A New Year's search for the best campsites might not sound as glamorous as, say, the best five-star luxury resorts in the Maldives. But with the rising cost of living, we're all making smart money choices this January. In fact, between the 11th December and the 31st, Google searches for campsites have increased by almost 70%, and with high-end pitch up options such as bell tents and pre-erected tipis popping up all over the UK, finding one of the best places to camp for vacationing in 2023 is one of our New Year's priorities.
Lucky for you, we've been spending the first few days of this spritely fresh January browsing for said campsites and, from the best campsites in the Lake District to luxury options for camping on the coast, we've pulled together a whole host of options for your best outdoorsy getaway yet. What are your options, you ask? Let's run you through it… or, skip to the campsites.
Where is the most beautiful place to camp?
When starting to research where you want to camp, a seafront campsite is always a great place to start. We're talking panoramic views and beach swims just a stone's throw away so, if that's right up your street, we'd recommend looking to the Jurassic Coast, Devon and Cornwall. With the former, you'll benefit from quaint country villages as well as sprawling clifftop views while, by contrast, Devon and Cornwall boast some of the best waves for surfing. The downsides of camping by the coast? Wind. Yep, you'll likely sacrifice the still, blistering heat that might be offered by a more inland campsite so bringing a wind breaker for your seating area is a must.
Alternatively, if you don't fancy a gale force five G+T by the sea, why not look northwards to the Lake District. There, you'll find the same sprawling water-laiden views by the landscape's beautiful lakes, not to mention enough hiking routes to satisfy even the most restless of adventurers. From Skiddaw to England's highest peak - Scafell Pike - these mountain treks are perfect for a post-Christmas jaunt filled with fresh air and uninterrupted views.
What is the best campsite in the UK?
Of course, this will depend on whether you're the type to pitch up your own two-man tent or you're a glamping fanatic with a penchant for luxury thread count bedding (and wouldn't touch a roll mat with a barge pole)… That said, if you're asking us for our recommendations then it'd have to be this National Trust campsite set upon Dorset's Brownsea Island. Surrounded by Poole harbour and the Purbecks, the campsite offers bell tents, tree tents (yes, you read right) and plain old grass tent pitches. The island is home to wildlife galore, with peacocks just the tip of the iceberg. Fancy some watersports? Opposite the luxurious Sandbanks spit, you'll be able to try your hand at paddle-boarding on the beginner-friendly flat water of the harbour and, if you start to get peckish after your efforts, the lovely Rick Stein Sandbanks restaurant is just a 10 minute ferry away. What more could you want?
Fancy a bit more of a peruse before you get booking? Here's our pick of the top five UK campsites:
Best campsites in the UK for camping, glamping and caravan touring pitches
Keep scrolling for our pick of the best campsites to book in 2023.
Best campsite overallBrownsea Island Campsite- Location: Brownsea Island, Dorset
- Availability: Open season is 1 Apr 2023 - 30 Sep 2023, two night minimum stay applies
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? No
- Type of accomodation? Pre-erected bell tents and tree tents, plus grass pitches for your own tent
- Price: £-££
A top pick for watersports fanatics, this Brownsea Island National Trust campsite is a perfect spot for everything from kayaking to water skiing, with sandy beaches both on the island itself and within walking distance of the Sandbanks ferry port, too. Sea views that'll have you gobsmacked and a real hotspot for nature, as well, Brownsea Island will be just the place to escape from city life and strip everything back to basics.
Save money on camping trips for canoeing fans in Britain with these National Trust discounts
Best glamping siteImmaculate Lotus Belle Tent Retreat, North Devon- Location: Bideford, North Devon
- Availability: Open season is 14 Apr 2023 - 31 August 2023
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Type of accomodation? Pre-erected lotus belle tent
- Price: ££
If wild camping isn't quite your thing, this luxury lotus belle tent will be a welcome alternative, we're sure. Complete with everything from an on-site roll top bath tub to a fridge and stove for all your culinary needs, this cool camping spot is just a short drive (around 8 miles) from nearby Bucks Mills beach.
Save money on the best beach camping spots with these Expedia discounts
Best camping park on the coastThe Sea Forts Cornwall- Location: Torpoint, Cornwall
- Availability: Year round availability
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Type of accomodation? Bell tents and a walled cottage for the colder months
- Price: £-££
Free wi-fi? Check. Fire pit for nighttime stargazing? Check. Nearby village pubs just a few minute's walk away? Check-mate. This place is just dreamy, an ideal picturesque spot to get some marshmallows roasting over your fire pit campfire and an even better one to try your hand at some paddleboarding in nearby Cawsand bay.
Save money on campsites and caravan parks from Keswick to Kent with these Booking.com discounts
Best campsite in the Lake DistrictWasdale Campsite- Location: Wasdale, Lake District national park, Cumbria
- Availability: Open year round, minimum two night stay applies
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes, if well behaved
- Type of accomodation? Your own tent, with/without electric hook-up, pre-erected tipis and bell tents, camping pods and motorhomes and campervans.
- Price: £
To the west of Lake Windermere and Ambleside, the south of Buttermere, this Wasdale campsite is just one mile from the Wastwater lakeside. It offers residents everything from an on-site shop to toilets, showers and washing up facilities to ensure you'll have everything you need for a restful staycation, or not…if you're considering tackling the great Scafell or Helvellyn, that is. Plus, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway will drop you within four miles of the site if you're arriving by train.
Save money on the best campsites and holiday parks for easy access to the peaks of the Lake District with these National Trust discounts.
Best campsite for motorhomes, campervans and caravansTeneriffe Farm Campsite- Location: Helston, South West Coast Path, Cornwall
- Availability: Open season is 31 Mar 2023 - 4 Nov 2023
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes, two dogs per pitch
- Type of accomodation? Your own tent, with/without electric hook-up, camping/glamping pods and caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
- Price: £
Another one for those of you looking to top up on your consumption of Kelly's Cornish ice cream this spring or summer (we don't blame you), this National Trust campsite is just a 10 minute walk from the South West Coast Path and, for little ones, it even features a play area. It's surrounded by a nature reserve and, as if all of that wasn't enough, the nearby beach of Mullion Cove (a relatively short walk away) offers white sand and crystal blue lapping waves.
Save money on beachside campsites for surfing and more with these National Trust discounts
Best camping experience trips in near the West Midlands and South WalesOne Night Camping at Upper House Farm for Two- Location: Herefordshire, West Midlands
- Availability: Sunday–Thursday, May–October
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Type of accomodation? Pre-erected bell tents
- Price: £
Not quite as Welsh as Pembrokeshire and, yet, on the Welsh border enough that the area has a friendly, celtic feel, this quaint Hereford camping spot sits upon a family-run working farm surrounded by sheep and cattle. A real gem of natural beauty, complete with views over the Black mountains and the adjacent sprawling hills, this hidden diamond will keep energy-filled kids happy (with its 2.5 acres) just as it will parents in need of a well-deserved moment of quiet.
Save money on experiences everywhere from Brecon to Scotland with these Red Letter Days discounts
Best camping trip location in East SussexOastbrook Glamping- Location: Etchingham, East Sussex
- Availability: Open season is 21 May to 30 November
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? No
- Type of accomodation? Pre-erected bell tents and tipis
- Price: ££
With its own bar and lounge for a luxury middle point between a swimming pool-having, children-filled resort campsite and - on the flip-side - a stripped back wild camping experience, this high-end glamping spot offers its residents weekly housekeeping, the nearby Browns and Eggs to Apples farm shops and bathrooms so glam they'll smash your home comforts out of the park.
Save money on holidays abroad with safari tents, Cairngorms camping escapes and Scottish cottage retreats with these Expedia discounts
Best Peak District camping holiday spotBecome Wild, Edale- Location: Edale, Peak District, Derbyshire
- Availability: Open season is 13 April to 30 November
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Not mentioned
- Type of accomodation? Pre-erected bell tents with BBQs, picnic areas and hot tubs
- Price: ££
Not to be confused with the likes of Ullswater and Kendal in the Lake District, the Peak District is located between Manchester and Sheffield and, for northerners (or southerners looking for a further afar getaway) this secluded pre-erected camping pitch will be just the ticket. Hot tub? Sure thing! Wood burner? No problem. A kids club? Absolutely not. This spot is best enjoyed adults only, if you ask us (though it is child-friendly) - just you, your S/O and the sound of the wildlife around you, perhaps a few hikers, too. Lovely.
Save money on trysts to Derwentwater, Penrith, the Cotswolds and beyond with these Expedia discounts
Best campsites in Britain and IrelandCrom Campsite- Location: County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
- Availability: Open season is 4 Mar 2023 - 29 Oct 2023
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes, two per pitch
- Type of accomodation? Walled glamping pods and tent pitches (no electric hook-up)
- Price: £
Much like Snowdonia and the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland is a beautiful location to set up camp, offering Lough Erne views and direct access to the lake (Lough is the Manx Gaelic word for a lake, much like Loch Lomond in Scotland), castles to explore and islands, reachable by boat, to keep you busy for the duration of your stay.
Save money on camping and cottage stays around Coniston Water, Gilside, Yorkshire and the Gower with these National Trust discounts
Best shepherd's hut camping experienceThe Sleepy Explorer- Location: Hallaton, Leicestershire
- Availability: Year round availability
- Family friendly? Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes
- Type of accomodation? Shepherd's huts and treehouses
- Price: ££
Surrounded by American redwoods, this Leicestershire sherpherd's hut or treehouse getaway will have you really getting up close and personal with nature, providing those staying with eco-friendly compost loos and open air cooking facilities. It's a far cry from your mum and dad's caravanning club…and that's why we love it.
Save money on getaways in Bowness-on-Windermere, St. Davids and the Isle of Wight with these Booking.com discounts
Best yurt for country and coastal campingThe Yurt @ Osmore- Location: Axminster, Devon
- Availability: Available year round except for July and December
- Family friendly? No
- Dog friendly? No
- Type of accomodation? Yurt
- Price: ££
Within driving distance of the Dawlish Warren sand dunes, just a short way from the Lyme Regis rock pools and with both shingle and sand beaches surrounding it, this Axminster yurt is not only located perfectly, but offers its guests stargazing views through its skylight as well all the home comforts you could ever need.
Save money on coastal campsites and beach campsites with these Booking.com discounts.
For more from GLAMOUR UK Commerce Writer Lucy Smith, follow her on Instagram @luceeeeesmith.
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