Shepherd's huts near Padstow

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Holiday makers and merriment seekers flock to Padstow—a Cornwall coastal resort destination—for its scenic harbour, fishing cottages, and Celtic festivals. Brimming with campsites and cottage rentals, Padstow offers everything from rustic to luxury accommodations for campers who enjoy activities like boating, fishing, surfing, and relaxing on beaches like Bedruthan Steps, Port Gaverne Beach, and Trevone Bay. A popular stop on the celebrated Camel Trail, Padstow is also a hub for hikers who love panoramic coastal views. Holiday accommodations and campsites with electric and water hookups promise campers of all kinds a convenient base for excursions along Padstow’s beauty.

98% (47)

Top-rated campgrounds

South Town Farm

11. South Town Farm

100%
(7)
95km from Padstow · 11 units · Tents, Glamping · Barnstaple, Devon, South West England
South Town Camping opened for a month in 2018 to see how guests would take to its private 10-pitch site. Tucked away in North Devon's Arlington estate, amid twenty-plus miles of footpaths and bridleways, this is a campsite designed by committed campers and it shows.The grass pitches are spacious, with paths leading to them mown into the wildflower meadows, all set within six acres kept peaceful (and safe for the kids!) by the absence of cars — simply roll your belongings to your tent with the help of a super-sized wheelbarrow. At the centre of the camping fields hay meadows are left to grow throughout the summer, providing an almost-wild aesthetic befitting of the sprawling surrounding woodland of which you'll enjoy uninterrupted views. Watch the sunset to the west right from your tent and, on clear nights, you'll have an enviable spot to take in the starry skies. If you don't fancy pitching a tent a shepherd's hut is also available, a cosy option for couples with outdoor seating for those nights cooking by the fire.Given that this is a campsite belonging to the environmentally-conscious South Town Farm, your time staying at the site will be as eco-friendly as possible. Your hosts take care of 200 acres of this estate, having National Trust tenancy of South Town and managing its grasslands, which remain unimproved to maintain the unique biodiversity of the region. In keeping with this ethos, your available amenities also won't impact the land — there are composting loos, a gas-powered warm shower and cold drinking water pumped directly from the mains to the sheltered washing-up hut.Despite South Town Camping's position out in the sticks, it's within excellent reach of its neighbouring beaches, all a short drive away. Woolacombe beach will likely be the first port of call for sun-chasers, given its reputation as not only one of the best beaches in the West Country, but one of the best in the world — two miles of sloping sand facing the Atlantic Ocean, and a favourite for families and surfers with thousands descending upon it each year. Or, if you don't fancy feeling the sand between your toes, multiple marked walks await you directly from your tent — embark on a ramble through the ample woodland and emerge at the Pyne Arms, the nearest pub, where award-winning food awaits.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Wild About Campers

16. Wild About Campers

100%
(2)
134km from Padstow · 5 units · Glamping · Stockland, Devon, South West England
Wild About Campers is a peaceful retreat amid spectacular hiking country in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 25 minutes’ drive from cliff-top treks along the South West Coast Path. The Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis is within 25 minutes’ drive, and if you feel a major shopping expedition coming on, the historic cathedral city of Exeter (35 minutes) will see you right. Both Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are less than an hour’s drive away, while the pretty neighbouring town of Honiton (10 minutes) offers pubs and tearooms as well as antique shops to browse. But if it’s a rural retreat you’re after, well, this is the place. The camping paddock is surrounded by peaceful farmland and borders the River Otter (look out for the resident beavers, otters and kingfishers, which occasionally appear), so you can fall asleep lulled by the burble of the river along with the distant hoot of barn owls – and wake up fresh in the morning to the sound of birdsong. A popular family-run pub is five minutes’ stroll from the campsite, and you can pick up emergency supplies from a well-stocked village shop run by volunteers (five minutes’ drive).
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£89
 / night
The Shepherdess Hut

20. The Shepherdess Hut

100%
(1)
90km from Padstow · 1 unit · Glamping · Ilfracombe, Devon, South West England
Set in a hilltop near Ilfracombe in North Devon, Fullabrook Farm Retreat is home to The Shepherdess shepherd’s hut. Based on a family-run working farm, this romantic hut is ideal for a couples’ holiday amid spectacular woodland views – plus the chance to have the place to yourselves – apart from the grazing sheep in nearby fields of course. Built from scratch by the site owners, the hut is decked out with a kingsize bed, dining and living space, plus an en-suite bathroom with a powerful, hot shower. Thoughtful extras here include robes and toiletries, plus a TV for chilling. There’s a gas oven and hob in the modern kitchenette, alongside a fridge with freezer and a stylish Belfast sink. There’s no danger of you feeling the cold on chillier evenings, as the hut has its own central heating. For those sunny evenings, the private patio has a barbecue, tables and a firepit, so you can dine outside and cosy up around the fire as the night sets in – look out for some spectacular sunsets and starry displays on clear evenings. If you can manage to drag yourselves from this lovely little spot, the local village is West Down (five minutes’ drive), which has a community-run shop for stocking up on barbecue essentials, as well as a foodie pub if you fancy a change of scenery.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£115
 / night

Holiday makers and merriment seekers flock to Padstow—a Cornwall coastal resort destination—for its scenic harbour, fishing cottages, and Celtic festivals. Brimming with campsites and cottage rentals, Padstow offers everything from rustic to luxury accommodations for campers who enjoy activities like boating, fishing, surfing, and relaxing on beaches like Bedruthan Steps, Port Gaverne Beach, and Trevone Bay. A popular stop on the celebrated Camel Trail, Padstow is also a hub for hikers who love panoramic coastal views. Holiday accommodations and campsites with electric and water hookups promise campers of all kinds a convenient base for excursions along Padstow’s beauty.

98% (47)

Top-rated campgrounds

South Town Farm

11. South Town Farm

100%
(7)
95km from Padstow · 11 units · Tents, Glamping · Barnstaple, Devon, South West England
South Town Camping opened for a month in 2018 to see how guests would take to its private 10-pitch site. Tucked away in North Devon's Arlington estate, amid twenty-plus miles of footpaths and bridleways, this is a campsite designed by committed campers and it shows.The grass pitches are spacious, with paths leading to them mown into the wildflower meadows, all set within six acres kept peaceful (and safe for the kids!) by the absence of cars — simply roll your belongings to your tent with the help of a super-sized wheelbarrow. At the centre of the camping fields hay meadows are left to grow throughout the summer, providing an almost-wild aesthetic befitting of the sprawling surrounding woodland of which you'll enjoy uninterrupted views. Watch the sunset to the west right from your tent and, on clear nights, you'll have an enviable spot to take in the starry skies. If you don't fancy pitching a tent a shepherd's hut is also available, a cosy option for couples with outdoor seating for those nights cooking by the fire.Given that this is a campsite belonging to the environmentally-conscious South Town Farm, your time staying at the site will be as eco-friendly as possible. Your hosts take care of 200 acres of this estate, having National Trust tenancy of South Town and managing its grasslands, which remain unimproved to maintain the unique biodiversity of the region. In keeping with this ethos, your available amenities also won't impact the land — there are composting loos, a gas-powered warm shower and cold drinking water pumped directly from the mains to the sheltered washing-up hut.Despite South Town Camping's position out in the sticks, it's within excellent reach of its neighbouring beaches, all a short drive away. Woolacombe beach will likely be the first port of call for sun-chasers, given its reputation as not only one of the best beaches in the West Country, but one of the best in the world — two miles of sloping sand facing the Atlantic Ocean, and a favourite for families and surfers with thousands descending upon it each year. Or, if you don't fancy feeling the sand between your toes, multiple marked walks await you directly from your tent — embark on a ramble through the ample woodland and emerge at the Pyne Arms, the nearest pub, where award-winning food awaits.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Wild About Campers

16. Wild About Campers

100%
(2)
134km from Padstow · 5 units · Glamping · Stockland, Devon, South West England
Wild About Campers is a peaceful retreat amid spectacular hiking country in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 25 minutes’ drive from cliff-top treks along the South West Coast Path. The Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis is within 25 minutes’ drive, and if you feel a major shopping expedition coming on, the historic cathedral city of Exeter (35 minutes) will see you right. Both Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are less than an hour’s drive away, while the pretty neighbouring town of Honiton (10 minutes) offers pubs and tearooms as well as antique shops to browse. But if it’s a rural retreat you’re after, well, this is the place. The camping paddock is surrounded by peaceful farmland and borders the River Otter (look out for the resident beavers, otters and kingfishers, which occasionally appear), so you can fall asleep lulled by the burble of the river along with the distant hoot of barn owls – and wake up fresh in the morning to the sound of birdsong. A popular family-run pub is five minutes’ stroll from the campsite, and you can pick up emergency supplies from a well-stocked village shop run by volunteers (five minutes’ drive).
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£89
 / night
The Shepherdess Hut

20. The Shepherdess Hut

100%
(1)
90km from Padstow · 1 unit · Glamping · Ilfracombe, Devon, South West England
Set in a hilltop near Ilfracombe in North Devon, Fullabrook Farm Retreat is home to The Shepherdess shepherd’s hut. Based on a family-run working farm, this romantic hut is ideal for a couples’ holiday amid spectacular woodland views – plus the chance to have the place to yourselves – apart from the grazing sheep in nearby fields of course. Built from scratch by the site owners, the hut is decked out with a kingsize bed, dining and living space, plus an en-suite bathroom with a powerful, hot shower. Thoughtful extras here include robes and toiletries, plus a TV for chilling. There’s a gas oven and hob in the modern kitchenette, alongside a fridge with freezer and a stylish Belfast sink. There’s no danger of you feeling the cold on chillier evenings, as the hut has its own central heating. For those sunny evenings, the private patio has a barbecue, tables and a firepit, so you can dine outside and cosy up around the fire as the night sets in – look out for some spectacular sunsets and starry displays on clear evenings. If you can manage to drag yourselves from this lovely little spot, the local village is West Down (five minutes’ drive), which has a community-run shop for stocking up on barbecue essentials, as well as a foodie pub if you fancy a change of scenery.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£115
 / night

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Shepherd's huts near Padstow guide

Where to go

Camel Trail

A disused railway line transformed for hiking, Camel Trail is an 18-mile trek that offers backpackers views of North Cornwall’s coast. Hike across the sea over bridges while glimpsing local wildlife like migrating birds. The trail is renowned for its stunning scenery—a dazzling blend of seaswept beaches and flower-strewn meadows. Padstow is just one stop on the trail; hikers will find that there are many villages farther along where they can enjoy a pasty and a pint.

Port Gaverne Beach

A small hamlet on the north Cornwall coast, Port Gaverne Beach is a National Trust-owned beach renowned for its pristine, natural setting. A narrow cove features rock pools and walking areas that campers love to explore. Many believe that the beach has remained largely unchanged for several hundreds of years. Though once a popular fishing port, today Port Gaverne Beach is a serene destination for campers in search of Cornwall’s most picturesque coastal spots. With more than 40 beach campsites in the vicinity, choose a waterfront pitch close to washrooms and campsite amenities for a comfortable stay.

Carnewas at Bedruthan

Popular with tourists as well as inspired artists, Carnewas at Bedruthan offers coastal walks, unique geology, and a step into Cornwall’s history. Rock formations along the coast create spectacular cliff-top views, as sandstone “steps'' lead down to the sea. Rich with folklore, the area was believed to be tenanted by a giant named Bedruthan. It also sits along history as it stretches below Redcliffe Castle, a prehistoric promontory fort. Today, campers come to witness the dramatic coast, but due to dangerous currents, swimming is prohibited. Look for private camping parks, glamping pods, and rustic cottage rentals located within steps of the beach.

When to go

Most travellers choose to visit Padstow between April and October when weather conditions are most pleasant. During summertime, temperatures average around 19°C. Late fall, winter, and early spring involve more precipitation. January’s average winter highs range around 10°C. Even so, many of the region’s campsites and cottage rentals remain open year-round.