The greatest difficulty this small campsite could ever encounter is living up to its name. After all, those two simple words, ‘secret’ and ‘garden’, when put together promise so much: your very own slice of Eden-like paradise full of natural sensual pleasure.
This promise of your own private Eden is aided by the fact that this tiny campsite is situated on the mystical far-western edge of Cornwall, where travellers only find what they earnestly seek, and don’t just drop upon by mere happenstance. And the way to the Secret Garden is indeed enchanting, along the rugged coast westwards, fleeing the crowds of St Ives, or across the empty granite-strewn hills, escaping the Pirates of Penzance.
The sign outside Bosavern House – where Secret Garden hides – stating there are cream teas available, is yet another promising prospect for keen gastro-campers. But this doesn’t look like a place where there is, or can be, a campsite – it’s a rather grand-looking old granite mansion. ‘Where’s the campsite?’ you ask the distinguished-looking chap who comes to the door. ‘It’s in the garden round the back’, says he, and your little heart dares to wonder if all those wild imaginings of a secret garden can be true.
Then, when reality sets in as you push past the hens, brush off the embrace of the palm trees and other exotic plants, there it is – the Secret Garden. But what’s this – other campers in the form of two tents and two campervans? So you aren’t the first campers to make it here after all. Drat. In fact, there are 12 pitches within this lovely little oasis of vegetational tranquillity, and quite often in high season they are all occupied. But even though it isn’t solely yours, after a day or three has passed and the outside world is just a distant memory, the realisation gradually dawns that this garden campsite in all its hidden-away, intimate glory, is indeed a secret.
And that secretive feel continues outside too, with little-trod footpaths leading off towards the coast. One such magical trail leads to Porth Nanven, through a mile of scenery you never want to end, and this is yet another seemingly undisclosed place just a few miles from the throng at Land’s End. Another footpath strikes out across farmland, then burrows its way through dark, damp overgrown tree-tunnels to the cliffs, and to Cape Cornwall: yet another well-kept secret.
It’s fortunate that Cape Cornwall doesn’t poke out into Atlantic just a little further, for then it would have been Land’s End, and this beautiful empty place might have ended up being smothered by tourists. As it is you can stroll down to Cape Cornwall from your Secret Garden, enjoy a swim in the cove or tidal pool; then wander back to the campsite for a cream tea in the garden…And all without seeing more than a handful of other retiring and secretive folk. Does the Secret Garden live up to its name? As Churchill (the dog that is) would say, ‘Oh Yes!’.
