The UK’s 16 Coolest Camping and Glamping Sites

With (most) campsites reopening on 12 April, we've scoured the UK for the best and most beautiful places to pitch up. It's exactly the kind of staycation we need right now: rich with nature, affordable and - bonus point - good for the environment. Expect off-grid tent pitches that could be in the Caribbean, bohemian bell tents and pimped-up huts for fair-weather glampers. Happy campers, guaranteed.

Where to pitch up when lockdown ends

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Cornish Tipi Holidays

Bodmin, Cornwall

Unlike Cornwall's headline destinations - St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth - this site offers a back-to-nature, no-WiFi, few-crowds kind of getaway (small wonder Alice Temperley spent her honeymoon here). Hugging a spring-fed lake, 20 acres of thick woodland invites guests to pitch up where they desire - whether that's a secluded clearing or a more sociable open meadow. As you've likely guessed, ready-built, North American-style tipis are available too. Tramp through ferns that tumble down escarpments to the lake; fishing, canoeing and wild swimming are popular. Stargazing by the totem pole is optional, but highly recommended.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Tregildrans Quarry Trelill PL30 3HZ

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Wild Boar Wood

Haywards Heath, West Sussex

Nestled among flourishing woodland in High Weald, these nine bell tents (pre-erected; no fiddling with pegs here) are within easy reach of London and the South Coast - though you'd never guess civilisation was just a short journey away. Venture out to spot birds, deer and rabbits before circling back for dinner around the campfire - each tent comes with a bag of firewood as well as eco-toilets, bucket showers and proper beds. Just don't forget to wave to the passing steam trains of the Bluebell Railway. Like this? Visit sister site Beech Estate.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Treemans Road RH17 7EA

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The Shepard's Hut Retreat

Crewkerne, Somerset

This is a campsite for those who don't like sagging air beds and flimsy tents - or are dragging someone of that persuasion along. Trade in sleeping bags for these adults-only huts, which snagged Campsites' 2019 Best Glamping Site award. Interiors vibe somewhere between Scandi and #vanlife, while the lakeside sauna and hot tub melt away city stresses. Location-wise, you're in a great spot for exploring Somerset, Devon or Dorset - we like to stay here as part of a trip along the Jurassic Coast. If you like this, you'll probably be sold on no-luxuries-barred glamping site Brownscombe Farm near Torquay.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Fords Croft Farm TA18 7TU

Finn Lough Bubble Domes

County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Fringed by the Muckross Woods, a pebble's toss from the shores of Lough Erne, the Finn Lough estate enjoys several accommodation options including lakeside lodges and cottages. Want that sleep-under-the-stars experience without sacrificing home comforts? Bubble Domes are the top choice, thanks to 180-degree transparent walls, plush beds, pressure showers, coffee machines, breakfast delivery and telescopes for admiring Orion's belt.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

37 Letter Road BT93 2BB

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Roulotte Retreat

Melrose, Scotland

Unlike the rest of the UK, Scotland allows wild camping, meaning that if you're in the market for going off the beaten path, this is your place to do it. For those less than au fait with damp roll mats and tent poles, try the bohemian gypsy-style caravans of Roulotte Retreat in the wildflower-strewn Eildon Hills. If you're not busy seeking out eggs from the roaming hens (we jest, produce can be ordered in too), on-site yoga classes, massage treatments, horse riding, painting and a writing studio are there to keep your mind away from work.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Bowden Mill TD6 0SU

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Castle Knights

Usk, South Wales

Built around 1120, this Norman castle could be straight out of a Grimm tale, with time-worn gargoyles and creeping ivy decorating an imposing tower that gazes over Usk to the Black Mountains beyond. Live out medieval fantasies from one of its striped pavilions (each sleeping four to six, with beds) or tent pitches. The ruins are free to explore, while archery and bicycle jousting are among the activities on offer, though we'll probably stick to the woodcraft sculpture trail. There's a shower block with hot water and a fully-equipped kitchen.

Reopening: 17 May

Address

Monmouth Road NP15 1SD

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Low Wray Campsite

Ambleside, Cumbria

It's no surprise that the Lake District is peppered with great campsites, glampsites, caravan parks and the like. New to the area? Pitch up at Low Wray; you'll be within ambling distance of Lake Windermere, but not overwhelmed with crowds that often gather in peak seasons. There are traditional pitches, safari tents and hammock camping, but you'll find us in one of its two spherical tents suspended from the trees. For something more under the radar, head to this Ravenglass campsite on the west coast.

Reopening: 17 May

Address

Low Wray LA22 0JA

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The Private Hill

Malton, North Yorkshire

These eco-friendly geodesic domes make for a green getaway in every sense of the phrase; set on a hillside of the North Yorkshire Wolds, its views stretch 100km across the vale. The site is part of a farm, though this isn't the kind of place you need to put your wellies on - however, we do recommend saying "hi" to the resident alpacas. Each pod offers many of the creature comforts you'd expect to find in a hotel, including a pillow menu, Sonos speakers, a flushing toilet, wood-burning stove and small kitchenette. Guests also have access to a communal chill-out dome with newspapers and a café, as well as a shop selling local products - including the farm's own steaks and cakes. York is a half an hour drive away.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Thrussendale Road YO17 9RG

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Downsview Vineyard

Crowborough, East Sussex

Gearing up to be a go-to getaway for Londoners - the site is just half-hours drive from the city - its panoramic views of the South Downs, all stretches of sun-dappled vibes, give us serious South of France vibes. Four fabulously sized bell tents are angled on a south-facing slope allowing for a sun-drenched stay, helped by the taste testing on offer in the neighbouring vineyards. FYI, the sparkling whites are knockout. Come evening you'll want to snag a spot around the campfire and toast s'mores, then wobble back to the warmth of your bubble.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Downsview Vineyard, Hadlow Down Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN63RG

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Fidden Farm

Isle of Mull, Scotland

A ferry ride from Oban, this off-grid campsite is for those who aren't afraid of embracing nature's rougher edges - for this, you'll be rewarded with white sands and clear waters that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean. Fidden Farm backs onto sheltered coves, so you'll wake to the symphony of waves. From here, days are best spent spotting dolphins and sea eagles on the coast, cycling along traffic-free roads or hopping over to the neighbouring islands of Iona, Staffa or Erraid. The site has portacabin toilets and basic showers.

Reopening: TBC

Address

Knockvologan Road PA66 6BN

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Crafty Camping

West Dorset

Ever wondered what Glastonbury's Healing Fields would look like if they were reincarnated in Narnia? This ethereal campsite is a solid guess, thanks to its family of yurts, tipis and bell tents decked out with gnarled oak double beds and serviced by a safari-style kitchen, woodland showers, a craft library and a sauna. Owner Guy Mallinson is an expert carpenter; to see his work at its best, check in to the RIBA-award-winning Woodsman's Treehouse.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Yonder Hill TA20 4NL

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Kymani

Godstone Valley, Surrey

Ten acres of lush Surrey Hills greenery invites guests to snooze in one of its ten surprisingly large canvases, each furnished to Pinterest perfection - think lots of brightly coloured bunting, fairy-lights and faux-floral displays. Food-focused travellers will feel right at home here, with the giant tipi housing a banquet table designed for communal feasting. Like this? Check out Kymani's other glamping locations here.

Reopening: June

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Windmill Campersite

Isle of Wight

This delightfully quirky site lets you bed down in a Bollywood-themed VW, a thatch-roofed shack or a converted Falklands Rescue helicopter. There are various other huts, Hobbit houses and electric grass pitches too. Set in the Isle of Wight's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there's plenty to do and see on your doorstep - but we recommend heading back here in the evening when Big Bertha (the pizza oven) fires up and SiloFlix cinema is in full swing. Other amenities include a laundrette, a bus converted into a kitchenette, a Showershack and Pigglett's Superstore honesty shop. The loo situ will delight fans of puns and Dr Who. Chickens wander about the site - pick up their eggs for breakfast.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Froglands Lane PO30 3DU

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The Pop-Up Hotel at Cadland

Calshot, Southampton

Bundle your gang into the car and head down to the seaside. This year, as staycation fever reaches dizzying heights, The Pop-Up Hotel is set to plonk fifty swanky tents in the heart of the historic Cadland Estate in Hampshire. Each tent is nestled amongst a dramatic wildflower meadow, while copious amounts of crisp sea air and sunlight stream through your bubble and help you rise sans alarm. Impressive vistas across the Solent to the Isle of Wight make the early wake up call worth it.

Reopening: 5 July - 5 September 2021

Address

Calshot, Southampton SO45 1BS

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Welsh Glamping

Abergwesyn, Wales

Back in 2015, founders Sarah and Will ditched their city jobs and took a leap (of faith) into the Cambrian Mountains. As idyllic as it sounds, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. After overcoming several bumps in the road - including a rare soil disease that had spread into the surrounding trees - the pair's perseverance and resilience has birthed a campsite filled with luxe log cabins, belle tents boasting valley views and a pimped out cottage brimming with top-drawer amenities (read: wood-fired hot tub). Championing sustainability, each log cabin has been felled and milled on-premise meaning its carbon footprint is as low as possible. Every detail has been designed with an eco-conscious mindset at the fore, from reclaimed king-sized, four-poster bunk beds, to a fossil-fuel-free water system. Spend your stay hiking the hills, and swimming the lakes, then retreat for an evening of stargazing.

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Glangwesyn, Abergwesyn, LD54 TP

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Camp Quaives

Canterbury, Kent

Hidden behind the chocolate-box village of Wickhambreaux lies the quintessential Qualves Estate. Once famed as the home of Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, today it houses twenty spacious, design-driven bell tents. Think bespoke headboards fringed by ornate illustrations, lanterns for light and freshly cut flowers for that hard-to-bottle room scent. You may notice the striking resemblance to Bridget Jones' luxury yurt at Glasto (you're not the only one that's watched it fifty times over). Well, if it's good enough for Bridget...

Reopening: 12 April

Address

Camp Quaives, Seaton Rd, Canterbury CT3 1RU

Belle Tout Lighthouse, Beachy Head, East Sussex

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