The Five Tribes of Camper: Discovering Britain's Best Campsites for Each

Camping splits the audience: some folks adore it, while others truly dislike it. However, we strongly feel that with the proper configuration and an excellent camping spot, everybody can be convinced.

From presenting at a distant location Atlantic island for an upscale glamping experience in the Scottish In the Highlands, there truly is a camping adventure for every person out there. If it hasn't captured your heart just yet, perhaps you simply haven't found your group. We've picked out some of our top spots tailored to different preferences here.

Home from home

Camping offers splendid enjoyment amidst nature, yet one shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort. These campers boast an array of amenities—yes, even a full kitchen setup! While they relax at their expansive dining table accompanied by plush seating, the rest of us struggle with our compact gas stoves and sore joints. Moreover, these fortunate few will seek out sites ensuring access to complete facilities such as a launderette and a fully stocked store.

Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Derbyshire

Within a protected valley beneath the Peak District ’s highest point, Kinder Scout, Hayfield combines a stunning location with excellent on-site facilities including accessible washroom, drying room and children’s play area.

Guests have the option of pitching their tents on grassy areas, or they can choose premium hard-standing spots equipped with individual access to electricity, water, and drainage facilities.

This is outstanding walking The country offers traditional paths directly from the location, whereas Hayfield village boasts multiple excellent cafés.

Starting from NZ$28 (for members) or NZ$49 (for non-members) per person per night. , campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

Mablethorpe Camping and Caravanning Club Location, Lincolnshire

A pebble’s-throw from the Lincolnshire Overlooking the coast, this beautifully equipped campsite provides a wide variety of pitches with different sizes and services. In addition to the pristine amenities, you can also access a store, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and a designated area for walking your dogs.

Stepping outside, you'll find quick access to Mablethorpe’s vast sandy shore, an excellent selection of local pubs and cafes within the town, along with flat cycling paths to discover the surrounding area.

Less than four miles to the south lies the Sandilands National Trust nature reserve, once a links golf course now being restored to its natural state. This area also signifies the beginning of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, extending all the way to Chapel St Leonards.

Starting from NZD 30 (for members) or NZD 52 (for non-members) per person per night, campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

Pencilli Castle Caravan and Camping Park, Powys

The stunning Brecon Beacons form the setting for this family-operated campsite, offering amenities such as a laundry room, Wi-Fi access, and a fully stocked store, along with an area designed specifically for children to enjoy. Additionally, their large and impeccably clean toilet facilities have received accolades.

Given that the Taf Cycling Trail runs past the entrance, you can ascend Pen y Fan—the peak representing the highest elevation within the National Park—and there’s also a pub located just along the street, offering numerous nearby activities right at your fingertips.

Starting at NZ$28 per person per night , pencelli-castle.com

Families

With vast tents, a herd of energetic children and the need to cook large amounts of food quickly, family campers demand an understanding campsite. The best provide feral, free-roaming opportunities for the kids, with a nice, flat pitch and electricity and water on tap for the grown-ups.

Dart River Country Park, Devon

Set within 90 acres of the beautiful Dart Valley near Ashburton on the eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park, River Dart Country Park is a firm favourite with families.

It offers laid-back riverside camping amidst ancient woodlands, with various activities for kids of all ages such as swimming in the lake, exploring the adventure playground, enjoying a bike park, and tackling a high-wire course.

Just a short drive from here lies the untamed beauty of Dartmoor along with the southern coastline of Devon, featuring numerous beaches perfect for families.

Pitches from £20 , riverdart.co.uk

Low Greenside Farm, Cumbria

Offering breathtaking vistas by day and star-filled nights, this welcoming and roomy location in the untouched Westmorland Dales close to Kirkby Stephen boasts magnificent views of the Howgill Fells behind it.

Boasting top-notch eco-credentials, the amenities here are cozy and immaculate. There’s plenty of room for children to run around, and fire pits are provided – ideal for roasting marshmallows.

The Lake District lies just beyond the M6, and nearby, you'll find road-trippers' preferred stop at Tebay Services as well.

Pitches from £25 , lowgreensidefarmcampsite.co.uk

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

Nestled within the expansive 8,800-acre Castle Howard estate, this lakeside camping spot offers woodlands, hillsides, and gardens ripe for exploration. Children can enjoy Skelf Island, featuring thrilling tree-top activities like zip lines, rope bridges, slides, net crawls, and climbing gear. The on-site store carries regional goods such as Castle Howard gin and ice cream, ensuring plenty of options for all tastes. For days when rain seems inevitable, consider visiting York’s Jorvik Viking Centre nearby.

Pitches from £19 , castlehowardholidayhomes.co.uk

Nearly Wild Things

True wilderness camping—setting up tents on mountain slopes from twilight till sunrise without leaving a mark—is the pinnacle of escapism. However, this group prefers to enjoy the liberty of outdoor sleeping with the comfort of a designated campground, not wanting to forego essential amenities.

Knepp, West Sussex

Set up your tent in a vibrant wildflower meadow at the boundary of an old woodland, which is included in the extensive 3,500-acre Knepp rewilding initiative, offering you a distinctively untamed camping adventure.

The property has transformed a struggling farm into a thriving expanse of meadows where freely roaming herbivores graze and rare creatures like turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies now thrive once again.

Camper visitors can enjoy solar-powered lights and device chargers, along with a wood-fired pizza oven. There’s also a common area featuring plush leather recliners and a wood-stove, as well as an outdoor wild-swimming pond and a sauna housed in a repurposed horse trailer.

From £20 per person per night , knepp.co.uk

Lee Valley Nearly Untamed Campground, Hertfordshire

Pick from wide riverside campsites, a hidden woodland clearing, or just hang a hammock among the trees for an outdoor escapade under 20 miles away from London close to Broxbourne.

Here you won't have organized entertainment, WiFi, or electrical connections, yet with solar-powered lights, composting toilets, and running drinking water, it offers an ideal setting for a genuine off-the-grid adventure.

RSPB Rye Meads lies three miles to the north, and just outside your door is the expansive 1,000-acre Lee Valley Country Park, featuring numerous lakes, water channels, and an Olympic-standard white-water rafting center.

Pitches from £30 , visitleevalley.org.uk/almost-wild-campsite

Bryher Campsite, located in the Isles of Scilly

Bryher Campsite, run by a welcoming family, nestles between two hills on the small island of Bryher — the tiniest of the populated Isles of Scilly.

It's incredibly serene here; there are no cars (people only reach this place by boat), accompanied by the soothing sounds of bird calls and the soft lapping of water against the shore.

Choose your perfect campsite and take in the vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and the pristine white sands of neighboring Tresco Island. The island boasts a quaint village store and pub along with top-notch cafes and eateries, such as the beloved Crab Shack at Hell Bay. Keep an eye out for gray seals; they're often spotted basking on Great Par Beach.

Starting at NZ$27 per person per night, bryhercampsite.co.uk

Adventurers

Carrying just the necessities, outdoor enthusiasts prefer compact tents yet large backpacks stuffed with equipment for adventures far from the camping area. Being close to hills, paths, or shorelines—and having a fantastic spot to unwind after—matters most.

Great Langdale Campsite, Cumbria

Nestled deep inside the glacier-carved valley of Great Langdale, amidst the towering peaks of the Langdale Pikes, lies a welcoming, National Trust-operated campground. It’s perfectly situated in the midst of the thrilling outdoors scene within the Lake District National Park. If you're keen on fell racing, bouldering, ghyll scrambling, or open-water swimming, you'll find an abundance of adventures just outside your door.

Start your day with some freshly baked croissants from the fully stocked shop, then cross the street later to visit the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub – a landmark among climbers – for your post-adventure drinks.

Pitches from £22, nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/lake-district/great-langdale-campsite

Comrie Croft, located in Perth and Kinross

At Comrie Croft near Crieff, campers can explore 21 kilometers of exceptional mountain biking trails, which earned this location recognition as one of Scotland’s premier spots for cycling enthusiasts. These paths vary in difficulty and meander through the picturesque hills and forests of stunning Strathearn. Additionally, visitors will find a nearby bike shop along with rental services available onsite.

Following your day's escapades, restock at the on-site farm shop and Tea Garden Café, before unwinding beside a campfire and absorbing the relaxed atmosphere of the place. Should you prefer not to bring your own tent, the location offers beautifully crafted Nordic kåtas for rent.

Pitches from £30 , comriecroft.com

Celtic Camping, Pembrokeshire

Located inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and spread across 250 acres of farmland, this relaxed yet fully equipped campsite offers stunning sea vistas along with convenient access to the shorelines and coastal paths.

Craft your personal aquatic escapades, or sign up with organized groups for guided coasteering, snorkeling, kayaking, and open-water swimming. The beach at Abereiddy and its vibrant blue lagoon lie just a short distance off.

Starting at NZ$28 per person per night , celticcamping.co.uk

Glampers

They love the great outdoors, but this tribe doesn’t necessarily want to sleep out in it. Above all, they seek security and comfort and vow never to pack or pitch a tent. From cosy cabins to treehouses, boats to revamped helicopters, glampers want comfort and style – with duvets and pillows on a proper bed.

The Cabin at Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire

Bothies are a well-known amenity in Scotland's Highlands, providing rudimentary shelter in isolated areas. However, the bothy at the Glen Dye estate goes beyond basics. Nestled amidst 15,000 acres encompassing wild terrain, woodland, and heathlands along the River Dye, this snug retreat boasts a high-end king-sized bed, an outdoor cooking area complete with a Green Egg grill, and a personal Swedish wooden hot tub heated by firewood.

Take a walk over to the BYO Glen Dye Arms, reserve a spot in their wood-burning sauna, or learn something new like axe-throwing or bushcraft at the Discovery and Adventure Centre.

Sleeps 2, from £430/night, glendyecabinsandcottages.com

WILDish Cornwall

Snooze among the treetops at the Lost Meadow Treepod, or make your way to the Riverside Meadow with its two snug Landpods, suitable for accommodating up to two families each – WILDish Cornwall provides an off-the-grid glamping experience right beside Bodmin Moor.

The Bedalder River offers convenient access for kayaking and open-water swimming, with clear night skies perfect for star gazing and vast old-growth forests waiting to be explored.

The cabins come with cozy sleeping areas and refreshing hot water from natural springs, along with solar-powered lights and chargers. Nearby, you’ll find access to standard electrical outlets, a washing machine, freezer, and a library, not to mention an accommodating host named Jon.

Caters for two to eight people, starting at £144 per night. wildishcornwall.co.uk

Caban, Powys

Spread throughout the undulating Welsh landscape between the Cambrian and Eryri mountain ranges close to Machynlleth, you'll find six distinctive off-the-grid cabins, two treehouses, and a repurposed barn, all crafted by Caban’s architect-founder Daffydd.

Fueled by renewable energy sources, these snug areas offer ample space unexpectedly, featuring plush couches and beds, fireplaces, a kitchen zone, along with charming retro furnishings.

Caters for 2 to 8 people, starting at £85. caban.space