The Paddock Wildcamp Glamping

If your vision of a holiday in Cornwall involves yoga, surfing, campfires, canvas and a taste of the simple life, then leave the family-friendly sites behind and book a bell tent at The Paddock Wildcamp. It’s an adults-only, bell tent site in countryside between Perranporth and Newquay. There’s a yoga school across the road, a thatch-roofed pub a mile down the road and a choice of beaches five minutes’ drive away. Ready to go? We don’t blame you.

This new-for-2021 summer campsite ticks the boxes in so many ways, but it’s fair to say it won’t be for everyone. The place is off grid and, while the solar power on site is enough to charge phones and tablets, don’t expect to plug in a hairdryer or get your ice blocks frozen. Part of the joy of being here is enjoying the simple life for a few days and owner Ren is a sociable sort who’ll be happy to share tips on sustainable living. Having said all that, The Paddock Wildcamp is not without its luxuries. Ren has travelled the world, staying in and managing hostels, so she knows how to look after her guests.

She has pre-pitched four bell tents here and kitted each out with a bed. You’ll need to bring your own bedding and food but otherwise it’s all set up for you. There are solar lights, cooking equipment and a fire pit outside. There’s a rustic but lovely outdoor kitchen – all reclaimed wood, corrugated tin cladding and fairy lights – with a gas stove, barbecue, kitchen sink and all-important kettle. There’s a hot shower and a compost loo that’s so good it’s won an award from the Cornish off-grid community.

The site is just an acre but as there’s only ever a handful of grown-up glampers there’s plenty of room to roam alongside the site’s free-range chickens and ducks. Roam out of site and a mile down the road and you can eat at The Smuggler’s Den pub or follow footpaths across fields for 40 minutes to swim at Holywell Bay. Otherwise, it’s five or ten minutes in the car to reach the surf at Perranporth or Newquay, half an hour to Padstow or St Ives. This is the place to base yourself if you want a summer holiday on the north Cornish coast away from the crowds. It’s a chilled-out spot that’s near great beaches; off grid but on point.