Camping in Cornwall is made easy at Cornish Skies Glamping where four bell tents are set up for the summer holidays – with just about everything you should need. The tents are pitched, the barbecue is provided, and the beds are made. To top it off there’s not a blow-up mattress in sight; these are proper beds with proper mattresses – and very comfortable they are too. All this means that after the long journey here, you can settle in and start enjoying yourself straight away. The kids can let loose and you can set sausages sizzling on the barbecue while waiting for one of the stunning sunsets this small site is fast becoming famous for.
“That’s why we called it Cornish Skies,” says Amanda, who runs the place with husband Simon. This bell tent site is the latest addition to their smallholding on the outskirts of Troon. It’s a handy spot that’s not far (but far enough) off the A30, which provides a quick route to just about everywhere you might want to visit. It’s six miles to the north Cornish coast at Portreath but we’d recommend going a couple of miles further to the wilder sands of Godrevy or Gwithian. And then there’s the five beaches of St Ives and south coast beaches like Falmouth to choose from too. Lands End, Lizard Point – even the Eden Project; all are a day trip from here. But you might choose to stay more local and explore the tin-mining heritage that has made this part of Cornwall a Unesco World Heritage Site.
All this adventuring and all the relaxing, is made easier thanks to Cornish Skies Glamping. Amanda says it’s their own experience as campers that has helped them set up their bell tents so well. That, and the fact that they listen to the good ideas of their guests. The result is that each bell tent has its own composting loo, that there’s a covered kitchen, a covered outside seating area and, importantly, that campfires are allowed. It’s the campsite base you’d love to set up yourself – if only you could fit it all in the car.
The closest attraction to Cornish Skies Glamping, apart from the lovely countryside it sits in, is the King Edward Mine Museum, just a mile down the road. There, you can find out about the tin-mining history of this part of Cornwall (Sunday-Weds in summer only). It has a good cafe outside and from here you can join a walking route, The Great Flat Lode Trail, which follows an eight-mile route around former mining sites. The closest beach to the site is the sandy one beyond the small town of Portreath (six miles) on Cornwall’s north coast. Godrevy and Gwithian beach are the next closest ( about eight miles away) offering a wider and wilder expanse of sand that’s popular with surfers. Coastal St Ives with its five beaches, bustling eateries and art galleries is a little further west along this coastline too (14 miles). If you don’t fancy taking the car (parking can be tricky), you can take the train in from Cambourne railway station. It’s about the same distance to reach places on the south Cornish coast – 11 miles to Porthleven, 13 miles to Falmouth. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary and Flambards Theme Park offer family-friendly attractions in that direction within 10 miles of site.
There’s a grocery shop for supplies in the village of Troon, less than a half a mile down the road and, for anything more than what’s on offer there, head to the nearest town, Cambourne, which is just two miles away with plenty of shops and eateries. Closer than that there’s The Croust Hut Cafe, at the King Edward Mining Museum, just a mile from site if you don’t want to cook at breakfast or lunch. In Pengegon (under two miles) there’s Cousin Jacks for recommended fish and chips which is just beyond The Beacon Inn, the closest pub to site.
