Campers have been heading to Lower Penderleath near St Ives to pitch tents for about 30 years. It’s a farm but, according to its owner Russ, “not much farming goes on here now”. Russ says it like it is and keeps things simple; he instructs new arrivals to park up by the hedges around two fields, once grazed by cows and sheep, now set aside for campers. Then, he leaves you to it — as long as you don’t break the site’s quiet-by-10pm policy.
This is good old-fashioned family camping near the beaches of Cornwall with the basics of clean loos, hot showers and somewhere to wash pots and pans covered. There are no extras or add-ons here, apart from off-ground fire buckets to hire and the chance to plug your phone in at reception for a small charge. You won’t find a woodfired pizza, a G&T or a movie night under the stars. In fact, there’s no electric hook up, no communal fridge/freezer and there’s no firewood for sale on-site either.
At Lower Penderleath you can expect “proper” camping where pitching and parking by the hedge leaves a space for kids to run free in the middle. Away from the distractions of modern life, you might just find that the stars seem to shine brighter, the air feels cleaner and the water tastes ever so pure. And you’re not imagining it either. Light pollution is low, main roads are far from here and mineral water flows straight from source through the tap (via a UV filter).
The site lies within Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the views here are of rolling Cornish countryside but bustling St Ives is less than three miles away. The town is known for its sandy, surfy beaches and art galleries including the cliff-top Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden. Cornwall is narrow down here and it’s also only five miles south to Penzance where you can explore a different coast. Walk on the South West Coast Path, visit St Michael’s Mount or head to the Minack Theatre. Even Land’s End is less than 20 miles from site. All this makes the Lower Penderleath Campsite a great spot for a proper Cornish camping holiday; pure and simple.
