Forest campsites in Watergate Bay with wildlife watching

Surf, sand, and sea cliffs draw beach lovers to this Cornish beach.

91% (113 reviews)
91% (113 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Watergate Bay

Star Hosts in Watergate Bay

Under £50

12 top forest campsites in Watergate Bay with wildlife watching

98%
(52)

Glan Y Mor Camping

15 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · St Petrox, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
A super-friendly, family-run campsite on the edge of Pembroke
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£17
 / night
99%
(95)

Kingsmead Camping

36 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Cullompton, England
A range of pitches, from grassy open spaces to off-grid woodland clearings, topped off by two well-stocked fishing lakes
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£24
 / night
97%
(133)

Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

127 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Cornwall, South West England
Wake up to the sound of birdsong, go swimming before breakfast in the clear water of a secluded lake. Cook your bacon and eggs over an open fire while you plan your day, or just laze it away in the peace and quiet of your own personal tipi. You can always go fishing tomorrow, and walk along the cliffs the day after that… The site is a unique woodland valley folded around a clear, spring-fed lake created from the old Tregildrans Quarry. Our tipis and tent pitches are dotted about this secret 20 acres full of ferns, bluebells, oak and meadowsweet. Left in peace for many years there's been no modern chemicals or poisons on the land, meaning we've got bluebells, dormice, Red Admirals and shy woodland Jays for you to spot. It’s a place set apart from the rush and clutter of the modern holiday experience, with an atmosphere that makes you forget the world outside, and just lounge, ramble, or potter about in a boat. We're committed to giving you a genuinely individual service from first contact to your time staying with us. We established CTH in 1996. This was the first and we believe still is the best tipi holiday site in the UK. We know our area inside out and can always help with local knowledge or contacts if you need them. We want to offer our guests a sustainable holiday. A return to real camping means the lowest possible impact on the land and environment - our tipi poles don’t even break the surface of the earth. Your footprint while here could only be bettered by a survival expert. You don't have to fly! a major bonus, and we source all our wood, fish and canvas locally and work with local people wherever possible.
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£25
 / night
98%
(42)

Hideaway Camping

17 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents24 acres · Okehampton, England
Carefree camping and glamping in Devon with a nature-friendly setting and imaginative owners
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£13
 / night
91%
(27)

The Enchanted Wilderness

6 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents22 acres · Yelverton, England
Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor
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£28
 / night
100%
(24)

Forest Edge

52 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Devon, South West England
A welcoming and wild-ish camping and glamping site on the edge of a forest in East Devon
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£14
 / night
96%
(12)

Aldridge Mill

5 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents45 acres · Devon, South West England
A yurt, a gypsy wagon, and wild camping pitches in a Devon valley.
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£20
 / night
100%
(5)

Camp Bedrock

1 unit · Motorhome, Tent4 acres · Plymouth, England
Almost wild waterside camping on Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula
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£12
 / night
97%
(16)

The High Nature Centre

14 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Salcombe, Devon, South West England
A stay at The High Nature Centre is sure to reinvigorate the soul as only a sojourn by the sea can
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£10
 / night
80%
(15)

Ro Dama Community Farm

4 units · Tents9 acres · Camborne, England
Rooted in the Dowr Konor watershed and overlooking St Ives’ Bay in Kernow/Cornwall, Ro Dama invites you into our space for connection, regeneration and rewilding of ourselves, our communities, our culture & heritage and our land. On site, we have a variety of pitch types, private, communal and camper van spots. we have a couple of young pups on site who are being a bit territorial, we therefore advise that it is not suitable for dogs at this time.
Potable water
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£10
 / night
97%
(15)

Bowhayes Farm - Glamping & Camping

11 units · Glamping, Tents30 acres · Sidmouth, Devon, South West England
Nearly-wild camping in a Devon cider orchard, 5 miles from the Jurassic Coast
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£22
 / night
100%
(3)

Little Harford Lower Woodland

5 units · Tents3 acres · Exeter, England
Little Harford Lower Woodland is set in a property of just over 6 acres, an old thatched cottage with an artistic and creative atmosphere. The woodland here at Little Harford is a tranquil place for people wanting to find peace and quiet in a back to nature experience. A small river meanders through the bottom of the lower woodland which can occasionally come up to the top of the bank with lots of rain. A winding path leads down to where the land levels out at the water meadow area of the woodland. A family of buzzards live in the valley and you can often hear owls, pheasants and wild birds. A certain degree of fitness is needed as there is no vehicle access and wheelbarrows are available to help move your gear. There is parking at the entrance to the lower woodland on hard standing. A compost toilet is available for all No.2’s and mindful wild peeing is encouraged. Tap water is available from an outside tap at the property for washing up (eco products provided) and drinking water but currently no shower. Campfires are allowed and seasoned wood can be purchased at a small extra cost. Nearest village of Tedburn St Mary with a local pub with good pub food and the village shop is 1 ½ miles away. The nearest town of Crediton is 3 miles away with plenty of supermarkets, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Dartmoor is close by with Fingle Bridge just a 20 minute drive. We only offer a very limited number of camping spots at any time to preserve the tranquility for everyone. BBQs and firepits allowed, dog friendly
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£30
 / night

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Value Prop

Forest campsites in Watergate Bay with wildlife watching guide

Overview

For those looking to escape the crowds of Newquay, the golden sands of Watergate Bay lie just to the north. Life in Watergate Bay is all about the beach. Stroll along the sea cliffs, take to the water to swim or stand-up paddleboard, or enjoy kite-surfing along the 2-mile long sands, then grab dinner at a restaurant with views of the ocean. Summertime is peak season for swimmers and campers, with lifeguard patrols from May through September, and several campsites to choose from. For surfers, the biggest swells hit the shore in winter—just don’t forget your wetsuit!

Where to go

Northwest Coast

West of Watergate, Cornwall’s north coast is wild and windswept. The surf Mecca of Newquay is one of the region’s busiest hubs, while further south, St Ives is surrounded by sandy beaches and seaside holiday parks. Coastal hikes don’t come more spectacular than the South West Coast Path, which runs the entire length of the Cornish coast. 

Northeast Coast

Sweeping headlands and rocky coves line the coast east of Watergate Bay. Enjoy sea-cliff walks along the Trevose Head Heritage Coast, spot sea-birds swooping along the shore, or take in the views from Pentire Point. Further north, discover the legacy of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle or hike up the High Cliff, Cornwall’s highest point. 

South Coast

St Austell, Falmouth, and Fowey are the headline acts of the ‘Cornish Riviera’, a 30-minute drive south of Watergate Bay. Camping options range from family-friendly holiday parks to glamping in a luxury yurt, but whichever you choose, the beach is never far away. Don’t miss a visit to the Eden Project, famed for its giant rainforest biomes. 

Bodmin Moors

Misty moorlands and ancient standing stones tempt intrepid hikers away from the coast to the Bodmin Moors. Visit in the summertime to hike amid fields of purple heather, picnic by Golitha Falls, then pitch your tent at a hillside camping ground. Look out for native ponies grazing the hillsides along the way.

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