"Entertainment is what you make it", campsite owner Phil tells us. It's not that he isn't willing to put in the hard work to create a special campsite. Far from it. He's spent the last few years tirelessly crafting his dream camping space, with well-furnished safari tents for glampers complete with proper beds and a toasty wood-burning stove. What he means is that entertainment, here, is of the natural kind. There's no playground, no waterpark, no amusement arcade. This is a place where imagination rules the roost. Run in the open green space, tell ghost stories around the campfire and squeak your way around the hedgerows calling the local birds. Do you know how to speak blackbird? It's easier than you think.
Rosevidney Glamping is a new site that has quickly found its feet thanks to both the friendly owner and its handy location. Half way along the A30 between the sandy crescent of St Ives Bay – one of the very best beaches in West Cornwall – and bustling Penzance, it's difficult to find a more convenient place to camp. Choose either of the two directions and it's less than 10 minutes in the car before the waves are lapping at your feet and the sand is rubbing between your toes. Marazion beach is the closest of the lot, made famous by St Michael's Mount, the tiny, walled island opposite, topped by a castle and reached by walking across a cobbled causeway. The views from the turrets are magnificent.
Despite the success of the glamping site, Phil is far from putting his feet up. Plans are afoot to add an exciting horsebox conversion, with room for four people to sleep in quirky comfort. Horses themselves are also welcome at Rosevidney by prior arrangment. There's an indoor school and a jumping paddock, along with stabling and grazing. You can even have riding lessons on site with the renowned Verity Perry. And for those of us who prefer the simple bicycle, you can take to the countryside on two wheels too. In fact, the campsite is so close to Lands End – the most south-westerly point in the UK – that you may even spot one or two people heading off on intrepid cycle trips across the entire country. Give them a wave and wish them luck. Then head back to your tent and put your feet up!
The A30 is conveniently placed to zip you north to the coast or south to the water on the opposite side of the peninsular. St Ives is just a 15 minute drive away. Leave your car at the park-and-ride and enjoy the 12 minute train journey along the coast for its spectacular scenery en route to town. On rainy days, there's plenty of galleries and shops in town to keep you dry, while, when the sun is out, St Ives Bay is probably the one of the finest sandy beaches in the South West (it's dog-friendly too). Nearby Godrvey Lighthouse is said to have inspired Virginia Woolf's most famous novel, To the Lighthouse, while RSPB Hayle Estuary reserve is inspiring in its own right too.
Rosevidney Glamping is equidistant from its two most local pubs, each 1½ miles away. The Lamb And Flag (01736 753289) in Canons Town has a warm, low-beamed interior and good locally-sourced food, while, in the opposite direction, The Star (01736 740375) in Crowlas is accurately described in The Good Beer Guide as a 'Mecca for real ale'. It is home to the Penzance Brewing Company and has an ever-changing range of guest ales.
