Camping has long been the go-to for budget-conscious travellers. But let's face it, even campsites haven't escaped the rising cost of living, with most sites in Cornwall having to raise the price of their pitch fees over the last 12 months.
This year (2024) in high summer you can expect to pay anything in the range of £25 - £50 a night for a decent pitch, for a family of four, with a car and a dog. That’s if you want a premium location, with premium facilities. Add-in the cost of camping gear, and things can quickly get pricey!
Affordable Camping
Don't despair though! Cornwall boasts fantastic campsites, offering the true camping experience, without breaking the bank. That's right, you can avoid sky-high prices and still enjoy a prime location, at a prime time (school holidays) with everything you need – all for around £20-£28 a night.
With camping affordability becoming a top priority this year, we've scoured Cornwall to find you some unique campsites, packed with character, all for a budget-friendly cost of under £190 for the week. With willingness to travel a touch further to beach, and with a splash of creativity, your budget pitch will turn out way better than you think!
If you wish to make your camping experience a little easier, whilst forgoing the outlay on camping gear, you can also consider hiring your equipment. Our fully furnished luxury tent hire starts from £13.50 per night / per person. Turn up to a pre-pitched tent with real beds, and enjoy a hassle-free camping holiday!
Our research is based on a camping pitch for four persons with a dog and a car near to the beach, in the July and August school holidays. Do expect pitches to be a lot cheaper outside the school holidays, or if you are traveling with less children, or without a car, or pet. Low season pitches for a couple can be as low as £12 per / night. We also offer lower hire rates for the shoulder season.
Top Low Cost Cornish Campsites:
Just a stones throw from the Cornish coast is Tresco Farm campsite. Just five minutes drive for the nearest beach, and within walking distance to the local pub (The Farmers Arms Inn) shops and cafes of St Merryn.
This idyllic and very affordable site, which is all about location and convenience, is situated on the edge of the village of St Merryn on coast. Within a 15 minute drive to Padstow and many more sandy beaches of north Cornwall - making it a great base to explore.
The site has a very clean toilets and shower block with two female toilets and a shower, and two male toilets and shower. Showers are included in the price, which isn’t the case at some campsites. Also, if your dog is an essential companion on your trip, you won’t have to leave them behind here – as they’re welcome.
Prices:
Expect to pay around £17 per pitch / per night
£125 / 7-nights for a family of four
Address:
Tresco Farm Campsite, St Merryn, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8NL.
Higher Pentreath Campsite has offered Cornwall camping near the beach since opening in the 1950s. Their focus is finding fun in the simplest moments at an affordable price.
The site sits spectacularly on the headland on the South West coast, overlooking Praa Sands beach. With a decent pub, The Sandbar, a few minutes walk away. The Welloe is another incredible beach bar / restaurant close by, perfect for family dinning. Enjoy walking with miles of coastline accessible directly from the campsite, also hidden coves and secret beaches. Higher Pentreath Farm Campsite is ideally placed between Penzance and Helston. A perfect base if you want to venture to the Lizard, or shops, and attractions in the area. The foodie delights of Porthleven or Newlyn are easily reached too.
Prices are nice and simple, based per night, for all seasons and inclusive of showers (no shower tokens required here!). There is also a washing machine, phone and laptop charging available.
Prices:
Expect to pay £22 per pitch / per night.
£154 for a pitch for 7-nights for a family of four.
Address:
Higher Pentreath, Praa Sands, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 9TL
A spacious and relaxed (pop-up) family campsite on the north Cornish Coast, very near to Harlyn Bay and Padstow. With the added benefit of great sea views and spectacular sunsets. Also lovely walks through the fields to Treyarnon Bay beach, with a natural tidal swimming pool. With local cafés, restaurants and farm shops within walking distance, and excellent food and a cocktail bar onsite, this is a must for foodies! Best of all, this site comes in under £180 for a family for a week-long stay.
Prices:
Expect to pay £25 per pitch / per night.
£175 for a pitch for 7-nights for a family of four.
Address:
Trevose View Farm, Padstow. Cornwall, PL28 8GS
The Eco Park is a 42-acre eco campsite with sweeping views of the north Cornwall coast, over to St Agnes and beyond. There’s a handy footpath down to Porthtowan beach; or it’s a short drive to the vibrant village of St Agnes, with it’s three beaches and wealth of pubs, bars and eateries (see our St Agnes guide). On-site you can enjoy a lively rustic bar, events, gigs, children's activities, and a very reasonably priced (£9 per main) plant-based restaurant run by ‘Canteen’.
Campfires and barbecues are permitted and there’s always a great sunset to be enjoyed. Pitches are spacious and wild. Facilities are basic, but this site is all about it's location - proximity to the South West Coastal path, historic St Agnes, and some of the best beaches in north Cornwall.
Prices:
Expect to pay a little more here, but £28 will get you a good sized pitch. Showers are included in the price.
A week will set you back £196 for a family of four with a dog. Extra's such as awnings, gazebo, pup tents aren't charged.
Top tip: If you become a member of the Eco Park (just £30 a year) you'll get 20% discount on all gig tickets, as well your Campsite pitch. Giving you a saving on your first stay, and subsequent visits. We also offer a hire discount for tents pitched at the Eco Park. Find our more about our pre-pitched luxury tent hire service.
Address:
Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Chapel Hill, Porthtowan, Cornwall, TR4 8HL
5. Brea Vean Farm
Brea Vean is a beautiful Farm campsite based in a special part of Cornwall, near Lands End on the outskirts of Sennen. It's a large open field with no pitch allocation, but you can choose your favourite spot. All pitches look down to the sea and Longships light house in the far distance. There is a bus stop at the end of the farm lane which makes access to Sennen, St. Just & St. Ives easy. The site is only open for the summer school holidays, serving campers when the sister site (Trevedra Farm) reaches full capacity. Pitches are very affordable (children under 5 go free), making it a good choice for surfers and students, but also great for families wanting a natural experience. The toilets, showers, and dishwashing facilities are included in the campsite fees and there are no hidden extra costs. There are no caravans or motorhomes allowed at Brea Vean, which really adds to its charm.
Close to the campsite is a serious peach of a beach - Gwenver Beach. A beautiful sandy beach where the steep access and lack of amenities keep the crowds at bay. Also Sennen beach, with clear blue waters, and the larger attractions at Lands End. There are amazing coastal walks all around the site, and a good pub - The First and Last Inn at Sennen.
Prices:
Brea Vean charges per person rather than per pitch. No additional charge for cars.
£9.25 per adult
Children under 5 go free
Children over 5 are £5.75
Top Tip: Free car parking is offered at Trevedra Farm Campsite for campers staying at Brea Vean who want to walk to Gwynver Beach, Sennen Beach, or use the cafe, shop at Trevedra campsite. This massively reduces the walking distance and additional beach parking costs.
Address:
Brea Vean Farm, Saint Buryan, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JF
Bell Tent Hire
If you are wondering how to solve the investment quandary of buying all of your camping gear (and only going once!) with no place to store it when you get back, we’re here to help!
Hiring a Bell Tent from us and having it pitched at one of our many great Cornish Campsites, is the best of both worlds. You can experience the beauty of nature, with the luxury of real beds and hotel style linens without the hassle of packing and pitching your tent.
Our holiday Bell Tent service starts from £13.50 per person / per night. Including a luxury Bell tent (pitched for your arrival) with real beds, linens, lighting, dining table and chairs, plus kitchen equipment, and a stove for cooking meals. All you need to do is book a pitch and we’ll do the rest! Thus saving precious car space for everything else - surf boards, bikes, buckets and spades! We offer low season rates too, plus discounted hire rates for our local campsites; Anchor Barrow Campsite, Beacon Cottage Farm Campsite, Sunny Corner Campsite and Trevellas Manor Farm Campsite.
If you are looking for enhanced facilities, such as campsites with swimming pools, tennis courts or restaurants. Or campsites in premium Cornish coastal locations, such as St Ives or Fowey, see our premium and mid-range campsite recommendations
Enjoy a complete, hassle-free, family holiday for a whole week, by the sea, for under £650 (including fully equipped tent hire and campsite pitch fees). That's as little as £160pp! Outstanding value and cheaper than an average holiday abroad. With a full range of cooking equipment provided, camping on a self-catering basis will also allow you to save on meals out.
