Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days

Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days – A Rough Itinerary. The sun streams through the curtainless windows, piercing your eyelids and waking you not long after dawn.

You rack your brains to work out why you didn’t pull the curtains across the windows of your VW Campervan, knowing full well that in 6 hours’ time, the sunshine will be cutting into your retinas like an unwanted alarm clock. And then you remember.

Falling asleep gazing up at the stars and listening to the sound of the ocean forcing its way through the canvas pop-top was your main priority last night.

The same pop-top where your 3 year old now sleeps. You hoping that his eyelids are made of sterner stuff. Although he is helped by the canvas not being as see-through as glass.

This is one of the quandaries we expect to find ourselves facing this week when we head off Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days. We are hoping this trip will give us a chance to finally decide if we want to take the plunge and buy a VW Campervan, but we (I) also want to take some great photos and sample some of the local Cornish delicacies.

What to eat when we are campervanning Cornwall for 5 days?

Cooking is firmly in Suzanne’s court, but we are hoping to try some Cornish clams as part of a Spaghetti Vongole. Another meal we hope will be Cornish beef, locally produced and bought in a local farm shop hopefully. Then there is also the Cornish Pasty, Cornish Ice Cream, and of course, a delicious Cornish Cream Tea. Oh, can’t forget the Cornish Cider, can we?

We are going to be determined this trip that anything that goes into our stomachs, will have been prepared in the Campervan. No store-bought sandwiches, pub lunches, or takeaways (perhaps with the exception of one fish and chip tea by the seaside)

So, without further ado, let’s fire up Google Maps, and sort this itinerary out.

Our Route Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days

At the time of typing, we are still VW Campervan newbies. We are sure though, we are already getting mildly bitten by the bug. Following on from our April Campervan Trip which was a bit of a trial, we have planned a slightly longer one. Currently 5 nights but with the option of extending it by 2 more.

We are collecting our VW Campervan from a place 10 miles west of Exeter, called Tedburn St Mary. This is our route, although we are almost certain to detour between the stops:

A bit more detail:

Day 1

Pick up the VW Campervan anytime from 3 pm from our starting point, in Tedburn St Mary. We are hiring a 2010 T5 conversion. Yes, this is very different to the 2016, shiny new VW California we hired before, but to be honest, it is probably a lot closer to what we will end up buying, if that day arri….sorry, when that day arrives.

Just a stone’s throw from the English Riviera, our first stop is at a place called Mounts Farm Touring Park, (The Mounts, East Allington, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ9 7QJ). This is about an hour from where we pick up the van, and yes, this is in Devon. Sorry if the title of this post is now a little confusing, but we have to drive through Devem to get to Cornwall. Bear with us!!

Considering we would have already driven for 2 hours before we even buckle ourselves into the VDub, the only stop we will be making on the way is a local farm shop for supplies.

We will just be looking forward to parking up, plugging in, and getting to know our home for the next week.

Day 2

We will leave the sanctuary of our Electric hook up pitch and make our way to the next stop, Tencreek Holiday Park (Polperro Road, Looe, Cornwall, England, PL13 2JR) roughly 1.5 hours from last night’s stop, and our first-ever pitch with no electric.

As it is only a 1.5-hour drive, it gives us plenty of time to see a few things on the way. Perhaps stopping off at a beach at Challaborough or Mothecombe. Perhaps we will head into Plymouth? Unlikely, but the benefit of a VW Camper is we could! Much easier in this, than in a Motorhome!

Our most likely destination is the Rame Head Heritage Coast. Here, we can find a 5.6k walk, possibly (definitely) too much with a 3-year-old. However, looking at the maps, we may park at Wiggle. This is probably my favourite place name to encounter on researching this trip. From there we can walk along the beach towards the coastal path as far as we think appropriate.

This stop is only 30 minutes or so from our camp for the night, so it is perfect to spend a few hours here, before heading further West, to Tencreek Holiday Park.

Our Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days trip continues

Days 3 and 4

Assuming we survive the night without an electric hook up, we fire up the van and look to hit the open road. Next stop Trevalgan Touring Park, Trevalgan, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 3BJ which is again, just a 1.5-hour drive from yesterday.

This park is likely to be the most ‘commercial’ of the ones we stop at. Eventing entertainment, pool, shops etc.

As a result of the short drive, we have plenty of time to see the amazing scenery that the South Cornwall coastline has to offer. But, we aren’t going to come all this way without seeing a few tourist hot spots. Lands End, Lizard Point and Seal Island are just a few of the things on our radar.

It also gives us more time to get further acquainted with the van.

This trip is going to be all about the ease of just pulling, popping and boiling

We would have already done a few miles, and so should be well versed with driving the Campervan. The real reason we are falling in love with the lifestyle is the ability to go anywhere, anytime, and not have to worry about drinks, lunch, or even dinner.

This trip is going to be all about the ease of just pulling, popping and boiling. Pulling over where we see fit. Popping the roof, and making a good old cup of tea. We are British after all!

The California was easy. The only real difference here is the roof won’t pop up with the press of a button, and the driver’s seat doesn’t swivel. Other than that, we don’t expect to find too much difference.

Day 5

The shortest drive of our “Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days” trip so far. Just 16 miles and a smidgen over 30 minutes will get us to the next campsite. The alluringly named Secret Garden Caravan & Camping Park, Bosavern House, St Just, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 7RD.

We are hoping this will be the total opposite of yesterday’s pitch. Quiet, slightly off-grid, and only 12 pitches in total!! This could be brilliant, or a disaster. We shall see, but I am going for brilliant.

It does have electric hookup, and the site stands in the walls of a Cornish Country house called Bosavern House, with origins that date back to the 17th century. Not quite Wild Camping, but we have to start somewhere, right?

Also, on the 15th, there is a Fireworks display at Lands End. This is happening every Tuesday from the end of July through to the end of August. We may squeeze this into our itinerary.

And there ends our 5 days Campervanning Cornwall

So that’s it. Our next trip when we are Campervanning Cornwall for 5 days!

The main objectives for this trip, other than having family fun will be preparing and cooking some great dinners in the van. Taking some amazing photographs of everything Cornwall has to offer, and of course, cementing our love for campervanning and the great outdoors.

Could this be the trip that finally confirms what we think, and encourages us to take the plunge…watch this space! Perhaps this will answer your question!