Cornwall by campervan

Set off for an exciting trip to Cornwall, a land of legends, mystery and adventures at the southwest tip of the U.K. Its Celtic culture, Cornish tongue and astounding landscapes, between Britany and Ireland, make Cornwall a special part of Britain.

To reach Cornwall, take the ferry in Caen/Ouistreham or Cherbourg for Portsmouth or Poole. If you arrive in Portsmouth, you will start your trip with a high place of British yachting, the Solent, the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England. This was where the first America's Cup took place. If you disembark in Poole, you'll be 200 km away from Saltash, the first town in Cornwall reached after going through the counties of Dorset and Devon and crossing the River Tamar. You'll love driving your campervan along the winding roads taking you from plunging ports to great sandy beaches, bleak cliffs and flowery heaths. If you start on the south coast, along the Channel, you'll reach the port of Looe whose speciality is shark fishing... The trek between Looe and Polperro, another typical harbour, provides a perfect glimpse of the beauty of Cornwall's coasts. There are many more great walks along the South West Coast Path, the longest coastal path in England.

Like everywhere else in England, Cornwall has many beautiful gardens. You can visit four very different ones around the town of Saint Austell alone: Eden Project, Pinetum Gardens, The Lost Gardens of Heligan or the Tregehan Garden. 25 km away from Saint Austell, you'll reach Cornwall's county town, Truro whose name doesn't sound very English... After visiting its Gothic-revival Anglican cathedral, take a break and enjoy a nice cup of tea with creamy scones. Join Falmouth where you must visit Pendennis Castle, an artillery fort towering above the sea. Keep going until Lizard Point, the southernmost point in England. This tip, surrounded by impressive cliffs, is famous for being the finish line of transatlantic sailing records. If you don't spot any boats, you might see some seals... Hit the road again in your comfy campervan and ride to Saint Michael's Mount in Mazarion.

Like the French Mont Saint Michel, it is surrounded by the sea at high tide and, despite being smaller, it is well worth a visit. After the most southerly point in England, head for the most westerly, with a fitting name: Land's End, a cape between the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. Before that, why not take a detour via Minack Theatre, an open air theatre overlooking the sea? You might be able to watch a Shakespeare play. An unforgettable experience! Push on to Saint Ives, another of Cornwall's jewels. If you are a contemporary art buff, don't miss out on Tate Saint Ives. Follow the north coast of Cornwall, along the Atlantic. Just like on the southern coast, you'll go from small harbour to small harbour: Padstow Harbour, Port Isaac, Bostcastle Harbour... from vast beaches to vast beaches, highly appreciated by surfers, particularly Porthmeor at Saint Ives and Water Gate Bay, near Newquay. Your Cornish adventure would not be complete unless you stopped at Tintagel, an eagle's nest built at the top of a high cliff, with the ruins of Tintagel castle where they say King Arthur lived. 

We suggest you set off on your campervan adventure to the south-west of England from our WeVan rental location in Caen.