In the lap of the pods
But you’re still immersed in your surroundings, and you never feel closer to nature than here in southern Cornwall where even the weather seems wilder.
If you want sunshine, a safer bet is to head to the north coast of the county, which also gives you another reason to go to the must-visit beach resorts of Newquay and St Ives. We were struck by how much warmer it was there.
As a couple without kids we were also struck by the variety of Cornish experiences which aren’t just aimed at families.
For starters, there are some wonderful places to eat, such as Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant which overlooks beautiful Watergate Bay, near Newquay, offering quality cuisine at good value.
Another must-visit is Rick Stein’s St Petroc’s Bistro in Padstow. Tucked away on a picturesque side street it, naturally, has a strong emphasis on seafood
The Cornish treats don’t end with cuisine either. Just a few miles north of Padstow is the luxury St Moritz Hotel which includes a Cowshed spa, offering everything from soothing facials to all over body scrubs. But if you want to enjoy the outdoors more, then visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in the village of Gweek, near Lizard Point, and St Michael’s Mount, a National Trust-run castle on an island in Marazion, near Penzance. During our stay the Electric Beach Festival was being staged in Newquay with hip hop group De La
Soul topping the bill. There were quite a few attractions on the campsite’s doorstep too, including the Atlantic coast, under National Trust protection.
The more ambitious can walk to Lizard Point via the idyllic beach at Kynance Cove, or a little further north is the surfers’ paradise that is Poldhu Beach.
Overall, the best tip for Cornwall is to go prepared. In a county 100 miles long and with a limited rail network, it’s not easy to get around without a car, so we rented one. And a lightweight raincoat to counter the changeable weather is a good idea too.
But glamping always means you can retreat into your own space without having to shell out huge amounts of money on hotels. That means you’ve more money left to sample the truly glamorous attractions Cornwall has to offer. hertz.co.uk fifteencornwall.co.uk rickstein.com stmoritzhotel.co.uk/ cowshed-spa cotswoldoutdoor.com
Pods at Teneriffe Farm, for two adults and two kids or three adults, cost from £25pp, per night, depending on season. nationaltrust.org.uk/ camping
visitcornwall.com