Cornwall Road Trip Introduction
Cornwall is one of the most prestigious areas of natural beauty in the United Kingdom. In fact, many travellers place it alongside the Lake District as one of the “must-visit” locations in Britain. When you consider what’s on offer, it’s easy to see why. Hundreds of pristine sand beaches, rocky promontories, wind-swept moors, picturesque fishing villages, and bottle-blue water to rival the Seychelles, as a mere sample. Yet when you step back from the nature, you’ll also discover a rich history of mariners, tin miners, Celts, and Arthurian legends. However, as the county of Cornwall is spread across 3,562 square kilometres, you’re going to need a set of wheels to get from place to place. By renting a motorhome from Life’s an Adventure, you’ll be perfectly poised to discover this land of wonder. So, without further ado, here’s the best way to plan your Cornwall road trip.
Where is Cornwall?
Cornwall is the southernmost county in the British Isles. On its landward side, Cornwall is verged by the county of Devon. However, most of the county is surrounded by coastline, about 422 miles of it! The northern coast faces the Celtic Sea and up to Ireland, while the southern coast overlooks the English Channel and down towards France. At Land’s End, the most western geographical point in England, the headlands are at the mercy of the North Atlantic. While the Gulf Stream brings warm, almost-tropical weather systems to this varied coastline.
How to start a Cornwall road trip?
As with many great nature areas, Cornwall’s beauty goes hand in hand with its remoteness and therefore its lack of accessibility. There are no motorways in Cornwall, only a string of A-roads and single-track country lanes. Unfortunately, that often makes for bad traffic during public holidays and deceptively long driving times.
If you have hired your motorhome or campervan from our Manchester base, you can make good time heading south down the M6 and onto the M5 motorway. After passing through Exeter, things slow as you follow the A30 into Launceston and the border of Cornwall. From this point, the road splits and you can take different routes depending on whether you are heading for Padstow, Falmouth, or another location along the Cornish coast.
When to Visit?
Cornwall is an incredibly desirable location for travellers. Particularly the hotspots of Newquay, Padstow, St Ives, and the Lizard Peninsula. This means you can make or break a Cornwall road trip depending on when you choose to visit. For example, it’s not uncommon to get stuck in hours of traffic on busy bank holidays.
However, summer is clearly the prime season for visiting Cornwall. From June to August, the Cornish coast often enjoys sunny days, blue skies, and surprisingly warm seas. Of course, the trade-off is seen in the busy towns, overflowing car parks, and inflated prices. So, if you do embark on a Cornwall road trip in the summer, make sure you carefully organise your driving times and pre-book campsites well in advance.
Generally, if you avoid the big dates and plan out your accommodation, summer is your best option. However, as is often the case, there are rewards to be reaped in the fringe months too. April and May are simply gorgeous along the Cornish coast. You can expect good weather without the army of holidaymakers to compete against.
In early autumn, the weather is cooler, but the water temperature is at its warmest. This is good news for any road-tripping surfers who want to catch a few waves. However, Cornwall is a very seasonal destination and plenty of accommodation options and eateries close in the colder months. For that reason, winter is best avoided on your Cornwall road trip.
Where to Stay on a Cornwall Road Trip?
Embarking on a Cornwall road trip is a dream for coastal campers. The county is crammed with campsites of all descriptions. From hard-pitch campgrounds with full electrical hook-ups to tranquil sites in off-grid locations and everything in between.
As a few suggestions, in northern Cornwall, you’ll find the Anchor Barrow campsite just off the St. Agnes Heritage Coast. Further south, you can spend a few days at the National Trust Teneriffe Farm campsite along the Lizard Heritage Coast. Alternatively, for better access to an urban settlement, you can visit the Ponsandane Campsite in Penzance. It’s worth remembering that if you book with Life’s an Adventure, you can enjoy the benefits of the Camping and Caravanning Club loyalty scheme. Therefore, if you secure a camping pitch at one of their Cornish sites, you can enjoy up to 30% off your booking.
If you want to take a break from camping, there are plenty of seaside cottages and apartments to rent throughout Cornwall. For your biggest range of accommodation options, camping supplies, and other useful facilities, check out the settlements of St Austell, Truro, Newquay, or Penzance. However, as this is a Cornwall road trip, it’s best to make the most of your motorhome in the Cornish campgrounds instead.
Top Sites?
Cornwall has a long list of tourist sites that are worth visiting. However, perhaps it’s best to start with its biggest draw: the beaches. With over 300 beaches in the county, it’s useful to separate them into subcategories! For example, if surfing is your thing, drive to Fistral, Polzeath, Sennen Cove, Watergate, or Constantine to catch some hefty swells.
For picturesque bays, look no further than St Ives, Bude, Perranporth, Kynance Cove, and Porthcurno. Another great way to experience the beaches of Cornwall is to explore the extraordinary coastal paths. The king of these hikes is the renowned South West Coast Path. As one of the UK’s premier hiking trails, it traces 300 miles of headlands, beaches, and moors throughout the Cornish county.
Some of the most popular sections for coastal strolls are around the Lizard Lighthouse and Kynance Cove, the Padstow and Trevone Circular, Port Issac to Port Quin, and the St Ives to Zennor trail. For keen cyclists, there’s also the 17.3-mile Camel Trail that links Padstow and Bodmin via a canal route. Moreover, if you’re a fan of botany, drop by the Eden Project or The Lost Gardens of Heligan to stroll around the landscaped gardens and carefully-curated greenhouses.
On your Cornwall road trip, you should also plan to stop at a few historical sites. For example, the UNESCO World Heritage tin mines (Bottallack, Levant, and the Wheal Coates mines are especially picturesque sites). You can also visit Tintagel, the supposed location of King Arthur’s castle, or the 13th-century Launceston Castle. Last but not least, there’s the astonishing St Michael’s Mount which can be reached by a causeway at low tide.
What to Pack for a Cornwall road trip?
As you’ve surely guessed by now, Cornwall is a beach destination, and your packing list should take that into consideration. The good thing about renting a motorhome is that you have plenty of space to store all these essentials! Cornwall is the home of surfing in the UK, so you must try a rental at one of the many beach-side surf schools.
Additionally, if you are travelling as a family or in a group, get some beach games going! Beach cricket is a classic game to play on the flat sand bays around Cornwall. You’ll also see people throwing frisbees, Nerfs, rugby balls, footballs, and playing all sorts of wacky sports. Get creative and don’t miss out!
Food & Drink
Cornish food is a special thing. Understandably, you can get some of the best seafood in Britain here. Lobster, fish & chips, scallops, and mussels are all popular dishes in Cornish eateries. Of course, Cornish pasties are also a legendary lunch item. For a real fine dining experience, you can head to the Michelin starred restaurants at Outlaws New Road, Outlaws Fish Kitchen, and Paul Ainsworth at No. 6. You can also visit the famed Rick Stein’s Café in Padstow.
If you enjoy a pub or two, you’ll be pleased to hear Cornwall has put itself on the map as a fantastic brewing location. On tap throughout the county, you’ll likely spot Sharp’s Brewery specials such as Doombar and Atlantic. St Austell’s Brewery is also popular, and Tribute is their beloved pale ale, while Korev is effectively the county’s leading lager!
If you’re down along the Penwith Heritage Coast, make sure you visit the excellent 13th-century Tinners Arms. In St Ives, you can pop into another salty pub for a pint at the historic Sloop Inn. Meanwhile on the Lizard Peninsula, you can find the gorgeous waterside Shipwrights Arms nestled alongside the Helford River.
Bonus Tips
A Cornwall road trip can involve a lot of driving. Getting between remote beaches and secluded port towns could take a good chunk out of your day. To ensure you maximise your time, try visiting Cornwall for at least a week or two. Select some key locations and don’t try to visit every beach on one trip! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the serenity of the magical county of Cornwall. If you are looking for any guidance, do not hesitate to contact us and one of our friendly team will be happy to assist!