Caravanning in Padstow

Padstow is one of those corners of Cornwall where caravanning makes a lot of sense: the coast is close, the lanes are green, and the parks range from big family holiday villages to quiet little sites where you'll mostly hear gulls. There are 30 caravanning stays published on BritStays in this region, and the bulk of them — 26 — sit in and around Padstow itself, with one each in Wadebridge, Bodmin, Camelford and one listed simply as Near Padstow. That concentration is useful to know before you start comparing: most of your choices are clustered, so the real decision is about the character of the site rather than which side of the county you end up on.

Coast or countryside — which suits your trip

The names give a lot away. Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park (listed as Near Padstow) and Polzeath Beach Holiday Park are the sort of parks people choose when the beach is the point of the holiday, and Tristram Caravan Park and Porthilly Farm Caravan Site sit in the same coastal camp. If you're travelling with bodyboards, wetsuits and a plan to be out from breakfast until teatime, that's the group to look at first.

Inland, the mood changes. Michaelstow Manor Holiday Park, Juliot's Well Holiday Park over in Camelford and Rosewater Caravan Park in Bodmin are the ones to shortlist if you'd rather have space, quiet lanes and somewhere to sit out in the evening without the car park emptying and filling all day. Little Bodieve Caravan Park and St Minver Holiday Park in Wadebridge fall between the two, which is often the sweet spot for a first visit.

Families, couples and dog owners

For families, the facility lists do the sorting for you. Polzeath Beach Holiday Park lists a Playground; Little Bodieve Caravan Park lists a Swimming Pool, Gym and Evening Entertainment; Little Dinham Caravan Park lists a Swimming Pool, Gym and Spa. St Merryn Holiday Village is set up as a holiday village with Parking, which tends to mean facilities on site rather than a trek out for everything.

Couples after something simpler will find plenty of parks with short facility lists — Michaelstow Manor Holiday Park and Rosewater Caravan Park have none recorded at all, which usually points to a straightforward pitch-and-go site rather than a resort. HIgher Harlyn Touring Park and Camelford Caravan Club Site are touring-style options if you're bringing your own van.

Dog owners should note that Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park is the one in this set explicitly listed as Pet Friendly. Many parks welcome dogs without it appearing in their facility list, so if you're travelling with one, ask directly rather than assuming — and check the rules on beaches and on leads around the site.

What the facilities actually tell you

Across the 30 stays, the most common entries are EV Charging Nearby (22) and Near a Bus Stop (16). Those two together are genuinely handy: Padstow's lanes get busy in summer, and a park on a bus route gives you the option of leaving the car on the pitch. After that the numbers drop sharply — WiFi is listed at 5 parks, Toilets at 5, a Restaurant at 4, a Bar at 4, a Gift Shop at 4 (Ocean Cove is one) and Indoor Areas at just 3.

• Don't assume WiFi. If you need to work or stream, confirm it before booking.
• Don't assume shared toilets and showers. Touring pitches vary hugely; ask what's provided.
• Don't assume you can eat on site. Only a handful list a restaurant or bar.
• If you drive an EV, the wide availability of charging nearby is one of the better things about this region.

Once you're there

Tintagel Castle is the big heritage draw in this part of Cornwall, and Camel Creek Adventure Park is the obvious rainy-afternoon rescue if you've got children who've run out of patience with the beach. Further afield, Screech Owl Sanctuary and Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre are both in Cornwall, Kernow Adventure Park is over at Falmouth along with Michell's Engine House, and if you fancy a proper day out by car there's Tate St Ives near Penzance, plus the Shipwreck Treasure Museum and Mevagissey Museum around St Austell. Marizion Museum is another Penzance option for a slower day.

When to book

With 26 of the 30 parks in Padstow itself, the popular ones go early for July and August and for the school half-terms — if you want a specific pitch at Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park or Polzeath Beach Holiday Park in peak weeks, think several months ahead rather than a few weeks. Late spring and September are far easier and the coast is at its best. If you're flexible, ring the park directly about midweek gaps; touring sites like HIgher Harlyn Touring Park and Camelford Caravan Club Site can sometimes fit you in at shorter notice. Before you pay, confirm pitch size, electric hook-up, awning rules, arrival times and whether your dog is welcome — those four answers will tell you more than any photo.