10 Best UK Camp Sites

By: Todd McCall

Break Studios Contributing Writer

The 10 best UK camp sites offer travelers the opportunity to enjoy a night or two of camping throughout the British Isles. The United Kingdom is home to a wide variety of great camp sites.

  1. Marthie of Marbie. If you are traveling with a small group of younger campers, one of the best UK camp sites that caters to small groups is Marthie of Marbie, located near Galloway. One of the best things about this facility is that it offers some very unique camp sites that provide an excellent setting to talk about how previous generations of men lived off of the land. The site includes a Celtic roundhouse.
  2. Ilfracombe, Devon. Ilfracombe is easily one of the best UK camp sites for families who want to spend some time together in the outdoors but do not want to rough it on their own in the woods. In addition to traditional camping activities like hiking and nature watching, Ilfracombe also offers guests optional spa treatments, zipwire rides and a large playground.
  3. Islay, Hebrides. At the opposite end of the spectrum, campers who travel to Islay for its famous bushcraft course are encouraged to camp with as little as possible and even leave their tent and sleeping bag at home. Instead, campers sleep in caves and spend their days foraging and gathering wood with the assistance of a knowledgeable guide.
  4. Bryher, Isles of Scilly. If you are particularly interested in getting away from it all, you might consider making reservations at Bryher, which is generally considered one of the best UK camp sites for island camping. There is a limited amount of electricity available at the camp, as well as showers and washing machines.
  5. Hollings Hill Farm, Herefordshire. Hollings Hill Farm is one of the best UK camp sites and provides campers with a completely original camping experience. The pet-friendly farm offers large camp sites to travelers on a working dairy farm with optional smoke barrels for cooking and plenty of fresh farm food.
  6. Dartmoor, Devon. Dartmoor is one of the few areas in the United Kingdom where it is legally permitted to practice wilderness camping on public land. While campers are allowed to set up camp wherever they like and sleep out in the open, visitors are expected to leave as little impact on the land as possible.
  7. North Morte Farm, Devon. Every summer, surfers flock from all over the United Kingdom to North Morte Farm, which is a great UK camp site for surfers. The best surfing area near the farm is a strip of beach located just a mile away at Woolacombe, but the shore along North Morte Farm is great for family activities.
  8. Smugglers Haven, Cornwall. Smugglers Haven has earned a reputation as being an ideal UK camp site for young people who like to live it up and get wild. Visitors can expect a club atmosphere with plenty of loud music, dancing and mild to moderate mayhem.
  9. Nethy Bridge, Highlands. Nethy Bridge offers easy access to Cairngorms National Park. The camp is a great place to stay when you are visiting the nearby glaciers or hiking the ancient forests in the park.
  10. Croft Organics, Isle of Skye. Anyone who enjoys healthy food and believes in organic, sustainable agriculture should be sure to camp at Croft Organics, where guests can enjoy fresh organic vegetables from the farm and camp with other like-minded parties.
Posted on: Aug. 23, 2010