The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is slightly unusual in comprising 12 separate areas within Cornwall. Combined, these account for 370 square miles, some 27% of the county. Inevitably it features some of England’s landmark locations – Land’s End, the Lizard Peninsula, Tintagel and Polperro for starters.
Variety is the key here. The north coast features jagged cliffs and foam-splashed rocks, such as at Boscastle, while the south coast is more gentle with hidden coves and sleepy fishing villages. The wide open spaces of wild Bodmin Moor, with its dramatic stone tors, and the idyllic Roseland offer different habitats for all kinds of flora and fauna.
The Camel Estuary meanders out to sea from Wadebridge, 5 miles inland, and is a peaceful expanse of water flanked by wooded slopes and little creeks. Beaches include Rock, Polzeath and Daymer Bay. The always popular Camel Cycle Trail links Bodmin to Padstow in a glorious rural route, while the South West Coast Path National Trail follows the entire coastline.
Top Cornwall AONB Camping Options
Situated within walking distance of Cornwall’s beautiful south coast, Tencreek is a family-owned campsite with a friendly welcome that rightly justifies its description as a complete holiday park. Of the 350 pitches, about 100 are occupied by mobile homes, but the rest are reserved for touring units and tents, with most hardstanding. The site gently slopes towards the coast and is organised into formal rows, so every pitch has a sea view.
Polruan Holidays Camping and Caravanning is a small site that has recently been acquired by new owners. It is a rural site in an elevated position overlooking Polruan, which is a short walk down the hill. The site has excellent sea views, and very close to the South West coast path. It is a very well maintained site with 11 bookable holiday caravans, 7 touring pitches with electrics and hardstandings, and a separate sloping tent/motorhome field. The site has won the David Bellamy Conservation Award in previous years. The 7 touring pitches are a little tight and larger caravans may struggle to pitch comfortably on the hardstandings.
Pentewan Sands is a very popular, well-managed family park with an ideal position right beside a wide sandy private beach. A busy, 32-acre holiday park with lots going on, there are 584 pitches, 462 for touring, 412 with 16A electricity. The good-sized pitches are marked and numbered on level grass but with nothing between them.
Sea View is an impressive, well cared for park operated by South West Holiday Park. The site no longer has any touring pitches but does offer high quality lodges and holiday homes for rent. The sites quality is reflected in the many awards it has won. Located at the gateway to the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall, with views of the sea and nearby Dodman Point, this park offers luxury self-catering lodges and caravan holiday homes.
Merrose Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club site is a 14-acre site with 177 touring pitches (some seasonal) including 73 hardstanding. It consists of five areas surrounding the main facilities block. Set in the beautiful Roseland Peninsular, it is an ideal touring centre.
Teneriffe Farm site is situated on Cornwall's Lizard peninsular, surrounded by the North Predannack Downs Nature Reserve and the Lizard National Nature Reserve. A prime spot to explore on foot and wander along the rugged stretch of the South West Coast Path, only a 10-minute walk from the site. Numerous award-winning beaches, beautiful coves, fishing harbours, villages and local attractions are only a short drive away.
Trevalgan is a quiet, traditional style of park, on the cliffs 2 miles from Saint Ives. It is a truly rural location where you can enjoy spectacular views and an abundance of flora and fauna and plenty of space for children to run. The present owners, who took over in 2013, have made developments to the site including new sanitary facilities with underfloor heating, some pitches have hedging for privacy and a security barrier at the entrance. There are 135 clearly marked pitches (112 with 16A electricity and some with water as well) in two level fields edged by Cornish stone walls – it could be a little exposed on a windy day. The park is very popular with walkers, with access via footpaths to the South West Coastal Path.
Situated at the foot of the Beacon, the peaceful St Agnes Beacon Caravan and Motorhome Club site offers unforgettable panoramic views of the Cornish coastline. This gently sloping site, arranged on several levels, is partly sheltered by gorse-topped banking. The site offers a great getaway, not to mention a chance to experience the charms of real Cornwall - crisp clear air, breath-taking views along the coastline to St Ives, the ever-changing sea below you and rich flora and fauna to take in as you wander the coastal footpath. The site has 103 grass pitches (some seasonal) all with electricity 16amp.
