Crantock camping: a cool choice by the Cornish coast
Up for a bit of surf time on the north Cornwall coast but decreed Newquay to be too big and busy? Try a Crantock campsite out for size: the town’s somewhat smaller southern neighbour is just as good on the wave-riding front, with a gorgeously long sandy beach and a surf school to its name and a much more villagey vibe.
And oh, the views… settling at a holiday park or campsite near Crantock is liable to involve either looking out over the sea or being surrounded by the gorgeous greenery that comes with Cornwall’s rural areas.
Who could resist such a thing? Well, not many people, we’d wager. And handily it turns out that campsites around Crantock cater for all sorts of travellers, from those planning a quiet coastal escape to those who favour a full pack of entertainment and facilities.
What sort of Crantock campsite would suit you?
Got all your kit ready and raring to go? Tent-based hols around here can be whatever you want them to be: properly simple wild camping sites all the way up to action-packed family holiday parks with tons of antics on site (think play areas, outdoor pools, kids’ activities and evenings of entertainment…).
Panic not if tent-dwelling appeals but you don’t have all the resources: you can still join in the fun by booking a place that’s got bell tents, tipis, wigwams, yurts and the like (extra points if you find one where you can build a proper campfire). If you’re the sort that tends to feel the cold, you may also like to consider the extra shelter provided by a Crantock camping pod.
You’ll see plenty of rolling homes as you roam around this part of Cornwall too – perhaps no surprise there, as they’re so handy for stuffing a surfboard or two in. Along with those come plenty of options for motorhome and touring caravan pitches. A word of caution when choosing where to park up for the night: Cornwall’s roads can be rather narrow in places, so if you’re not the most confident at manoeuvring your vehicle you may find it’s easier to find a place somewhere near the A30 and continue coastwards by bike/on foot.
After something rather more swish, or perhaps in need of a bit more space to cope with all the family? Several Crantock campsites have lodges, log cabins and caravans that are just the ticket for such times – with the added bonus of providing lots of kit to keep your packing list brief.
It’s also worth thinking about who’s in your travelling party: the vast majority of campsites around Crantock are firmly family-friendly, but it’s possible to seek out adults-only sites instead if you’re in need of a kids-free couple’s break. And of course Cornwall’s pretty much heaven for travelling dogs so it’s easy to find a dog-friendly campsite near Crantock.
Top activities for a Crantock camping break
Number one: the beach. You’ll definitely not want to skip this one – it’s a proper Cornwall cracker, flanked by gorgeous dunes and with the sort of waves that tend themselves not only to swims but also surfing, windsurfing and paddleboarding. Lessons and kit hire are all to be had down by the beach so it’s not just the preserve of professionals either. All sound a bit active? Sit quietly by the shore and you may just spot some of the dolphins that sometimes swim past.
If that’s not enough coast for you, well, Cornwall’s got plenty more just up the road… try out Perranporth, Mawgan Porth and, yes, Newquay itself for more beach times and watersports, or just pick a portion of the South West Coast Path for a stroll (you can’t go wrong here really – it’s all pretty).
Time to step away from the beach for a bit? Hit the slides of Waterworld, check out the critters of Newquay Zoo or find out more about flight at the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre. If you’ve got a bit of adult time, a trip through the Trerice gardens is a fine idea, as is an outing to Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm.
Settle in somewhere around Crantock and you’ll not be that far from some of Cornwall’s big hitters, either: the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and Port Isaac are all easily doable with a drive of 40 minutes or so.
Keen to see more of the county of Kernow? Browse through all our options for campsites and holiday parks in Cornwall.
