Cornwall can feel like its own country. The county sits in the very southwest of the United Kingdom, and is characterized by rocky peninsulas and sweeping coastal landscapes. Locals are proud of their Celtic roots, as well as the mining and fishing villages that shaped the communities. This is a place with a distinct heritage—distinct enough to inspire calls for devolution from the UK. Cornwall can feel like its own country, because some people think it should be.
So what creates such regional pride? Along with its ancient history (think: Romans, battles, Penzance pirates), Cornwall boasts rolling countryside, bucolic fishing towns like Padstow and Porthleven, and cultural institutions the Eden Project and Tate St Ives. Pubs that pre-date the United States by about 400 years are common; as are pasties, the county’s signature food, along with fierce opinions about which pasties are best. The coast, pocked with coves and tall bluffs, reveals pools at low tide: some natural, some man-made. Others, like Bude Sea Pool in north Cornwall, are enormous combinations of the two. For those who don’t want to worry about rebounding waters, sandy beaches define the rest of the coastline. The surf can get really good, too—especially in the fall.
Weather-wise, west Cornwall boasts some of the highest annual average temperatures in the United Kingdom. A point of pride, perhaps, if the rest of the island wasn’t freezing and wet for most of the year. Even so, Cornish summers are often beautiful, with clear skies and waters so blue you might think you’re lounging on the Amalfi coast. The mild climes are also ideal for biking, camping, and hiking (or what the English call ‘going on a walk’). Winters are crisp and occasionally stormy, in a pleasingly dramatic, coastal way, with few tourists. Visit at this time of year and it can feel like you’ve got Cornwall to yourself.
For many British teenagers, crashing out in a cheap tent after a heavy night in Newquay is a rite of passage. However, if you want to camp in the Cornish countryside with the benefit of hot water, private bathrooms, and sturdier lodging, then glamping holidays are for you. Read on to review the best glamping sites in Cornwall.
