With Christmas and New Year celebrations now feeling like a distance memory, thoughts are starting to turn towards the spring. This season will see a lot of families and couples choosing to go camping as a perfect opportunity to escape their working lifestyles.
Whether you are looking to go on your very first camping holiday or are hoping to find a new location to explore, then Flogas is on hand to help. This is because the camping gas bottles supplier and i have researched the best campsites to visit across the UK throughout 2018…
Hooks House Farm
When is it open? Between March and October
How to find the site: Whitby Road, Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire YO22 4PE
Contact number: 01947 880283
Upon arrival at Hooks House Farm, one of the first things that you will notice is that the campsite sits high on a hill away from the town near Robin Hood’s Bay, so it provides spectacular views. Therefore, you will be able to relax on a grassy field and choose to look out to sea, along the neighbouring fields, woods, rolling hills or moors.
If you’re looking for something to do instead of being at the campsite during your entire stay and you’re feeling adventurous, it is advised that you take up the challenge of the coast-to-coast walk that will take in the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and parts of the Lake District.
Key amenities:
Caravans & campervans permitted | Dog friendly | Electrical hook-ups
Size: Pitches for 50 tents and 20 caravans or campervans.
Further information: https://www.hookshousefarm.co.uk/
Baysbrown Farm
When is it open? Between March and October
How to find the site: Great Langdale, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9JZ
Contact number: 01539 437150
Baysbrown Farm is a relaxing campsite that is nestled within the middle of an 800-acre farm. It also lies underneath the rocks which make up Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes — three sights which should already be making up your list of places to visit while here.
A quirky feature of this campsite is that you don’t book a designated pitch, but instead choose the spot that appeals most to you and then visit the nearby farmhouse to let them know about your arrival.
Key amenities:
Caravans & campervans permitted | Remote location | Forests & mountains nearby
Size: Around 200 pitches, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Further information: http://www.baysbrownfarmcampsite.co.uk/
Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite
When is it open? Infrequent dates, though mainly weekends between March and September
How to find the site: Nazeing New Road, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 6TD
Contact number: 03000 030 632
The name of this campsite should give you a big clue about where it is located — it’s based just off from the River Lee but is hidden within a collection of ash and birch trees.
Once you’ve found the Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite, you can choose to take a walk or cycle along from Stratford to the Olympic Park, try your hand at some canoeing or simply relax on hammocks that swing from the trees at the site.
Key amenities:
Campfires permitted | Dog friendly | Waterside campsite | Woodland camping
Size: 17 pitches altogether, which includes 12 riverside and 5 woodland glades.
Further information: https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/where-to-stay-and-short-breaks/lee-valley-almost-wild-campsit/
Deepdale Backpackers & Camping
When is it open? All year round
How to find the site: Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale, North Norfolk Coast, PE31 8DD
Contact number: 01485 210256
Head to the Deepdale Backpackers & Camping campsite and you should keep your fingers crossed that you manage to enjoy a stay in one of the tipis located there. As well as being well-maintained, each tipi comes with a stove — perfect for heating — as well as comfy faux fur-clad mattresses, a barbecue and a lantern.
Away from your sleeping arrangements, you can also take part in a wide variety of events around the campsite. Why not take up one of the cookery classes which sees meals being prepared using local produce? Or enjoy some stargazing once the sun goes down.
Key amenities:
Campfires permitted | Campervans permitted | Short walk to a nearby pub
Size: 75 grass camping pitches, as well as 7 hard-standing, fully serviced pitches.
Further information: https://www.deepdalebackpackers.co.uk/
Pleasant Streams Farm
When is it open? Between Easter and September
How to find the site: Pleasant Stream Barn, Lower Sticker, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 7JL
Contact number: 01726 74837
Situated beside a lake in a rural part of Cornwall, Pleasant Streams Farm plays host to an entertaining summerhouse that’s filled with exciting games to play and books to read should the weather take a turn for the worse. The site is also home to ducks, goats, hens and pigs — perfect if you’re an animal lover then!
When it comes to exploring away from Pleasant Streams Farm, take note that there’s a beach within a 10-minute drive and you’ll also be in close reach of the Roseland peninsular, where even more picturesque beaches and peaceful villages can be found.
Key amenities:
Caravans & campervans permitted | Campfires permitted | Electrical hook-ups
Size: Pitches for 50 tents within the site’s main camping field, as well as five vintage caravans available for rent.
Further information: http://cornwallfarmcamping.co.uk/
The Secret Campsite
When is it open? Between March and October
How to find the site: Brickyard Farm, Town Littleworth, Cooksbridge, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4TD
Contact number: 07730 525560
You really will be returning to a natural way of living when you visit The Secret Campsite. This is because this campsite is for tents only — no cars or pets allowed unfortunately — and is based on a stretch of land that was once occupied by rail tracks but has since seen countryside foliage reclaiming the land.
You’ll be met with a wild feel to camping when you arrive at The Secret Campsite as a result, though you’ll soon feel relaxed as you sit around a campfire pit in a scene that is surrounded by a beautiful collection of ancient oak and hornbeam trees. Just be sure to keep an eye out for a passing deer, as they are known to live close to the site.
Key amenities:
Campfires permitted | Disabled facilities | Perfect for a romantic retreat
Size: Pitches for 15 tents, as well as a Tree Tent and the Gridshell facility.
Further information: http://www.thesecretcampsite.co.uk/
Ninham Country Holidays
When is it open? Between May and September (though ‘Willow Brook’ camping area is only open between July and August).
How to find the site: Ninham Farm, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Contact number: 01983 864243
The fact that the Ninham Country Holidays campsite is situated within the ‘Garden Isle’ part of Isle of Wright — found to the south-east of the island — should instantly make this a place that you need to book a spot at.
You have a decision to make upon arriving at this campsite though; do you choose to pitch up in the ‘Orchard’ fields with its ultra-modern eco-facilities and both solar and rainwater-harvesting tech, or select a spot on the ‘Willow Brook’ field with its more basic facilities but which are still very functional and well kept? Whichever option you go with, you’re guaranteed to make so many wonderful memories at this family-run and award-winning campsite.
Key amenities:
Caravans & campervans permitted | Children’s playground on site | Disabled facilities | Dog friendly | Swimming pool on site
Size: Pitches for 140 tents in the ‘Orchard’ camping area, as well as pitches for 80 tents in the ‘Willow Brook’ camping area (though only between July and August).
Further information: https://www.ninham-holidays.co.uk/
Aberafon
When is it open? Between Easter and September
How to find the site: Gyrn Goch, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL54 5PN
Contact number: 01286 660295
You’d have a really good argument for stating that Aberafon is based at the most fascinating location of all the campsites on this list, as you will find a scenic, private sandy beach on one side of the site and the mountains of the Llyn Peninsula in the other direction.
Are you a fan of extreme sports? Then you’ll also be pleased to hear that the surroundings of the Aberafon campsite is perfect for canoeing downstream and paragliding. The nearby Glas Fryn Park sports facility even accommodates wakeboarding lessons too!
Key amenities:
Campervans permitted | Children’s playground on site | Dog friendly | Waterside campsite
Size: Pitches for 65 tens and tourers.
Further information: http://www.maelor.demon.co.uk/aberafon.html
Cleadale Campsite
When is it open? Between March and October
How to find the site: Cleadale Campsite, 13 Cleadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland PH42 4RL
Contact number: 01687482480
What better way to start hyping up the Cleadale Campsite than to state that renowned author JRR Tolkien used to spend some of his holidays there! Inspiration for the fantasy landscapes that he created in such well-loved series as The Lord of the Rings can certainly be seen all around the site, from the imposing mountains of Rum that serves as a stunning backdrop, to its grassy vantage point that looks out towards the sea.
Even the journey to reach the Isle of Eigg where the Cleadale Campsite is based may be filled with amazing sights, as it’s not uncommon for dolphins, minke whales and an orca to all be spotted during the ferry crossing.
Key amenities:
Dog friendly | Wi-Fi available on site | Remote location
Size: Pitches for 10 tents.
Further information: http://www.eiggorganics.co.uk/index.html
Gimme Shelter
When is it open? All year round
How to find the site: 2 Dales Farm Cottage, Duloch, Nr Dunfermline, Fife KY11 7HR
Contact number: 01383 417 681
Environmentally friendly is a common theme throughout the Gimme Shelter campsite. You won’t find any showers or access to hot water at this site, while the toilets are of a sawdust-composting style.
Before you begin to think that this is a bit too I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here for you, take note that everything at this campsite — based in the meadows and hills, just a few miles away from the Forth Bridge — is self built and sublimely improvised. Just wait until you’re feeling at your calmest around a campfire that is set amid rich woodland and playing host to fantastically designed hand-carved wooden furniture.
Key amenities:
Campfires permitted | Woodland camping | Forests nearby
Size: No size given, as the site consists of a campsite and a holiday cottage.
Further information: https://coolcamping.com/campsites/uk/scotland/near-edinburgh/fife/1094-gimme-shelter-campsite-and-holiday-cottage
Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/camping-holidays/coolest-campsites-in-britain/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/may/01/10-best-cool-campsites-britain
https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/top-10-cool-campsites-in-england/
