St Ives recomendations

[Biggydog]

hi all, does anyone have any suggestions for camp sites in St Ives Cornwall that take vans and most importantly dogs are welcome? I need to find one for late September for our first proper outing in our van, got a mate who is getting married in some big country house thing there so what better excuse to Christen it
Thanks in advance.

[RachelDaisy]

Hello,
we stayed here in July for 3 nights - not the cheapest but a very nice site, walking distance from St Ives - it's called Polmanter.

[bluebells]

We've just returned from St Ives, and stayed at a very cheap campsite (unfortunately it'll be closed in September, so no good for you).

However, when parking in St Ives Rugby Club we noticed they've opened a field for motorhomes. Not sure what the deal with it is, but there was a bus for 80p from the car park to the centre of St Ives - certainly a massive saving on car parking fees.

Could be worth investigating. I've just had the quickest of Googles and nothing came back tho...

[RachelDaisy]

Bluebells - this could have a caravan and camping club temporary rally site. I think I spotted they were having a rally when I was looking for places to camp.

[pockets]

Trevalgan Touring Park was nice when we went last September, usually I stay away from touring parks but this was just a really nice campsite, clean and modern bogs/showers and a bus that'll come to the campsite and er take you somewhere else...if you want.

I think if you crank your head the right way you'll get sea views.

here you go:
http://www.ayrholidaypark.co.uk/touring-park.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Biggydog]

Thanks for the suggestions i found a post in a previous thread on camping sites that had a link to funplace2b and it lists a fair few sites all over the UK and we booked onto a site called Little Travarrack. so fingers crossed it will be ok.
thanks again

[Biggydog]

usually I stay away from touring parks

Pockets, we have only ever camped with a tent and this is our first van, when you say you stay away from touring parks what other places do you stay at? sorry if i am just being a bit dim

[grumpyoldgit]

A touring park normally has lots of facilities like swimming pools, club house, play area, cafe, etc etc. They tend to be like Butlins; expensive, noisy, cramped spaces and not very relaxing. If you go to an ordinary camping site that just has toilets and showers but a good reputation, you can find yourself in paradise. Lots of space, peace and quiet and somewhere you can really relax and recharge your batteries. It is really a choice of what you are after. If you have young kids, a commercialised touring park may be what you need.

[pockets]

A touring park normally has lots of facilities like swimming pools, club house, play area, cafe, etc etc. They tend to be like Butlins; expensive, noisy, cramped spaces and not very relaxing. If you go to an ordinary camping site that just has toilets and showers but a good reputation, you can find yourself in paradise. Lots of space, peace and quiet and somewhere you can really relax and recharge your batteries. It is really a choice of what you are after. If you have young kids, a commercialised touring park may be what you need.

Exactly, very well put. I just want a a quiet relaxing site and I've usually found that to be the case with the sites that the name ends with Farm although I dont exclusively stay at 'Farms' and there are exceptions to this rule like the one I recommended although I did go out of season. You may end up staying in some sites that you hate because you pre-booked and the reviews sounded alright but they turned out to be rubbish-its just life and you'll soon build up a nice little selection of good sites that you may return to in due course.

Did you stay in sites when you were in a tent?

[plymat]

Trevalgan Touring Park was nice when we went last September, usually I stay away from touring parks but this was just a really nice campsite, clean and modern bogs/showers and a bus that'll come to the campsite and er take you somewhere else...if you want.

I think if you crank your head the right way you'll get sea views.

here you go:
http://www.ayrholidaypark.co.uk/touring-park.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Use the main site at Ayr, very good site, overlooks Pothmeor beach and Tate gallery, walking distance to main town.

[TravellingChick]

Trevalgan Touring Park was nice when we went last September, usually I stay away from touring parks but this was just a really nice campsite, clean and modern bogs/showers and a bus that'll come to the campsite and er take you somewhere else...if you want.

I think if you crank your head the right way you'll get sea views.

here you go:
http://www.ayrholidaypark.co.uk/touring-park.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Use the main site at Ayr, very good site, overlooks Pothmeor beach and Tate gallery, walking distance to main town.

Spent a week at Trevalgan last week and it's a lovely site. Just enough facilities to be comfortable without going over the line into a "touring park".

The bus will take you via their sister site at Ayre to Porthmeor Beach (the one with the Tate Modern) and back again from outside the cinema.

Everything is clean and tidy and the staff are friendly, plenty of hot water and a private coastal path walk down to Porthmeor. The shop isn't very well stocked but there's a yummy brekkie van serving local bacon and sausage and you can buy organic beef from the farm on site too.

The big BUT about this site is that it is VERY exposed and seems to have it's own little weather system going on. After 2 nights of winds gusting at 35mph and feeling like I was on the side of the motorway with juggers hooning past I asked to move and they put us in the games field. Clearly a bit of an overflow field but bigger pitches and much more shelter along the hedge, closer to the amenities and much less crowded too!

Is it St Ives you particularly want? You could try Carbis Bay or Gwithian Church Farm if it's the area rather than the town you're keen on.

Have fun!

Sarah

[Biggydog]

Did you stay in sites when you were in a tent?

Yes we always stayed on sites as the little lady did not feel safe just pitching up in a field we normally use the Headlands camp site at Tintagel, very good open site, fairly good toilet/showers(20p for 5mins) small shop and laundry facilities, swings and climey things for kids and no bar club house or restaurant as only 2min from local pubs and fodder.
Looks like i might have a convoy to travel down with now, i have inspired the brother and a mate so much with my van they are both hunting for vans of their own now, look out 80-90 Peterborough is getting a possy

[Ian Hulley]

We stayed at Little Travarack 6 years ago ... they wanted an arm, leg and at least 1 kidney ... and there was no swimming pool. Facilities were average.

Look in Kathyshack's funplace2B website for my review of the time.

Ian.

[moonshine]

We stayed at Balnoon campsite, Balnoon, just outside St.Ives night before last!
Lovely, small quiet and spotless! Heard a dog bark once so prob dog friendly!
Can't recommend highly enough!!
Definintely the opposite of a touring park!

[Inderlad]

I've always wanted to stay in St Ives in the van as it is a fantastic place. We've been treated by the mother in law to staying in an appartment on Porthmear beach, which is simply amazing. It's nice to hear so many other people have had such a good time there.

Just watch out for the seaguls though, no really, do!!

Have a pint of Doombar outside of The Sloop on the habour, and if you like sea food you will LOVE the Sea Food Cafe on Forth street.

Hope you have a fantastic time.