Cornwall in Spring - Travelling to the South West of England by Motorhome

Adria Blog Cornwall in Spring - Travelling to the South West of England by Motorhome

Cornwall was our home for almost a decade. You'd think we'd seen enough of the southwest of England, but we still spend every holiday in Kernow. The only thing different this time is our holiday accommodation: we are travelling in an Adria Matrix Axess 650 SL.

The usual four and a half hour drive to the ferry port in Calais turns into seven. The mixture of the beginning of the holidays, Friday and extremely stormy rainy weather leads to a lot of traffic jams and a, let's call it a 'moderate' driving speed. Once we arrive in Calais, we also have to wait until midnight for the ferry to leave, as all ferry connections to Dover are cancelled for the evening due to the weather conditions.

So we reach England only in the early hours of the morning. As a stopover on the way to Cornwall, we have booked a parking space in Stanford. The Drum Inn' is a cosy English pub where you can park your motorhome overnight. The 'night' is rather short for us due to the delay, and we set off early in the morning. The drive to the southwest of England goes without any problems and in a little more than six hours we reach our destination: 'The View Campsite' in Watergate Bay.

Day 1 Watergate Bay Beach is one of our favourite beaches in Cornwall and this is where we spend the first day, with breakfast at the Beach Hut and two long walks: at low tide in the late morning along Watergate Bay Beach and in the afternoon together with friends along the coast from Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth and back. The campsite 'The View' is perfectly situated for this: a five-minute walk from the Coast Path with a beautiful view over the coast all the way to Newquay.

Day 2 For me, one of the best things about Cornwall? Running along the Coast Path! A fantastic section leads from Trevose Head past Mother Ivey's Bay to Harlyn Bay (and back), my 'programme' for the second day in Kernow. The approach to the car park at Trevose Head lighthouse is a bit adventurous, the road often barely as wide as the Matrix and bordered by hedges and walls. But the view from the headland over Constantine Bay to Newquay on one side and the coastline towards Stepper Point on the other is worth it!

Day 3 The third day takes us to the south of Cornwall, to St Michael's Mount, a tidal island off Marazion. We are there especially in the late morning so that we can reach the island on foot via the narrow causeway at low tide. The subtropical garden on the island is beautiful even in spring, the view fantastic and the 12th century preserved monastery building and the 15th century chapel impressive. One thing you can't miss out on a visit to Cornwall: Cornish Pasty. And so we don't have to think twice when choosing our lunch ...

Day 4 Our highlight of the fourth day? A visit to Hawksfield Cornwall: Located directly on the Atlantic Highway (A39) and an insider tip for all those who are enthusiastic about delicious food, vintage cars, art, Cornish specialities, good wine, surf clothing and much more. The Strong Adolfos café is a great place for a delicious breakfast. Then we take our time to see what's new since our last visit: rare classic cars and motorbikes as well as vintage items at Bespoke Traders. Impressive artworks by John O'Carroll, an archaeology illustrator, painter and sculptor, and other artists at Circle Contemporary Gallery. The latest surf fashion at the Finisterre Outlet Shop. And finally, we meet Lewis Cole from Wild Bake, who prepares what we think is the best pizza dough ever for his street food business in the evening at his Wilde Bake headquarters.

Day 5 Today it's here, the rain! But Cornwall without rain - there would be something missing, it's just part of it ... We park the Matrix at the end of Pentire on a car park overlooking Crantock Beach and spend the day in Newquay: with lunch at Lewinnick Lodge - the view over Fristral Beach to the Headland Hotel is phenomenal even in rainy weather -, a visit to the cinema and a visit to friends.

Day 6 For today's destinations, we drive a little way south again. First stop: the Mount Hawke skateboard park. Evolving out of the surf culture, Cornwall has several super good outdoor skateboard parks, the most famous being Concrete Waves in Newquay and the new skatepark in St Ives. Mount Hawke, however, is a mostly indoor skatepark and unique to Cornwall because of its size and we spend the afternoon there. We quickly whip up an early dinner at the Matrix and then use the way back for another stop, this time not sports-related but history-related: we take a look at Wheal Coates, a former tin mine located on the coast between Porthtowan and St Agnes.

Day 7 Our last day for this holiday in Cornwall! Today we allow the Matrix a break, we just stay where we like it best: in Watergate Bay. And repeat our 'favourite programme': a long run along the coast in the morning, lunch at the Living Space Restaurant of the Watergate Bay Hotel and a long walk along the coast with friends in the afternoon. In the evening, Cornwall bids us farewell in style with a beautiful sunset, you couldn't have planned it any better!

The only thing different this time is our holiday accommodation: we are travelling in an Adria Matrix Axess 650 SL.

Hints and tips for travelling to Cornwall

The best route for travelling from Dover to Cornwall is via the M20, M26, M25 (23), M4, M5 and A30. The other routes may be slightly shorter, but purely in terms of driving comfort, we would always prefer the motorway to the dual carriageways and country roads. And in the end it's simply faster!

In England, the speed limit on the roads for campervans, motorhomes and caravans is based on the unladen weight of the vehicle! Campervans, motorhomes and caravans with an unladen weight of less than 3.05t are subject to the same speed limits as normal cars - 30 mph (48 km/h) within built-up areas, 60 mph (96 km/h) on single carriageways and 70 mph (112 km/h) on dual carriageways and motorways. If the unladen weight exceeds 3.05t, the speed limit is reduced to 50 mph (80 km/h) on single carriageways and 60 mph (96 km/h) on dual carriageways. The limit within built-up areas remains at 30 mph (48 km/h) and on motorways at 70 mph (112 km/h).

The last stretch into Cornwall, the A30, looks like a motorway, but it's not. It is a dual carriageway. For motorhomes and caravans with an unladen weight of less than 3.05t, the maximum permitted speed remains 70 mph (112 km/h). For campervans, caravans and motorhomes with an unladen weight of more than 3.05t, however, the maximum speed is reduced to 60 mph (97 km/h)! Mobile speed traps or police officers standing on the bridges or in the lay-bys of the A30 with speed measuring devices are almost an everyday sight, especially during the holiday periods, so it is advisable to keep to the speed limit.

Another difference of the dual carriageway to the motorway: tractors and agricultural vehicles are allowed and you may also overtake one or two courageous cyclist. In addition, on the dual carriageway A30 there is actually more than once an access road that leads from the right across the oncoming lanes, and even a traffic light that would be on red in case the farmer wanted to herd his cows from the field on one side to the other side from the A30 ...

In Cornwall

If you want to spend time at the beach or on the coast, always check the 'tide times' in advance. Of pretty much all the beaches in Cornwall, nothing is left of the sandy beach at high tide, the tide brings the water right up to the cliffs. Sections of the beach that can be accessed at low tide are often cut off from beach access by the incoming tide even before the actual 'high tide'!

The roads in the rural areas of Cornwall are narrow. They are usually bordered on the right and left by hedges, under which stone walls are often hidden. But there are always stopping bays where you can let oncoming traffic pass. The good thing about driving a left-hand drive car is that you can always see how much space you have: You can always see how much space you have to the hedge/roadside. Nevertheless, especially in rural areas, drive slowly, especially on bends. And don't just look ahead, left and right, but also upwards: Due to the often onshore wind in Cornwall, many trees grow to the side rather than upwards. Passage for cars is usually not a problem, but with the extra height of a campervan or motorhome, it can be tight or you may have to swerve further into the middle of the road; provided oncoming traffic allows it, of course.

Weather apps are your best friend in the South West of England. Rain and sunshine are often only a few kilometres apart. In addition, the weather can change quickly, so it is advisable to check in the morning of each day. And then just follow the sun! Have fun discovering Cornwall!

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