Shepherd's huts near Penzance

If you can’t decide between Land’s End and The Lizard for your Cornish camping holiday, why not pitch up in Penzance? There are some great camping and glamping sites in and around Penzance and, as it sits between the most westerly and most southerly points of England, it’s got both convenience and a mild climate on its side. It’s also has a whole host of attractions all of its own and some great beaches nearby. Whether you’re passing through with a backpack via the South West Coast Path or bringing the family for a two-week summer holiday, the great weather and fantastic surrounding scenery makes camping in Penzance the best way to holiday here – in our opinion anyway. And if you haven’t got your own gear, go for glamping instead. Let someone else pitch a tent for you and camp out in a stylish bell tent, tipi or safari tent or take things up a notch and go for a shepherd’s hut, gypsy wagon, pod or dome for a glamping getaway on this lovely part of the south Cornish coast.

Penzance has been tempting people on holiday since the 1800s and it’s got the attractions to prove it; from its mile-long promenade to landscaped to the 1930’s Jubilee Lido and the modern Exchange Gallery which showcases contemporary art. You can stroll through the Victorian, landscaped Morrab Gardens to see subtropical plants and visit the elegant Penlee House Gallery and Museum to find out more about local history. Perhaps the biggest attraction of the area, and one whose presence is hard to ignore, is St Michael’s Mount, out in the bay. This fairytale island, topped by a medieval castle is one of Cornwall’s most-visited sites and you can reach it by boat or on foot via the tidal causeway from Marazion, five miles east along the coast. Along with neighbouring Longrock, Marazion is one of the closest sandy beaches to Penzance, which has a shingle beach below the promenade.

Penzance is situated on the Penwith Peninsula, not far from Land’s End, and most people make a beeline for it. Businesses have cashed in on the place’s popularity with theme park rides, shops and a photographer at the fenced-in Land’s End signpost – and some people leave feeling disappointed – but that’ll depend on your point of view. There’s also lovely coastal scenery, wildlife and walking in the area too. But if you prefer somewhere more low-key, the quaint fishing village of Mousehole, just three miles west of Penzance, will remind you of Cornwall’s charms. For more information on places to visit in Penzance, check out the Visit Cornwall website.