Pentewan Sands Holiday Park

Pentewan Sands is a fantastic Holiday Park for families to visit; it is right on the beach in Cornwall. The park is situated next to Pentewan, a very small, quaint village a few miles outside of St Austell. The park is quite large with 32 acres of space, set in a sheltered bay with a beautiful private beach which is over ½ a mile long. I have visited this park more times that I can remember, almost every year of my life so far, some years even twice. ...
...for children too, called the Pentewan Pirates Kids Club where there is lots of entertainment, fun and games. If you are under 7 years old you must be accompanied by an adult and the club starts from 10.30 every morning. Also for kids there is a play area on the beach with swings and climbing frames.

There are lots of toilet and shower blocks all over the park so wherever you are staying there is always somewhere only a few moments ... more

Pentewan Sands is a fantastic Holiday Park for families to visit; it is right on the beach in Cornwall. The park is situated next to Pentewan, a very small, quaint village a few miles outside of St Austell. The park is quite large with 32 acres of space, set in a sheltered bay with a beautiful private beach which is over ½ a mile long. I have visited this park more times that I can remember, almost every year of my life so far, some years even twice. There is something very magical about this holiday park, the atmosphere is brilliant. Come rain or shine there is a constant holiday and happy vibe about the park. There is always something to do or see and the accommodation is of a superb standard.

The park is open from the start of April up until the end of October each year. Booking early for this campsite is very advisable as it is very popular, you can book from the beginning of November each year for the following year. The park is very family orientated and therefore does not allow bookings from young adult parties; neither does it allow dogs or electric generators on the site.

Park Facilities

As far as accommodation goes there are many pitches available for caravans/motor homes and tents. There are some premium pitches available which are right at the front of the park, on the sea front. There are some pitches also set further back, so it is best to be specific when booking as to whereabouts exactly you would like your pitch to be. There is a full map available on the website or you can also order a brochure. The front row pitches however are not available all year round as they need to be re-seeded and the grass needs to grow therefore they are only available from Easter time to mid-September. It is advisable to book these pitches well in advance as they get booked up very quickly. The pitches are very generous in size and not too cramped together. The size of a pitch is 13 metres square average; 170 square metres in size. The pitches are available from mid day at the start of your holiday and must be vacated by 10.30am at the end of your holiday. The electric pitches have a power supply of 16 amp.

There are also self-catering homes available or static caravans. These homes are of a very high standard and come in different sizes for different size berths. They are quite expensive to stay in, especially high season; however it is well worth it as you won’t be disappointed with the standard or location. The homes come well equipped with televisions, a microwave, hob, fridge and freezer, dining/lounge area, bathroom/s with electric showers, bed sheets and towels. There is a £50 security deposit that you have to pay when booking one of these homes however it is returned in full at the end of your stay assuming you leave the home in the same condition. The caravans can be booked week to week, from Saturday to Saturday and they are ready for occupation at 3pm. On departing you must leave by 10am so that the caravans can be cleaned in order for the next occupants.

There is a large heated outdoor pool at the park with a sun lounger area surrounding it. The pool is large and very child friendly. It is open from morning till evening and there is lifeguard attention. As the park is right on its own beach; there is also the option of the sea for swimming also. The sea is very clean as is the beach and it appears very untouched. It is very clean and safe. There are lifeguards on the beach and the sea is calm on its best days; quite the opposite to Newquay which is on the opposite side of the coast. There is usually a bouncy castle also on the beach for kids to use. The beach has its own water sports centre where you can hire boats, wetsuits and fishing equipment etc. at a reasonable rate and on a daily or weekly basis. There are also banana boat rides which you can pay to go on, very fun! There is a boat launch facility also which I have used in the past, you can take your on boat and they will help you get it in/out of the water. The beach has been given a high quality standard from the MCS (The Marine Conservation Society) and they recommend it for bathing.

There is a large shop which caters for all holiday shopping needs. It sells everything from fresh food, alcohol, magazines, beach equipment and frozen food. Naturally it is a little bit more expensive than the average supermarket with it being on the campsite however it is still very reasonable. There is an Asda and Tesco just down the road in St. Austell also so there are plenty of places to get food from. Just next to the shop, there is also a takeaway which does hot food at a very reasonable rate, for example; burgers, chips and pizza. The takeaway is open till late at night so it is very useful to use.

No holiday park would be complete without an entertainment centre and the clubhouse is brilliant for all ages. There is a restaurant and bar downstairs which has all kinds of great pub meals at a good price. The clubhouse is then upstairs, the entertainment acts vary depending on the time of night and day. There are comedians, magicians, singer, dancers and lots more including shows specifically for kids and shows for adults. There are also various discos and party games which go on. There is an arcade too with various slot style and video games, quite a few 2p machines! The Beach Club has a day club for children too, called the Pentewan Pirates Kids Club where there is lots of entertainment, fun and games. If you are under 7 years old you must be accompanied by an adult and the club starts from 10.30 every morning. Also for kids there is a play area on the beach with swings and climbing frames.

There are lots of toilet and shower blocks all over the park so wherever you are staying there is always somewhere only a few moments away. These blocks also have waste disposal facilities which are emptied regularly and also places to wash up dishes. There are also laundry facilities which come in very useful when camping.

If you are sportier then there are also cycle hire facilities and tennis courts.

Surrounding Area

There is a lot to occupy your time at Pentewan, however if you would like to explore Cornwall a bit more then there is a lot to see. There is a coastal path which leads from Pentewan Sands to Mevagissey, which is a small fishing town 2 miles down the road. Alternatively it is only a 5 minute drive away. It is a lovely little town with a beautiful harbour and stunning views. There are lots of gift shops and some lovely restaurants and tea rooms to look around. There are also some more modern shops and the harbour is perfect for fishing.

Also 2 miles away are the Lost Gardens of Heligan which are beautiful to look around and such a short distance away. On the same topic as gardens, The Eden Project is only 8 miles away. It is quite pricey to get into however there are usually a lot of 2 for 1 tickets about. The reception desk at Pentewan would be very willing to advise how to find these. If there is not one already in the welcome pack that Pentewan give you then check in local paper or Eden Project leaflets. It is a beautiful place to visit as it really is stunning. It is not visible from the road so you really have to go and spend the day looking around at all the amazing things it has to really make the most of it.

St Austell is just 4 minutes down the road which has some nice shops and bars. It also has a lot of superstores such as; Asda, Tesco, B&Q. There are also a lot of nice restaurants and takeaways there. The Ancient port of Charleston sits just on the outskirt of St Austell and is definitely worth visiting just to see the old pirate ships.

The main shopping central of Cornwall is 18 miles away from the park. Truro is very modern and is good for having a shop and a nice meal. It is very classy and there is also a cinema and theatre there, in case there is a rainy day. The port of Fowey is 12 miles away which is a very pretty town. The views are stunning out across the harbour and it is situated right next to Boddnick Ferry. You can see Daphne Du Maurier’s house from Fowey and there is a lot more to see in terms of gift shops and beautiful little streets with unique shops and houses. There is a very historic feel to the place and it fascinating to visit. There are also lots of stunning boats to see which are moored in the harbour.

Along with these places there are lots of other places to visit in Cornwall. Each place has its own personality and character. On the other side of the coast there is Newquay and Padstow which are about a half an hour drive away. These places are fun and exciting, classy and special.

The village of Pentewan which is next door to the park is lovely to visit also. The best thing is that it is within walking distance. There is a fabulous pub with a great beer garden looking out across to Pentewan Sands which does great food and drink alike. There is also a very nice restaurant called the School House which does outstanding food. During the day there is a tea rooms which is open also which does nice lunches and drinks. In all, there is a lot to do in Cornwall and Pentewan Sands is in the perfect position to be able to travel to lots of places, you will never be stuck for something to do!

Getting There

Most people travel to Cornwall by car and Pentewan Sands is very easy to find as it is signposted well, there is also a lot of room for cars whether you are staying on a pitch or in a caravan.
There is a bus stop right outside of the park which has main links to the mainline bus stations of Par & St Austell so if you are coming down via bus or train it is still very accessible. There is also an airport at Newquay which is about 25 minutes drive away from the park.

Overall Opinion

I really do rate this park highly as it is the best I have ever stayed at. The staff are very friendly and willing to go out of their way to help you with anything which makes staying there even better. The park caters for every single need that you can imagine and there is so much to do that you can never get bored. Everybody at the park is having fun and there is such a great vibe. The entertainment is great and it just really is everything that you could want from a Cornish holiday.
The showers and toilets are very clean and there are some close to each single pitch so you never have to walk that far. You never have to wait too long to use the shower or go to the toilet because there are so many. The caravans also are really clean and you can go to reception at any time for fresh bed sheets or towels. Tea is left out on arrival to make you feel at home, which you do straight away as they are just so homely and nice. The park also feels very safe as there are only families allowed and there is a barrier with a swipe card entry system going into the park. I will definitely be returning to this park in the near future and the best thing about it is that it is one of those places that you can just visit time and time again! Highly recommended to everyone!
 

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