There’s arguably no better way to get outdoors and make the most of the British summer than with a camping trip. Many of us might recall camping as a child involving setting up your own tent, with no hot showers on site and a flimsy sleeping bag to keep you warm. But going camping can actually feel like a relaxing holiday if you pick the right spot.
In fact, there’s some seriously impressive campsites in England that might more closely rival a holiday resort than a field to pitch a tent, and one of them has just been named the best in the country. Located near St Ives in Cornwall, Polmanter Touring Park has officially been voted the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year by VisitEngland. The category falls within the tourism agency’s annual Awards for Excellence, which recognises the businesses providing the very best experiences for tourists across the country.
A Gold Award Winner, meaning they’ve met the highest standards of guest experiences and excellence across the business, Polmanter Touring Park is set in a corner of Cornwall known as Penwith.
It’s not the stunning location that saw the campsite win this year’s awards, but the state of the art facilities that make it sound more like a retreat than a campsite.
A heated 20 metre swimming pool and a spa that boasts a number of luxurious treatments from full body scrubs to scalp massages, it’s a far cry from wobbly tents and cold showers you might expect at some campsites.
There’s plenty to keep kids entertained too, with an indoor and outdoor play area, a fully-equipped games room and two tennis courts with rackets available to rent on site.
While some camping trips might involve getting down and dirty, foraging for sticks and building your own campfire, there’s an onsite restaurant that even provides freshly-baked pizzas to take away.
If you fancy exploring, there’s two footpaths located on the site that will take you directly to St Ives but if you don’t feel like doing the walk down there, there’s also a shuttle service that will drop you off into town.
Describing their visit, one Tripadvisor user said: “Our experience exceeded all expectations and truly felt like a five-star stay. As first-time campers, we approached the adventure with a mix of curiosity and hesitation, but we were pleasantly surprised by how wonderful the site was.”
Another user added: “Polmanter is incredible. It’s super clean, the food is great, the park is immaculate. The kids play areas are well maintained, as are the toilet blocks. They have thought of everything!”.
Whether you’re bringing your campervan with you or prefer to keep it old school with a tent, there’s a variety of pitches to choose from. While most pitches come with access to electricity, water and even a TV socket, they can also arrange a spot away from this.
While there are a few luxury apartments and cottages available to book, wherever it is you’re staying, you’re guaranteed incredible views over the Cornish coastline.