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South Penquite Farm

98%
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· Cornwall, Cornwall, England
4 acres hosted by Dominic & Cathy F.
33 motorhome/tent pitches
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Dominic & Cathy is a Star Host
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Location, location, location. Traditional tent camping and Mongolian chic on the moor’s edge.

Occasionally at South Penquite Farm, on the edge of Bodmin Moor, when it’s long gone midnight and there’s the sound of rustling in the undergrowth, you might find yourself wondering whatever happened to the elusive Beast of Bodmin Moor?

Supposedly a large wildcat that had either escaped from a sci-fi lab or was a throwback to some kind of sabre-toothed ancestor, it was reputed to prowl the moor scaring the wits out of anyone unlucky enough to cross its path. The story was at its height some years ago, and the hoo-ha has long since died down. But when you’re creeping to the loo in the middle of the night and hear a twig snap behind you, you’d better pray that the big cat hasn’t come back looking for a midnight snack.

Actually, within the boundaries of South Penquite Farm, any scuffling in the undergrowth is more likely to be one of the free-range chickens pecking around in your wake or, at worst, it might be the footfall of one of the horses grazing by the gate; but in the pitch blackness of a moorland night, you never can be quite sure.

Come daylight you can forget all about it and just enjoy the site: a fully certified organic 200- acre farm that takes sustainability very seriously, from using solar energy and rainwater to recycling absolutely everything – check out the roomy showers that are lined with psychedelic panels made from recycled yogurt pots and plastic bottles.

The farm education centre is a fantastic resource for learning all about organic farming and the local environment, while the bushcraft courses they run will introduce the whole family to field skills such as den building and cooking on an open fire.

Numbers are limited in the camping fields, so you shouldn’t ever feel penned in. Campfires set the tone of the evenings here, and there’s a whopping amount of space to run around in. As well as fellow campers you’ll also be sharing the fields with wandering turkeys, ducks and chickens – an endless source of entertainment for children, who also have a games barn, swings and a climbing frame to keep them occupied. Plus, there’s walking galore to be done even before you break out on to the moors, with a farm trail that brings you face- to-face with sheep, cows and horses, while taking in disused quarries, prehistoric hut circles and the banks of the De Lank River.

Since its beginnings as a farm site with just a basic loo and shower installed for the campers that flocked to Cornwall for the 1999 solar eclipse, South Penquite has adapted to the camping scene with style. Owner Dominic reckoned that once he had a family farm with a campsite on the side, whereas now he has a campsite with a farm on the side. And now, even here in the wilds of Bodmin Moor, you can opt for the luxury of one of Goldilocks and the Three Bears – four Mongolian yurts that occupy their own field. Daddy Bear and Goldilocks are the biggest, sleeping six; then there’s Mummy Bear, who sleeps four; and Baby Bear, a snug little place for two.And when you do lace up your hiking boots and strike out on to the rolling moors, it’s not the three bears you’ve got to watch out for. Er, is it?

- Smart pine-clad toilet block – with hot and cold water to all sinks - Veranda-fronted shower block which delivers solar heated rainwater into cubicles lined with sheets of recycled plastic bottles and yoghurt pots – free of charge and each the four showers is located in its own family-sized room - Laundry with washing machine, tumble dryer (both coin operated), fridge, freezer (for your ice packs) - Secure lockers with plugs for recharging your mobile phones & a hairdryer - Four washing up sinks – all with hot water - A kiddies play area with swings, a climbing frame and a goal
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Surfing
Natural features
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98%
44 Ratings · 77 reviews
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Jeremy E.recommends
September 11, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
Love this camp site, as close to perfect as you can get.... Loads of space, great facilities, great location, campfires.... and not chased off the site early, meaning you can get your tent and kit dry before packing away and also making a short weekend break seem much longer..... Visited four times so far and will be back again real soon.....
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Fiona C.recommends
July 4, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
Lovely rural campsite. Excellent clean facilities with a good eco ethos
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J C.recommends
June 18, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
Wonderful camping experience
Very peaceful, superb quality camping in a wonderful location. Would highly recommend and can't wait to return.
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Clare G.recommends
June 1, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
The best campsite we’ve been to!
This campsite is such a gem in the heart of Bodmin Moor, surrounded by stunningly beautiful Hawthorn blossom at this time of year. The pitches, well there aren’t any pitches really, you just find a space for your tent. And there is more than enough space for everyone. A lot of locals come here to get away from the coast which I think speaks to its home away from home feel. The facilities are spotlessly clean and everyone seems to make an effort to keep them that way. The kids loved the play barn and little park. The chickens and ducks and their babies peck around the farm roaming as far afield as they dare whilst outside the farm you come across moorland ponies, highland cows and sheep. The coast isn’t far but if you’d rather stay away from the crowds the farm offers 2 wonderful circular walks, as well as the lovely walks on the moor itself and the bridges across the river De Lank both provide places for children to paddle and play. The little on-site cafe does tasty pizzas and fabulous breakfast rolls at the weekend as well as tea, coffee (even decaf) and hot chocolate. We have absolutely loved it here in fact we loved it so much we stayed an extra night. Haven’t yet decided whether we’re ready to go home!!!
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Andrew L.recommends
May 17, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
This is an amazing place to camp! It’s on a beautiful patch of land with top rate facilities. As well, Dominic and Cathy are a joy to know.
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Matthew S.recommends
May 16, 2023
Camping for 1-6 people in tents/campervans
Amazing stay
This was the best camp site I've stayed at! It had fantastic amenities from warm showers (with great pressure) to a washing machine and drier. We absolutely loved our stay here
Location
Cornwall, Cornwall, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Dominic & Cathy F.Joined in June 2010
From the host
We are a two hundred acre family organic beef and sheep farm situated high on Bodmin Moor in the very heart of Cornwall. As well as being a demonstration farm for the Soil Association, we offer camping, yurts and a range of bunkhouse accommodation throughout the year for families, groups hikers or bikers.There is much to see on the farm which became fully organic in 2001. Since then we have continued to adopt an environmentally sensitive approach including solar heated hot water and rainwater harvesting for the campsite showers, a small wind turbine and a run of solar PV panels on a barn roof.As well as running the cows and sheep, the farm is exceptionally rich in archaeological remains and wildlife. We also have many horses, ponies, chickens, geese, ducks and of course our faithful working collies without whose help we could not run the farm.
Nearby attractions

There’s no end to glorious footfall territory on Bodmin Moor so, if you dare face the wrath of the Beast, don your boots and strike out to the ancient standing stones of The Hurlers and The Cheesewring or the peaks of Rough Tor and Brown Willy (Cornwall’s highest points). Being on the Sustrans Route 3 between Bristol and Land’s End, the moorland tracks are very popular with cyclists and you can explore various trails on horseback from Hallagenna Farm (01208 851500). There are pony treks, which are ideal for kids (over 5), or hacking and trail rides for the more experienced. However, if the endless shades of green make you feel a little land-locked, you’re only a short drive from the town of Bodmin, and 25 minutes’ drive from the dramatic seascapes of Trebarwith and Boscastle, and the legendary, stupendously sited castle of King Arthur at Tintagel. Consider, also, a trip to Jamaica Inn, a few miles east, the eponymous inn of Daphne du Maurier’s novel and home to a great Smuggler’s Museum (which also has a room devoted to the writer). Jamaica Inn is also a good place from which to head out on hikes across the moor, and you can leave your car in the car park if you ask nicely. They even offer advice on circular walks you can do from the pub, one to the peak of Brown Willy, at 420m the highest point on the moor, and another an easy stroll to Dozmary Pool, a mysterious place where, according to Arthurian myth, Excalibur was returned to the watery depths.

Food and drink
Sample some of the home produced mutton burgers and sausages from the farmhouse, or venture into the village shop (01208 851730) for local cheeses and, of course, Cornish pasties. Sausages, burgers and fabulously fresh seafood are available from the pop-up catering van that shows up at the farm every week. If you fancy something else there’s the Blisland Inn (01208 850739), which serves an extensive selection of cask ales alongside great bar snacks in the village of Blisland, about 15 minutes' walk away. The Old Inn, St Breward (01208 850711), is another cosy local serving decent home-cooked food, sourced locally, including a popular all-day carvery on Sundays; plus, if you don’t fancy hopping in the car you can walk here in 45 minutes or so. For a slightly more sophisticated menu but all the character of a 15th-century inn, it’s worth the 20-minute drive to the award-winning St Kew Inn (01208 841259); it’s pub grub, but a cut above most other offerings.
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