Write your own Review to win £150 of Amazon Vouchers!
If you've ever visited this campsite please submit a review for your chance to win! Each month one lucky person will have their review picked at random and will win £150 of Amazon vouchers. Leave as many reviews as you can for more chances - it only takes a few minutes
August 2003 First thing to say is that we left home (Wilts) before 7 in the morning to miss the traffic on the A303, and later on the A 30 and A 38. All of these are more akin to car parks by 10 am.
Got to the park early and were able to pitch as the earlier occupant had already departed. We were directed about the site and I do have to say that the staff and owners are all without exception very pleasant and helpful. Good shop too.
Our pitch was on a sloping field, but with levels so that all but a very few were on flat pitches. The shower blocks are spotless and look as good as the pictures on the web site, but no matter what they may say there are enough showers, there really aren’t. Every morning and evening there was a queue in the female side of at least twice the shower capacity, and sadly, often more. Having said that, there are plenty of loos and basins, as well as a built in baby bath, all of which were immaculately clean.
There is no club room, so if you want a drink in the evenings (or any other time) bring your own. The clown on Wednesday for the kids was extremely good, and both the 5 and 13 year old were entertained for well in excess of the couple of hours advertised, but the family disco consisted of the same records being played over again, not so thrilling. Entertainment is only 3 times per week peak season. Did not attend the animal magic evening.
The pool is something else! I am sorry to be so negative, but there is no life guard, and yes I do believe in parental responsibility and never let any of my kids go without myself or hubby, but there is no limit on how many enter the very small pool. This I could accept to a point, but the fact that the water was so cloudy that even if empty you could not see to the bottom is totally without justification. I would not accept this on a holiday anywhere!
My last gripe is absolutely nothing to do with the site, but one that was important to us. The beach at Carlyon Bay is appalling. The sand is more akin to sharp sand and grit, and is most painful to be on. The dilapidated buildings make the whole thing very depressing. There is also within a site an aggregate processing plant. Hideous! You therefore have to travel to a decent beach – of which there are many if you ask.
So a mixed bag, and we won’t personally go again, but I have to say that the site was full of many that had been before, and I am sure will go again.
Reviewer: Suzanne
june 2001 We visited this campsite the first time we ever camped and it has been very difficult to find a site to match it. Facilities are excellent - walking into the toilet and shower block was like walking into a hotel bathroom! My children loved the parks and swimming pool , we will definitely be going back. Owners were very helpful particularly with the quick route to the Eden Project.
Reviewer: Jeff Taylor
July 2003 Hello, I'm the owner! Sadly I take issue with Geoff's review on a few points. We certainly don't struggle for facilities in high season, we have far more than laid down as minimum by the ETB, when Geoff was with us we only had 2 of the 3 blocks open. As for the aerial photo, well it's an aerial photo! things do flatten out but nowhere do we claim we have a sea view(or a strong onshore wind) and on the subject of the railway line its visible on the aerial shot! We have many campers that re-book pitches nearest to the railway, it cannot be seen and is behind a dense wall of mature foliage. Our feedback on-site is truly excellent, I'm sorry Geoff felt strongly to raise these issues but don't think the rain he had helped. Thanks for your time, as a reference see our independantly written review in the Alan Rogers camp guides, these are written by experienced inspectors. Jeff Taylor Carlyon Bay Camping Park
Reviewer: Geoff
june 2003 We were at the site for 10 nights in June, however, the weather was mixed & very wet which means we were unable to exploit the site to the full.
It was certainly very clean (apart from the puddles!) and well maintained.
For most of the time it was up to about half full which means there was little pressure on the facilities (which were very clean and excellent overall). I believe however, that in the high season in good weather and with many families on site they may struggle to keep up with demand for showers & toilets!
Additionaly, we were a little dissappointed that the snack bar & heated pool, though advertised as open, only opened when the sun shone which is exactly when you didn't need it!
The advertising brochure is a little misleading as the photo is taken from the air which implies you have views over the bay, in reality the bay is over a big hill and across a golf course. It also does not warn you about the railway line which is just behind the camp and noisy all day and much of the night althoug we soon got used to it and then didnt notice it.
When we were there, the facilities in Carlyon bay itself were all closed and the beach was very scruffy, I know it is early season in June but there was nothing open at all.... and a lot of building work was going on so we didnt see it at its best!!
St Austell itself and the surrounding area are Clay Mining Country so it is not by any means the most picturesque part of the county. We spent alot of time travelling to other areas for the day, although I guess we would have done that wherever we had stayed!
The owners have a tip for getting to the Eden Project and beating the crowd.. we followed their advice and got straight in.. 5 minutes from the site and it was well worth it.
Overall the site itself is excellent, picturesque, clean & well maintained with good quality facilities (subject to my question above re. high season), the owners are very friendly and helpfull and it is a good base to explore from.
Reviewer: Simon Gibson
Set off for Cornwall @ 3.00am from Morecambe had a very good run down M6 & M5, we really hit the traffic on the A38 Bodmin moor lost about 1.5 hours.
Got to Carlyon bay about 12.00 ish, booked in at reception. We were then shown around the site, taken to our pitch and were told quite openly that we would be in the shade from 5 o'clock onwards, as our favourate pastime in the evenings is sitting in the sun relaxing and drinking wine we asked if we could move pitch so we were moved down a couple of pitches without any problems. Spent a couple of hours setting up our trailer tent then went exploring the site and beach.
The site is spread over 4 fields with 180 pitches that are surrounded by woodlands, flower beds and hanging baskets there are three washing up / toilet / shower blocks that were always immaculately clean.
Plenty for the children to ( two girls 8 & 15 one boy 13 ) with children's playgrounds, crazy golf, badminton / volleyball net, table tennis, pool table and T.V. room, we didn't see much of them when we stayed on site!!. There is sheltered a heated swimming pool with sun loungers and a small paddling / kiddies pool beside it, double catches on the entrance gate to stop little one's wandering in.
The on site shop was well stocked with milk, groceries, newspapers, toy's and sold chilled wine / beer, it also had a freezer for ice packs, you could hire ice packs (25p) for picnic's etc, there was a site take away for breakfasts, evening meals ( fish & chips etc ) and sold ice creams there was also a laundry room with washers, driers and an iron with ironing board.
Every evening when we were there 24 July to 1 Aug, there was different entertainment every night ranging from clowns, wildlife show ( spiders, snakes and birds of pray ), line dancing country & western singer, barber shop singers, archery and organised games of rounders.
The beach ( blue flag ) was only a few hundred yard away across a footpath was really nice although we didn't spend any time there, the south west costal path runs along the top of the beach, We walked from Carlyon bay to Fowey on the coastal path and it was cracking walk the views were superb the sea was that clear you could see fish swimming in the sea from the top of the cliff's.
The owners were very friendly always had time for a chat and joined in most of the evening activities.
This is an excellent site, the best we have ever stayed on, all the site facilities were clean and kept in immaculate condition as was the whole site. this is one site we will be visiting again.
Previous
155 Reviews in total, now showing 151 to 155
Next
Write a Review of this Site to Win £150 Amazon Vouchers
Write a review of this campsite and you could win £150 of Amazon vouchers. Each month one lucky person will have their review picked at random and will win! Leave as many as you can for more chances - submit your review here
Common Questions
Is Carlyon Bay Camping Park child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Carlyon Bay Camping Park have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Carlyon Bay Camping Park? There is a shop on site View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
The facilities shown on this website are a guide only, and you should check with the campsite direct before making any booking. The UKCampsite.co.uk will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions
Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
No Statics for Sale 
No Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
Rallies Welcome 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
Baby Changing Facilities 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
Freezer / Fridge 
Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
Bar <1 mile 
No Restaurant 
Kids Playground 
No TV Room 
Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing <1 mile 
Wild Swimming <1 mile 
No Indoor Pool 
Outdoor Pool On Site 
No Horse Riding 
No Cycle Hire 
Golf <1 mile 
No Tennis 
Beach <1 mile 
Watersports <1 mile 
Boat Launch / Mooring <5 miles 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
August 2003
