CAMPSITE GUIDES:
Serviced or Wild?

If you are first time campers go for serviced campsites but the trick is to head off the beaten track and don’t camp anywhere that has the words Holiday Park, Caravan and Playground in unless you are looking for noise or crowds. There are many wonderful places worth visiting inland and along any stretch of British coast. Arm yourself with an Ordnance Survey map 1:50,000 Scale for the area you wish to discover. Look out for the blue campsite symbol.

OUR FAVOURITE UK CAMPING PLACES:
Dorset, Devon and Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

Serviced

• South Penquite Farm, Blisland, Bodmin (our top favourite site! Build campfires, rent a yurt, homegrown lamb, wonderful scenery, friendly owner).

• Eweleaze farm, Osmington Bay, Dorset (fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast, go sea fishing off Portland Bill)

• Downshay Farm, Swanage (visit Corfe Castle, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door)

• Treloan Coastal Farm, Arthur’s Field, Portscatho, Truro

• Higher Town Farm, Lanhrydrock (National Trust)

• Court Farm, St Stephen (near St. Austell, good access to Eden Project and the Seal
Sanctuary at Gweek)

• Trewince, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula (beautiful coastland walks and quiet coves)

• Pengrugla and Corran (near to Lost Gardens of Heligan)

• Field Camp, Roscroggan (best camp near Godrevy Beach and Lighthouse – no services!)

• Henry’s Campsite, Caerthillian Farm, Lizard (most southerly campsite in Cornwall)

• Kelynack, St Just (near to Land’s End, Lanyon Quoit, Ding Dong Mine, helicopter trip to
Scilly Isles)

• Kenneggy, Praa Sands (access to a secluded beach down a cliff rope)

• Troy Town Farm, St Agnes, Scilly Isles (book very early!)

• St. Martin’s Campsite, St. Martin’s, Scilly (gets busy but never overcrowded)

Wild

• St. Just – St. Ives Coastline (spectacular sunsets, beautiful walks, watch out for choughs and peregrine falcons)

• Anywhere off the Madron – Morvah road (a lot of the land is farmed, so best to ask)

• Maer Downs, Bude (park in Crooklets nBay car park for a surf before making camp on the cliffs – best surf hire is Zumajay)

• Hartland Point (Discover Reverend Hooker, the church at Morwenstow and the wreck at
Sharpnose Point – read Jeremy Seal’s travel book on subject) Wales (Gower Peninsula and
Pembrokeshire) Serviced

• East Hook Farm, Marloes (visit Skomer Island to look for puffins, there is pony trekking nearby or take the coastal path to the beautiful Marloe Sands – check tide times; at high tide the beach is entirely covered)

• Caerfai farm, St David’s (Go surfing on Newgale Sands) Wild

• Anywhere along the Pembrokeshire coast – check with local farmers if you are not sure.

Western Isles – Inner and Outer Hebrides

The Inner Hebrides

• Tiree (more sunshine hours than anywhere else in Britain)
• Colonsay • Islay • Rhum, Muck and Eigg – the latter brilliant for smaller children.

The Outer Hebrides

Across the Minch Sea lie the islands on the edge of the world – the Western Isles (or Outer Hebrides) made up of Barra, Eriksay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis. Most are connected by causeway and are reached either by ferry or air (Barra, Benbecula or Stornoway). For information on activities contact Niall Johnson at the North Uist Outdoor Centre, Lochmaddy www.uistoutdoorcentre.co.uk/ or www.visithebrides.com

• Barra Start here (if you fly in, you will land on the beach!) and head slowly North, camping wherever you fancy. Remember that there is no trespass law but the land where you camp is always part of a someone’s croft. Keep on the west coast and you will follow an almost unbroken line of the most beautiful shell sand beaches you are ever likely to visit or see. You will be astounded by the richness and natural beauties of the islands and charmed by the hospitality and friendliness of the Hebridean islanders. There are activities to suit all the family – fantastic archaeological sites, local arts, Harris Tweed, seafood www.hebrideansmokehouse.com, cycling, salmon and trout fishing, kayaking, abseiling, walking, hill climbing, bird watching, whale watching, snorkelling, diving, surfing – the list is endless!

• Monach Isles – home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Grey Seal, or further afield – if the weather is fine – visit St. Kilda, an archipelago of uninhabited islands and now a World Heritage Site.

Top tip: We have always topped and tailed any wild camping expeditions with a little bit of luxury, either by renting a cottage nearby or booking into a hotel for a night or two.

Equipment:
www.snowandrock.com – The staff know their stuff
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com – wide range of tents and camping accessories (buy warm sleeping bags even for summer)
www.rmytents.co.uk & www.surplusandoutdoors.com – ex-army and surplus army style
equipment (perfect for boys of any age!) • A woolly hat, waterproofs, and two fleeces.

Campervanning:
www.kamperhire.uk – modern VW campervans (reliable if you are planning on taking a campervan to the Western Isles or abroad – ask to speak to Mark).
www.snailtrail.co.uk or
www.rentaretrocamper.co.uk – 1970s VW Campervans (perfect for a week-end or week away, pootling down to Cornwall).