Camping in Watergate Bay

Name: Watergate Bay
Address: Watergate Bay
Rating: 4.7295

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% (1.2K) • 2,374 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Watergate Bay

Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

1. Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

98%

(257)

Okehampton, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes

Seriously simple but beautiful wild camping beside a lake on Dartmoor

Pets

Campfires

Sunny Corner Campsite

2. Sunny Corner Campsite

98%

(147)

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

Cadgwith Wild Camping

3. Cadgwith Wild Camping

99%

(277)

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

Coverack Camping & Glamping

4. Coverack Camping & Glamping

99%

(208)

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

5. Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

98%

(33)

England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes

🌿 Camping Season: 3rd April – 18th September 2026 Welcome to Tregonetha Lake – your little corner of paradise. We’re Mel and Tom, and we’d love to welcome you to our peaceful, eco-friendly camping site, proudly awarded a Silver Green Tourism Award. Sometimes you just need to slow down and surround yourself with nature. 🌿 If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, wake up to birdsong, enjoy beautiful lake views and reconnect with nature, you’re in the right place. Our small, off-grid campsite is surrounded by beautiful Cornish countryside, with a stunning two-acre coarse fishing lake at its heart. Watch damselflies dancing across the water, spot kingfishers and other wildlife, enjoy spectacular sunsets over the lake and spend your evenings beneath some of Cornwall’s darkest skies. Although you’ll feel wonderfully tucked away, we’re perfectly placed for exploring Cornwall. Mawgan Porth is just 9 miles away, Padstow 10 miles, Newquay 11 miles and Mevagissey 15 miles away, making Tregonetha Lake the perfect base for exploring both the north and south coasts. As a Freedom Camping Club Certified Site, we offer peaceful, low-impact camping in a natural setting — no membership required. Camping Tregonetha Lake is home to around 20 camping pitches, so while you’ll have other campers nearby during busier periods, we’ve designed the site to feel spacious, peaceful and relaxed. Whether you choose a lakeside pitch or one of our secluded woodland pitches, there’s always plenty of room to unwind and enjoy nature. All camping pitches are non-allocated, so simply choose your favourite spot when you arrive and make yourselves at home. Fishing At the heart of the campsite is our beautiful two-acre coarse fishing lake, where guests can enjoy peaceful days by the water surrounded by nature. Fishing day tickets are available during your stay. 🍕 NEW for Summer 2026 – Wildfire Lakeside Bar & Kitchen From 16th July until the end of August, we’re excited to introduce Wildfire – Lakeside Bar & Kitchen. Enjoy stone-baked pizzas, homemade loaded nachos, cold drinks and fresh coffee beside the lake while watching the sun go down. Opening Hours Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm Friday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm Saturday: 1:00pm – 9:00pm 🍳 Breakfast Fresh coffee and breakfast rolls are available every morning for campsite guests between 8:00am and 10:00am. 🍕 Sunday – Wednesday Don’t fancy cooking? We also offer evening food for campsite guests by pre-order between 5:00pm and 9:00pm. Just let us know in advance and we’ll have everything freshly prepared for you. 🥐 Freshly Baked Breakfast Treats Fresh croissants and pain au chocolat are available to pre-order and collect from 8:00am each morning. A little about us We’ve called Cornwall home for over 20 years and love sharing our favourite beaches, walks, restaurants and hidden gems with our guests. Tom is a keen surfer and is always happy to recommend the best local beaches depending on the weather and surf conditions, while Mel is full of local knowledge to help you make the most of your stay. We’re a small family-run campsite and genuinely enjoy meeting the people who stay with us. Whether you’re here for a weekend escape, a family holiday or simply passing through, we hope you’ll leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and already planning your next visit. We can’t wait to welcome you to Tregonetha Lake. 🧡

Pets

Showers

Potable water

Treza Camp Site, Porthleven

6. Treza Camp Site, Porthleven

100%

(11)

Porthleven, England · 1 unit · Tent, Motorhome

A simple place to pitch up within walking distance of Porthleven Harbour

Pets

Campfires

Showers

Treglisson Campsite

7. Treglisson Campsite

96%

(63)

Hayle, England · 34 units · Tents, Motorhomes

A warm welcome awaits at one of Cornwall's best-located campsites

Pets

Electrical hookup

Campfires

The Enchanted Wilderness

8. The Enchanted Wilderness

93%

(67)

Yelverton, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping

Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor

Pets

Showers

Potable water

Roskilly Camping

9. Roskilly Camping

97%

(39)

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

Willow Valley Holiday Park

10. Willow Valley Holiday Park

100%

(18)

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

Wild Wanderers - Riverside Camping

11. Wild Wanderers - Riverside Camping

100%

(9)

Holsworthy, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes

Wild Wanderers, family friendly, rough and ready, wild and woolly Camping on the Devon/Cornwall Border! We family run and we are excited to offer our very first camping season! NEW FOR 2026! After three years of welcoming families to our much-loved holiday cottages, we're thrilled to open our fields for our very first camping season. With just a handful of boutique pitches on our family-run smallholding, we're giving even more families the chance to experience the magic of Wild Wanderers. Expect the same warm welcome, beautiful countryside and unforgettable adventures, just with a tent, a campfire and a little more wilderness. This isn't a holiday park. There are no flashing arcades or rows of identical pitches. Instead, you'll find space to breathe, children free to explore, and the kind of camping that creates the stories you'll still be talking about years later. Wake up to birdsong, wander down to the river for a paddle or wild swim, meet our friendly sheep and farm animals, toast marshmallows around the campfire and watch the stars come out. We're keeping things beautifully simple with clean toilets, hot showers and a washing-up area everything you need, without taking away the feeling of being close to nature. Bring your BBQ, hire one of our raised fire pits, or join us on one of our popular wood-fired pizza evenings. Don't forget to grab one of our famous s'mores kits... because camping simply isn't camping without gooey marshmallows! Perfectly placed on the Devon and Cornwall border, we're just a short drive from Bude's award-winning beaches, fantastic surfing, breathtaking coastal walks and endless family adventures. Already loved by hundreds of families staying in our cottages, this is now your chance to enjoy the same beautiful setting on a camping budget. What you'll love • Spacious pitches on our boutique family smallholding • Riverside adventures, fishing, paddling and wild swimming • Friendly sheep and farm animals to meet • Campfires (raised fire pits only) and BBQs welcome • Wood-fired pizza nights on selected evenings • S'mores kits available to make evenings extra special • Family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of space to roam • Well-behaved dogs welcome • One-night stays accepted • A short distance from Bude, surfing beaches and the best of both Devon and Cornwall Whether you're surfing at sunrise, building dams in the river with the kids, or ending the day around the fire beneath a sky full of stars, Wild Wanderers is all about slowing down, reconnecting and making memories together. We can't wait to welcome you to our little corner of the countryside.

Pets

Campfires

Showers

Tregella Place Camping

12. Tregella Place Camping

94%

(34)

Padstow, England · 40 units · Tents, Motorhomes

Laid-back dog-friendly, family camping near Padstow

Pets

Showers

Potable water

Bush Farm Campsite

13. Bush Farm Campsite

98%

(112)

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

Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

14. Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

92%

(71)

St Austell, England · 67 units · Tents, Glamping

Lakeside camping with streams, rope swings and farmyard animals in rural Cornwall

Campfires

Showers

Potable water

Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

15. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%

(151)

St Kew, England · 83 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

Trewan Hall

16. Trewan Hall

100%

(16)

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

The Camping Field

17. The Camping Field

94%

(33)

Bodmin, England · 35 units · Tents, Motorhomes

Back-to-basics camping in beautiful Cornish countryside

Pets

Electrical hookup

Campfires

Tencreek Holiday Park

18. Tencreek Holiday Park

100%

(2)

England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes

Nestled on a gentle hillside approximately 100 m above sea level, Tencreek Holiday Park offers sea views from virtually every pitch—whether you're on tent, caravan, or motorhome. Its terraced layout with low tree rows ensures both privacy and vantage points across the rolling Cornish countryside and the shimmering bay beyond. The park boasts modern underfloor‑heated toilet, shower, and wet‑room blocks, including facilities suitable for families and mobility-restricted guests. Every comfort station includes hand and hair dryers, chemical disposal, dishwashing sinks, and water points close to pitches

Pets

Showers

Potable water

Kesoberi community farm

19. Kesoberi community farm

100%

(5)

England · 10 units

Kesoberi community farm is a new pop up off grid eco campsite in a beautiful location with a far reaching views of the sea in West Cornwall. Owned and run by a co-operative who are in the process of rewilding and regenerating our land after a history of intensive agriculture. We have newly built compost loos and a gas powered shower with spacious pitches. There are two camping fields, one where you can park next to your pitch at the bottom of our site and a car free camping field with incredible views to truly get away from it all. In all we have 20 acres for you to explore, and its only a short walk into the village of Paul with its brilliant pub and historic church. We are very close and within walking distance to Mousehole. Mousehole is a picturesque harbour village which is sandy and lovely to swim in, there are lots of shops and places to eat and it has a sea swimming pool that has been recently restored. We are also very near to Newlyn and Penzance with so much to see and do.

Pets

Campfires

Showers

Elm Farm Camp, Cafe & Cycle hire

20. Elm Farm Camp, Cafe & Cycle hire

98%

(93)

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

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

John

3 days ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

Mitchell

1 week ago

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

Lovely chilled campsite with great facilities lovely hot showers too great value for money. We will be back thank you Mel

Laura

2 weeks ago

4 m campervan

With pets

1 night at Wild Wanderers - Riverside Camping

We have already been there twice this summer. It is our happy place 🙂 Beautiful place!

2 weeks ago

4 m campervan

With pets

1 night at Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

Really great site: flat field, great (free) showers and clean toilets. Couldn't ask for much more really!

Jonathan

2 weeks ago

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Roskilly Camping

Basic campsite, but brilliant location and great for children, shower cubicles are very basic and no supervision of site, so very reliant on others to camp responsibly. Roskillies restaurant is good and loads to do if you like rural camping

Shauna

2 weeks ago

6 m campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bush Farm Campsite

We weren't sure what to expect. We arrived on Saturday afternoon so was quite busy in the lower fields near the river. We were pleasantly surprised by the pizza truck, Polish food truck, and live music by a local singer which was very fun considering free entertainment, we met a lot of people just hanging out at picnic tables with our dog, friendly crowd. Glad to have our bikes to get around. We took our tall campervan into the orchard and found a lovely spot just a few minutes walk away from the river swimming hole, but nestled in the trees. Picked blackberries and apples for breakfast! My son enjoyed meeting other kids and playing on the hay bales dotted around the fields. Our dog loved the river to cool off in and we all loved the Polish food! If we were travelling without kids, we would have followed advice from reception to drive up to one of the top fields to enjoy the solitude and views. There was also an "no mans land" which was for adults only near the river. Showers were surprisingly hot! Washing up stations and toilets as well as port'a' loos throughout campsite. Owners were laid back and welcoming. Not a fussy place. *There were several large electricity pylons running through the fields, but easy to avoid. Lots of well-behaved dogs off lead and other well-managed by owners. Saturday was a bit raucous, but from Sunday it went quiet and more what we were expecting. Great that this family choses to share their asset with the public so openly. Thank you again!

2 weeks ago

4 m rooftop tent

1 night at Tencreek Holiday Park

Large field with great views that's attached to a family oriented holiday park. Field was basically empty even in mid August. Great value stay, especially with the large and very clean toilets & showers

Mathieu

2 weeks ago

5 m campervan

With kids

Weekend Trip to Sunny Corner Campsite

Everything good!! Quite ( no roads around) and sunny ;-) New shop for food +++ very cool

2 weeks ago

5 m campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Enchanted Wilderness

What a beautiful spot. Can sit staring at the river for an eternity!

Ben

2 weeks ago

4 m campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Enchanted Wilderness

Brilliant spot on the Tamar, feels like a different world. Very nicely done facilities; rustic, charming and well thought out. Friendly and helpful host made us feel very welcome and would definitely recommend.

Beautiful private lake for swimming, fishing and water sports

Kiera

2 weeks ago

5 m campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

Completely idyllic campsite. Perfect little lake, wild ponies and very few other campers. Just perfect.

Alice

2 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

Beautiful and private campsite with spots well-spaced out. The lake is such a bonus for a swim or kayak! Will definitely be back next year.

Shauna

2 weeks ago

6 m campervan

With pets

2 nights at Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

We had low expectations, but this surpassed them by far! The lake was cleaner, bigger, more picturesque than imagined from photos online. We brought our camper van and moved spots after first night when more preferrable spot next to the river opened up. Definitely bring a SUP or other float to enjoy the lake. Great location for cycling on the Granite Way to Okehampton or Lydford with no need to drive! Public toilets about 15mins walk to Meldon Reservoir carpark. Nice supply of firewood. Bring your own water, not reliable source of drinking water available close by. Phil and his brother were friendly and happy to offer advice/ info, and often passing through the bridleway on horseback, quad bike or on foot with cattle dogs. Cows got herded through one day! So fun to see, and they stuck to the bridleway and didn't impact our campsite at all. Curious ponies roaming free as well, but only came into our site once while packing up. This is a public bridleway with passers by and their dogs, but still very quiet and peaceful. If anything we felt special for being able to camp in such a beautiful place. We wish we had booked longer! We do see how the experience heavily relies on good neighbours, though. For camper vans there are 4 spaces quite close together and we got lucky with one other really nice on each night, there are other more private spots available for smaller cars/vans and tents. Highly recommend this spot.

2 weeks ago

Tent

5 nights at Cadgwith Wild Camping

The most beautiful, friendly and welcoming campsite. A slice of paradise and peace. We loved every minute of our stay and wouldn't recommend it highly enough. Thank you.

Anja

2 weeks ago

5 m pop-up camper

With kids

3 nights at The Enchanted Wilderness

We loved the campingsite by Jonathan. We were the only ones there so if you like peace and quiet this is the place to be. We had a lovely spot with a lot of sun and a view on the river. We could not always swim with the low tides but when it was high it was great. Our host Jonathan helped us with recommandations for things to do in the neighbourhood. We did nice walks and went to a castle. We would come back here in the future.

Maarja

3 weeks ago

Tent

3 nights at Sunny Corner Campsite

This campsite was a slice of heaven! What a beautiful surroundings, I had a view of the sea from my tent. Excellent facilities, loved the charging station and the freezers for ice blocks. Owners were very welcoming and lovely. Would highly recommend!

Sally

3 weeks ago

4 m campervan

With pets

1 night at Sunny Corner Campsite

Lovely site, Lovely owners. Close to the most beautiful coastal views.

Theo

3 weeks ago

7 m pop-up camper

With pets

12 nights at Sunny Corner Campsite

It is a spacious and very well maintained pitch. Owners are super friendly and location is fabulous; would highly recommend!

Benjamin

3 weeks ago

Tent

1 night at Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

Mel’s campground was comfortable with nice amenities

Mathieu

3 weeks ago

6 m campervan

With kids

2 nights at Cadgwith Wild Camping

Incredible view Catherine and her husband ultra nice Very nature camp

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

What activities can I enjoy in Watergate Bay?

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.

When is the peak season for swimmers and campers in Watergate Bay?

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

What are some nearby attractions to visit from Watergate Bay?

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.

What are some camping options near Watergate Bay?

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.