A guide to the classic Cornish foods to try while camping in North Cornwall, from pasties and cream teas to local seafood.
Eating well is one of the joys of a holiday in Cornwall. The county has a proud food culture, from the humble pasty to fresh seafood landed in harbours along the coast. Whether you're eating out or cooking at the campsite, here are the Cornish foods you should try during your stay near Boscastle.
The Cornish pasty
The Cornish pasty is Cornwall's most famous food. A traditional pasty contains beef, potato, swede (often called turnip in Cornwall) and onion, wrapped in pastry and crimped along one side. A pasty made to the traditional recipe in Cornwall can carry the protected name "Cornish pasty". It was once the lunch of Cornish miners and farm workers. You'll find pasties in bakeries across Cornwall, with many variations, though purists stick to the original.
Pasty tips
- Eat it from the end, holding the crimp.
- Try a traditional one first before the more unusual fillings.
- Pasties are perfect for a picnic on the coast path.
The Cornish cream tea
A cream tea is a scone with jam and clotted cream, served with a pot of tea. In Cornwall, the tradition is to spread the jam first and then the cream on top. In Devon, it's the other way round. Clotted cream is a thick, rich cream made by gently heating cream and letting it cool.
Saffron buns
Saffron buns are sweet, yellow buns flavoured with saffron and dotted with dried fruit. They're a traditional Cornish treat, often eaten with butter.
Heavy cake (hevva cake)
Hevva cake is a traditional Cornish cake, flat and dense, with currants and a criss-cross pattern on top. The name is said to come from the call of the "huer", who spotted shoals of pilchards from the clifftops.
Seafood
Cornwall's fishing harbours land a wide range of seafood, including crab, lobster, mackerel, hake and mussels. Look out for crab sandwiches in harbour villages and fish and chips by the sea. Fresh mackerel is a classic summer fish.
Stargazy pie
Stargazy pie is a traditional dish from Mousehole, made with pilchards whose heads poke through the pastry crust, gazing at the stars. It's not common, but you may find it around Tom Bawcock's Eve in December.
Cornish cheese
Cornwall produces many cheeses. Cornish Yarg is one of the best known, a semi-hard cheese wrapped in nettle leaves. Look out for local cheeses at farm shops and markets.
Clotted cream ice cream
Ice cream made with Cornish clotted cream is a must on a hot day. You'll find it in many seaside villages.
Cornish fudge
Fudge made with clotted cream is a popular sweet treat and a classic souvenir.
Drinks
Cider
Cornwall has a long tradition of cider making, with many local ciders available.
Beer
Cornwall is home to many breweries, and you'll find local ales in many pubs.
Wine
Cornwall now produces wines, including well-regarded sparkling wines. See our Camel Trail guide for a vineyard on the route.
Cooking Cornish food at camp
You don't need to eat out to enjoy Cornish food:
- Mackerel: buy fresh and cook on a camping stove.
- Pasties: buy from a bakery and warm them up.
- Cream tea: pack scones, jam and clotted cream for an easy treat.
- Cheese: put together a picnic with local cheese, bread and chutney.
See our easy camping meals guide for more ideas.
Seasonal food
What's best changes through the season. In spring, look out for new potatoes and early asparagus. Summer brings strawberries, crab and mackerel, and the best ice cream weather. In late summer and autumn, there are blackberries in the hedgerows, apples for cider and hearty dishes for cooler evenings. Ask in farm shops and at markets what's in season during your stay.
A Cornish food day
- Start with a bacon roll or a saffron bun.
- Buy a pasty for a picnic on the coast path.
- Stop for a cream tea in the afternoon, jam first.
- Finish with fish and chips by the harbour, or cook fresh mackerel back at camp.
Where to buy
Look for local produce in bakeries, farm shops, butchers, fishmongers, markets and supermarkets. Please note that our campsite doesn't have a shop, so stock up before you arrive. Boscastle village has cafés and pubs; see our places to eat in Boscastle.
Eating out
There are many places to eat in North Cornwall, from pubs and cafés to fish and chip shops. Read our Boscastle pubs guide.
Staying nearby
Our farm campsite near Boscastle is a quiet base for exploring the food of North Cornwall. Adults are £10 per night and children 5 and over are £5. We have a washing-up room for cooking at camp.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous Cornish food?
The Cornish pasty, a pastry filled with beef, potato, swede and onion.
Jam or cream first on a Cornish cream tea?
In Cornwall, jam first, then clotted cream on top.
Does the campsite have a shop?
No, so stock up before you arrive.
What seafood is Cornwall known for?
Crab, lobster, mackerel, hake and mussels, among others.
For more places to eat a short drive away, see pubs and food beyond Boscastle.
Stay near Boscastle
Lower Pennycrocker Farm is a quiet, family-run campsite at St Juliot, about two miles from Boscastle (PL35 0BY). We welcome tents, touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans from 1 April to 31 October. Adults are £10 a night, children aged 5 and over £5, electric hook-up £7 and dogs £2 each (maximum two). Showers are free and you park beside your pitch. Check availability and book direct, or see pitches and prices.
