Holiday Parks in Cornwall

Start with the coast you want

Cornwall is narrow, but the two coasts feel different, and that difference should drive your booking. The north — Newquay, Padstow, Bude — is the surf side: big open sands, wind, sunsets over the water. The south — Looe, Falmouth, St Austell and the creeks around Fowey — is gentler, with wooded estuaries, fishing harbours and water that's usually calmer for paddling. There are 32 holiday parks published here on BritStays, spread across both, so it's worth deciding on the feel you want before you start comparing photographs of decking.

North coast: surf, sand and space

Newquay is the obvious base for families who want the beach to be the whole holiday. Crantock Beach sleeps 8 and sits near a bus stop, which matters more than you'd think when parking is tight in August. Porth Beach Holiday Park, at Porth just outside Newquay, sleeps 6 and has both a bus stop nearby and EV charging. Monkey Tree Holiday Park sleeps 8 and sits a little further back from the sea — often the trade-off for more room and a quieter evening.

Trevornick Holiday Park at Holywell Bay sleeps 6 with a bus stop nearby; Blue Hills Holiday Park at St Agnes sleeps 5 and has EV charging. Bay Retreat Villas at Padstow suits couples or a small family who want the harbour town within reach. Further up, Widemouth Bay Caravan Park near Bude sleeps 8 — a good option if you like a long, exposed beach and don't mind a breeze in May.

South coast: harbours, estuaries and slower days

Looe has the most choice. Tencreek and Looe Coastal Retreat both sit near the town, sleeping 8 and 6 respectively, both with EV charging. Millendreath Beach Resort sleeps 4 and is one of the few with a train station nearby as well as EV charging — genuinely useful if you'd rather not drive down. Polperro Holiday Park sleeps 10 and has a bus stop and EV charging, which makes it a sensible choice for two families travelling together.

Towards Falmouth, Caddy's Corner Lodges at Carnmenellis sleeps 6 with EV charging nearby and sits inland, away from the seafront crowds. Penmarlam Lodge Retreat at Fowey sleeps 6 and puts you among the estuary's boats and ferries. If you want proper countryside rather than sea views, Hedley Wood Holiday Park at Bridgerule, Holsworthy sleeps 10 — the largest of these examples alongside Polperro.

Who suits what

• Families: look for the sleeps-8-to-10 places — Polperro Holiday Park, Hedley Wood Holiday Park, Tencreek, Crantock Beach — and prioritise a bus stop if you're bringing one car between several adults.
• Couples: the smaller units, such as Millendreath Beach Resort (sleeps 4) or Blue Hills Holiday Park (sleeps 5), tend to be cheaper and easier to get at short notice.
• Dog owners: dog policies vary park by park and aren't listed in the facilities above, so ask before you pay. Check whether dogs are allowed in the accommodation itself as well as on the park, and whether there's a limit on numbers.
• Electric cars: most of the examples here note EV charging nearby rather than on the pitch. Confirm exactly where the charger is and whether you need an app or card.

What to do once you're there

Wet-weather and rest-day options are well spread. In the far west, St Michael's Mount and Land's End are the headline sights, with the Minack Theatre worth booking in advance if there's something on you fancy. Tintagel Castle suits the north coast; Star Castle, Trematon Castle, Crownhill Fort and Glynn House fill out the heritage list.

For children, Kernow Adventure Park at Falmouth, Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, The Tamar Valley Donkey Park near Looe and the Screech Owl Sanctuary all work as half-day trips. Rainy days are easier with the Shipwreck Treasure Museum and Mevagissey Museum around St Austell, Tate St Ives over near Penzance, or Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery at Falmouth.

Honest advice on booking

School summer holidays in Cornwall sell out early, and the larger units go first: if you need a park sleeping 8 or 10 in late July or August, book by the previous autumn or accept what's left. Half-terms and the late-May bank holiday are the next pinch points. For May, June, September and early October you can usually leave it a few weeks, and you'll often get a better rate midweek.

Before you confirm, check three things: the changeover day (many parks run Friday or Monday, which affects your travel plans), what's included in the price and what's charged on top, and whether on-site facilities are open in the shoulder season — pools and clubs sometimes close outside the main months. Ring the park if the listing doesn't say.