Carvynick Holiday Park

We found the site peaceful and beautiful, with everything we needed and a really spacious pitch that felt private. The owners gave us a lovely welcome when we arrived for a last-minute stay at the start of February half term. It was just me, my partner and our dog in our converted van. The location worked well for beach walks and trips to coastal towns along the west of Cornwall. We'll be back for a night or two in summer.

The staff and local people around the campsite were friendly and chatty, and our second pitch had a lovely view. After a few calls to reception, they moved us and offered a free night, which helped after the awful start: we woke on the first morning to an overflowing drain full of sewage waste that smelled terrible. The shower blocks were clean and the showers were hot, though they were push-button. Neither the men's nor the women's hand dryers worked for our entire stay.

The facilities felt limited, with just 7 showers and 3 washing-up sinks for the whole campsite, so it felt as if camping had been an afterthought. Everything was very clean, though, which is what you want when pitching a tent. The location is good, just off the A30, and there was hardly any road noise. The views were beautiful. There's a lovely pub on site, but it's currently only open Thursday through Sunday, so I'd book ahead.

The staff were incredibly kind and helpful while we were there for Boardmasters festival. Our van broke down seven hours from home, and they went out of their way to help with buses and taxis, suggest mechanics, and store our things for a few days while it was being fixed. The campsite still felt peaceful during the festival, with two large fields and plenty of room to camp with some privacy. The facilities were among the best we've experienced. The site was spotless, and the showers were spacious, clean and had hot water. There's also a fridge/freezer, charging plugs and even a mirror for drying your hair. A shop is a short walk or drive away, and there's a bus stop there for Newquay. We really can't recommend this campsite enough for the facilities and how helpful the staff were.