Granary Barn Camping
UK England South West England Cornwall Porthleven
Helston is Cornwall in microcosm. Home of the fabled May-time 'furry dance', the county's second oldest town is a picture-postcard patchwork of pasty shops, ancient pubs (like the 15th century Blue Anchor Inn), and charming old miners' cottages which once housed some 1,000 workers from the local Wheal Vor tin mine. This is the essence of Cornish culture. And while you can spend hours ambling its steep serpentine streets en route to the harbour at Porthleven, hop in the car and head westwards through ceaseless fields of green to the small outlier hamlet of Sithney, home of the beautifully secluded 18th century farmhouse, Granary Barn.
Many campsites round these parts have plenty to shout about, be they captivating sea views, artisan farm shops, or über luxurious abodes. But perhaps Granary Barn's greatest asset is affable owner Tom. Warmly greeting guests, this easygoing host is hospitality personified. As Tom puts it, "This is a personality driven site, I want the campers to engage with me, share their day. I want to provide students and anyone else with the chance to have a holiday at my prices which are pitched at affordability. Money may be tight, however it is still possible to have a break in Cornwall, with a friendly site owner who while they are here, is their new best friend!".
As befitting it's breezy host, there's a refreshingly informal attitude to pitches. Tom lets campers pitch up where they like – for there's really no need for regimented spots when you've got a trio of spacious fields like this.
Thankfully this refreshingly cavalier philosophy doesn't extend to the facilities which, although basic, are immaculately maintained. Bins are emptied daily and toilets and electric showers are scrubbed diligently – attentive Tom prides himself on it.
Should the weather fail to read the script, Tom will even let you bunk down in the backpackers hostel (availability permitting and for a small fee). This cushy dormitory sleeps eight (on single beds) with a communal kitchen and lounge area.
Tom calls the farmhouse home and is on call 24 hours a day ("give me a bell if you need anything... even it's three in the morning!"). But unlike some campsites we could mention, Tom's relaxed vibe and no curfew rule means groups are free to kick back and relax to the wee small hours, losing yourself in the unblemished night skies of the south-west.
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Details
Facilities
Laundry facilities, washing machine, worktop with 2 sinks, fridge freezer and charging point in the campers kitchen. Water points and rubbish bins dotted conveniently around the camping fields. Campfires and BBQs permitted provided they are raised well off the grass.Suitable For
Tents, campervans and small groups – yes. Dogs – No.
Nearby
The historic harbour village of Porthleven is just a few minutes drive. With its 3 mile sand and shingle beach, traditional net lofts and fisherman's cottages, Britain's most southernly port makes for a lovely summer's stroll. The Lizard Peninsula shows the Cornish coast at its most dramatic. Watch the waves crash into this rugged outcrop and if you're feeling adventurous, Lizard Adventure (07845 204040) specialise in all manner of outdoor pursuits including sea kayaking, coasteering and cliff climbing. No visit to this stretch of Cornwall would be complete without crossing the tidal causeway to St Michael's Mount (01736 710507), a fairy-tale island immersed in myth and legend. Tour the medieval castle, visit the Civil Ware gun batteries, or simply marvel at the views from the sub tropical gardens. St Ives' breathtaking Blue Flag–approved beaches are also within easy reach. Porthminster is among the UK's finest, while the surfers spot of choice is Porthmeor. If you're in the area and fancy a bit of culture, Tate St Ives (01736 796226) features some fine contemporary and modern art within a magnificent former gas works.
Food & Drink
The nearest pub is The Ship Inn (01326 564204) on Porthleven Harbour and is straight out of Cornish folklore. The food's not bad either, with a selection of pub grub faves and locally-caught seafood dishes. Quirky Kota-Kai Bar Kitchen (01326 574411) boasts an eclectic menu spanning tapas to Thai. They also host movie nights, have a skittles room and kids eat free every day between 5.30 and 6.30pm. For something a bit special, Amélies at The Smokehouse (01326 554000) takes some beating. Pitched on Porthleven's scenic harbourside, the panoramic views provide the perfect backdrop to a lazy Sunday lunch of wood-fired slow roast leg of lamb or whole stuffed mackerel with prawn butter. The Goldolphin Arms (01736 762879) is probably the nearest pub.
Open
All year.Pricing
£5 per person per night with no age concessions. £20/Night - High Season for Campervans. £15/Night - Mid/Low Season. School Holidays £7, £3 in low season. Showers Free.
The Owner Says
Social Distancing Measures
Location
Contact Granary Barn Camping, Granary Barn Camping, Nantrisack Farm, Sithney, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0AE
Getting There
Granary Barn is on the B3302 Holiday Route on the Helston to Hayle Road, 500 yards south of Sithney School and opposite a Plant Nursery.
From Helston: pass the Lidl Supermarket on the left and carry on up the hill (A394). At the top of the hill, turn right onto the B3302. After 1 mile, opposite the Plant Nursery, turn right into an avenue of trees. The Farmhouse is at the end on the left.
From Camborne: at Sithney School, turn left onto B3302, until opposite Plant Nursey, turn left into the avenue.
Bus service to Sithney village which is a quarter of a mile away.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 52 reviews
Very poor facilities...only 1toilet for the whole campsite and a shower...
Loved camping
Superb camping experience
Peaceful, perfectly located, simple campsite
A windy but wonderful stay
Peaceful camping 🌿
Great value, friendly site
Adjacent to a noisy road
Lovely host and site
Fab place
All you want from a campsite in a great location
Great place, great host
A relaxing family friendly campsite - with open fires!
Wonderfully relaxed camping
Fantastic family fun
Enjoyable first experience of camping!
Welcoming owner and great touring base
By a VERY busy & noisy road
Great farm site
A little haven of peace in the middle of the summer holidays.
Best welcome we've ever had
Nice laid back and quiet campsite - perfect.
Absolutely Perfect!!
Nice campsite, great location
Great location, relaxed approach, everything you need
Chilled, friendly and Easy
Great Site, Great Location
Great Stay
Perfect.
Fantastic few days away
Great Value, Great Host!
Excellent site and friendly host.
We have stayed at Granary Barn twice now. It's a wonderfully relaxing place to be. Tom is a perfect host, friendly and helpful accompanied by his gorgeous collie Flash. Granary Barn is how camping should be and at a sensible price.
The toilets and showers are spotlessly clean and the site is within easy reach of Porthleven, beaches and National trust properties. We will certainly be returning again.
Helen and Adrian
Just Great!
The fella found this one for a surprise trip for my birthday weekend and he's definitely scored brownie points! Tom's a great character, he was friendly and helpful from start to end, as too was Flash his Collie dog. Peaceful, charming surroundings, all well kept and clean and none of that twee, 'Stepford Wives' looking marked out pitches! Facilities are just what you need - hot showers, clean loo and a fridge! There are no rules as such, Tom leaves you to your own devices - you need just common sense and respect for the environment and fellow campers of course. We cycled to the nearby brewery and then on down to Porthleven which was an easy and very fun ride. It's a great spot for getting around to see lots of places, we managed to fit a lot in to our short trip. But we're already planning our next trip back. See you soon Tom and Flash!
Laura and Hugo x
Gorgeous
I've been staying at Tom's campsite for the last few weeks through some of the toughest weather. Tom couldn't have made it any better. Always available to lend a hand (even if that means being in a field at 7.15am helping you gather up your belongings when your tent has blown over in 70mph winds), he is what makes the site. The pitches are flat, the bathrooms are basic but fine and Tom is a joy. I'd recommend this site to anyone. 5 stars!
A good quiet Stay
Stayed here for five days. An excellent site to sit back and relax and enjoy the best of Cornwall. Tom was very welcoming and helpful. We were even given our own dustbin for rubbish a first on any campsite we have been on! The site was nice and quiet which was just perfect. Had there been many more tents I think there would have been a bit of pressure on the facilities but Tom was busy updating so will be interested to see how that goes.
We all would happily stay again when in Cornwall again.
Amazing Stay!
We love you tom and flash! We recently stayed at granary barn for 17 nights while travelling cornwall. We couldn't have asked for a better place ! Amazing location for every wonderful site in cornwall, our favourite place was porthleven about 10 mins drive from the campsite, the pub was just down the road about 10 mins walk. The site was perfect it was quiet and peaceful, and the hospitality was amazing! We will be returning as soon as possible ! Thanks Tom and flash for making our first cornwall stay the best we could ask for! Love James and Faye
A wonderful stay
We stayed here at the end of June , we was so pleased that we found this campsite . Tom Is so freindly and welcoming and not forgetting little Flash who we loved . facilities are good and very clean , really pleased with having a fridge and freezer so we could put our ice packs in there on those hot days . The campsite was so peaceful and we liked the fact that you could pick where you like to pitch as some big campsites they like to have set pitches which is not for us . granary Barn is also in a great location to go for days out , just wish there was more time to do everything but I guess that gives us a good excuse to come visit again ! Many thanks Tom .
Fantastic!
I cannot add much more after reading the other reviews! We were greeted by our hosts Tom and Flash. Chose our own spot on the site. Facilities are nice, clean and functioning! Use of the freezer was a bonus for our ice packs! Tom really is lovely and would of bent over backwards if we'd of needed him too. Nice quiet site. Very pretty. Easy to get too and from. Walking distance to the local pub which served lovely food and everyone was very friendly.
We had another campsite booked for the second part of our week in Cornwall. The only reason we packed up and went to it was because we had paid in advance for the second site. We would of happily stayed at Tom's site all week! And we will definitely be returning.
Thank you Tom and Flash for making us feel so welcome. See you again.
A great stay
My husband and I have just come back from our stay at Granary Barn Camping and we had a wonderful time. Tom is very helpful and Flash, his dog, is very friendly. The facilities are great and the site is beautiful. Great value for money and very close to all the wonderful things to see around south west Cornwall.
beautiful site and great hospitality
I've just returned after staying for 3 nights at Tom's campsite. What a great find! The fields are beautiful and perfect for watching sunrise and sunset. Wonderful to have a campfire and all the facilities are immaculate. Tom is so helpful and welcoming and I hope to visit again!
It's in a great location for both the North and South Cornwall coast - within easy reach of Marazion, St Ive's and all the beautiful sights. What perfect weather too - if you could guarantee sunshine every Easter holiday, I'd return every year! Perfect time to visit - no huge crowds but everything's open.
I will definitely be recommending this site to friends - superb hospitality and a great price too.
Perfect stay!
This was such a lovely stay! Tom was amazing: such a nice guy who was always willing to go the extra mile to make the stay perfect. The Cottage was lovely and Tom was the nicest host that I have ever had the pleasure of staying with. Thank you very much for a great few days!
Just What Was Needed !
We stayed at Tom's site for a few nights in August and it was exactly what we needed - tranquil, well situated with clean organised facilities. Tom was a great host, friendly, welcoming, attentive. Our visit here helped to 'top' our holiday in Cornwall, we will most
definitely aim to return again soon and are looking forward to it already ! Thanks Tom ...
Thouroughly Recommended
Would recommend this campsite to anyone. Been there twice now and it is evident that it is suitable for groups, families or backpackers. Tom is a relaxed, friendly host that goes that little bit extra to make you feel welcome. With a hostel and 3 large fields there is plenty of space to play games and relax. The campsite is located with easy travel to the North, South or West coast as well as shops in Helston. Very good campsite for very good value!!
Excellent site
A very peaceful informal site which is ideally situated for touring South and West Cornwall. Close to the lovely Porthleven and Helston. 3 large flat fields to choose from with acres of space. Spotless showers (3) and toilets (2) with new wash up area. Lovely friendly and helpful host, Tom. What more could you want! £5 pp + £1 per shower. Excellent value. We will return!
Beautiful and Relaxing Campsite
Four of us stayed for 3 nights in late July and we had the best of times. The camping field is surrounded by high hedge rows that were full of wild flowers and wild life. The field is flat with no pegs for positions, you are just trusted to be as efficient with the amount of space you need. Tom the owner informd us that it is his intention to plough up the field in the winter and resow for a flatter lusher area for next season; but quite honeslty its already better than many a site we've stayed. We were allowed to have an open fire which we sat around every evening enjoying the wine and the distinct lack of midges. The facilities are new and very clean if not a bit sparse with two toilets and one shower. But again, while we were there Tom was in the process. of upgrading this with another three shower cubicles and a new laundry, washing up area. We were one of only four campers over the four days so there was a piece and tranquility about the place that is hard to find during the school holidays. If like us its bingo nights, keg beer, rowdy nights and terraced camping that you are trynig to aviod and instead a quite, friendly, charming surroundings that you seek then put this on your Favourites list.
Perfect!
Just returned from 5 fab nights camping at Granary Barn, we couldn't fault the place. Tom and Flash provided us with a warm welcome on arrival and made us feel at home. The facilities are spacious and clean and Tom was building two new showers and an area to clean dishes etc whilst we were there. The location is perfect, with easy access to all areas of southern Cornwall :) we loved it so much two of our friends joined us from their campsite for 2 nights.
Can't recommend the campsite enough, we would love to come back and stay another year :) thanks Tom!
Very pleasant site
I have now stayed here twice and Tom has been incredibly helpful each time. If you are camping, there are three fields to kip down in and more than enough room to kick a ball around if that's what you want to do. Basic facilities are readily available and are kept in good clean condition. The hostel is even better. Positioning is perfect for getting around anywhere in the north or south coast and is very central. Will definetly be back.
Just Perfect!
What a lovely place! I have never felt so welcome anywhere. I hadn't made an advance booking but wanted to camp in the Helston area, after calling in a few sites I was beginning to get disappointed as they were very expensive and didn't seem to cater for my needs. I decided to enquire in a local pub and was directed to Granary Barn.
As soon as I laid eyes on it I knew it was for me. Beautiful well kept fields in a fantastic location behind a traditional Cornish farm house.I was greeted with a smile and a hand shake by the owner. He then showed me round the shower and toilets, which looked newly fitted and were spotlessly clean. There are 3 large camping fields with short cut grass, there are no marked pitches and you can pitch your tent anywhere, you are not squeezed into a tiny pitch and have loads and loads of space. Tom, the owner then told me that we will pick up walkers from the coastal path and give them lifts back if they require the following day, He will also pick up campers from Helston if the have not transport and require a lift. His hospitality is second to none and he will go out of his way to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
In short, it's a very informal impeccably kept campsite in a beautiful location,with an owner who wishes to make your stay as as pleasant as possible, and here is the incredible part......... he only charges £5 per person per night plus £1 per shower. One of the sites locally wanted to charge me £18.50 per night for a one man tent!
Everyone wants different things from a campsite, I like clean, simple and informal. Using that criteria it's the best I have stayed on.
Thank you Tom for a wonderful stay!
Beautiful setting and lovely host
The campsite is in a beautiful field, with an amazing country-side view and the location is fantastic with regards to visiting other areas of Cornwall. Tom, the host is very friendl, welcoming and helpful - even helped us carry rocks for a fire and build it. The showers and toilets are spotless. Definitely recommend this campsite!!!
Brilliant Value and an excellent host
After staying in both the campsite and the hostel I cannot fault Granary Barn camping for the price, it is both perfectly adequate for camping or (if the weather is a bit ropey) the hostel provides an excellent dry bed for the night as well as cooking facilities. Brilliant location as well!
Highly recommended
Granary Barn Camping is a fantastic peaceful and quiet place . Tom - the owner is very friendly and helpful. Shower and toilet facilities lovely and clean . Ideal place to spend holiday for very reasonable price , I will be definitely returning here again....
lovely sit, beautiful surroundings, fantastic host
We stayed with our 10 month old son on Tom's site at the end of June, for a week and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The site is simple, with a shower room and two toilets, both of which were spotless. Tom is personable and helpful always on hand if you need anything, providing campers with an oppurtunity to enjoy a budget holiday in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Porthlevon is amazing so many places to eat and drink and only a few minutes down the road. Can't recommend the site enough, Tom welcomes everyone with a smile with flash the border collie at his side.