Glamping in Cornwall

• Pods, yurts and shepherd's huts: Cornwall's glamping sites range from canvas safari tents on clifftop farms to insulated pods with wood-fired hot tubs, most with parking and a shared fire pit.
• Coast or countryside: Pitch up near Newquay and Bude for surf, or inland around Truro and St Austell for quieter woodland settings and easier access to the A30.
• What our guests say: Top-rated stays across the county sit above 9.5+, with guests praising sea views, spotless kitchens and hosts who share their favourite coastal walks.
• Best time to pitch up: May to September brings the warmest, driest weather; spring and early autumn mean lower prices and far shorter queues at the beach car parks.
• Things to do: Surf at Fistral Beach, walk the South West Coast Path, cross to St Michael's Mount and ride the Camel Trail from Padstow.

Glamping in Cornwall covers insulated camping pods, bell tents, yurts, shepherd's huts and safari tents, usually pitched on working farms or clifftop smallholdings within walking distance of a beach or coast path. If canvas is quite your thing, pair it with a relaxing getaway considering a glamping with a hot tub. Most sites keep things simple but comfortable.

• Wood-fired hot tubs and outdoor showers
• Fire pits, barbecues and shared covered kitchens
• Real beds, wood burners and proper bedding
• Compost or private washrooms and hot water
• Dog-friendly pitches with paddock space

Wi-Fi is common near the towns but patchy on the more remote farm sites.

What are the best areas to stay in Cornwall?

For a first glamping trip, base yourself on the north coast, where the surf beaches, coast path and farm sites sit close together. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests staying in Cornwall consistently rate the setting above everything else: waking to sea air, walking straight onto the coast path and finishing the day around a fire pit. Ratings of 9.5+ are common across the county, with reviewers highlighting warm welcomes, spotless kitchens and hosts who point them towards the quieter coves. Parking and a decent hot shower come up again and again as the details that make a stay.

Here are our top-rated places to stay in Cornwall from the past year:

1. Sea Haven - Tho - 9.9+: A two-person retreat in Gorran Haven with a full kitchen and washing machine, minutes from the beach and coast path.
2. Amber Beach - 9.7+: Sleeps four in south-west Cornwall, with a dishwasher and well-equipped kitchen that guests rate for longer family stays.
3. Cobblers Cottage - 9.6+: A four-person Cornish bolthole with parking and a fireplace, praised for cosy evenings after a day on the coast.

Cornwall is England's south-westernmost county, a long granite peninsula edged by the Atlantic to the north and the calmer Channel coast to the south.

🥗Where to eat in Cornwall?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Hidden Hut is the best rated restaurant in Cornwall. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Emma and James recommend Philps Bakery in Cornwall: after a wet morning on the Camel Trail, a bag of proper Cornish pasties eaten on the harbour wall beat any sit-down meal.

1. Surf at Fistral Beach
2. Walk the South West Coast Path
3. Cross to St Michael's Mount
4. Cycle the Camel Trail
5. Explore the Eden Project
6. Swim at Kynance Cove
7. Ride the Bodmin steam railway

1. Surf at Fistral Beach

   Cornwall's best-known surf break sits on the western edge of Newquay, a wide Atlantic bay that works for complete beginners in summer and turns serious when the autumn swells arrive. Surf schools along the dunes hire boards and wetsuits by the hour, and lessons usually run at low tide. Afterwards, the beachfront cafés serve chips and hot chocolate while you watch the next set roll in. It is a five-minute drive from most glamping sites around the town.

2. Walk the South West Coast Path

   The path traces almost the whole Cornish coastline, so you can pick a stretch to suit the day. The section from St Ives to Zennor is rocky and wild, while the walk from Polperro to Looe is gentler and takes about two hours. Look out for seals below the cliffs, disused engine houses on the skyline and wildflowers in late spring. Buses run back along most routes, so you can walk one way and ride home.

3. Cross to St Michael's Mount

   This tidal island sits just off Marazion, near Penzance, crowned by a castle and terraced subtropical gardens. At low tide you walk out across the cobbled causeway; at high tide a small boat takes you instead. Inside there is a medieval church, armour and family rooms, while the gardens cling improbably to the granite slopes. Check the tide tables before you set off, and allow a few hours to see both castle and gardens properly.

4. Cycle the Camel Trail

   Running for around 18 miles from Padstow through Wadebridge to Bodmin and on to Wenfordbridge, this traffic-free route follows a disused railway line along the Camel estuary. It is flat, well surfaced and ideal for families, with bike hire at both ends. Herons and egrets feed on the mudflats, and there are pubs and cafés at regular intervals. Finish in Padstow for fish and chips on the harbour before riding or catching the bus back.

5. Explore the Eden Project

   Built inside a former china clay pit near St Austell, Eden's huge biomes recreate rainforest and Mediterranean climates under linked geodesic domes. You can walk through banana plants and coffee trees in humid heat, then step into olive groves and citrus. Outdoor gardens, a zip wire and changing exhibitions fill the rest of the site. It is a reliable rainy-day option and easy to reach from the A390, with plenty of parking on site.

6. Swim at Kynance Cove

   On the Lizard Peninsula, Kynance is a jumble of serpentine rock stacks, white sand and turquoise water that looks almost Mediterranean on a bright day. Come at low tide to reach the caves and the wider beach, and take the steep path down from the National Trust car park. There is a small café above the sand for tea and cake. Swimming is best on calm days, as the currents pick up quickly around the stacks.

7. Ride the Bodmin steam railway

   The Bodmin & Wenford Railway runs restored steam locomotives through wooded valleys between Bodmin, Boscarne Junction and Bodmin Parkway. Carriages are period pieces, the crews are volunteers and the whole trip takes around an hour and a half. It connects neatly with the Camel Trail at Boscarne if you want to combine a ride with a walk or cycle. Special timetables run at Christmas and during school holidays, so book ahead in summer.