Today is the 4th January.  It is high time planning for this season’s camping commenced!

Although we enjoyed our holiday in Cornwall last year we were frustrated that we had to pack up the campervan in order to get to a beach from each campsite. This is less of a problem if you are in a tent, but still isn’t the ideal being able to walk to a nearby beach, not worry about parking and be able to pop back if anything vital has been forgotten?

So, I have been researching campsites that appear to fit that ideal and I will be visiting some of them over the coming summer to see if they live up to expectations.

Heritage Coast Campsite, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, CF71 7QQ  – Not far from Cardiff and the M4 this is a very accessible part of Wales.   This very small site promises a ten minute walk to Monknash beach  plus a babbling brook on site and a sea view from the campsite.  It is also within walking distance of a pub which is another huge added bonus. Campfires in braziers to hire.  Sounds ideal and pretty close for us so this is high on my list of places to visit.

Mount Folly Farm, Bigbury on Sea, South Devon,TQ7 4AR – This site looks like it offers some great basic camping with fabulous sea views and the huge bonus being walking distance to Bigbury Bay. We visited Bigbury Bay last year and found a fabulous big sandy beach, very popular with body borders and with life guards on duty. The very glamorous 1930’s  Burgh Island Hotel lies just out to sea, accessible by sea tractor – an added bit of excitement.  I will definitely be going back to Bigbury Bay this year, I hope the site lives up to its beautiful beach!

Sandpiper, South Milton, Devon, TQ7 3JX – Another beautiful looking site in Devon, between Salcombe and Kingsbridge, only open in August though.  Reviews describe a 10 minute walk to a beautiful sandy beach with a good cafe.  The campsite has sea views, a camping barn if the weather is less than perfect and an array of Devonish pubs, walks and beaches in the vicinity. The campsite doesn’t have its own website so here is a link to a great review from Love Camping

Shell Island, Llanbedr, Gwynedd, North Wales LL45 2PJ – It would be remiss of me to talk about campfire campsites near a beach without mentioning the famous Shell Island.  In terms of location it can’t be beaten, a massive site among the sand dunes and beyond.  Shell Island has been enjoyed by intrepid campers for many years but recently it has suffered some bad publicity via a number of poor reviews, the issue seems to be the behaviour of other campers.  I have been put off visiting by these reviews, however, as I was researching this post it seemed to me that things may have started to perk up.  A few recent reviews have mentioned more vigilant wardens keeping a lid on any boisterous behaviour. Shell Island offers such fantastic beach camping I am starting to think it may require personal investigation and if it should prove untenable there is always the lovely looking Nantcol Falls as a back up!

Porth Joke Campsite, Treago Mill, Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5QS – ‘A few minutes walk along a sandy path to the beach’.  And there is yet another beach a slightly longer walk away. Wonderful.  This is another site that has been around for an awfully long time, in peak season it is very popular.  Campfires are permitted in braziers off the ground but you need to bring your own – and your own fire wood. Alternatively have a fire on the beach.

You might need a portable fire pit have a look at these!