I have a confession: my favourite blog posts are the ones I do mainly for my sake over yours. Like this one about the kids milestones or this recipe for healthy banana cake which I go back to again and again. Don’t take this the wrong way but they’re always the ones that actually get me excited and which I really pour epic amounts of time into either researching or writing. This post is a prime example of this. I have spent days and nights feverishly digging into the depths of Google/ Trip Advisor / Instagram to make this post happen, and I also want to thank some of you for putting forward some ace sites too. My geography ain’t the best is shoddy so apologies if the below ordering structure is a little haphazard. Also, can you tell we’re based in London? I know there aren’t many up North in the list below – I’m working on it!
Anyway so, here goes: a guide to the best campsites that are mainly small, simple and beautiful; that are not off grid, have clean showers, and in many cases, pizza vans, lakes and fire pits. All important shizzle. Genuinely, who needs Trip Advisor or Google? We got each other :). Enjoy the list.
Breck Farm – Norfolk
Swallowtails – Norfolk
Lings Meadow – Suffolk
Thistledown Farm – Gloucestershire
Nethergong Camping – Canterbury
Wardley Hill – Norfolk
Cornish Tipi Holidays – Cornwall
Dewslake Camping – Pembrokeshire
Wookey Farm – Somerset
Hale Farm – Sussex
Edale campiste – Peak District
Fen End Farm – Cambridgeshire
The Secret Garden Touring Park – Cambridgeshire
The Real Campsite at Park Farm – Oxfordshire
Folly Farm – Devon
Burnbake – Dorset – turn up and pitch
Gooseberry Field Campsite – Kent – glamping only
The Secret Campsite – Sussex
Experience Sussex – Guess where..
Wowo – Sussex
Fforrest – Mid Wales
Eweleaze Farm – Weymouth
Thanks so much for reading folks, and please let me know if you have any additions or have been to any of the above and have any thoughts!
Emma xxx
P.S Camping with a tiny baby and A Perfect Birthday Camping Trip
Henry’s campsite, The Lizard (Cornwall) is a dream campsite! Laid back vibes, close to the sea (Kynance Cove 😍), animals, a small onsite shop, fire pits, music – it’s a dreamy place!
sounds LUSH. i added it to my next piece. thanks jacqueline x
Thanks for the great list, will have to try some of these out. Another great 2 that you should try are Croft campsite in Suffolk and Farrs meadow Dorset x
We stayed at farr’s meadow and absolutely loved it!! It’s such a treat!
hi bron! oh yes would so love to go to FM xxx
Thank you for this post. Me and my husband (from Germany) are going on a road trip along the south coast this summer. Writing down some of your tips to check out 🙂
By the way: I love your blog and instagram account. You are motivating, encouraging and supporting me and others to love this planet and sustain its beauty !
… we are travelling with our van and I am trying to find out something more about wild camping in England – I mean not on a campsite. Do you sometimes do that? If so – do you have any advice?
thank you 🙂
This is perfect and so many nearby to our home in Oxforshire! Thanks Emma, can’t wait to try some of these out with our lovely new bell tent 🙂
wooop! xx
We really loved Penheim in Wales with their traditional Iranian yurts. They have their own private loo, wood burning stove, gorgeous bed, spacious, eco friendly and luxurious bathroom – showers. It’s at the top of a valley and totally stunning. We went for their bonfire and fireworks package last November and loved it !
that sounds AMAZING! off to take a look xxx (ps SO SORRY for the terribly slow reply) xxx
Love camping and will definitely have a look through this list as I’ve been wanting to find new sites.
Also highly recommend Magor Farm near Camborne, Cornwall – good location for day tripping, great showers and next to a lovely forest park.
Maker Camp on the Rame Peninsula (just a ferry ride from Devon) – stunning views, compost loo’s and fantastic food at the canteen!
And if you fancy the Scottish Highlands Red Squirrel Campsite in Glencoe is a little piece of heaven.. apart from the midges! You can pitch wherever, swim in the river and are amongst mountains, really feels like wild camping but with facilities!
oooh these places sound divine!
Nothing in Shropshire…highly recommend Foxholes at Bishops Castle and Brow Farm at Ratlinghope – beautiful chilled sites in the Shropshire hills, both within walking distance of excellent pubs!
oooh thanks for these fab sounding additions!
We had an incredible experience camping on the lake side of lake windermere at low Wray campsite in the Lake District ❤️
ahh sounds lush! what was the site called? x
The best campsite I’ve ever been to in my life was cae du off cardigan bay. Went for one night it has its own private beach and pitches are just above, the sea kept my baby asleep all night for the first time ever, and we seen the most beautiful sunset. In the morning 6 dolphins put on an amazing show for us!
oh WOWSERS! that sounds incredible – thanks for sharing xxx
We’ve just got back from Pool Bridge campsite on Exmoore National Park. Its in a valley so no signal, woods to explore and a rocky shallow river running through it. Its so good we all tolerate the car sickness we get both reaching and leaving the campsite!
ah how amazing does that sound! (the campsite, not the sickness !) thanks for sharing xxxx