Good campsite lighting makes a genuine difference to your camping experience — whether you're cooking in a drive-away awning in the rain, reading in a tent at dusk, or navigating to the shower block at midnight. Here are our top lantern picks for families camping in Cornwall, Devon, and the wider South West, all stocked at our Newquay showroom.

What to Look for in a Camping Lantern

Before buying, it's worth thinking about a few practical questions:

• How bright do you need it? A small tent compartment needs 100–250 lumens. A 6-person tent living area or full awning needs 500–1,000+ lumens.
• Battery or rechargeable? Battery lanterns offer longer runtimes and work off-grid. Rechargeable (DC) lanterns are more convenient if you have EHU hookup or a power bank.
• Hanging or tabletop? Most good lanterns do both. Look for a handle that doubles as a hanging hook.
• Weather resistance: Essential for South West camping where rain is always a possibility.
• Dimmer function: Crucial for flexible use — from task lighting to bedtime ambience.

Our Top Picks

Best value: Outwell Carnelian 1000 — £19.99

The Carnelian 1000 is our most recommended lantern for most families. At 1,000 lumens it's bright enough to properly light a large tent or awning, the dimmer runs from 10–100% for complete flexibility, and the 40-hour runtime on 3 × D batteries means you won't be changing batteries mid-week. Weather-resistant, hangable, and remarkably affordable at £19.99 — it's the one we'd put in every family camper's kit bag.

Buy the Carnelian 1000 — £19.99 →

Best rechargeable: Outwell Carnelian DC 1000 — £49.99

If you camp on EHU hookup pitches or carry a power bank, the Carnelian DC 1000 eliminates the need for disposable batteries entirely. USB-C rechargeable with a 4,400 mAh battery, it delivers the same 1,000-lumen output as the battery version and the same warm 2,700 K light. Runtime at full brightness is around 4 hours — so plan to dim it or recharge regularly. Over multiple seasons of camping, the cost savings on batteries make the £49.99 price worthwhile.

Buy the Carnelian DC 1000 — £49.99 →

Best budget buy: Outwell Carnelian 250 — £8.99

The Carnelian 250 is the smallest of the range — just 180 g, running on 3 × AA batteries with a 15-hour burn time. It's the ideal bedroom lantern for children, a handy backup light, or a primary lantern for solo campers and minimalist weekend trips. At £8.99 it's one of the best-value lanterns we stock, and it shares the same quality build and dimmer function as the rest of the Carnelian range.

Buy the Carnelian 250 — £8.99 →

Best mid-range: Outwell Carnelian 500 — £19.99

The Carnelian 500 sits between the 250 and 1000 — 500 lumens, 24-hour burn time, 3 × D batteries. A good choice if you feel the 1000 is more than you need but want more output than the 250. Compact (8 × 8 × 18 cm), weather-resistant, and at the same price as the 1000 — the main reason to choose it over the 1000 is if you specifically prefer a slightly smaller lantern.

Buy the Carnelian 500 — £19.99 →

Our Recommendation for South West Camping

For a family week at a Cornish campsite, our go-to recommendation is simple: one Carnelian 1000 for the main living area or awning and one or two Carnelian 250s for the bedroom compartments. That combination covers all your lighting needs for under £40 and is more than enough for a full week off-grid.

If you're on EHU hookup, swap the Carnelian 1000 for the DC 1000 and charge it nightly — no batteries to worry about for the entire trip.

Further Reading

• Carnelian 250 vs 500 vs 1000 — Which Size Do You Need?
• Carnelian DC vs Battery — Which Should You Choose?

Visit Our Newquay Showroom

We stock the full Outwell Carnelian range at our showroom at 4 Bamber House, Victoria, PL26 8LQ. Come and see the range in person before you head off on your South West camping trip.