The Growing Circle

Chycarne Pastures is a tiny campsite on a smallholding in rural Cornwall that’s within reach of beaches on both the north and south coasts. That means that if you stay here you should be able to find a stretch of shore to suit you whichever way the wind blows. To the north there’s Gwythian and St Ives, to the south it’s Falmouth or Praa Sands—with plenty more in between. Here, on the edge of Troon, you are in a good spot to explore them all but it’s also rather a nice place to enjoy even without all the sand.

This three-pitch site is located on the edge of Chycarn Moor and within classic Cornish tin-mining country. Both are well worth exploring—and you can easily do so on foot. You need only step off the campsite and you’re out on the moor within minutes. For mining history, there’s a museum with a good cafe a half-hour stomp down the road.

Back on the evolving Burton-Bragg family smallholding, each off-grid pitch is privately situated in its own meadow with a fire pit. Facilities, however, are shared. They are centrally located, simple and sustainable: a compost loo and a semi-outdoor, hot shower. Both are timber and wavy tin constructions that fit perfectly in the landscape —and with the ethos of the farm. Outside, a washing-up sink sheltered by a willow and access to the no-dig veg patch are the only other facilities for visiting campers—though the pigs, chicken, and sheep are an added attraction for many.

Away from beaches and bustle, this is a place to get a real taste of life in the Cornish countryside. But despite the rural feel, there’s a final feather in this campsite’s cap that we think is well worth mentioning: it can be reached by public transport. Campers coming from as far away as London can use the train to reach Camborne then jump on a bus to Troon. The same network will help you get around. This campsite is earthy, rustic and, we think, rather lovely—but it’s surprisingly well connected too.