by In Britain, we take campsites for granted. Farms have been opening their fields to campers for over a century and now countryside, country estates and vineyards welcome us all too. This diversity and competition is what makes our nation’s sites so special – there is no one-size-fits-all approach governed by park rangers and state administrators.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t key features to the best of Britain’s campsites. From flat parks to pop-up pizza wagons, there’s plenty to consider if you’re looking for a great place to park this summer.
Flat fields and the ideal aspect
Hills are not the enemy, slopes are. A comfortable no-roll belt is ideal for the perfect camping meadow: flat, but for a slight gradient that helps drainage in heavy rain.
But hills can still be your friend if the campsite has large level terraces that you can sit on, helpfully breaking up another open space – an upper meadow for groups and vans for example, and a lower meadow for families , a hidden perch for a couple. with small tents, and all with great views.
The perfect campsite also provides shelter, such as traditional hedgerows in Cornwall or dry stone walls in Yorkshire. Look for a south-westerly side, which will catch the afternoon sun and avoid early morning glare.
Modern facilities with all the hooks
“Camp at your own campsite.” That’s what I tell new campsite owners looking to improve. The ideal 21st century location has a central laundry block (or two) and has all the mod cons – underfloor heating in winter, hot, powerful showers, large family washrooms, covered laundry sinks… I stayed at one with Beethoven even. pipes through subtle speakers.
But true perfection comes from the host who knows his audience: think a beach campsite with an outdoor shower for wetsuits; a campsite for hikers with a drying room for soggy coats; and a family campsite with a well-equipped children’s changing room. Above all, however, there should be an army of hooks in every shower cubicle; I would trade in everything but keep my underwear dry.
Conveniently secluded
The best campsites are quiet and rural but still have a few essentials within walking distance: a good pub, a scenic path, and an accessible beach or river. The Masons campsite in Yorkshire comes to mind; on the banks of the Wharfe, near the Dales Way, and 300 yards from the thatched pub.
For campsites in prime walking areas, especially those on the coast, proximity to a bus stop is also an important asset. Whether it’s the Puffin Shuttle in Pembrokeshire, the Coasthopper in Norfolk, or the Snowdon Sherpa in North Wales, taking the cars out of your camping trip makes life a lot easier (and allows for a cold beer at the end of your walk).
Without turning off
Twenty years ago almost all farm campsites were the same; mown meadow and loos block. As the size of tents has increased and the number of family camps has increased, expectations have changed.
While open meadows are still de rigueur for social camping and Duke of Edinburgh groups, the main campsites now also have child-friendly, car-free spaces, often with individual pitches surrounded by wild grass that gives a sense of space. and privacy. Parking is still adjacent to the ideal car-free meadow, with wheelbarrow bays for carting equipment, and each park has a campfire pit and portable picnic bench so you can create your ideal layout.
The most local shops
Whether it’s the goat’s cheese at Wookey Farm in Somerset, the Jersey ice cream at Cowpots Camping in Carmarthenshire, or the barbecue lamb at Rutland’s Cuckoo Farm, the tastiest food I’ve had camping hasn’t come from the local pub . He came straight from the campsite.
The best on-site shops are undoubtedly farm locations. The ideal is a shop that stocks the farm’s own produce and essential camping essentials – firewood, matches, camping gas and the like – without stocking too high on farm toys and children’s toys. For the truly modern campsite, which caters for all needs, look out for a coffee cave too, with stenciled barista cocoa tents on top of cappuccinos.
Big barn camp
As a child, I once stood in an 18th century barn with rain and hail pounding on the corrugated roof. It is one of my most vivid camping memories. The barn was the perfect haven; lots of picnic tables for people to dine at, stacks of board games, foosball, and strings of lights for after sunset.
Whatever the weather, a good meeting space is at the heart of a great campsite. The larger ones are flanked by a gravel apron – a prime spot designed for food trucks and pop-up pizza wagons, which pull up to feed the masses.
A natural playground
Every family campsite should have a playground, but the ones that stand out the most are those with a naturally imaginative streak. At Hideaway Camping in Devon, a rose of trees has become a “fairy glade”, with tiny doors in the trees and a mystical stone circle. At Petruth Paddocks in Somerset, every child zooms in on a 1960s Land Rover, while at Three Hares in Dartmoor it’s all swinging tires and paddling the stream. Ultimately, the best campsites embrace the fact that children are there to play outdoors, turning rocky outcrops and fallen trees into fuel for young imaginations.
Essential utilities
During the pandemic, camper van sales increased by more than 150 percent and, today, even the largest rural campsites provide electric hookups on some accessible company parks to meet demand. As a tent camper, I am still inclined towards places where there are limited electrical hook-ups, to protect the quiet canvas of a traditional camping meadow environment. Parks with home-style sockets are also a bonus, helping you to charge devices and pump up air beds without fancy plug-in adapters. It is also essential to have drinking water within easy reach, with water taps (over good drains) scattered around the campsite.
Wifi or LowFi?
Camping was the perfect way to escape your inbox. But as data coverage has improved and we’ve become more reliant on mobile phones, that idea has gone the way of the flip phone – some people want to revive it but the time is long gone shin. Whether it’s planning the next day’s itinerary or mapping out hikes on the OS Maps app, there’s no way I’ll be using my phone on camping trips. So I’d rather connect to the campsite WiFi than flush my data allowance. Is wifi a concern when choosing a location? But is it good news when I get there? Definitely.
Bird boxes and bug hotels
Campgrounds are not just a source of income for landowners. They also provide an opportunity to do environmental good. With new government subsidies encouraging hedgerow protection, wildflower planting and habitat creation, it’s now more possible than ever to create a campsite that’s positive for wildlife, campers and landowners alike. Sites such as Coppet Hill in Dorset and Mad Hatters in Cambridgeshire work alongside local wildlife trusts to increase their biodiversity. The result for campers? Glimpses of wild deer, an array of colorful butterflies, and amazing murmurations to watch at sunset.
James Warner-Smith is a UK editor at Hipcamp
