The Five Types of Campers and the Best UK Sites for Each
Camping
splits the audience: some individuals adore it, whereas others genuinely dislike it. However, we strongly feel that with an appropriate configuration and an excellent camping spot, everybody can be convinced.
From presenting at a distant location
Atlantic island
for an upscale glamping experience in the
Scottish
In the Highlands, there truly is a camping adventure for every person. If you haven’t fallen in love with it yet, perhaps it’s just because you haven’t found your group. We’ve picked out some of our top choices for various types here.
Home from home
Camping is great for enjoying time in nature, but there’s no need to go without. This tribe has it all – including the kitchen sink. They’re the ones with a proper cooking set-up, spacious dining tables and comfy chairs, watching while the rest of us battle with a tiny gas stove and grumbling knees. They’ll also want to know there’s every facility available, from a laundry room to a well-stocked shop.
Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Derbyshire
Within a protected valley beneath the
Peak District
At its tallest peak, Kinder Scout, Hayfield offers a remarkable setting along with top-notch amenities such as an accessible restroom, a drying room, and a playground for children.
There are grass pitches for tents, or campers can opt for super-service hard-standing pitches with their own electricity, water and drainage.
This is outstanding
walking
country, with classic routes direct from the site, while Hayfield village has several great cafes.
From £14.70 (members) or £25 (non-members) per person per night
,
campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Mablethorpe Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Lincolnshire
A pebble’s-throw from the
Lincolnshire
coast, this well-appointed site offers a great range of different-sized and serviced pitches. Alongside the sparkling clean facilities, you’ll find a shop, Wi-Fi, laundry and dedicated dog walk.
Stepping outside, you’ll find quick access to Mablethorpe’s vast sandy shore, an excellent selection of local bars and coffee shops within the town, along with flat cycling paths to discover the surrounding area.
Just under four miles to the south lies the Sandilands National Trust nature reserve, a previously used links golf course that is now being restored to its natural state. This area also signifies the beginning of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, extending all the way to Chapel St Leonards.
Starting at £14.70 for members or £25 for non-members per person per night,
campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Pencilli Castle Caravan and Camping Park, Powys
The stunning Brecon Beacons form the setting for this family-operated campsite, which features amenities such as a laundrette, Wi-Fi access, and a fully stocked store, along with a playground for kids. Additionally, the large and impeccably clean toilet facilities have received accolades.
As the Taff Cycle Trail runs near the entrance, you can head up to Pen y Fan —the tallest peak within the National Park— for an ascent, and there’s also a pub just along the street, offering numerous activities right at your fingertips.
Starting at $18 for each person per night
,
pencelli-castle.com
Families
With vast tents, a herd of energetic children and the need to cook large amounts of food quickly, family campers demand an understanding campsite. The best provide feral, free-roaming opportunities for the kids, with a nice, flat pitch and electricity and water on tap for the grown-ups.
Dart River Country Park, Devon
Located across 90 acres in the stunning Dart Valley close to Ashburton on the eastern fringe of Dartmoor National Park, River Dart Country Park is highly beloved by family visitors.
The site offers casual riverside camping amidst old woodlands, with various activities for kids of every age – such as swimming in the lake, exploring the adventure playground, riding at the bike park, and tackling the aerial obstacle course.
Just a brief journey from here lies the untamed beauty of Dartmoor and the southern coastline of Devon, featuring numerous beaches suitable for families.
Pitches from £20
,
riverdart.co.uk
Low Greenside Farm, Cumbria
Offering breathtaking vistas by day and star-filled nights, this welcoming and roomy campsite in the pristine Westmorland Dales close to Kirkby Stephen boasts magnificent views of the Howgill Fells behind it.
The facilities boast impressive environmental awards and maintain warmth with pristine cleanliness. There’s ample room for children to explore freely, along with fire pits ideal for roasting marshmallows.
The Lake District lies just beyond the M6, and nearby, you’ll find road trippers’ favorite stop at Tebay Services.
Pitches from £25
,
lowgreensidefarmcampsite.co.uk
Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
Located within the expansive 8,800-acre Castle Howard estate, this lakeside campground offers plenty of woodlands, hillsides, and gardens to discover. Children can enjoy Skelf Island, which features high ropes courses, swinging bridges, sliding structures, net mazes, and various climbing facilities. The on-site store carries regional products such as Castle Howard Gin and ice cream, catering to all tastes. For an indoor activity nearby, consider visiting York’s Jorvik Viking Centre when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Pitches from £19
,
castlehowardholidayhomes.co.uk
Nearly Wild Things
Truly adventurous camping—setting up tents on mountain slopes from twilight till sunrise without leaving any signs—is the pinnacle of getting away from it all. This group prefers enjoying the liberty of outdoor sleepovers with the comfort of staying at a designated campground, not wanting to forego essential amenities.
Knepp, West Sussex
Pitch in a wildflower meadow on the edge of an ancient wood that’s part of the 3,500-acre Knepp rewilding project for a wild camping experience with a difference.
The property has transformed a struggling farm into a thriving expanse of meadow where roaming grazers roam freely, and rare species like turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies have made their comeback.
Camper guests can enjoy solar-powered lights and device chargers, along with a wood-fired pizza oven. There’s also a shared space featuring plush leather armchairs around a wood-burning stove, as well as a natural swimming pond and a sauna housed in a repurposed horse trailer.
Starting at $25 per person per night
,
knepp.co.uk
Lee Valley Nearly Untamed Campground, Hertfordshire
Select from large riverside campsites, a hidden woodland clearing, or just hang a hammock among the trees for an outdoor escapade under 20 miles away from London close to Broxbourne.
You won’t find organised entertainment, Wi-Fi or electric hook-up here, but with solar lighting, composting toilets and drinking water on tap, it’s the perfect spot for a truly off-grid experience.
RSPB Rye Meads lies three miles to the north, and within reach is the extensive 1,000-acre Lee Valley Country Park featuring numerous lakes, waterways, and an Olympic-standard white-water rafting center.
Pitches from £30
,
visitleevalley.org.uk/almost-wild-campsite
Bryher Campsite, located in the Isles of Scilly
Friendly, family-run Bryher Campsite is tucked between two hills on the tiny island of Bryher – the smallest of Scilly’s inhabited islands.
It’s as peaceful as it gets, with no cars (visitors arrive by boat) and a background soundtrack of birdsong and the gentle wash of the waves.
Choose your perfect campsite and revel in the vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and the pristine white sands of neighboring Tresco Island. The island features a quaint village store and pub along with top-notch cafes and eateries, such as the beloved Crab Shack at Hell Bay. Keep an eye out for gray seals; you may catch sight of one or two basking on Great Par Beach.
Starting at $17.42 per person per night,
bryhercampsite.co.uk
Adventurers
Equipped with just the necessities, adventure campers prefer compact tents yet spacious backpacks stuffed with everything needed for extensive exploration outside their camping area. Being close to hills, paths, or shorelines—and having an excellent spot to unwind after the expedition—is crucial.
Great Langdale Campsite, Cumbria
Nestled deep inside the glacier-carved valley of Great Langdale, amidst the towering peaks of the Langdale Pikes, lies this welcoming, National Trust-operated campground. It sits squarely in the middle of the Lake District National Park’s adventurous spirit. If your interests include fell running, rock climbing, ghyll scrambling, or open-water swimming, you’ll find an abundance of activities just steps away from your tent or caravan.
Start your day with newly baked croissants from the fully stocked store, and afterwards cross the street to visit the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub – a landmark among climbers – for some post-excursion drinks.
Pitches from £22,
nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/lake-district/great-langdale-campsite
Comrie Croft, located in Perth and Kinross, Scotland
At Comrie Croft near Crieff, campers can access 21 kilometers of exceptional mountain biking trails, which earned the site recognition as one of Scotland’s premier locations for mountain biking. These paths, varying in difficulty, meander through the picturesque hills and forests of Strathearn. Additionally, visitors will find a nearby bike shop along with options for renting bicycles.
After the day’s adventures, refuel in the onsite farm shop and Tea Garden Café, then relax around a campfire, soaking up the site’s chilled-out vibe. If you don’t fancy bringing your own tent, the site has gorgeous handmade Nordic kåtas available for hire.
Pitches from £30
,
comriecroft.com
Celtic Camping, Pembrokeshire
Located inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and spread across 250 acres of farmland, this relaxed yet fully equipped campground offers stunning sea vistas along with convenient access to the shoreline and coastal paths.
Design your personal aquatic escapades, or sign up with organized groups for guided activities such as coasteering, snorkeling, kayaking, and open-water swimming. The beach at Abereiddy, along with its striking blue lagoon, lies just a few miles distant.
Starting at $18 per person per night
,
celticcamping.co.uk
Glampers
They have an affinity for nature, yet members of this group aren’t keen on roughing it outside. Primarily, their priority is safety and coziness, swearing off tents entirely. Instead, from snug cottages to aerial dwellings, watercrafts to repurposed aircraft, these travelers—known as glamper enthusiasts—are after luxury and elegance along with essential amenities like plush bedding atop real mattresses.
The Cabin at Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire
Bothies serve as a standard amenity in Scotland’s Highlands, providing rudimentary lodging in isolated areas. However, the bothy located at the Glen Dye estate goes beyond this norm. Nestled within 15,000 acres encompassing wild terrain, woodland, and heathlands along the River Dye, this charming retreat boasts upscale features such as a luxurious king-sized bed, an open-air kitchen equipped with a Green Egg grill, and a personal Swedish wooden hot tub heated by firewood.
Take a walk over to the BYO Glen Dye Arms, reserve a spot in their wood-burning sauna, or learn something new like ax throwing or bushcraft at the Discovery and Adventure Centre.
Sleeps 2, from £430/night,
glendyecabinsandcottages.com
WILDish Cornwall
Sleep in the trees in the Lost Meadow Treepod, or head to the Riverside Meadow and its two cosy Landpods, where there’s room for up to two families – WILDish Cornwall offers off-grid glamping on the edge of Bodmin Moor.
The Bedalder River offers convenient access for kayaking and open-water swimming, features pristine night skies ideal for astronomy enthusiasts, and encompasses old-growth temperate forests perfect for exploration.
The pods have comfy beds and spring-fed hot showers as well as solar lighting and charging. Close by, there’s mains power, a washing machine, freezer and library, as well as helpful host, Jon.
Sleeps two to eight, from £144/night,
wildishcornwall.co.uk
Caban, Powys
Spread throughout the picturesque Welsh landscape nestled between the Cambrian and Eryri mountain ranges close to Machynlleth, you’ll find six distinctive off-the-grid cabins, along with two treehouses and a repurposed barn, all crafted by the architect and owner of Caban, Daffydd.
Equipped and warmed using renewable energy sources, these snug areas offer ample space unexpectedly, featuring plush couches and beds, fireplaces, a kitchen zone, and eclectic antique styling.
Caters for 2 to 8 people starting at £85,
caban.space