The cliff-top location is perfect, with panoramic views stretching from the headland beyond St Ives to Trevose Head, near Padstow.
Planning permission would never be granted for a house to be built there but a group of families have set up home beside the coastal footpath between Porthtowan and Portreath.
Their presence has brought complaints from local residents because, after several weeks, they are showing no sign of moving on.
A cluster of caravans, a bus and a converted lorry are parked on the site of old mine workings close to the edge of the near 300ft high cliffs.
One of the group, who declined to give his name, said this week: "Most people are friendly and say hello as they walk past."
He claimed that as it was so out of the way, with no houses within half a mile, they were causing no offence to anyone. "We will be off soon," he added.
The site almost straddles the boundary between Kerrier and Carrick districts but is in fact on land owned by Kerrier Council.
Graeme Hicks, Kerrier's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "It's a nightmare situation because we have nowhere else to put these people.
"I have been approached about this but it's not a planning enforcement issue because we own the land."
Mr Hicks said he understood the travellers had been served with notices to leave the site but the issue was complicated because the group includes a number of children.
A Porthtowan resident claimed: "Kerrier have done absolutely nothing to stop the site being used.
"I just think it's appalling that a group of travellers can be allowed to take over such a beautiful area, where thousands of pounds have been spent restoring the mine workings."
She added that the travellers came and went at will, without any attempt being made to prevent them returning to the site.
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