Cornwall’s Atlantic Highway

Cornwall occupies a special place in British road-trip culture, the long journey to its peninsular tip feeling like a pilgrimage to somewhere genuinely different. The Atlantic Highway—the A39 and its coastal diversions—provides the perfect motorhome approach, revealing the county’s dramatic north coast before the hidden coves of the south.

Enter Cornwall via Bude, whose beach-break surf has drawn wave-riders for decades, then follow the coast through Boscastle’s witch-haunted harbour to Tintagel, where Arthurian legend meets genuine Dark Age archaeology. The string of fishing villages along this stretch—Port Isaac, Padstow, St Ives—have attracted artists, chefs, and second-home owners, yet retain authentic character for those who look beyond the obvious.

Land’s End marks the obvious turning point, though the nearby Minack Theatre—carved into cliffs above Porthcurno’s turquoise bay—arguably provides a more memorable destination. The south coast offers gentler beauty: the subtropical gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project, the sailing waters of the Fal estuary, the fishing heritage of Mevagissey and Fowey.

Motorhome travel in Cornwall requires acceptance that narrow lanes are inevitable. Many villages restrict or prohibit larger vehicles, and summer traffic tests patience. However, the camping infrastructure is excellent, with sites ranging from clifftop settings above Sennen to woodland clearings in the Bodmin hinterland. Visit in May or September for the best balance of weather and quiet roads. A week allows thorough exploration; a fortnight permits the leisurely pace Cornwall genuinely deserves.