Tregarton Park
UK England South West England Cornwall Mevagissey
Gorran, St. Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6NF
Lets not beat around the tent pegs here; at first glance Tregarton Park should be everything Cool Camping is not. Touring caravans are welcomed, pitches come well-manicured and there’s a distinct ‘holiday park’ vibe that may ruffle some traditional camping feathers. But as you pitch next to a 17th century (Grade II listed) farm building, in the remote, unspoilt surroundings of beautiful Cornwall, with coastal and countryside views a-plenty, you soon realise that despite initial concerns, Tregarton Park is truly a cool place to camp.
The sprawling Tregarton Estate was built back in 1492, and today this 12 acre site is run by the welcoming Hicks family who remain determined to maintain the site's notable charm. All the walls have been constructed using traditional Cornish hedging methods, and the paving areas are laid with natural local stones including granite, limestone and sandstone. However, facilities here are anything but dated. Motion-sensor operated glass showers, excellent access for the disabled and Wi-Fi (across the whole site!) offer campers 21st century amenities that makes camping more comfortable.
And location? Well, as luck would have it, Tregarton is perfectly situated to explore the breathtakingly beautiful county of Cornwall and all its attractions. Nearby, the world famous Eden Project is one millennium project that appears to have been a success. Each football-like Biome takes visitors into a different region of the world; trek through a humid South American rainforest, or experience the dry deserts of Northern Africa. There’s plenty going on in the Outdoor Biome too, with 13 hectares of garden containing almost 2,000 plant species.
Despite Tregarton's huge capacity (125 pitches), it never feels overcrowded. Each pitch comes generously sized and clearly divided with hedging and shrubs to ensure campers enjoy a sense of privacy and seclusion. If you’re an 'old school' camper and still concerned that caravans just aren't cricket, then rest assured; you’ll be too busy falling under the spell of Cornwall’s tiny fishing ports, old smuggler’s inns and never-ending coastline to care.
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The Owner Says
An exclusive touring and camping park only 1.5 miles from the beach
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Civilised but cool campsite
Being a couple that usually like the wilder side of camping, we thought we'd seek out a different experience and find a site with the all singing and dancing facillities, like a swimming pool! We didn't book, we just searched on the Internet and turned up. We were greeted by a very smiley lady, who struggled to find us a pitch but still managed to accommodate us, our 2 dogs and a camper van for 3 nights, even if it meant juggling pitches a little.2 nights on 1, 1 night on another, over the way. After staying at the most expensive site on earth for the past 3 nights, for standard facilities, we were bracing ourselves for the expense of this one, that had beautiful, clean facilities, lovely private pitches, site shop/takeaway and did I mention, HEATED Swimming pool?! 22 quid per night...Bargain! Free electric hook up, free awning/gazebo pitching. Impressed!
The site was busy and organised but never felt rowdy or too 'holiday park' like. Great facilities with huge sinks for dishwashing, dog exercise field away from all the pitches and a beautifully heated swimming pool, that on a sunny day, having to yourself was heavenly. It also had an impressive safety feature on the pool gate so as small children could not access or exit the area alone. Had a lovely, friendly vibe to it.
Nearby we visited Porthluney cove, which has a small beach bar, serving drinks and snacks, overlooked by the impressive Caerhays castle. The beach is sandy with rock pools and caves, where we could let our dogs enjoy a good play. We walked to the cove from the campsite, which took about 40 minutes and was a really pleasant way to see the local countryside, instead of seeing it whizz past in a car, although there is a large car park there, payable to a man in a booth. Mevagissey is a really pretty harbour town which is worth a drive out to and is only 15 minutes by car to experience a proper Cornish working harbour.
Overall, we loved the area and loved the campsite. Keep up the good work and your competitive rates. You're in the right game! We would most definitely return and recommend. :)
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Who's In
Tents, trailer tents, touring caravans, motor caravans, families, couples and dogs (max 2) – yes. Groups – no.
Facilities
125 hedged pitches (divided into 4 meadows) all with electric hook-ups, 31 hard standing pitches (some offering sea views) and 1 toilet and shower block with facilities for the disabled. Laundry room, park shop and take-away (open mid-May – mid- Sept), adventure playground, all weather tennis court, heated outdoor swimming pool (open mid May until mid Sept) and a large recreational area. Tregarton is fortunate to have some wonderful wildlife: the odd early morning owl can be heard, a mass of swallows visit each year and as dusk fails the bats come out to play! Being surround by farmland the site also enjoys the cows and sheep in the neighbouring fields.
Family Friendly
Old-world agricultural charms married with modern, high-tech facilities. You could camp with old grandpa and the tiniest of kiddies and they'd both be in their element here. It's like a camping holiday for the winners of The Generation Game.
Nearby
Tregarton is situated less than two miles from Porthluney Cove, a secluded family (and dog friendly) beach with a large expanse of golden sand. There's plenty of room for games and it’s suitable for swimming. Whilst there, take the guided tour of nearby Caerhays Castle (01872 501310). The 100 acres of beautiful woodland gardens are lovely and hosts the largest collection of magnolias in England. Scenic Fowey has an impressive maritime history; in the fourteenth century attacks on Spanish and French coastal towns were operated from here. To defend against counter-raids, Henry VIII constructed St Catherine’s Castle (0117 9750 700), a pair of small artillery forts consisting of two storeys with gun ports at ground level above Readymoney Beach. Fowey later prospered by shipping china clay (quarried at the clay pits around St Austell) but the trade has long disappeared, and Fowey has now reinvented itself for summertime tourists. The ferry crossing from the nearby fishing village of Mevagissey is a lovely way to get there. Mevagissey itself is a lovely Cornish fishing village, where you can wander the narrow alleyways, browse gift shops and art galleries, or try your hand at mackerel fishing or crabbing. The harbour at Pentewan (meaning foot of the radiant stream) dates back to medieval times, when the village was mainly a fishing community. There’s an excellent bike trail running alongside a river with bikes to hire for all the family. Charlestown is a short drive, and well worth a visit with lots of lovely shops, cafes and restaurants.
Food & Drink
Tregarton offers a take-away service and during the height of summer, lunches and early evening meals are available by the swimming pool. For fresh local ingredients take the 2 mile trip to Lobbs Farm Shop (01726 844411.) This family run farm produce, supply and deliver first rate quality meats, with all beef and lamb sold in the shop being born and reared on the farm. For a top-notch takeaway, treat yourself to one of their specialty Cornish Hampers. Fresh fish can also be bought right on the harbour at nearby Mevagissey (3 miles.) The site's local pub, the Barley Sheaf (01726 843330), is only 1 mile away in the village of Gorran and offers excellent homemade food all year round. Portions are huge and the Cornish Fish Platter will sate any appetite. Two miles down the road you will find the boutique Llawnroc Hotel (01726 843461) serving quality bistro meals as well as traditional afternoon tea from £14.50. Lunch is served between 12-6pm with soups, sandwiches and salads on offer, as well as burgers and fish cakes. A few miles north in St. Ewe is the lovably traditional Crown Inn (01726 843322.) The welcome, atmosphere and reasonably priced food are all excellent, with the duck particularly tasty.
Open
March–October.
Getting There
Leave St. Austell travelling south on the B3273 passing through London Apprentice and Pentewan. Follow the sites brown tourist signs to the park by turning right at the crossroads at the top of the hill (towards the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Gorran Haven.) We suggest you do not use Satellite Navigation.
Public Transport
The sites nearest Train Station is St. Austell (7 miles away) and the closed bus stop is at the Lost Gardens of Heligan (2 miles.)
Facilities
- Dogs welcome
- Laundry
- Campervans permitted
- Caravans permitted
- Good for kids
- Disabled Facilities
- Wifi
- Electrical hook-ups
- Children’s playground
- Swimming pool
- Showers
Looking For...
- Beaches nearby
- Fishing nearby
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