Camelford

Camelford is a small market town in north Cornwall on the edge of Bodmin Moor, with the River Camel running through it. Rough Tor and Brown Willy - Cornwall’s two highest points - are within easy reach, and the Atlantic coast at Boscastle and Tintagel is only 15 minutes by car.

The town itself is compact and unpretentious, with a handful of independent shops, pubs and cafes. The North Cornwall Museum gives a good overview of rural life in this part of the world. But the real reason to base yourself here is access to the moor. Rough Tor and Brown Willy, Cornwall’s highest points, are within easy reach. The walking is superb - empty, windswept and nothing like the crowded coastal paths. Davidstow airfield and the cheese factory are nearby, and the dramatic Atlantic coast at Boscastle and Tintagel is only fifteen minutes by car.

Camelford works well as an affordable, quiet base for walkers and anyone who wants to experience inland Cornwall. The moor has a mood of its own - wild ponies, standing stones, and a silence that you won’t find anywhere near the coast in summer. The Camelford Heritage Centre on the main street documents the town’s involvement in the 1988 water contamination incident and its longer history as a wool-trading centre. A weekly market operates in the town hall on Friday mornings, selling local produce and crafts.