Cornwall dilema

[jallin]

Hello

I am currently looking at 2 touring caravan sites for the Summer months. I appreciate it will be busy but we are stuck with school holidays. The 2 sites are Tretham Mill on the Roseland peninsula and the other is Tregarton Park near St. Austell. Just wondering if anyone can tell me about the local area for both sites - eg how busy? beaches that allow dogs in the Summer months? Local pubs? good walking? Attractions? Thank you in anticipation.....

 

[Craigyoung]

The only site we have done down in Cornwall is polmanter Touring Park which was given to me by Parksy himself , lovely site big & clean , but for me (if I ever went down there again ) would be a nighttime overnight drive as it took us 12 hours to do a 6 hour drive on the same weekend everybody else decided to do it on factory fortnite friday !!

 

[jallin]

Thank you - I know all about those delays as I lived in Bristol for 11 years and witnessed it!!! I was thinking about a 3 to 4 am start from the Peak District on a Sunday?? what do you think?

 

[jallin]

Should have said no kids with us anymore just 2 lively labradors!!

 

[Craigyoung]

As it happens we drove from Sunderland to the Peak District , Poolsbrook Country Park to break up our travel , stopped the night & that's where our what should off been 6 hour trip started at 6am , 5pm we arrived at site ! 3am start should be a good travel though .

 

[Parksy]

Sorry I can't help with information on the sites you mentioned Jallin, try Here for reviews from people who have visited.
In response to Craig's comment, we're off to Polmanter for a fortnight next weekend but this time we're going on Friday and will break our journey with an overnight stop at Barley Meadow Touring Park, just down the A30 from Exeter.
The tow from the West Midlands to St Ives is easily do-able in one day but why waste a perfectly good Saturday night having a rest after a long-ish tow, pitching up and erecting the awning all in one day?
A steady run down the A30 on Saturday morning after a good nights sleep, and a not too early start will allow us to arrive as our pitch becomes available at lunchtime, fresh and relaxed, ready to see what beers they have on at the clubhouse after sorting ourselves out.

 

[Craigyoung]

....In response to Craig's comment, we're off to Polmanter for a fortnight next weekend .....

Polmanter again .... you dont say

 

[Thingy]

As it happens, I am on Trethem Mill for three weeks, after a week in Devon. It will be the second time we have been, and its absolutely brilliant. Cannot fault it in any way. There are some excellent beaches in the area. Two of them are national trust and its worth being a member to save on car parking. Pendower Beach allows dogs, as does Carne Beach. The latter is brilliant for swimming. The whole area is covered in footpaths and is stunning.

However, if you havent booked any site yet, for the school holidays in Cornwall, I would get on with it pronto. Most of the good sites will have been booked up for months. There are some very good pubs around on the Roseland, but none in easy walking distance from Trethem.

Parksy wrote:
....In response to Craig's comment, we're off to Polmanter for a fortnight next weekend .....

Youll be in CW at the same time as us. We arrive 27th at Trethem until 18th. Exebridge first though.

Tregarton isnt a site I know, but I have to say that Im not over keen on the St Austell area. St Austell is a bit scruffy nowadays, and the nearest beach is swamped by those staying at [strike]Sangatte[/strike], I mean Pentewan. Far too busy, noisy and crowded for us.

Other sites I can recommend, Kenneggey Cove, Lower Polladras and Porthtowan touring park are all pretty decent. I repeat though, you may be struggling for a good site this late in the day.

http://www.kenneggycove.co.uk/
http://www.porthtowantouristpark.co.uk/
http://www.lower-polladras.co.uk/

I would avoid staying on the Lizzard, especially near the tip as you will be constantly backwards and forwards on the same road, which can be a bit of a pain.

As a long shot, you may get on at Skyburriowe Farm, its OK, stayed a few times in the past, but its all on grass, and a bit sloping.

 

[jallin]

Hi Should've said for 2020!! Going to Greece this year!!!

 

[Craigyoung]

Hi Should've said for 2020!! Going to Greece this year!!!

Ha ha ! That's what we did this year after poor weather in Holland , going to to France this year and even looking today for next year for France !!

We've just been working our prices out for this years trip and cost of fuel , sites and ferry is and bits and bobs is coming in at less than £2,ooo , and that's with a few hundred pound for wine to come back !! Priorities

 

[jallin]

Agreed!! Enjoy my vino....We were looking at france for next year but have decided on cornwall because of the dogs but then we will have a week in the very hot sun in Greece...best of both worlds i think....

 

[Craigyoung]

I'll be happy with France again , as for us and the two kids for a Greece holiday comes in at nearly £5,ooo for the two weeks , we're doin Fuerteventura in February anyway so hopefully France again next summer ; when you think about what we've getting France for this year ,16 nights for less than £880 we can't much complain B)

 

[Guzzilazz]

Back to the OP's question... Roseland Peninsula is gorgeous BUT... it's pretty remote. St Mawes is lovely, the beaches are (as I recall from my youth) generally shale/slate but that makes the water very clear. The roads in and out are very narrow with "Cornish Hedges". These are made up of granite rocks and undergrowth, so if you pull in tight to pass something beware the rock hidden just under the greenery...

St Austell, years since I've been anywhere near, but there are nice beaches at Porthpean and Pentewan. Carlyon used to be a mess due to china clay waste. Easier for access to other places...

 

[Thingy]

Carne and Caerhayes are both golden sand. Parking excellent. Fairly shallow so water is warm.

There is a point about its remoteness, not as bad as the Lizzard, but you may have to factor in the cost of King Harry Ferry if you head west a lot. Otherwise its a longish drive up through Truro.

I dont think St Mawes is what it used to be, but are any seaside towns nowadys.

 

[CustardAvenger]

We've got a week in Cornwall booked for next month! North Cornwall, so no dodgy roads to tow down. The final approach to some sites puts me off booking; I don't need the stress of single lane roads after 4 hours of towing.

 

[Parksy]

Parksy wrote:
....In response to Craig's comment, we're off to Polmanter for a fortnight next weekend .....

Youll be in CW at the same time as us. We arrive 27th at Trethem until 18th. Exebridge first though.

I hope that we have better weather than we've got at present Thingy. We're back home on the 6th.
My other half's niece lives in Falmouth, across the water from the peninsula.
She usually comes down to St Ives on the train to see us when we're there once a year.
My o/h spent many family holidays in St Ives when she was a girl so the area holds many happy memories for her.

 

[Thingy]

I love St Ives, probably my favourite town. I find Falmouth pretty much like other seaside towns, a little seedy these days. Lot of history though. We normally use the "park n float" to go in.

Some years back I had a right ruckus in Falmouth. There was a Russian Federation Training Ship in, one of the tall ships, called the Sedov and all the young cadets were uniformed. Part of this was a stable belt with a large brass buckle, beauty of a thing. Anyway, three loud drunken Essex boys had cornered one of these kids on Jacobs Ladder/Stair whatever its called. They were trying to buy the belt off him, but when he wouldnt sell, they got physical. Not the sort of thing you can walk on by and ignore. This was a kid of around 14.

The Sedov is a thing of beauty and puts into Falmouth on a regular basis. If its in, they do a trip around it in their whaler, used to be a £1 a head, and for another squid, they would take you on board, which of course we did. It looks as though the Russki Navy no longer run her, as according to their website, you can pay to sail her.
https://sailtraininginternational.org/vessel/sedov/
The four masted sail training barque of the University of Murmansk, Sedov, is the vessel on which the young cadets of the university train to become officers, mechanics and radio specialists.

Sedov can accommodate up to 320 people on board among which 75 are crew members, 100 to 120 cadets and in some years, as many as 45 trainees of any nationality to discover life aboard a tall ship. This training takes place during a journey of 3 to 4 months along European coasts and will take advantage of cultural and economic exchanges with the ports.

I find Falmouth now is more of a stag do capital, but there are some cracking watering holes.

As for the weather, it was given to improve from today, but here in Derbyshire its actually cold, windy and dark.

 

[Niall_McIntosh]

St Austell, as others have said, the town is a bit tired. However, it does have a rather good brewery tour.

 

[Mandarin]

We're heading down to St Austell in just over 2 weeks time weeks time, leaving Thursday afternoon, overnight near Potters bar and hopefully a not too bad run down on Friday. Haven't been to Cornwall for 20+ years so can't offer any advice, and hoping the Friday traffic will be OK.

 

[Guzzilazz]

We're off to the west country (to me that means west of Penzance) with a week at the CCC site at Sennen Cove (which isn't) next week... Need a top up, having been worn down by the English over the last couple of years... :lol: :lol:

 

[jallin]

Hi Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Not too bothered about being a bit remote as I really don't like places to be too commercial or touristy. Went to Devon last year near Newton Abbot and Torquay and we found ourselves sitting in traffic quite a bit as it was very busy - I know it will be when we have to go.

 

[otherclive]

Hi Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Not too bothered about being a bit remote as I really don't like places to be too commercial or touristy. Went to Devon last year near Newton Abbot and Torquay and we found ourselves sitting in traffic quite a bit as it was very busy - I know it will be when we have to go.

We try to avoid crowds and major holiday periods. About three years ago we hired a mobile on a small farm in north Devon near the Cornwall border. Had to go in August as we took our granddaughter for a holiday. What a nightmare. Beaches were crowded and parking was pricey. Our granddaughter wanted to see Tintagel. We were queuing in the town just to access the queues for the various car parks.

This year it’s Pembrokeshire on a site five minutes walk from a nice safe and warm beach. And a nice walk across the cliffs to beautiful beach only accessible by a good walk.

 

[camel]

Agree about Pembrokeshire and SW Wales good beaches hidden gems, last time we went to Cornwall for ten nights we stopped on the site between Truro and Falmouth rained for ten days then went in pub in Truro when this local came in looking for his personal seat and started to moan about tourists,

 

[gyp]

If you are prepared to look at another location , you could try Chacewater Park at Chacewater near Truro.
The site is close to the village in a secluded location. The park is adult only , is dog friendly .Many people stay here everey year.
The site is kept very clean and tidy and is currently being refurbished by its new owners.
We have stayed here each year for the last 5 years and find it both friendly and convenient.
there is a bus stop outside the park which goes to Truro and in the other direction to Redruth.
there a a 5 min car ride to the Truro park and ride making it eay to connect with all of Cornwall by bus. The map will show you that it is vey central for all ofCornwall

 

[Dustydog]

Carnon Downs and Treamble Valley CAMC are excellent sites. The former is near Truro, great dog walk. Did a Christmas and New Year there. Treamble by Perranporth is a great seaside spot. If you are willing to forgo site facilities and use your own the CAMC site at at Agnes Head is a view to die for. Lastly River Valley at London Apprentice near St Austell is well placed for most things . It has its own swimming pool. Near Pentewan Sands.
Also I like Polmanter. The walk to StIves is great plus the legendary minibus back to site!