Five miles inland from the most southerly spot in mainland Britain, is where you’ll find Higher Bochym Pasture. It’s an 11-acre field given over to just 12 serviced pitches for caravans and motorhomes. While Cornwall has plenty of touring sites, not many can offer space like this; and not many offer individual services like this either. Add to that, the location just three miles from the sandy beach at Poldhu Cove at the heart of the Lizard Peninsula, and you’ve got a touring site that ticks just about every box.
The “just about” comes from the fact this place does not have toilets and showers; so is only suitable for those who are self-sufficient – and tents are not allowed. Dogs, however, are, and if you know what 11 acres looks like, you’ll know that there’s plenty of room for them to stretch their legs right here on site; which makes it great for family campers too.
Touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans have been headed to part of the site for 13 years but it’s been a well-kept, members-only secret for most of that time thanks to its designation as a Caravan Club Certificated Location. Now, however, a second, separate part of the field has been opened up (that’s the bit called Higher Bochym Pasture) and all are welcome here. The Pasture’s six pitches are grassy – but reinforced so there’s no danger of getting stuck in the mud. Each has its own drinking water tap, chemical disposal point, electric hook-up, recycling bins and, somewhat surprisingly for a rural site, decent WiFi too.
Owners Andrew and Sarah live on site and make a point of welcoming every guest with a jar of homemade marmalade and a clutch of fresh, local eggs. They operate an honesty shop offering more Cornish produce from just outside their house, where there’s a handy laundry too. These two self-confessed foodies, will happily share their tips for places to try the freshest shellfish or pick up the best Cornish ice cream. They’ll also point you in the direction of the closest beaches and beauty spots depending on what you want to see but rest assured the whole of the Lizard Peninsula is easily within reach if you’re happy to jump in the car and explore.
The closest beaches are Mullion and Poldhu Coves. The former has a small sandy beach at low tide and a little harbour, the latter is larger and it’s possible to book in for surf lessons there. Both are about three miles from site and can be reached in a 10-minute drive. The South West Coast Path provides great coastal walking all around the Lizard (and beyond). Lizard Point, the most-southerly point in mainland Britain is just over five miles south of site, with Kynance Cove nearby. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary and Flambards Theme Park offer quite different days out, both six miles north of site. The whole of the Lizard Peninsula is easily explored from here and Falmouth and Penzance are both within 20 miles of site.
There’s a herb garden on site where you can pick your own and a few carefully-chosen local goodies for sale from an honesty shop too. You can get milk fresh from the farm in glass bottles from Treleague Dairy, four miles down the road. If you get the chance, ask campsite owner Andrew for his tips on places to eat and drink out as he’s a bit of a foodie but favourites include The Mussel Shoal at Porthleven (eight miles away), CAST Cafe in Helston for breakfast or lunch, Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar in Newlyn Penzance and The Wheelhouse in Falmouth for shellfish. The Poldhu Beach Cafe is handy when you’re spending the day on the closest beach and Kynance Cove also has a good cafe serving great cream teas, coffees and ice creams out of a former fisherman’s cottage.
