Campervan in Cornwall

[newhousenewhouse]

I’m hiring a camp an and going to go on a weeks holiday on my own in Cornwall. I’m sure I could reverse down a country lane if necessary 😆 but some roads in Cornwall are tiny and I don’t want to embarrass myself!

Does anyone any ideas of where to go that doesn’t have very small roads? Looking to move about most days and hoping to do lots of sea swimming.

First holiday on my own as my children have left home and I don’t have a partner. Scared and excited!

When I first lived down here I came across a campervan sorted of wedged across a sharp corner on a lane. Still no idea how it happened. Lanes are narrow and with sharp bends so reversing can be tricky. I once saw Cornwall described, in the summer months, as a car park with hedges.

The Old Stables Campsite is a good base for lots of days out and very straightforward to get to.

Thanks ☺️

Just wanted to say I think you're v brave to do this. I am also single and have been wondering about buying a camper van. Did you know there are some Facebook groups for solo female travelers with camper vans? You might want to have a look as they are full of support.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CiejGKJN6/

www.facebook.com/share/g/18wkKzvKMd/

You could try car camping instead? Then you won't have to stress about the narrow roads. A lot cheaper too!

Is a camper van really wider than some of those ridiculous 4x4s like range rover vogue or bmw x7? Surely they manage (or their chauffeur does )

A campervan is little larger than your average large car (probably no wider while possibly being a tad longer & taller).
Do you know what model you are hiring as that could well relieve your fears before you even start, check dimensions and compare them to your car?
Some Cornish lanes are certainly unsuitable for a MoHo but a camper should be ok.

I was taught to drive oversize vehicles years ago (we have an 8m Moho ourselves which unfortunately I am unable to drive due to licence restrictions for a medical condition) and have always just used the door mirrors for reversing, with a slab sided vehicle they allow you to position the vehicle to within an inch. Most vehicles like this don't have a rearview interior mirror or the option to look out of a rear window so your side mirrors (and a rearview camera if fitted) are key.

Oops.. just realised I was talking about a caravan not a campervan

Come to SE Cornwall. It's much quieter than the North coast. Perhaps start in a Campsite near Mount Edgecombe / Rame Head and swim at Cawsands and Kingsands. There's a fairly large car park at Cawsands.
Then check out Whitsands Bay or perhaps leave the van at Millendreath or Millpond Car Park and walk into Looe to stock up on fresh fish and fruit and veg from the market. Looe and Millendreath are great for swimming.
Finally move to Llansallos camping for more great swims there or at Fowey.

I think you'll be fine OP. Just dont park like a twat, say thanks when in a passing place and take your time. It's the inconsiderate drivers that piss the locals off!

Thanks ☺️ change of plan. Dates didn’t work to borrow the camper van and it’s going to piss it down with rain all week. Hmm just my luck. Have got a hotel booked in Newquay tomorrow for the night and then can go wherever I find something to do! Thinking maybe Tintagel and then Bude. Any ideas please? Will be in my mini so small roads now not an issue!

Looks more likely to be showery than pissing down most days - the north coast sometimes misses the rain. I love the coast and beaches between Constantine and Padstow, but Tintagel and Bude are fine if you want more facilities.

Watch the surfers at Fistral beach of course (or another of Newquay's beaches).
Visit the harbour and perhaps see the seals.

You could walk some of the coast path Newquay to Porth.
You could walk the other way along the Pentire headland.

Visit Crantock beach (free parking for national trust members scan your card for a ticket). From what I recall you'll need to take your own drinks and picnic there.

You could visit Marazion and St Michael's Mount (tidal causeway accessed by boat at high tide). I believe you can book a free ticket if you are a national trust member and show your card when you visit.
https://stmichaelsmount.co.uk/plan-your-visit/

The Minack theatre is down that way and beautiful.
https://minack.com/whats-on/

Visit St Ives and use the park and ride as very little parking. Lovely shops and galleries.

There is the Barbara Hepworth sculpture garden and Tate St Ives
https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/barbara-hepworth-museum-and-sculpture-garden

Hundreds of beautiful places to visit in Cornwall - nowhere is too far. I'm jealous. Have a great week.

Have you thought about going somewhere else?
I ask this as Cornwall is not known for its welcome and they actively dislike tourists, so if you did have trouble you maybe wouldn’t be in the best place??

I think this is unfair.

I lived and worked in Cornwall and was made very welcome by the Cornish and non Cornish. Half the people that live there are not Cornish themselves.

Yes people find the traffic and busyness in high season a lot but they are nice people.

It's a very relatively safe place. Never felt unsafe jogging etc as a woman. Youngsters were polite. Newquay of a night time can have a rowdy vibe but it's lovely in the day.

As everywhere people like people to take their litter home and clean up after their dog.

People do resent holiday homes which stand empty a lot of the time while local people can't find anywhere to rent and I don't blame them.

The OP will be welcome and safe.

I beg to differ. And it’s important for OP to look beyond a one person anecdote.
It’s widely known and documented.

This area is lovely, and a bit off the beaten track with regards tourist traffic. On Fridays-Sundays, you can swim in the estauary at Mount Edgecumbe and have a saiba afterwards.

i’ve done Cornwall in a campervan, never again. The roads are too narrow and it’s really busy. There are plenty of better places to go in a campervan.

I've had lots of holidays there with my children and have always felt welcome. A beautiful part of the country.

Have you been to Cornwall?
What were your experiences there?

Loads of experience of the area between padstow (definitely visit) and Newquay. Harlyn, Constantine and Teyarnon all lovely beaches. If you are feeling brave, book in for a surfing lesson at Harlyn. Low tide there is a natural swimming rock pool at Treyarnon

I think it's fairer to say that we actively dislike SOME emmets. We don't have a problem with the vast majority. Just a few with an attitude problem.

Yeah, van life in Cornwall was a "Been there, done that, ignored the T-shirts and made a mental note of "Never Again!"

Not fun. And I did it off-season.

If you want sea swimming I would head to Wales, where it’s easier to park close to the sea.

I recommend you join the National Trust as you park for free in their car parks and they welcome campervans.