Belle Tents Camping

Owls Gate is set in 2½ acres of gardens on the edge of Bodmin Moor and 5 miles from the North Cornwall coast. Here we have our workshop where we make beautiful garden tents and marquees to order.

We have set up our orchard to allow camping in a fully kitted-out Belle Tent. The whole site will cater for a maximum of 17 people in 3 'camps'.

Each camp has two 'bedroom' tents of different sizes plus it's own equipped kitchen tent, barbeque and stand-pipe. All of the tents have a solar light.

A camp can accommodate up to a maximum of 6 people. It's a bit like a two bedroom cottage only without the cottage.

Except for mid July to the end of August you can book a tent in a camp, however you may have to share the kitchen with one other tent.

The sleeping tents have rugs and carpets, real beds, mattresses, and storage.

The site also has a bar/social tent with a woodburner and a camp-fire area. There is a building with toilets, free showers and hair-dryer with a further shower and toilet in our workshop nearby.

Prices include:

Cooking gas
Hot showers
Electricity for the fridge
Washing-up liquid (we use only Ecover as it is better for our septic tank)

Click Here for a full list of what is supplied plus recommended items to bring

See Campsite Layout for a plan of the campsite showing positions of the tents and kitchens etc.

Dates are from 23rd May - 19th September 2008.

Above is a 16' diameter large sleeping tent. It has a double bed, chest of drawers, bedside tables and tea-lanterns. We provide duvets and pillows but please bring bed linen, or sleeping bags if you prefer. There are no towels provided.

Above is a kitchen tent. It is equipped with pans, crockery and utensils, gas hob and fridge, and dining table & chairs. There is also a small barbeque plus you can always cook on the camp-fire.

The 'bar' tent for social gatherings, bring your own wine or beer. The tent is also nice to be in during wet days for playing board games (no karaoke or pub quizzes!).

The Site

Owls Gate is at the end of a farm track, is on the side of a shallow valley and is surrounded on three sides by open farmland, home to ponies and rare breed cattle. To the north it is protected by beech trees, beyond which is our only neighbour (100 metres).

The campsite is a south and west facing field with the south bordering onto farmland. It is divided into three shallow terraces with young trees, shrubs and flowers.

There is a sunken lane giving direct access, a walk of about 15 minutes, to Davidstow Moor and Bodmin Moor.

Wildlife

There is a wild garden area planted with native wild plants, irises and grasses which attracts many butterflies, elephant hawk moths and dragonflies of all kinds. Flocks of goldfinches are to be seen during summer gathering seed-heads from the dandelion 'clocks' and from the thistles in the adjoining field.

Bird life in our gardens include blue tits, great tits, coal tits, dunnocks, various finches, nuthatches and even a greater spotted woodpecker! Also, of course, swallows, hedge sparrows, blackbirds, wrens and thrushes. Kestrels and sparrow hawks are often seen and buzzards are a common sight wheeling in the air.

We don't get pestered by noisy seagulls!

At night is gets dark and quiet when you are likely to hear our two kinds of owl; the barn owl and tawny owl.

The local area and amenities

Although Owls Gate has an off-the-beaten-track feel, it is only 5 minutes from the A395 and 20 minutes from Launceston.

It is in easy reach of the whole of the North Cornwall coast, Boscastle is 6 miles and Tintagel 7 miles. We can also tell you how to get to secret beauty spots on the moors with small idyllic streams, great for picnics with young children.

The town of Camelford is 4 miles and has small shops, including a Co-op, leisure centre and art galleries. There are a couple of good pubs for food, and also a veg shop selling local and organic produce, organic dry goods (rice & pasta etc) cheeses and fish. Go to their website at www.a1fruiterers.co.uk to see their range. You can also order a hamper to be delivered here for your arrival.

The Eden Project is approximately a 50 minutes drive.

General Information

Our home is adjacent to the campsite and we have a quiet workshop nearby in which we run our small business making small garden tents. We expect to be on hand during your stay in case of any problems, but otherwise will leave you in peace.

We have a resident cat called Murphy. He is big and black and could be mistaken for the Beast of Bodmin Moor.

You are welcome to bring acoustic musical instruments but please, no loud drums! The idea is peace and tranquility.

If you fancy a Therapeutic Body Massage in your tent you can book Bridget Pentecost, a registered Healer and Massage Therapist, on 07941 777547 or go to www.thenaturalhealingclinic.co.uk

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