Where to Wild Camp in Cornwall

 

For the intrepid camper, few things can be so alluring as Cornwall’s sublime, rugged landscape and coastline. With its many white sandy beaches, wild flora, undulating scrubland and towering cliffs over turquoise waters, this final corner of England proves irresistible to those yearning for a greater outdoors. With scenic hiking, cycling, surfing, swimming and historic site exploration on hand, the options remain great and many, making wild camping in Cornwall a most popular pursuit.  

What is wild camping? Well, it does what it says. Quite simply, it is off-campsite camping: you, your tent, the earth – that’s your lot. But here’s the rub: wild camping isn’t a fully legal activity in England, though the rules across the UK do vary.  As for Cornwall, a blind eye is routinely turned from off-site pitch-ups; however, permission from a landowner is required. Easy access to wild camping isn’t always so easy. 

So, being the wild type with a heart set on Kernow, you may well have wondered ‘Is wild camping allowed in Cornwall?’, or, if wild and optimistic, ‘Where can I camp for free in Cornwall?’

Alas, the answers are ‘no’ to the first query and ‘pretty much nowhere’ to the second. Instead, to get you nearly there on both counts, here are five fully accessible plots of glorious Cornish land on which wild-style camping is fully permitted, with the bonus of a few added extras to make life a little more comfortable. The end result is that you might even say they’re among the best Cornish campsites. From small, family-run destinations to multi-acred working farms, these are sites to provide you with… well, rather a good lot, whether you opt for the canvas cover of a bell tent or simply the Milky Way overhead. 

Lower Penderleath Farm

Tucked away in a Cornish wildlife haven, it’s easy to ‘go wild’ at this farm, which is conveniently only two miles from St Ives (about eight minutes' drive and with plenty of taxis) and about 15 minutes' walk from a local pub with food. However, given the site’s spectacular sunsets, you may struggle to pull yourself away for an evening out. The nearest beaches are two or three miles away, making the site an ideal base from which to explore the Penwith Peninsula. Clean, well-maintained on-site facilities include a shower block with hot water and washing-up areas. 

Find out more about Lower Penderleath Farm

Watergate Camping

Just three miles from the pretty village of Looe and only a half-hour drive from the Eden Project, this family-run estate also offers all the activities the more rugged camping type may also enjoy. Fishing, paddling, canoeing, wildlife watching on the West Looe River… you’re even free to cook your catch over a barbecue or campfire (which you can collect your own wood for). For those in search of an authentic camping experience, necessities here remain authentically bare, which is why the site is kitted out rather minimally. Modern toilets, a shower block and washing areas are provided, with the rest left to your wild devices.

Learn more about Watergate Camping 

 

Tregella Place Camping

This is the sort of countryside you’ve likely daydreamed about: a verdant stretch of secluded, grassy farmlands somewhere in the West Country where you can simply sit and soak up the silence. At the same time, Tregella Place is only a 10-minute drive from Padstow for all your necessities, and getting to the local pub takes half that; even closer is a chicken farm to supply eggs for all those firepit-cooked omelettes. 

As camping in Cornwall also obliges regular visits to the beach (the best beaches, no less!), those at both Harlyn and Trevone are yours in less than 10 minutes' drive. But if you’ve resolved to park the car until the end of the holiday, then the South West Coast Path awaits the tread of your hiking boots. For the travelling cyclist, there are 18 miles of Camel Trail to take up, linking you up to Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin.

Read more about Tregella Place 

Blakes Kiero Caravan Site

Should you graduate from tent to motorhome whilst also enjoying some of Kernow’s simpler traditions (cream teas, more specifically), Blakes Kiero is a top choice. They do a lovely scone in the garden here. They also have spectacular views over the Camel Estuary and are only a few miles from the beaches and watersports at Rock and Polzeath. And in the likely event that children are aboard, the best family beaches in Cornwall are never far away.  

Easy access is also to be had to Padstow, Port Isaac, Tintagel, the Eden Project… it’s all there.  Golf, fishing, cycling, hiking, ditto. With such potentially busy days to be had, it’s just as well Blakes has plenty of space to relax come the evening. 

Explore Blakes Kiero Caravan Site

 

Want to learn more about the ins and outs of wild camping in the UK? Be sure to see our South West Camping Guide along with some helpful extra info about wild camping in the UK and beyond.