Accommodation in the UK: Britain's Best Campsites
Top Tenting: Get close to nature at a British campsite
Daniel Allen
The British Isles are one of the best places on Earth to go camping. The scenery is stunning, the weather is generally mild, and there's a huge number of campsites - stretching all the way from Orkney off the northern coast of Scotland to the Isles of Scilly, south of Cornwall.
In fact, it's little surprise that Britain is home to the three largest camping organizations in the world, with a total membership of over 5 million.
Camping is cheap, green, great fun and the best way to get up close and personal with Britain's most gorgeous scenery. Here's a selection of some of the best spots to set up your tent (or sleep in someone else's).
The New Forest, Hampshire
Covering huge stretches of Hampshire countryside, the New Forest is actually centuries old. A mixture of heath and woodland is the ideal backdrop to any vacation - come camping here and you will be surrounded by nature, with wildlife including deer and the renowned New Forest ponies roaming through the gorse and nearby thickets.
New Forest campsites are numerous and diverse, ranging from tent-only camping, amidst the trees, to "glamping" in grassy glades, with yurts, teepees and bell tents. Peruse all the options online.
campingintheforest.co.uk/england/new-forest
Bryher Campsite, Isles of Scilly
This well-positioned campsite lies nestled in a shallow valley on the beautiful island of Bryher - the smallest of the five inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly. Situated a short walk from the island's boat jetty, the Bryher Campsite boasts views of the harbour, Hangman's Island and Tresco. Best visited in the summer when the days are long and the beaches beckon.
bryhercampsite.co.uk
Dartmoor, Devon
With an area of over 250 square miles, the national park of Dartmoor in Devon is one of the few real wildernesses left in England. Although relatively flat, the exposed areas of moorland are wild places, remarkably free from human influence. Dartmoor offers a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels, family run B & Bs and farms through to self catering cottages, hostel-type accommodation and camp sites.
Backpacking and sleeping wild on Dartmoor is a fantastic experience when the weather is good. Camping for one or two nights on open land here is allowed as long as you choose a sensible spot away from farmland and archaeological sites, and use unobtrusive camping equipment.
dartmoor.gov.uk
Sango Sands, Sutherland, Scotland
With its lakes, valleys and heather-studded hillsides, Scotland is a great place to go camping. Unlike most of England, Scotland’s more relaxed trespassing laws permit camping in open country, but be sure to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The beautiful Sango Bay near Durness is one of Scotland’s most spectacular and varied beaches, with golden sands and rocky outcrops. Whales, seals and bottlenose dolphins are frequent offshore visitors, and the area is ideal for walking, hiking and angling. The perfectly positioned Sango Sands campsite is located just above the beach.
sangosands.com
The Lake District, Cumbria
Camping in "the Lakes" is the best way to experience northern England’s wildest and most dramatic landscape. Whether you're looking for the basics in a quiet, remote valley, or a little more luxury with on-site shops and cafes, there’s a diverse range of campsites on offer. Sometimes you don’t even need your own tent as ready-made yurts and camping pods are available.
In the heart of the Lake District, nestled below the spectacular Langdale Pikes, Great Langdale campsite boasts awe-inspiring views of mountains, lakes and valleys. The site is well-organised and efficiently run, and makes the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding wilderness.
Turner Hall Farm campsite is perennially popular with walkers and climbers, with the surrounding fells providing a wild backdrop. The site itself is simply a continuation of the rugged, boulder-strewn landscape.
nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356395573158
duddonvalley.co.uk/page6
Swattesfield, Suffolk
The recently opened Swattesfield campsite is located in the wilds of northern Suffolk. Ideally located for country walks across the nearby Thornham Estate, Swattesfield is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For more basic pleasures erect your tent in the bottom field or surrounding woodland - for the high life splash out on a boutique bell tent or mod con-equipped caravan.
swattesfieldcampsite.co.uk
Clippesby Hall, Norfolk
Clippesby Hall is the perfect base from which to explore the Norfolk Broads National Park, a labyrinthine network of waterways and lakes, as well as the nearby Norfolk coast, with its range of beautiful sandy beaches.
Clippesby Hall's touring and camping facilities are divided into eight distinct areas, providing campers with a choice between more private sites in natural woodland, and more open, family-oriented pitches. Most have electricity available.
clippesby.com/touringandcamping.asp
If the thought of sleeping under canvas doesn't set your pulse racing, Mains Farm Wigwams in Stirling (Scotland) has a range of traditional Sioux teepees or more substantial wigwams in an idyllic location close to Loch Lomond. Cornish Tipi Holidays also hire out teepees in wooded clearings close to the resort of Rock.
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