Cornwall is easily one of the best places in the UK for a family holiday – from its dramatic coast to the lovely countryside, I never get tired of planning a trip here, plus there’s more choice than ever if you fancy glamping in Cornwall with kids.
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While I’m not a keen camper, glamping is the perfect way to get away from it all, with sites tucked away in secluded corners of the county (but still in easy reach of Cornwall’s family attractions) – and it’s definitely not all about tents either, as sites like Unique Hideaways show.
With everything from huts and wagons to boats and pods, and locations from Lostwithiel to the Lizard, I’ve picked out some of the best options if you fancy glamping in Cornwall with kids – you can even find glamping in Cornwall with hot tubs!
A Safari tent near St Mawes
For bigger families – or if you’re travelling with grandparents – it’s hard to beat Roseland Valley Retreat, near St Mawes, with both a safari tent and an African-style log cabin to stay in.
With space for up to six people and a baby between the two, you can escape under canvas to the double bed, or gather indoors together, plus there’s both an indoor and an outdoor shower – and even more importantly, a flushing loo!
The retreat is also surrounded by 30 acres of farmland to explore: kids will love the rope swings in the woodland or testing their skills at the football goals, while there’s a more tranquil spot to relax around the peaceful lake, not to mention a firepit, a hidden hammock to discover, and picnic spots galore if you wander off through the fields.
Plus you’re only a few miles from the beaches, as well as the Lost Gardens of Heligan so it’s a great base to explore this stretch of the south coast.
For dedicated tent fans, Mount View Luxury Glamping near Penzance has two safari tents with private hot tubs which both sleep six – Horizon and Sunrise even have WiFi as well as great views.
Glamping pod near Penzance
Want to embrace the simple life but prefer something a bit sturdier than canvas? You need one of the cosy glamping pods, with choices across Cornwall -although Coastal Gaze, a few miles from Penzance, has to have one of the best views around.
From its home in a flower-filled meadow, the pod lives right up to its name, as you can look out to St Michael’s Mount in the sea ahead, as well as to the fishing village of Mousehole and to the Lizard Peninsula.
There’s an impressive amount of space inside as well, with room for four people, including a double bed and sofa that converts to another double, kitchenette with dining area, en-suite shower room and underfloor heating if you’re visiting out of peak season (or if the British weather is less than summery).
For more ideas of things to do in Cornwall in the rain with kids, check out my top picks
It’s dog-friendly too, plus there are two other pods in the surrounding meadow if you’re travelling with family and friends – set far enough apart that you’re nicely private otherwise.
A houseboat near Falmouth
If you’re looking for a more unusual alternative to a hotel, the Mistery 2 houseboat is definitely one of the most memorable options if you’re glamping in Cornwall with kids.
Tucked away on the banks of the River Kennall, just outside Falmouth, there are lots of clever little touches linking to the nautical theme, including kitchen surfaces crafted from recycled dock pilings and teak decking taken from older ships.
There are two bedrooms on board, along with bathrooms, and a fire pit to while away the evenings ashore – keep an eye out for the six seagull sculptures dotted around as well.
Keen paddleboarders and kayakers can head off along the river right from the boat, or Falmouth itself is only a 15-minute drive away – pop into the National Maritime Museum for stories of some other explorers and seafarers from across the centuries too.
The Witch’s Wagon at Warleggan, near Lostwithiel
Contender for the accommodation with the best name in the whole of Cornwall, the Witch’s Wagon at Warleggan has plenty to tempt families.
For starters the wagon sleeps four, unlike a lot of similar style shepherd’s huts and gypsy caravans. Plus it has its own hot tub. And best of all? The hamlet of Warleggan has twinned itself with Narnia – I’m not sure what Aslan and the White Witch think of that, but this peaceful spot really is magical.
Surrounded by 12 acres of countryside, there are floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a sun deck and a fire pit (as well as your hot tub) to soak up the views and do a spot of star-gazing. Bodmin Moor is also nearby, as are Cardinham Woods and Lanhydrock, while you can reach both coasts in around 30-45 minutes.
Inside there’s space for four, with a kitchen, a proper king-sized bed and oak bunk-beds, plus shower room with flushing toilet.
Best of all, it’s on the same site as the Enchanted Wardrobe (sleeping five) and the Lion’s Den (sleeping four) – fellow contenders for best name – if you’re planning a getaway with extended family or friends.
A clifftop cabin in east Cornwall
When it comes to spectacular locations, there’s nowhere quite like this clifftop cabin at Rockwater, on Whitsand Bay in the far east of Cornwall, around half an hour east of Looe.
Closer to Devon than most of the holiday hotspots for families in Cornwall, it’s not just metaphorically off the beaten track, you have to follow a little path from the coast road, so it’s literally away from the crowds.
And while you’ll probably want to spend half your time on the private deck looking out to the horizon, spotting the occasional dolphin in the water or gazing down on the sandy curve of Whitsand Bay, there are some lovely touches inside too.
Sleeping three, with a double and single bedroom, there are some cute little vintage touches along with sea shells and fairy lights decorating the interior, plus practical essentials in the tiny kitchen.
The Pigsty near Porthcurno
Who wouldn’t want to stay in a pigsty when it looks like this converted outbuilding? If you’re looking for a more traditional alternative to glamping in Cornwall with kids, or perhaps a few more mod cons with younger kids, this renovated barn is ideal.
Set on a working farm, near Porthcurno on the south coast, the Pigsty sleeps three, with your own private patio – ideal for toddlers who love spotting farm animals as well.
If you’re visiting with older kids, the open-air Minack Theatre is unmissable, while Porthcurno is one of the best beaches in Cornwall with kids, plus there’s the South West Coast Path to walk and fishing villages to explore, including Porthgwarra and Mousehole.
Check out my top things to do in Cornwall with kids as well as my ultimate guide to Cornwall for families for more inspiration
Disclosure: Paid collaboration with Unique Hideaways – my enduring love of Cornwall is my own, as is my belief that glamping in Cornwall with kids, including a few luxuries (like a bathroom!), beats camping hands down.
Main Image courtesy of Depositphotos, all others courtesy Unique Hideaways
