Cloud Farm Campsite

Cloud Farm sits at the bottom of the Lorna Doone Valley on Badgworthy Water, the river that runs through R.D. Blackmore's novel and still feels as remote as the book suggests. The National Trust runs it with a light hand: 58 pitches divided between grass tents, hardstanding for motorhomes, and a handful of pods, all tucked into a wooded valley on the Devon-Somerset border.

Walking is the whole point here. Riverside trails lead from the site through to nearby pools and on towards the coast; Oare Church, the setting for Lorna Doone's famous wedding scene, is an easy stroll; Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor's high point, is a proper day's hike with views across the Bristol Channel. The medieval village walk guests mention is a highlight, especially in late summer when the moor is in colour.

The valley floor means the sun dips early in the afternoon, but that's part of what makes the nights here: the campfires come out, the stars arrive early, and the river provides a consistent background hum. The Buttery cafe is a ten-minute walk along the river for breakfast, coffee, and occasional pizza evenings. Facilities are solid for a natural site: hot showers, laundry, a shop, and electric hookup for motorhomes.