If you want a small and simple campsite to base yourself while you explore the Lizard Peninsula, Gear Farm Camping might just be the one. Its location offers views of the Helford Estuary and beaches 15 minutes’ drive in almost every direction. Pitch your tent in this central spot and you are not far off the South West Coast Path and right on the West Kernow Way. And, on top of all that, it’s a nice and chilled place to stay which even has a couple of pre-pitched tents for people who don’t have their own.
Tents, campervans, caravans, hikers, bikers, and dogs are all welcome to this relaxed, summer-only site, which occupies a field of just over an acre on the edge of an organic family farm. Most of the time, you are given a choice of where to pitch from among the 20 spacious plots positioned around the field’s edges. All are off grid but all the important things are taken care of in a small-but-perfectly-formed timber-clad facilities block. There’s a place to charge your phone, hot water for washing up and two large fridge-freezers for campers to share—what more do you need than that? Oh yes—loos. There are three of those and three hot water showers too. Campfires and barbecues are fine to use as long as they are off ground and don’t scorch the grass, but you’ll need to bring your own.
This simple site is looked after by Sarah whose family have been welcoming campers for almost 30 years. They’ve also been farming here all that time and there’s a handy veg stall where you can buy their seasonal, organic supplies right outside the gate. There’s a pasty shop nearby too where you can pick up a picnic for days out—and there are plenty of those to be had round here. There’s watersports and boat trips on the Helford Estuary and family-friendly attractions like the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and Flambards within a few miles. You could visit a different beach every day of your holiday, spend time exploring harbour villages and towns or walk the South West Coast Path to see them all.