Despite being less than four miles from North Cornwall’s Widemouth Bay, the 33-acre Bakesdown Farm feels like a wild outpost in the back of beyond. There are just four pitches at the top of a farm-side meadow, each petering out into waist-high grass that’s coloured with cow parsley and buttercups. No manicured lawns and regimented plots here; just a refreshingly understated setting and a whole host of chilled-out vibes.
In fact these prized tent spots, mown into the grass and accompanied by a campfire at every pitch, occupy just one of four different meadows hidden around Bakesdown Farm. A second is for ‘exclusive camping’ – a two-acre paddock for groups with its own compost toilet and a shower – while a yurt and a cabin also have patches of their own. It’s these glamping options that perhaps most stand out. They exude the same rustic feel as the rest of the farm – hardwood floors, rugs, and wooden furnishings feel aged but not outdated – and offer the extra comfort of a proper double bed. Both also have their own private kitchen shack with a covered seating area, cooking equipment and a stove.
All of the different meadows around the farm share extra facilities in the main yard itself, a short stroll up the gravelly path. Here there is a proper flushing toilet and electric shower, along with a fridge, freezer and electricity points. The farmyard acts as a sort of gateway into the outside world, reminding you that modern life exists beyond the sanctuary of your private meadow. Beyond the little caravan shop, housing a colouring table at one end and a small farm shop at the other, the road to the outer world awaits. Not that heading down it is a bad thing – surfing, sun lounging and sand castling are all on the other side.