One compost loo and one or two pitches in just under one acre—that’s about all there is at Elmar’s Place in Devon. There’s no electricity and mobile phone reception is a bit sketchy. But this is a nearly wild campsite and it shouldn’t be measured in standard campsite terms. It may have only the simplest of facilities but it has plenty of other things to recommend it. There are, for example, lots of briars and brambles. There are wildflowers, bees, butterflies, birds, and a babbling brook. And, on a cloudless night, you can look up and see more stars than you’re able to count. Those are the kind of things that make this place special.
This tiny, wild-ish site, occupies an irregular-shaped and slightly sloping piece of land in the far west of Devon, close to its border with Cornwall. It’s a peaceful place that’s hosted by Ella and Mark, hence the name: Elmar’s. They live nearby and manage their plot with a light touch even readying the pitches here with a scythe rather than a strimmer. Anyone who stays here is asked to give it the same care: that means bringing what you need—including your water—and taking everything away. Having said that, the quiet roads in this part of the West Country are popular with cyclists and if you come on two wheels, Ella and Mark will do what they can to help you. That might mean bringing you 20 litres of water, supplying logs for a campfire and taking care of your rubbish and recycling, but you’ll need to organise it all in advance.
Whether you’re on two wheels or on four, you’ll find the Devon town of Holsworthy is the closest place for picking up supplies. It’s about five miles away. For a day out, you’ll likely head 10 miles in the other direction, to Bude on the North Cornish coast. There, you can swim in the open-air tidal pool or surf on the beach. There are good places to eat and opportunities for adventure; walking on the South West Coast path or coasteering which basically means jumping off it. It’s an activity that might complement the camping at Elmar’s: in their own ways both are pretty wild.
Elmar’s place (letting nature be!) is in a rural location between Holsworthy and Bude (the nearest towns) right on the North Devon/North Cornwall border. The site is fairly remote, a few miles from the nearest village, 5 miles from Holsworthy and about 10 miles from Bude and the spectacular North cornish coast. The site has been set aside as a small nature refuge for a number of years, although paths and clear areas for pitching tents are maintained. There is also a parking space for one vehicle. The surrounding area is a great location for walkers and cyclists, with quiet roads and footpaths allowing easy exploration for the slightly adventurous traveller. A wide variety of wildlife and habitats are all nearby so bring some binoculars and you might be surprised what you see ! Elmar's Place is also located under some of the darkest skies in the country making it a good location for star gazing on a clear night.Elmar’s Place is near the village of Pyworthy in the very west of Devon, close to its border with Cornwall. The single track lanes around the site are nice for walking and cycling and the closest town is the market town of Holsworthy (five miles). The site is about nine miles from the coast with Bude the closest place to access the beach. It has a semi-natural, tidal sea pool and surf schools and surf hire available. Other nearby beaches include Widemouth Bay, a couple of miles to the south, and Crackington Haven. Tintagel with its coastal castle is 24 miles to the south and the South West Coast Path provides a great walking route around all these coastal highlights. It’s 10 miles to Tamar Lakes where there are watersports available and just over 20 miles inland to Dartmoor National Park.
This is rural Devon and although the closest pub to site, The Molesworth Arms in the closest village Pyworthy, is only about a mile away, it is open infrequently. It’s advisable to ring ahead and check. Another option for a drink, if your stay coincides with it, is the Village Hall Social which happens every other week on a Friday or Saturday. Ask Ella or Mark for details. For food, perhaps try The Bridge Inn at Bridgerule (three miles). The village also has occasional visiting mobile food vans for takeaways. There are more options in Holsworthy (five miles) where you’ll find the closest shops too. Try The White Hart, The Kings Head or The Rydon Inn. If you’re headed towards the coast, there’s a supermarket towards Bude and plenty of places to eat there too.
