The best British campsites for summer 2022: picture-perfect coasts, glamping and more
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Loading... - george edward
- 17 May 2022
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England, Scotland and Wales are dotted with thousands of campsites, many with comfortable glamping options as well, all offering nature for next to nothing.
Here are eight of the very best campsites in Britain, taking in Scottish islands, Yorkshire fells and ancient Hampshire woodland.
Best for beautiful beaches: Treen Farm, Cornwall
Treen, St Levan, Penzance, Cornwall; open April to late October; treenfarmcampsite.com
Way down in West Cornwall, where England tapers to a point and plunges into the Channel, is the wonderful campsite of Treen Farm. Family-run for five generations, it’s long been a favorite for hardy backpackers and rock climbers, as well as surfers and relaxed sand-and-sunseekers.
Nearby is the South West Coast Path, which offers 630 miles of plunging headlands and wildflower meadows, or it’s a much shorter walk to the pristine beaches at Porthcurno. Other nearby attractions include the balancing boulder of Logan Rock and the Minack open-air auditorium, where the sea makes a suitably dramatic backdrop.
Best for rambling and cycling: Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales
Conistone Road, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire; mid-March to late October; kettlewellcamping.co.uk
In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales sits the tiny village of Kettlewell, with a range of facilities that belies its size: three pubs, a restaurant, a shop and charming tea room, plus the excellent Kettlewell Camping. On the edge of the village, surrounded by traditional dry-stone walls, this site offers great views of the surrounding fells (hillsides) and has low-carbon underfloor heating in the luxurious shower block.
For ramblers, there are lovely paths through fields along Wharfedale or Littondale, while road cyclists can retrace the route of the Tour de France, which passed through Kettlewell when it visited Yorkshire in 2014.
Best for isolation: Port a Bhaigh, northwest Scotland
Altandhu, near Achiltibuie, Ullapool; all year; portabhaigh.co.uk
In Scotland’s wild northwest, the lochs cut deep inland and the mountains come down to the coast, then continue out to sea as islands. Set in this otherworldly landscape is Port a Bhaigh Campsite, slap bang on the shore and surrounded by grand peaks.
From the site, walkers can stroll along the beach, or tackle a mountain such as nearby Stac Pollaidh ("Stack Polly"), while sailors, sea anglers and kayakers can launch from the tiny harbor. Finish the day with a drink on the deck of the nearby Am Fuaran Bar, overlooking the frequently sun-kissed Summer Isles.
Three Cliffs Bay, South Wales: best for clifftop views
North Hills Farm, Penmaen, Swansea; April to late October; threecliffsbay.com
A tranquil landscape of rolling hills, sand dunes and salt grass, the Gower Peninsula protrudes from the South Wales coastline just a short distance (though it feels like a million miles) from Swansea.
Three Cliffs Bay Campsite enjoys a stunning location high above the beach, with an inspiring vista across the sands to the eponymous cliffs, looking for all the world like a set of pyramids. When you get tired of the sea view, you can get in amongst the waves: the Gower’s beaches are famous for surfing, while dry-land activities include hiking and pony-trekking. Read More...
