Life’s a beach
By Pentewan Sands on the August 09th, 2015 in
Mary O'Leary from the Western Morning News discovers a gem on Cornwall's south coast at an especially family-friendly holiday park located right on the beach.
There are plenty of holiday parks located close to a beach, and even more sitting atop cliffs overlooking the sea, but Pentewan Sands goes that bit further as it enables many of its resident holidaymakers to open the door of their caravan or unzip their tent, and step out straight onto the sand.
I'm a bit of a sucker for a sea view; being able to admire the Atlantic (or any kind of water) from my window makes me deliriously happy, and the lure of Pentewan's promised proximity to the waves was a tempting proposition as we headed down to this family-owned, five star holiday park just beyond St Austell for a long weekend.
But it was only once we arrived that I realised what a gem of a destination this truly is, with its beautifully laid out campsite sat literally alongside an exquisite half mile of private beach nestled within the sheltered waters of Mevagissey Bay.
Waking up every morning to the sights and sounds of the sea just yards away was joyous, but being able to stride to the soft sands of this unspoilt beach in seconds was an even greater bonus, and the children and I never tired of delighting at the spectacular setting we'd found ourselves in for the whole of our far too brief stay.
I'm guilty, as I'm sure many are, of a bit of south coast snobbery when it comes to Cornwall's outstanding coastline, assuming the north coast has all the best beaches, and the south can't compete, but Pentewan disabused me of this nonsense in minutes.
There were cliffs enough to satisfy my hankering for dramatic coastlines but equally a wonderfully smooth sea making it especially safe for swimming, and with the tide in, a wide shallow shelf perfect for younger children who could wade out safely.
The private beach is well marked so the safest swimming areas are obvious, and it was so relaxing a spot that I threw myself on the sand happily, book in hand, and let the kids paddle without a worry.
Thrill seekers won't have chance to be bored either, as Pentewan Sands has its own RYA-certified watersports centre where you can hire equipment for more energetic pursuits from kayaking and paddle boarding to windsurfing and waterskiing, with expert tuition available too.
Sporting activities were well catered for throughout in fact, with cycle hire, tennis courts, Porthpean Golf Club just up the road, and the South West Coast Path starting from the edge of the holiday park grounds offering atmospheric hikes in every direction.
On a short weekend break to escape the mayhem, I had no intention of doing anything more taxing than lying on the beach – which even had its own playground – and that was blissful enough, especially knowing we were seconds from our accommodation the whole time.
Pentewan offers a well-kept selection of camping and touring pitches, many of them electric, and these have the best location, being closest to the beach itself.
But there are also plenty of spacious and well-kitted out 2- and 3-bed holiday homes thoughtfully placed within the site, many with their own decks, and lots enjoy outstanding sea views, which was all I needed for utter contentment.
Without ever feeling like the stereotypically naff and noisy caravan park I've grown very tired of enduring, Pentewan Sands offered us much in the way of entertainments too.
The facilities on site were exceptional – thoroughly family-friendly in all respects, and impressively fresh and clean throughout.
Two large indoor pools included water slides, and were a big hit with the kids.
Next door was a (thankfully fairly small) arcade, and upstairs, The Seahorse Club offered a welcoming restaurant, huge outdoor deck and entertainment area with nightly live music, quiz nights, variety acts and family activities.
There was also a giant two-storey soft play area creating much delight for the younger children.
The on site shop was enormous and packed full of fresh produce alongside souvenirs and beach goods, and there was a fish and chip shop too.
I especially liked the fairly new, and wonderfully traditional, tiny Cornish pub called The Jolly Roger offering a selection of quality local ales from nearby St Austell Brewery in a more child-free environment.
Our favourite place was certainly Hubbox at The Driftwood, with a pop-up beachside diner from the award-winning Cornish burger chain serving up some seriously good burgers and hot dogs as you sat at picnic tables right on the sand – there can be few finer spots to enjoy a meal, and few better burgers either.
That may sound like plenty to keep everyone happy without needing to move, and it was, but when the rain turned up on Sunday, we did wander into nearby Mevagissey for a mooch around this characterful fishing village.
If you're staying longer, The Lost Gardens of Heligan is just as close by, and just as worthwhile to visit, along with the infamous Eden Project in St Austell.
It's also worth checking out Charlestown on the other side of St Austell, especially if you enjoyed Poldark, as much of the BBC series was filmed in the historic harbour.
Sightseeing over, head back to the park to relax – and enjoy.
Pentewan Sands Holiday Park has a tagline boasting "One visit and you'll be hooked". They're not wrong.
You can read the full story on the Western Morning News website.