The best places to camp in the UK

Both Kati and I lived in the UK and it’s an amazing place to camp. Yes, camp. Most people think of London when they think of the UK, but there is still a lot to see and do. And it is an opportunity to experience the real country and meet real people from Great Britain and experience incredible landscapes and history. Although it is an island, the United Kingdom is bordered by several other nations by sea, and although some might find it confusing and use terms interchangeably, there is a difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland, while the United Kingdom does not. While the Union lasted several hundred years, the United Kingdom was permanently inhabited at least 30,000 BC, and before the Roman conquest of Britain the island was ruled by 30 tribes, in 30 AD, when the Romans inhabited most of the southern half of the island, ruled 400 years until the Germanic Anglo-Saxons invaded and settled in the areas that would become Wales and Cornwall, to eventually unite underground by the 10th century to become England, until the Picts and Gaelic speakers from northern Scotland were eventually formed.

The island and its surroundings are full of internationally recognized cities such as London, Manchester, Cornwall, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow, but much of the country still remains pastoral with large sections of forests, plains and mountains separating the landscape. Camping in the UK is a wonderful experience with many opportunities for people who want to be close to towns or villages, or close to mountains or rivers. Tent-style camps are common, and in recent years many farmers and camp owners have allowed their property to be opened to campers while maintaining the safety of their fields and not overcrowding the space. If you want to spend some time around Mother Nature and see the UK from a different perspective, take a look at some of these amazing camping sites in the UK.

Gill Head Farm, Cumbria

As mentioned earlier, many farmers and people with large tracts of land have opened their camper farms. Usually they will be away from the property of the host, which gives visitors a sense of privacy, and you will get that here. Gill Head Farm is located in the Cumbria region of the UK and the landowners maintain a working farm. The views here are amazing and will make you feel like you wake up in the morning and go out into another world. The rural ambience extends deep into the mountains with wide open fields that seem to continue indefinitely. Gill Head Farm is also pretty well equipped so if you don’t have a lot of camping gear or are looking for more “glamping experience”, small huts and already built shelters are also available on request if tents really don’t exist do it for you.

Cilrath Wood Camping, Pembrokeshire

Wake up in the morning and feel like you have stepped into a fairy tale. In fact, if someone has told you that there may be fairies here, you may be inclined to believe. Here the spaces are surrounded by untouched natural landscapes, and camps are set up inside a private meadow. Flowers sparkle in the morning, while forests and lakes nearby are perfect for exploring. The space offers a real sense of distance because you like to be surrounded by trees, meadows and ponds, and the only nearby building is an 18th century country house. However, despite the feeling of solitude, the beaches of Saundersfoot and Amroth are close enough to a distance for a day trip.

Cornish Tipi Holidays, Cornwall

Bringing a bit of North America to Cornwall, Cornish Tipi Holidays is the perfect place for those who just want to taste camping a bit without having to buy all their equipment. Guests are always free to bring their own tent, but Cornish Tipi Holidays offers guests a style-style sleeping area in a hidden wooded area not far from Cornwall. Regardless of the style of accommodation you choose, guests can also choose the desired location with completely secluded forest places, meadows or even near the lake where you can fish, swim, canoe or just relax along the shore. After a day off, light a fire, roast marshmallows and observe the stars a bit.

Invercaimbe Caravan and Campsite, Invercaimbe

Located in Invercaimbe, Scotland, this campsite is a small family space that offers some amazing sights. For astronomers outside, you want to bring your own telescopes and binoculars because the night views are stunning, with almost no light pollution and no tone to observe in the night sky. During the day you will enjoy views of the islands of Eigg, Rum and Skye and you will be just a few steps away from some of the best beaches in the UK. The area is quite remote with a few amenities available, so pack what you need in advance, but what that area lacks in amenities, it certainly makes up for with scenic views.

Troytown Farm, Isles of Scilly

The Scilly Islands hardly look like part of the UK. The archipelago is located in the south west of England near the Cornish coast, and Troytown Farm is a great place for those looking to spend a few days on the beach. If the name doesn’t reveal, the camping area is owned by a local farm, but places to camp tents and accommodations are located on a meadow that descends right onto the beach and then into the sea. Guests wishing to spend some time here can only set up their tent right by the water if they choose with Periglis beach on one side and wild rocks on the other. Enjoy a bit of Atlantic isolation overlooking the sea or check out Troytown Farm’s dairy products and enjoy fresh homemade ice cream made on the estate.

Campsite Beryl’s, Devon

Located in Devon, coming to Beryl’s camp is almost like a treasure hunt. You’ll ride pastoral roads with cows along the road, passing by white signs that say “Beryl’s Camping”. Then, after embarking on a dusty farm road, you will ask yourself “is this the right place?” And it will be! Beryl’s Camp is located in a slightly hidden location on a farm surrounded by trees and hills. The camps on the slopes offer picturesque open views and promenades leading to the paddocks and to Start Bay. The property is also a good family destination with playgrounds, a small pond and a covered picnic area for rainy days.

Abbey Home Farm, Gloucestershire

Located in Gloucestershire in the Cotswolds, this camping area is a beautiful place surrounded by plains and greenery, as well as picturesque villages and towns that look like they are from a medieval fairy tale. If you like going to the cities and discovering local shops and country pubs, you can do it, or if you prefer not to see anyone for days, you can do it too. The property at Abbey Home Farm is a very ecological and organic place so guests are encouraged to recycle, clean up after themselves and use more DIY ethos during their stay. Set up your tent in the field and stare at the endless green views or set up in the woods and feel the retreat surrounded by trees.

Bert’s Kitchen Garden, Wales

Located in northwest Wales and stretching into the Irish Sea, Bert’s Kitchen Garden is located on the often quiet and less visited Llyn Peninsula. Bert’s kitchen garden isn’t just a campground, it’s a place created by a simple idea. It is a place where nature needs to breathe and where guests are expected to work around the natural environment, not against it. The goal of the camp is to be as environmentally friendly as possible with only a few spaces for the camp and a meadow without vehicles. The campsites themselves are located between the Welsh mountains and the sea with a path leading to a private pebble beach. The property owners have their own organic farm and grow food that guests can indulge in while they are there.

If you are wondering who Bert is, Bert is the name of a family camper who traveled the world with his family for four years until he was retired on this farm. Now the van has been converted into a cafe with a garden that offers homemade pastries and bread along with hot coffee and tea.

Birds & Bees, Suffolk

Birds & Bees is located in Suffolk and has all the appeal of a natural place with a sense of family and easy management. The camps began their existence as a dairy farm with the family owning and managing the space as a farm, when in the 1970s Rendham Hall bought the site and continued to use it as a dairy farm until the mid-2010s. Unfortunately in 2016, the farm became unsustainable to manage, but this area has a silver background as the family noticed that this little piece of Suffolk would be a great campsite. Huge hedges, colorful meadows and ancient pastures lined with trees are the perfect place for campers who want to immerse themselves in a bit of nature. Much of the landscape has remained intact, and most of the former buildings on the estate have been converted into camper facilities.

Speaking of facilities, while the property is located in an environmentally friendly space, guests will still have access to many facilities such as a shower and bathroom, a small shared kitchen and the possibility of buying local meat and vegetables, as well as homemade ice cream.

Manor Farm, Norfolk

Although located on one of Norfolk’s more popular beaches, Manor Farm offers the best of both worlds when it comes to peace and city fun. Manor Farm is part of a family camp along the coast and can accommodate up to 250 pitches. The area, however, is well hidden, and guests will have to walk past barns and hedges before being given a view of part of the camp. And when that happens, be thankful that you decided to spend some time here. Cleaning the green meadows leads to the beach area from which you will have a sea view, and since this is an agricultural farm, you may even notice one lamb. If you want a day or evening trip to civilized areas, the local beach is a short drive away along with the traditional fishing village of East Runton.

Cleadale, Inner Hebrides

If you want to enjoy real wild camping, look no further than the Scottish Inland Hebrides. Cleadale is located about ten kilometers off the west coast of Scotland, the island of Eigg was bought by the local community in 1997 and they have turned the place into a completely ecological reserve. The whole place runs on renewable energy, and cars are not allowed, although there is a local minibus that can drive people about 4 miles along the island. Here the camp is as wild as possible without any amenities, without unnatural sounds and no one in sight, so pack your equipment accordingly. What it lacks is what makes this place special. Stunning views of the cliffs, the sounds of the waves crashing against the shores, and the sights of the Hebridian sound.

Our last word

There is absolutely no shortage of great places to camp while you are in the UK. From coastal views to rugged mountain areas and vast meadows, no matter what natural space you want to dive into, there are countless great opportunities. In these uncertain times the experience of nature and camping anywhere in the world is special.