The ins and outs of glamping Cornwall

Glamorous camping – or just glamping, as it’s known – offers a unique way to experience beautiful Cornwall. Whether it’s a timber-faced shack or a traditional Gypsy caravan packed with a bed, these stays tend to ooze character and charm. What’s more, instead of pitching the tent and fussing with guide ropes, they’re usually ready and waiting for you when you arrive. That means you can be out and trawling the Trevose Head or munching on pasties in Padstow in no time.

What to expect from glamping Cornwall

Here, we take a look at just some of the things you might expect from a glamped-up camping trip to the South West, running through the styles of accommodation right to the upscale end of the spectrum.

Characterful and luxurious glamping in Cornwall

Souped-up campsites have done well to break into the world of luxury. You might not get the same space as a cottage rental or a home, but a glamping pad can crank up the cosy factor with its unique architecture. Deck spaces with a view of Cornwall’s rolling green fields are common, while large gardens with picnic tables and sunning beds are also available.

The range of glamping Cornwall options

One of the great charms of choosing glamping over a traditional holiday rental is the sheer variety of different sorts of stay that are on the menu. You could be bedding down in a wood-built cabana with sliding French doors. Or, you might have a vintage caravan that’s been redone with fairy lights and plush furniture. It’s a real roll of the dice.

Glamping in Cornwall with hot tubs

One feature that can really send that glamping trip into overdrive is a hot tub. Steaming just outside the door of your cabin, they might be private or shared. However, there’s really nothing like a dip in the balmy waters after braving the blustery headlands of the Cornish coast.

Where to find glamping Cornwall

With beaches, valleys and moors spreading across Cornwall, you should never be short of somewhere amazing to seek out those glamping stays.

St Ives has glamping Cornwall

Beach lovers flock to the gorgeous port town of St Ives each summer to have award-wining sands like Carbis Bay just on their doorstep. But there’s more to it than that. Priceless art bursts from the avant-garde exhibits of the Tate Museum, while the streets are lined with a jumble of pretty tearooms and yacht clubs.

Glamping Cornwall, Padstow style

Padstow’s glamping options are the perfect pick for foodies on a culinary adventure around the South West. Sat just next to one of the region’s most handsome harbours, they provide access to celebrity chef fish kitchens and hearty Cornish pasty stores.

Pick glamping in Newquay

Surfers are sure to enjoy a glamping trip to Newquay. Home to dune-backed Fistral Beach, the town is famed for its wild yearly wave festival, Boardmasters. You’ll need to book well in advance if you’re aiming to catch the deck-spinning DJs and swell-conquering pros then, though.

Features you might want in your glamping Cornwall

Before booking that cosy glamp pod, it’s also worth considering a few extra features. From pet-welcoming policies to money-saving rates, they’re listed below.

Dog-friendly Cornwall glamping

There are loads of reasons why you might want to share that country escape to Cornwall with the pooch. For starters, the South West Coast Path passes by many a rental, which means you can treat the hound to long walks past Penzance and beyond. What’s more, some glamping options are truly welcoming to 4-legged guests, offering wide open spaces for them to play in and even comfy beds to rest the tail when it’s done wagging.

Cheap and cheerful Cornish glamping

You may need to forgo the bubbling hot tub and the boho art touches of the more creative glamping pods if you’re on a tighter budget, but you can still pick from plenty of places that offer style and character. It could also pay to head inland from the coast – the most coveted Cornish camping spots usually cling to the cliffs around St Ives or lovely little Looe.

Cornwall glamping on a farm

While many a glamp-site makes its home on a traditional campsite, you can also discover cabins and pods on farmland. These tend to be the more remote and nature-shrouded glamping options, with fewer surrounding amenities but a closer connection to the Cornish dales and countryside.