Riviere Sands

The sea air hits you before you even step out — salt and sand and that particular Cornwall light that makes the dunes glow gold at teatime.

This is a campervans-and-caravans site perched near Hayle, where the estuary meets three miles of beach and St Ives Bay stretches west toward the headland. It suits touring couples who want the coast on their doorstep, dog walkers keen on sandy paw-prints (though worth asking about the pet policy when you book), and anyone chasing surf or shoreline without the fuss of tent pegs. The town's a proper working harbour with bakeries and chippies, not just postcard prettiness, and you're well placed for both the coastal path and the galleries up at St Ives.

You'll get electric hookups and wifi onsite, so it's comfortable without being over-manicured. Campfires are a check-on-arrival situation — probably weather and pitch dependent. The vibe's relaxed and low-key, the kind of spot where you brew up watching gulls and plan which beach to try next, though anglers might fancy a session at Nance Lakes or one of the BK Fisheries pools a short drive inland.