Camping holidays have grown in popularity in the UK. And it isn’t hard to see why. Nothing beats unwinding in the great outdoors, cosying up in warm tents, and stargazing by the campfire.
Ever since the COVID pandemic, campsite and farm owners started to explore different solutions to prevent overcrowding in the field when experiencing their spaces. Of course, there’s always the traditional method of bringing your own tent and pitching yourself. If you’re part of this group of people, check out this six person tent that’s big enough for the entire family! However, many campsites have also started to offer more luxurious alternatives like glamping pods and cabins. With so many options to choose from, the choice of which campsite to pick can be a little daunting. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks for camping as well as a list of the top campsites in the UK to check out. Keep reading to find out more!
Is Camping Safe in the UK?
You can always ask the owner the frequency of cleaning of the campsites or if they implemented measures for the cleanliness of the campsite. For example, some campsites rotate the tents being used to make sure that they’re kept vacant for a few days before the next customer uses them and some ensure personal showers and toilets for every group. If you wish to get a refund or postpone your booking, you can always contact the campsite owners.
UK Campsites You Should Check Out
Gill Head Farm
This farm in Cumbria may seem like a typical family place, but when you get the chance to explore the Hidden Field which is located behind a bridge and inside a nook in the forest, you can marvel at the beauty of the waterfall and bunnies hopping out of burrows. It is the ideal place to go to if you truly wish to escape somewhere for a bit.
Canal Camping
Located in Norfolk, this place is slightly newer for camping if you want to go off the grid. River Ant has plenty of motorboats available for hire, and the restored North Walsham as well as the Dilham Canal has scenic views with a river.
Cilrath Wood Camping
This campsite in Pembrokeshire has never been explored before as the first campers are supposed to be here during Easter. It is located in a grassland meant for hay crops around a farmhouse that has been here since the 18th century. The ponds and woodlands are great for explorers who want to go on adventures and it is extremely remote, even though there is a village and beach nearby.
Abbey Home Farm
This organic farm at Gloucestershire is the best campsite for those who want to have a hand at self-sustenance in the woods. While showers have been installed just recently, the essence of DIY in this farm has remained. You can opt for a watering can and bucket as an alternative to the showers if you wish. Pitches are available in the forest glade near the field, with a tap containing fresh and clean water. You can scavenge for wood and you can even bring your own bow saw if you want to show your skills.
Bert’s Kitchen Garden
If you want to immerse yourself completely in the nature of Wales, the green woodlands separating the coast from the meadow leads to their very own beach. A campervan that goes by the name of Bert was used to travel the world till it got upcycled and transformed into a cafe, now serving homemade croissants and tea.
Birds & Bees
If you want to go back to simpler times, this farm turned nature campsite in Suffolk has horse paddocks that have since been demolished and turned into meadows with wildflowers and an aged pen used to hold bulls has transformed into a cosy wooden shower cabin. Most of the land was left alone, such as the patch of tall grass perfect for children to wander among.
Finchingfield Camping
With its lack of boutique hotels, it’s no wonder there’s not much travel insurance coverage for travels in Essex. However, if you can look past the typical towns like Braintree, you will get to explore the marvellous landscapes of the older villages that have been left untouched. For example, Finchingfield is filled with rows of lavender against the cornfields. Given that they’re in season, visitors are welcome to cut some sprigs or take the paths that lead out of the meadow. This campsite offers privacy with tents, a fire pit and a barbeque grill for each group. The compost toilets even have doors in the style of a stable. Sofas made up of haystacks are available for your comfort. The willow snail and fairy garden are great for little children who want to play among themselves. There are no more than 10 tent pitches and a limit of eight people in each tent so it’s quaint and quiet for the most part.
Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite
Aside from the typical options like Northumberland and Devon, the wilderness is closer than expected. One of them is a stone’s throw away from Shard London Bridge – Hertfordshire’s Lee Valley was established in 2017, using land that was cleared by volunteers. It’s a bring your own tent space and you have to get your own logs if you wish to set up a campfire. 17 lots are available for tents, with compost toilets, a tap with cold water and a couple of lights run on solar power. People have acquired plenty of skills in bushcraft here as they are taught to campers once in a while. If you wish to sail, kayak or canoe, there are plenty of reservoirs and facilities available close by.
Amber’s Bell Tents
Started by founder Amber Sykes, she kick-started her bell tent collection in Norfolk when she managed to convince estate owners to loan her a couple of meadows and started adding pennant banners, marking out locations for swimming in the wild and picking fruits, finding bike vendors and sourcing for hampers as well as other activities such as bushcraft classes. Shaun, her spouse, picked up skills such as building huts for saunas for the guests. Amber started to expand her business in 2019 by adding campsites in other parts of the UK; two in Norfolk where she was from, one more in Worcestershire and another right over Shropshire.
