Where to camp at Christmas
A UK campervan Christmas isn’t for everybody but if you fancy swapping the family noise for a bit of peace and quiet, there are campervan sites open all year and finding campsites at Christmas isn’t as tricky as you might think.
Two years ago we decided to turn our backs on the traditional family gathering and try a campervan Christmas instead. Despite living in Devon, we didn’t opt for Christmas by the beach but set off instead to one of the UK’s best campsites at Christmas.
Red Squirrel campsite at Glencoe.
We met up with our son and had a wonderful time. Christmas day consisted of plenty of whisky (it was dark by three-thirty) and a successful Christmas dinner (cooked in the dark between two van stoves and a campfire). Then it snowed on Boxing Day, which we spent playing in the snow up at the Glencoe Mountain Resort.
Cornwall campervan sites open all year
Finding all year campsites for your campervan can take a bit of research but there are a surprising number available, including those that are open on Christmas Day.
But you might not be able to stay at your favourite campsite at Christmas.
Everybody needs a break and some families quite rightly take Christmas off. The other thing you might notice if you want to find an off-season campsite is that the smaller pop-up campsites we enjoy so much in the summer are likely to be closed. Some of them are only allowed to open for 60 days a year.
It wouldn’t make sense for them to opt for Christmas instead of the summer.
All year round campsites in Cornwall
This festive season we won’t be heading north, mainly because we’ve just had an autumn campervan trip to Scotland. But we are considering a quiet Christmas campervan holiday in Cornwall.
We live in Devon and Cornwall is nearer than Scotland.
As you might imagine, finding all year round campsites in Cornwall takes a bit of research but I’m a travel writer and I love finding holiday options. And having taken previous winter holidays in the Southwest, I know how great it can be to visit Cornwall in the off-season months.
You might be asking yourself at this point, ‘Is Cornwall open all year?’ Probably not for some attractions but we won’t be looking for attractions. All we need for our campervan Christmas is a pretty spot to park, some bracing winter walks and a few treats in the van to keep us warm.
If that sounds like your perfect Christmas too, read on.
Here’s my current shortlist of five campsites that are open for campervans all year. I went for a three night campervan trip starting on Christmas Eve and was looking for a small, quiet campsite. We’ve stayed at two of them during the winter months and thoroughly enjoyed both.
(Please make sure you check opening with the campsites themselves before you travel).
1. Gunwalloe Caravan Park – Helston
- Campervans welcome? Yes
- Type of campsite? Working farm
- Number of pitches? 29
- Type of pitches? Grass (electric and non-electric)
- Toilets and showers? Yes. Heated!
- Near the beach? Yes. Gunwalloe Church Cove.
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Cafe? No
2. Mount Pleasant Eco Park – Porthtowan
We thoroughly enjoyed our (February) winter camp at Mount Pleasant Eco Park. It’s in a beautiful location and has fantastic local seasonal food on site (some of it is even grown on site at the community allotment) Canteen is open all year round.
- Campervans welcome? Yes
- Type of campsite? Community Eco Park
- Number of pitches? 100+ but only a few in winter
- Type of pitches? Hardstanding (electric)
- Toilets and showers? Yes (solar powered)
- Near the beach? Yes. Footpath to Porthtowan Beach
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Cafe? Yes
3. Ruthern Valley Holidays – Bodmin
- Campervans welcome? Yes
- Type of campsite? Woodland
- Number of pitches? Under 50
- Type of pitches? Hardstanding and grass (electric)
- Toilets and showers? Yes
- Near the beach? No (near the Camel trail and Bodmin Moor)
- Dog friendly? No
- Cafe? No
4. Smithy Field – Praa Sands
If you don’t want to be bothered by other campers, this is the campsite for you. We enjoyed a warm welcome and peaceful Easter stay on its single pitch. It’s different but we loved it, especially the mine artefacts at Rinsey Head.
- Campervans welcome? Yes
- Type of campsite? Farm
- Number of pitches? One
- Type of pitch? Gravel and grass (no electric)
- Toilets and showers? Compost toilet, no showers
- Near the beach? Yes. Praa Sands
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Cafe? No. (We were treated to farm eggs)
5. Rosebud Farm Touring Park – St Teath
- Campervans welcome? Yes
- Type of campsite? Adult only
- Number of pitches? 50
- Toilets and showers? Yes. Heated!
- Near the beach? 20-minutes drive
- Dog friendly? Yes (dog play area)
- Cafe? No
Tips for Christmas camping with a campervan
Campervan living takes a bit of practice even in the summer months. Winter’s shorter days and colder nights bring a few challenges but they also bring the opportunity to enjoy cosy van nights in, with your favourite humans and/or pets).
Check out my tips on dogs in campervans.
Having enjoyed one snowy campervan Christmas and several winter campervan holidays, I’ve picked up a tip or two about staying warm and happy in the van during the colder months.
- Take plenty of food. Cold weather brings on the hunger pangs and evening nibbles are a must when the evening starts at four o’clock.
- Think about booking a hardstanding pitch. Okay so grass campervan pitches are more natural and lovely to sit on but let’s face it, avoiding the mud has its bonuses.
- Pack some entertainment. Lots of smaller campsites don’t have WiFi, especially in the depths of Cornwall. We love reading but we also keep a few games in the van and I download dramas and podcasts from BBC Sounds before we set off.
- Think about clothing layers when you pack. Nobody likes the van to be stuffed too full of extra gear but it is possible to keep warm and keep the packing minimal. Start from the skin with base layers (I love merino wool) then work all the way up to your favourite sleeping bag. I usually wear THIS in bed in the van but I find my merino under layers are also good.
- Be prepared for MUD MUD and more MUD! Even on a hardstanding there’ll be a chance of mud getting into the van (especially if you have a dog). Pack boots or wellies and allocate an area of the campervan for dirty gear (the driver’s footwell is my favourite). I have a pair of camping slippers that I love to slip on once we’re settled inside.
- Don’t rely on being able to have a campfire. Some campsites don’t allow campfires and if the weather is poor, you might not be able to light yours. That doesn’t mean you can’t sit out at night though. Coats and camp blankets will keep you cosy, especially if you can be under an awning with a few fairy lights.
- Lots of people have asked me whether or not we have a diesel heater in our van. The answer is no, mainly because we haven’t fitted one but also because they can be noisy for other campers and I don’t like the idea of using more fossil fuels than I have to. On the flip side though, I have spent time sitting in vans with diesel heaters and they do warm everything up rather nicely. They’re also great if you need to dry wet or snow-covered gear.
I feel now I should apologise for mentioning Christmas so early. If you do fancy doing something different this Christmas, you might thank me. Many campsites have limited pitches at this time of year so it’s best to get yours booked early.
NADELIK LOWEN!