37 campsites
Every site here is hand-picked for the guide.
Hollows Farm Campsite
A Tolkienesque pitch-and-pay site in a secluded Borrowdale valley near Keswick, with two tree-ringed fields, peaks shooting from their edges and the Cumbria Way running right past
On a farm
Priory Mill Farm
A picture-postcard riverside site around a Grade II* listed corn mill just outside Brecon, lovingly restored by Noel and Susie into something Cath Kidston could package and sell
By a river
Chapel House Farm Campsite
A simple stone-walled tent field at the foot of Bessyboot just off the Borrowdale Road, easy to reach by car yet refreshingly honest Lakeland camping with stunning fell views
In a valley
Waterside House Camp Site
A busy family-run working farm undulating along the northern shore of Ullswater below Barton Fell, with spectacular lake views and immaculate underfloor-heated facilities from almost every pitch
Cumbria
West Hook Farm
A simple, grown-up clifftop site above St Brides Bay in Pembrokeshire, where you sleep by a big blue ocean with the coastal path and the boat to Skomer right on the doorstep
By the sea
Side Farm Campsite
A gloriously simple tents-and-vans site sloping down to the shore of Ullswater, where the basic facilities are forgiven the moment you unzip the door to that lake view
In a valley
Coniston Hall Campsite
A big, basic, first-come-first-served site in the grounds of a 16th century farm near Coniston Water, where steamers glide past and mighty chimneys mark the spot
By a river
Camp Cynrig Glamping Retreat Brecon
Three-unit glamping retreat in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, run by Rob and Sara with the kind of attentive care that turns first-timers into repeat visitors.
In a valley
Glynmarch Camping
A tent-only meadow beside the River Marlais in the Carmarthenshire hills, with campfires, river paddling, and a sociable barn for wet evenings.
In a valley
Mangerton Lake
A lake-edge glamping retreat in Dorset's Mangerton Valley, three miles from the Jurassic Coast, run by hosts who go quietly above and beyond.
In a valley
Cuddfan - The Hiding Place
A single bell tent on the River Grwyne bank in the Brecon Beacons: private fishing rights, dark skies, and the sound of moving water all night.
By a river
Dyfi Adventure Campsite
A riverside basecamp in the Dyfi Valley built for riders, walkers, and anyone who'd rather fall asleep to the sound of water than electricity.
By a river
Moat Island Glamping
A five-acre eco glamping site on an actual medieval moat in North Norfolk, built around a natural swimming pond and privately fired bell tents.
In a field
Oakhill Ponds
Spring-fed ponds, an 18th-century grotto and genuine Somerset hosts Rob and Amanda make this a rare glamping stay with real soul.
In the forest
One Cat Farm
Four hand-built cabins in a re-wilded Ceredigion valley, where wood-fired baths, pond swimming, and Milky Way skies do the talking.
In a valley
Balranald Hebridean Holidays
A family-run campsite inside the RSPB's Balranald Nature Reserve on North Uist, with Horseshoe Bay 40 metres from the gate and St Kilda on the horizon at sunset.
By the sea
Bycross Farm Campsite
A riverside farm campsite on the Wye where the orchard pitches, on-site canoes, and evening pizza make it genuinely hard to leave.
By a river
Cerrig-yr-Adar
A family-run coastal base on the quiet southern tip of Ynys Gybi, with Rhoscolyn beach on the doorstep and Snowdonia lighting up at sunset across the water.
By the sea
Church Stretton Camp & Fish
A 40-acre tent-only site in the Shropshire Hills AONB where three distinct landscapes, a fire pit at every pitch, and a host called Chris who never stops moving add up to something genuinely hard to leave.
In a valley
Clachan Sands Camping Area
A working croft on the Atlantic edge of North Uist where you pay into an honesty box and wake up to Clachan Sands on your doorstep.
By the sea
Clachtoll Beach Campsite
A family-run beachfront campsite on the Stoer peninsula where the pitch is Clachtoll's golden sand and the view stretches to Lewis, Harris, and Skye.
By the sea
Dolau Afon Campsite
A riverside husband-and-wife campsite in the Cambrian Mountains with a fire pit on every pitch, dark skies overhead, and the Ystwyth a few steps from your tent.
By a river
Fforest Fields
Five-hundred acres of Radnorshire upland, two lakes you can actually swim in, and 75 years of family farming behind it all.
On a farm
Knepp Wildland Campsite
Europe's most-watched rewilding estate doubles as a campsite, putting white storks and purple emperor butterflies within eyeshot of your tent.
In the forest
Camping Field
Andrews Field is a gate-code riverside pitch on the Avon near Pershore where the weir does the entertaining and the facilities list stops at a water tap.
By a river
Cefn Coed
Seventy-five acres of ancient woodland and meadow within Eryri National Park, at the foot of Cadair Idris, with a path down to the Mawddach Estuary.
In the forest
KUDHVA Architectural Hideouts
An architect-designed glamping retreat on a former Cornish slate quarry, where the wild swimming lake, waterfall, and Atlantic views do most of the talking.
By the sea
Barefoot Campsites
A car-free Thames riverbank campsite where you can wild-swim before breakfast, canoe to the pub for lunch, and sit by a fire until the stars come out.
By a river
Harry's Meadow
A genuinely spacious New Forest meadow with dark skies, a rope swing on the river, and wood-fired pizza when you get back from the walk.
In a field
Middle Ninfa Farm Bunkhouse
A terraced mountainside farm in the Brecon Beacons where each pitch has its own fire, the Punchbowl lake is a short hike up the hill, and Abergavenny is just two miles below.
On a farm
Beares Den
Clifftop farm campsite above Mounts Bay with three coves in walking distance and a pizza oven the owner built himself.
By the sea
Dartmoor Shepherds Huts
Shepherd huts and tent pitches on a working Dartmoor farm, with the River Dart a short walk away and Holne Moor starting at the gate.
On a farm
Little Eden Riverside Campsite
A simple, owner-run riverside pitch on the Somerset Levels where kingfishers pass close enough to startle you and every pitch has its own fire pit.
By a river
Bluebell Camp Site
Woodland glamping from a small East Sussex operator who takes fire pits, yurts, and the Bluebell Steam Railway seriously.
In the forest
Immervoulin Caravan & Campsite
A proper riverside base inside the Trossachs, with the River Balvaig running along the edge and a national park on every side.
By a river
Cross Dormont Camp Site
A working hill farm above Ullswater with some of the most expansive lake-and-fell views in the Lake District, where the place entirely compensates for the basics.
By a lake
Agar Farm
A conservation farm on the North Norfolk coast with a private pontoon, tidal-creek access, and the Blakeney seals reachable by paddle.
On a farm
Why these made the list
- Balranald Hebridean Holidays
Swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding at Horseshoe Bay start a short walk from your pitch.
- Barefoot Campsites
The Thames here is a swimming river, and guests use it freely; a cold-water morning dip before the fire gets going is just how days start.
- Beares Den
A ten-minute walk from pitch to cove, with clear water and an evening swim that reviews describe as dreamy.
- Bluebell Camp Site
Barcombe Mills wild swimming is a short walk from site.
- Bycross Farm Campsite
River access is built into the site: you can haul a canoe up onto the bank, wade in for a swim, or paddle upstream and drift back down.
- Camp Cynrig Glamping Retreat Brecon
The River Cynrig borders the site and guests swim and paddle from it directly.
- Agar Farm
The pontoon goes straight into tidal creeks leading out to Blakeney, bring a board or kayak and use it.
- Camping Field
Free fishing and a designated paddleboard launch directly on the River Avon make water access the site's whole identity.
- Cefn Coed
A short walk through the estate brings you to the Mawddach Estuary, with the kind of wild swim access that anchors a day in the mountains.
- Cerrig-yr-Adar
The beach, snorkelling, SUP, and kayaking are all on the doorstep, and the coastal path opens up more water access along the Anglesey shore.
- Church Stretton Camp & Fish
The fishing lakes double as a wild swimming spot, putting a proper cold-water plunge within walking distance of your tent.
- Clachan Sands Camping Area
Step off your pitch and onto the beach for a sea swim in some of the clearest water in the British Isles.
- Clachtoll Beach Campsite
The site sits on the Scottish Wildlife Trust snorkel trail with wetsuit hire on a refundable deposit, and Clachtoll's crystal water is right there.
- Cross Dormont Camp Site
Lake access directly across the road from the pitches: Ullswater is there for swimming, canoeing, and small boats as soon as you lace up.
- Cuddfan - The Hiding Place
The river is right there and guests swim in it; the site actively names wild swimming among its draws.
- Dartmoor Shepherds Huts
Spitchwick and the River Dart are a stone's throw from the site, making the daily swim the easiest part of the day.
- Dolau Afon Campsite
The Ystwyth river runs adjacent to the camping field with a natural bathing spot for swimming and canoeing.
- Dyfi Adventure Campsite
The river runs alongside the pitches and guests regularly take a cold dip off-site in the stream nearby.
- Fforest Fields
Two lakes on site, open year-round, with returning visitors reporting January swims as a genuine highlight.
- Glynmarch Camping
Walk down through the farm fields to reach river pools deep enough for a proper dip.
- Harry's Meadow
The Avon is five minutes from your tent, with a rope swing over the river that the reviews mention with the kind of fondness usually reserved for childhood holidays.
- Immervoulin Caravan & Campsite
Direct river access from the site edge, with Loch Lubnaig a mile away on foot; the daily plunge is built into the stay.
- Knepp Wildland Campsite
Wild swimming is available on the estate, framed by rewilded meadow and woodland rather than a chlorinated pool.
- KUDHVA Architectural Hideouts
An on-site lake and waterfall make wild swimming part of the daily rhythm, not an add-on.
- Little Eden Riverside Campsite
The owner will talk you into a river swim; the Brue at this stretch rewards you for saying yes.
- Mangerton Lake
The lake is on the doorstep and the Jurassic Coast is three miles away for saltwater alternatives.
- Middle Ninfa Farm Bunkhouse
The Punchbowl, a mountain lake near the Blorenge summit, is the reward at the top of the hike from site.
- Moat Island Glamping
The centrepiece is a natural, chemical-free pond edged with bullrushes on a medieval moat: cold, clear, and the reason most guests book.
- Oakhill Ponds
Spring-fed ponds with clean, cold water in an 18th-century parkland setting, designed around the daily plunge not as an add-on.
- One Cat Farm
The on-site pond and a five-minute drive to Cardigan Bay make this a proper dip-and-dry operation.