a fab time and want to go back? Living in the north the cost of petrol is just too much to justify going that far again

Gwithianrocks · 21/04/2012 07:52

gwithian farm is good ...walk to the beach over sand dunes and the beach is the most stunning beach in the world. And there's a lighthouse, seals and three fab cafe's you can walk to. two surf schools, decent surf and easy to drive to other good surf beaches at sennen or further up the north coast.

cosysocks · 21/04/2012 07:53

[http://www.magiccove.co.uk/index.html]

Original poster

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/04/2012 07:56

OOOOoooo - lots of lovely sites, thank you! I shall work my way through. I love the idea of it all being walkable, and all these places have surf hire.

Thank you, I'm going to have a lovely mooch through now.

Cosy - we are London, so 6 hours or more for us, so can't imagine how much it would be from the north

OP posts:

cosysocks · 21/04/2012 08:03

Mammoth journey ratherbe but so def worth it. On the plus side only a short drive to amazing Lakes and Scottish views

loubielou31 · 21/04/2012 08:12

Gwithianrocks I've just booked Gwithian farm for two weeks in the summer. The beach looks amazing but the site looked lovely too. Have you stayed there? any tips?

Original poster

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/04/2012 08:14

No hijack at all - tis all the stuff we want to know too

OP posts:

Born2BRiiiled · 21/04/2012 08:24

Does it have to be Cornwall? North Devon is fabulous too, and not quite as far. Around Croyde way.

Original poster

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/04/2012 08:26

Doesn't have to be Cornwall - we have been to Croyde, Newquay and Westward Ho and rather liked the idea of going further iyswim? But you are right, North Devon is fabulous too for sure!

OP posts:

simonthedog · 21/04/2012 08:30

We went to Gwithian farm campsite last year and it was fab. Have booked again for this year here

loubielou31 · 21/04/2012 08:35

When I phoned Gwithian Farm they were very nearly full (that might have been only if you wanted hook up).
I looked at these websites, cornwallinfocus has a very good interactive map. cool camping lots of these didn't have the hook up that I need for two weeks away, but it's where I found Gwithian farm as a if ... is full try .... and the tourist board
Good Beach Guide was really useful but appears to have gone off line for a month while they update the beaches. There's loads of beach information on the Visit Cornwall site though.

Original poster

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/04/2012 08:38

We've probably left it far too late I imagine, just got to pin DH down, not literally obv to make sure he is here then...

OP posts:

TeaOneSugar · 21/04/2012 08:44

Have a look at Ruda, Croyde bay, we stayed on "the burrows" and it's practically on the beach, and right next to the surf school.

carrielou2007 · 21/04/2012 12:02

The beach at Hayle is gorgous and fab, no surfing here but my dc loved it! We were at the other end of gwithian farm as it's about 3 miles long. We went twice last year (not camping, in the Haven site and then the site next door) and going to John Fowler in a house in June set in woodland (I can pretend I am at Centreparcs )

missmaviscruet · 21/04/2012 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gwithianrocks · 21/04/2012 16:43

also agree polzeath is good and tristram an amazing site. if your DC are teenagerish then its heaven...lots of jack wills beautiful people hanging round and some good surf shops too.
i love gwithian farm campsite....main trouble with it is so do lots of other people and so it books up fast for summer and half term. Its very laid back, great shower and loo but other than that not much else which is just how I like it. There is a fish man who comes round from newlyn which is good if you want fresh fish to eat and there is a fish and chip van once a week too. Best thing for me is that I feel totally comfortable letting my DS run around all day! There is a big empty space in the middle of the field which is perfect for kite flying / football / running races etc. If you are in a van there is a bus stop right outside the site which is very handy if you can't be bothered to sort the van out to go out for the day. The surf can be hit and miss - often blown out and messy but good fun. Great rock pools too! However for me the clincher for the campsite is that you can walk across the dunes to the beach. Given that the council seem to be going for recooping all debt by charging a small fortune for car parks this is a great advantage for the site. Also means that BBQ's can be done at sunset, dog walks at sunrise, moonlit walks along the beach back from the cafe in the evening....Oh its brilliant! Love it!

Gwithianrocks · 21/04/2012 16:43

my love for the site seems to have cancelled out my ability to put sentences into paragraphs... Sorry

JarethTheGoblinKing · 21/04/2012 16:46

Definitely Watergate Bay. Site is Trevarrian I think.

Queenofcake · 21/04/2012 16:52

Chy Carne is walking distance (10 minutes downhill a little longer coming back up) from Kennack Sands down on the Lizard. There is plenty of surfing there.
Also 10 minutes in the car is Poldhu Cove - fab fab for surfing.

We have been to Chy Carne for the last 4 summers for 3 weeks at a time and love it. Some pitches are sloping so you may want to ask to be on the top where it is flat. There are stunning sea views from alot of the pitches too.

MrsHeffley · 21/04/2012 16:54

God I loathed Gwithian,far too cramped,windy and full of poncy Bodenites and families trying to be trendy. Was v noisy when we went and there was a large gang of some quite unpleasant kids on bikes that my generally hardy dc found quite intimidating(they tortured the guinea pigs),washrooms and washing up sinks were heaving too.Be prepared to queue for everything even the loo.

Whatever you do don't get a pitch round the edge of the football field as it's monopolised by football players,v noisy and you get no privacy what so ever.

Found the beach quite busy and heaving in the sheltered spots.

Highly over rated.The 3 cafes are fab though and we liked hearing the sea at night,we just a Bialetti instead and dp makes me a latte,we go near Constantine,3 fab beaches in the vacinity.

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