Tintagel Camping

Camping and glamping in Tintagel

Cornwall may be famed for sun, sea and surf but it’s also well-known for its fierce independence, folklore and dramatic cliffs. Nowhere is this more in evidence than Tintagel where you can visit the spectacularly-located Tintagel Castle, a former home to kings of Cornwall and reputedly where the legendary King Arthur was conceived. The castle is a must-see attraction for many visitors to Cornwall so camping or glamping nearby makes sense if it’s on your to-do list. There are some fantastic camping and glamping sites in Tintagel and its surroundings. But you don’t have to pitch a tent to immerse yourself in the scenery that makes this part of the north Cornish coast so special; if you don’t have the gear (or inclination) to hammer in the tent pegs after a journey to the south west, give glamping in Tintagel a go. Cornwall has, perhaps, the widest range of glamping accommodation in the country with everything from simple bell tents to well-decked out yurts, modern geodesic domes and jaw-dropping treehouses. You’ll find some of these some incredible glamping pads among our collection of places to stay in and around Tintagel.

Things to do in Tintagel

Like much of the rest of the south-west, Tintagel has been attracting people on holiday for generations thanks in part to the historic sites including, of course, the English Heritage-listed castle. The ruins of this sprawling 1,500-year-old castle, with links to the legendary King Arthur, are split between the mainland and a headland. A visit here includes the opportunity to visit the beach below and, if the tide’s out, Merlin’s Cave too. Over in Tintagel village another, somewhat smaller, site of historical interest is the National Trust’s Old Post Office. This crooked building is actually a 14th-century farmhouse but was re-purposed as a post office in Victorian times. And if you head a little way out of town, you can discover St Nectan's Glen; a shady woodland walk passing three waterfalls and the site of the hermitage of the sixth century Saint Nectan - with a cafe and shop thrown in for good measure.

If it's beaches you're here for, the small Tintagel Haven beach at the foot of the cliffs is worth a look but, like many of the small beaches and coves tucked among the rugged cliffs of this part of the Cornish coast, it's only accessible when the tide's out. You don’t have to travel far to find wide bays and golden sands though. Trebarwith Sands, two miles south of Tintagel, is good for swimming and surfing at low tide and it’s not far to the well-known beaches at Polzeath and Bude. For coastal walking, you’re spoiled for choice with the South West Coast Path tracking a route along the entire coast of Cornwall (and beyond). Set your compass for Port Isaac or Boscastle to try some freshly-landed fish and explore the winding streets of charming Cornish harbour villages. For more ideas on things to do while camping in Tintagel, take a look at the Visit Cornwall website.