YHA Penzance

YHA Penzance is a hostel campsite in the grounds of Castle Horneck, a Georgian mansion on the western edge of Penzance in west Cornwall, with tent pitches and six bell tents on a south-facing green looking across Mount's Bay. The site sits just over a mile from Penzance town centre (an easy walk down, a steady uphill haul back), with St Michael's Mount at Marazion about 4 miles east and Land's End and the Minack Theatre both within 9 miles. Camping is tents only and sold per person, so it suits backpackers, cyclists and South West Coast Path walkers rather than anyone towing: caravans and campervans are not accepted, and no electric hook-ups are advertised. The bell tents (four standard, two premium with a woodburner) sleep four to five on futon beds from Easter to the end of September. What lifts YHA Penzance above a basic field is the mansion itself: campers use the cafe bar, self-catering kitchen, laundry and games room, while the campsite has its own washroom with a mini-kitchen, four toilets and two showers. Dogs camp free in your own tent (£5 a night in bell tents), BBQs are available to hire, and campfires are banned. The hostel opens year round, with camping priced per person from £10 a night through YHA's booking system.