Camping in Watergate Bay

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For those looking to escape the crowds of Newquay, the golden sands of Watergate Bay lie just to the north. Life in Watergate Bay is all about the beach. Stroll along the sea cliffs, take to the water to swim or stand-up paddleboard, or enjoy kite-surfing along the 2-mile long sands, then grab dinner at a restaurant with views of the ocean. Summertime is peak season for swimmers and campers, with lifeguard patrols from May through September, and several campsites to choose from. For surfers, the biggest swells hit the shore in winter—just don’t forget your wetsuit!

95% (1.1K) 2,438 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Watergate Bay

Sunny Corner Campsite

1. Sunny Corner Campsite

98%
(115)
Saint Agnes, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping with views of the sea in walking distance of St Agnes
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

2. Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

98%
(221)
Okehampton, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Seriously simple but beautiful wild camping beside a lake on Dartmoor
Pets
Campfires
Cadgwith Wild Camping

3. Cadgwith Wild Camping

99%
(248)
Ruan Minor, England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A dog-friendly campsite on a farm in Cornwall where every pitch offers a sea view
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Little Meadow

4. Little Meadow

England · 26 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Relax with the whole family at this idyllic place to stay in Cornwall. Relax at near by beaches like Widemouth, go to places like Port Issac, Tintagel and Padstow with just a small drive from were your staying. Spend time with your family with short drive down to Trethorne golf and leisure park with soft play, bowling and dodgem rides. The spectacular views from Bodmin Moor and the North coast are all easily accessible from where you're staying.
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Potable water
Elm Farm Camp, Cafe & Cycle hire

5. Elm Farm Camp, Cafe & Cycle hire

98%
(85)
Redruth, England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Quiet camping meadows and a friendly café located beside some of Cornwall's most popular cycling routes
Pets
Campfires
Showers
The Enchanted Wilderness

6. The Enchanted Wilderness

92%
(49)
Yelverton, England · 6 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Coverack Camping & Glamping

7. Coverack Camping & Glamping

99%
(200)
Coverack, England · 67 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Traditional family camping near Coverack, with the promise of coast, countryside and Cornish ice cream
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

8. Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

97%
(19)
England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Open 3rd April - 20th September 2026 Mel and Tom are looking forward to welcoming you to our charming, eco-friendly camping and glamping site, proudly awarded a Silver Green Tourism accolade. Passionate about sharing this special corner of Cornwall, we hope our tranquil surroundings will help you unwind, relax, and immerse yourself in nature. With stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere, our site is the perfect escape. Tregonetha Lake is a Freedom Camping Club Certified Site, offering peaceful, low-impact camping in a natural setting. Membership is not required to stay. Summer pop up! Wildfire - Lakeside Bar & Kitchen serving Drinks, Pizzas & Loaded Nachos. Open Mid-July to End of August. Mel has called Cornwall home for over 20 years and is always happy to share her local knowledge with guests, while Tom, a seasoned surfer, can offer advice on the best surf spots based on the weather and swell conditions. Friendly and approachable, we’re here to ensure your stay is enjoyable and memorable, surrounded by great company and a welcoming atmosphere. Tregonetha Lake is a small, peaceful, off grid site surrounded by wild and natural, Cornish countryside and open farmland, including a beautiful 2 acre coarse fishing Lake. Fishing is an extra cost of £10 per adult day ticket, £7.50 per child day ticket. Just 9 miles from Mawgan Porth, 10 miles from Padstow, 11 miles from Newquay and 15 miles from Mevagissey it’s the perfect place to get away from it all, while still being within easy reach of some of the most popular holiday destinations on both the north and south coasts of Cornwall. Our Lake View Camping Field offers peaceful pitches for tents, campervans, motorhomes and caravans, all overlooking our beautiful two-acre lake. For a more immersive nature experience, we also have five secluded woodland camping pitches, tucked among the trees and just a short walk from the lake. All camping pitches operate on a choose-where-you-want-to-pitch basis. Glamping in bell tents is also available. Tregonetha Lake is a small campsite with a big impact — wild, natural and peaceful. With wildlife-rich surroundings and uninterrupted lake views, it’s the perfect spot for a summer holiday, a restorative weekend break, or a quiet overnight stop on your journey.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Roskilly Camping

9. Roskilly Camping

97%
(32)
Helston, England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A small family run campsite located on the famous ice cream farm, Roskilly’s. On the Lizard in South West Cornwall, the farm is remote and tucked away with a Cornish feel, yet there is plenty to do. The farm has a vast array of animals that you can feed, a large woodland and ponds walk where the cows may be grazing. There are also many stunning beaches and Cornish fishing villages a small walk or drive away. We have a restaurant offering lovely food all day from breakfast to dinner. During the summer season there is also live music performed by local bands on selected evenings. Our campsite offers large grass pitches for tents and camper vans as well as a pristine toilet and shower block and communal area.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Trewan Hall

10. Trewan Hall

100%
(10)
Saint Columb, England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
The grounds of a 17th century manor where a relaxed atmosphere and sense of pleasant privacy rules
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Bush Farm Campsite

11. Bush Farm Campsite

99%
(100)
Saltash, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
As close to wild camping as you can get on a rewilded 200-acre farm in Cornwall
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Treglisson Campsite

12. Treglisson Campsite

97%
(61)
Hayle, England · 34 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A warm welcome awaits at one of Cornwall's best-located campsites
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

13. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%
(147)
St Kew, England · 86 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Wake up to the sound of birdsong, go swimming before breakfast in the clear water of a secluded lake. Cook your bacon and eggs over an open fire while you plan your day, or just laze it away in the peace and quiet of your own personal tipi. You can always go fishing tomorrow, and walk along the cliffs the day after that… The site is a unique woodland valley folded around a clear, spring-fed lake created from the old Tregildrans Quarry. Our tipis and tent pitches are dotted about this secret 20 acres full of ferns, bluebells, oak and meadowsweet. Left in peace for many years there's been no modern chemicals or poisons on the land, meaning we've got bluebells, dormice, Red Admirals and shy woodland Jays for you to spot. It’s a place set apart from the rush and clutter of the modern holiday experience, with an atmosphere that makes you forget the world outside, and just lounge, ramble, or potter about in a boat. We're committed to giving you a genuinely individual service from first contact to your time staying with us. We established CTH in 1996. This was the first and we believe still is the best tipi holiday site in the UK. We know our area inside out and can always help with local knowledge or contacts if you need them. We want to offer our guests a sustainable holiday. A return to real camping means the lowest possible impact on the land and environment - our tipi poles don’t even break the surface of the earth. Your footprint while here could only be bettered by a survival expert. You don't have to fly! a major bonus, and we source all our wood, fish and canvas locally and work with local people wherever possible.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Tremanor Farm

14. Tremanor Farm

89%
(19)
Castledore, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Cornish camping with sea views, 5 minutes from the beach and 10 minutes from the Eden Project
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Willow Valley Holiday Park

15. Willow Valley Holiday Park

100%
(16)
Bude , England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
This peaceful, sheltered site has a special character. The site is the ideal place to unwind with plenty of safe space, a meandering river and friendly atmosphere. It offers 4 acres with facilities, 7 acres of wilderness, shower block, level pitches, picturesque river, children’s playground and has been rated AA 4 star gold pennant. Becky and John both love Cornwall and fell in love with the site as soon as they saw it and it provided the perfect opportunity for a new challenge. Having only recently taken over at Willow Valley in the Summer of 2024, there are always ongoing improvements being made so make sure you keep in touch. Any returning campers will be glad to know we aren’t changing the campsite itself though. Why would we when it is already so perfect!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
The Camping Field

16. The Camping Field

95%
(29)
Bodmin, England · 35 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping in beautiful Cornish countryside
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Stars & Moor

17. Stars & Moor

100%
(5)
England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Nearly wild camping with spectacular views? Stars and Moor in Bodmin Moor National Landscape certainly has views in spades – right to the distant south coast in fact – and what’s more, there are just a handful of off-grid camping pitches on site, all spread out across two acres of pasture surrounded by Cornish walling. We are a Greener Camping Members Site. To Join is £12.00 for the remainder of the year if you are not already a member. You can join when you arrive. We accept credit cards on site. All the pitches are on grass and you can pick your preferred spot on arrival. Vehicles are parked in a designated area, from which your gear is transported to the pitches in a wheelbarrow. Facilities in the converted horse trailer include hot showers and fully plumbed loos, and there’s ample hot water to make your alfresco washing up less of a chore – but please do note there’s no electricity on site. On-site entertainment is all about the views, which you can appreciate while cooking on your firepit – hire one on site, complete with a supply of firewood. The skies on cloudless nights are a glittering marvel that you can share with family and friends while cosying up around the fire. Pack walking boots for yomps on Bodmin Moor footpaths from your tent, and bring bikes for cycling on moorland tracks or canoes for adventures out on Siblyback Lake. Local amenities are a short stroll away in the village of Minions (20 minutes’ walk), where there’s a well-stocked shop and the highest tea room in Cornwall. Heading in the opposite direction are two pubs within 15 minutes’ walk.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

18. Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

91%
(70)
St Austell, England · 67 units · Tents, Glamping
Lakeside camping with streams, rope swings and farmyard animals in rural Cornwall
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Wylde Valley Camping

19. Wylde Valley Camping

97%
(16)
Bude, England · 130 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A popular festival space that's now a bona fide campsite, with modern, pop-up facilities and a top North Cornwall location
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
Belle Camping Cornwall

20. Belle Camping Cornwall

100%
(27)
Helston, England · 4 units
Bell tents with sea views on the Lizard Peninsula
Pets
Showers
Campfires

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Watergate Bay camping guide

Where to go

Northwest Coast

West of Watergate, Cornwall’s north coast is wild and windswept. The surf Mecca of Newquay is one of the region’s busiest hubs, while further south, St Ives is surrounded by sandy beaches and seaside holiday parks. Coastal hikes don’t come more spectacular than the South West Coast Path, which runs the entire length of the Cornish coast. 

Northeast Coast

Sweeping headlands and rocky coves line the coast east of Watergate Bay. Enjoy sea-cliff walks along the Trevose Head Heritage Coast, spot sea-birds swooping along the shore, or take in the views from Pentire Point. Further north, discover the legacy of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle or hike up the High Cliff, Cornwall’s highest point. 

South Coast

St Austell, Falmouth, and Fowey are the headline acts of the ‘Cornish Riviera’, a 30-minute drive south of Watergate Bay. Camping options range from family-friendly holiday parks to glamping in a luxury yurt, but whichever you choose, the beach is never far away. Don’t miss a visit to the Eden Project, famed for its giant rainforest biomes. 

Bodmin Moors

Misty moorlands and ancient standing stones tempt intrepid hikers away from the coast to the Bodmin Moors. Visit in the summertime to hike amid fields of purple heather, picnic by Golitha Falls, then pitch your tent at a hillside camping ground. Look out for native ponies grazing the hillsides along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Watergate Bay, you can stroll along the sea cliffs, swim or stand-up paddleboard, and enjoy kite-surfing along the 2-mile long sands. You can also grab dinner at a restaurant with views of the ocean.

The peak season for swimmers and campers in Watergate Bay is summertime, with lifeguard patrols from May through September.

Near Watergate Bay, you can enjoy sea-cliff walks along the Trevose Head Heritage Coast, spot sea-birds swooping along the shore, or visit Tintagel Castle or hike up the High Cliff, Cornwall’s highest point.

Camping options near Watergate Bay range from family-friendly holiday parks to glamping in a luxury yurt. You can also explore different options for camping near Watergate Bay on Hipcamp.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

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