Lake camping in Watergate Bay

Surf, sand, and sea cliffs draw beach lovers to this Cornish beach.

95% (116 reviews)
95% (116 reviews)

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12 top lakeside campsites in Watergate Bay

97%
(133)

Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

168 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Cornwall, South West England
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.
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£25
 / night
Booked 3 times

The Secret Garden

3 units · Glamping, Motorhomes1 acre · Newquay, Cornwall
2 sites to stay ruby rose for chalet or jasmine pitch for van This secret garden's is surrounded by the fields and tall hedges, a magical place, it’s in a world of its own and will certainly make those memories. * Private spacious camping in a very peaceful and beautiful space just for you and your favorites ! either with chalet on its own, van, tents or both :) chalet with double bed, single bed, bathroom, shower, tv mini kitchen, plates, kettle, cutlery, pots & pans, outside washing up area Chill in your massive jacuzzi with a your favourite drink and best tunes 🎶 (add on for Jasmine) * Picnic bench, garden, hot shower, flushing toilet, firepit (add on for Jasmine) * A very special gated garden to spend time out with your favourite people. Family friendly You may spot wild pheasants, chickens, indian runner ducks, our super friendly Bengal Cats! if you like them!😻 Your own furry friends are welcome as it is a gated secure garden. Enjoy the fire pit (wood and firelighters can be brought in advance) or bring your own :) Your car/van can park right outside the gate to your secret garden. (jasmine is another pitch) Lovely walk down the bottom of our lane to river gannel, bring your own paddle boards, kayaks, yourself for a swim :) From the river gannel if you walk from your garden it will take you to crantock beach and quant village, including the 2 local pubs worth a visit if your into our local history. Trenance 15 minute walk 0r 3 minute drive (walk the country back lane here to Trenance via river gannel for a beautiful nature walk) *Horse riding along the river gannel at Trenance riding stables *Trenance Boating lake, Tea rooms, rose gardens and Boat hire *Trenance Play park for the kids 5 mins walk to esso/budgens for essentials 24 hour 5 Mins car ride to the quant Crantock Village beach, or long walk to the beach. Tearooms, the outstanding C-bay day spa for an extra special day out. 1.2 miles into town, 10 min car ride to Newquay town centre to visit our beautiful Cornish beaches, harbour (fishing trips) golf course, chip shops, deliveroo do deliver here :) Lifts i can do for £10 back from town before 12am if your stuck :) Bus direct into Newquay town Center or any other part of Cornwall 4 minute walk down the lane :)
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£40.50
 / night
100%
(6)

Tregonetha Lake

26 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · England
Open Easter - 17th - 21th April 2025 Open Summer - 7th July - 31st August 2025 Mel and Tom are excited to welcome 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. 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, £5 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. Traditional Camping for tents and camper vans is available in our 2 acre field where you can choose where you want to pitch. Glamping in bell tents is also available. Tregonetha Lake is a small campsite with a big impact. Wild, natural and peaceful with pitches overlooking our beautiful 2 acre lake. Great for a summer holiday, a weekend break or overnight stop off.
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£12
 / night
83%
(3)

Spring Lakes Campsite and Fisheries

16 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents40 acres · Kilkhampton, England
Spring Lakes, 40 acres of beautiful and tranquil space with a large fishing lake, a natural woodland to enjoy and explore set within the hamlet of Eastcott, 6 miles North of the stunning coastal town of Bude, Cornwall. With easy access to some of the most beautiful parts that Cornwall has to offer as well as being a short drive into North and Central areas of Devon. With a drive towards environmental sustainability, our aim at Spring Lakes is to always consider our impact on the local environment wherever possible. As soon as the opportunities align to “going green” Spring Lakes will take the required steps to “do the right thing”, to help future generations of campers. We are passionate about green space and considered development, but also need to balance this with commercial realism. We have created a local business with an aim to creating local employment and supporting other local business in a sustainable way. Spring Lakes is not just for today, it’s a long-lasting leisure location that offers everyone who interacts with it the great benefits a UK local leisure business can offer. Visitor health and well-being, locally sourced supply chains, local employment, local skills training, use of renewables, recycling, green initiatives, management of woodlands and hedgerows, re-wilding … The list goes on … A stay or visit to Spring lakes is a stay or visit that contributes to its localised objectives and our success will filter into the local community it acts to enhance and serve. Spring lakes welcomes everyone with an outdoor enthusiasm be it a camper or glamper, a caravan or motorhome tourer, an angler, a hiker or rambler, mountain bike, gravel bike, road bike enthusiast, a day visitor, coffee connoisseur or wild ride surfer. You are all welcome and will be treated to a break and experience to remember. On Site facilities include, composite toilets, outdoor shower shack, dish washing area, Drinking Water Tap, Wash down tap/hose, Chemical disposal point. Refuse bins. (General & Mixed Waste) Dog waste bin. Non electric site. We allow off the ground BBQ’s and provide a communal campfire. We do not allow fires at the pitches, we have created a communal open fire zone where you can light a fire and congregate there as a social meeting point, this is open to all so please accept other people could join you when in this location. We sell camping basics onsite such as firelighters, matches, charcoal, and fresh free-range eggs to assist with provisions for you whilst with us, equally feel free to ask and we will be more than happy to accommodate for any reasonable requests.
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£20
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Lake camping in Watergate Bay guide

Overview

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!

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.

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