The coolest camping spots with wild swimming
From loch-view pitches at Port nan Gael in the Inner Hebrides to a French-style Roulotte in Hay On Wye in Wales, the UK offers up some seriously scenic spots for summer camping. And as it hots up, the best are those with access to open water.
If you want to reap the blue health benefits of wild swimming, then James Warner Smith, editor of Hipcamp UK reveals the best places to stay with lakes, rivers and beaches on their doorstep. Stargazing, fishing, watersports and basking are also on the menu at many of the coolest camping and glamping sites.
Port nan Gael Campsite, Isle of Mull, Scotland
With loch and mountain views, Port nan Gael Campsite on the Isle of Mull is a truly scenic place to pitch up for the night in the Inner Hebrides. It’s a special spot where the sunsets and the stargazing are superb and you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. There are both hard and grass pitches and camping pods as well as a pub on site. You can launch kayaks and paddleboards straight into the loch from here as well as swim, fly fish or watch wildlife. The island is known as a good place to see white-tailed sea eagles.
The details: Pitches from £24 per night for two people. hipcamp.com
Oakhill Ponds, Somerset
Oakhill Ponds, on the fringes of the Mendip Hills in deepest Somerset, offers luxury glamping at their enchanting site. Choose from two large ponds on different levels, with a waterfall between them: the lower one is being developed for wildlife, while the upper pond is given over to leisure pursuits, with five inflatable kayaks and two paddleboards for hire.
The details: Bell Tents from £120 per night for two people.
Ro Dama, Camborne, Cornwall
For a more connected, regenerative way of exploring Cornwall, Ro Dama offers a model for tourism with profits from camping invested in their nature regeneration efforts. Here you can find out what it means to live closer to nature, with a wild willow glade and rushing river, which meet the sea at Godrevy beach, to enjoy.
The details: Pitches from £10 per person per night. hipcamp.com
The Enchanted Wilderness, Yelverton, Devon
At back-to-basics campsite, The Enchanted Wilderness, guests can swim wild and camp wild at the edge of Dartmoor. On the Devon side of the River Tamar, 22 acres are being farmed for nature and guests are invited to camp among them with only the simplest of facilities. The riverside setting makes this an incredibly peaceful place to stay and means paddle boarding and kayaking are on offer — or you can simply launch straight into the river for a swim.
The details: Pitches from £28 per night for 2 people. hipcamp.com
Walnut Farm Glamping, Bridport, Dorset
Walnut Farm offers five yurts, each with plenty of space with larch decking with wonderful views over the lake. Guests can enjoy the scenery while cooking on the campfire or admire it while swimming in the lake. And if cold-water swimming isn’t your thing there’s an on-site hot tub.
The details: From £165 per night for 2 people. hipcamp.com
Digeddi Wildlife Camping, Hay On Wye, Wales
Digeddi Wildlife Camping might be the closest you’ll get to continental in the UK, thanks to its riverside beach perfect for BBQs. Guests can hire canoes and drift gently downstream on the River Wye, or follow it upstream, on foot, to the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye. The camping itself is very much of the traditional kind, with two glamping options; a bow top gypsy wagon and a French-style Roulotte.
The details: Pitches from £15 per person per night. hipcamp.com
Stowford Manor Farm, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
A family-run site situated in the beautiful Frome valley, Stowford Manor Farm offers campers a small traditional campsite. Next to the River Frome, it’s ideal for fishing, boating, swimming and paddling. Plus, Historic Bradford-on-Avon is only a five minute drive and the City of Bath just 15 minutes away, although with a cafe on site serving pizzas all summer, guests might feel hard-pressed to leave.
The details: Pitches from £18 per person per night. hipcamp.com
Wild Canvas Camping, Bedford, Bedfordshire
This is a campsite with a festival atmosphere on the banks of the River Great Ouse, on a stretch that meanders through the parkland of Bedfordshire’s Turvey House Estate. When early August arrives here, so does Wild Canvas Camping. There are pitches and tipis and a concoction of delicious on-site food, bar, activities for all ages and small-scale DJ sessions creating that family festival feel — minus the crowds. The river, which flows languidly along the edge of the campsite, is great for a dip on a hot summer’s day.
The details: From £40 per person per night. hipcamp.com
Surrey Lakes, Guildford, Surrey
Set in a uniquely stunning valley along the edge of an enchanting woodland with views of animals grazing on the hills. Surrey Lakes Glamping was born out of the feeling that it’s too special not to be shared. With lakes, streams, a stunning National Trust Arboretum and walking trails meandering the rolling hills in which the site is set, Surrey Lakes Glamping is a pocket of magic. It has a feeling of exclusivity too, with just six glamping pitches.
The details: From £130 per night for 2 people. hipcamp.com
Cornish Tipis, St Kew, Cornwall
Arranged around a stunning spring-fed lake in the old Tregildrans quarry, Cornish Tipis has a timeless quality, with mature trees, emerald waters and fern covered escarpments that tumble down into the lake. It’s easy to spend entire days by the lake, messing about in a boat or fishing for trout (bring your own rods and licence). Guests can even bring their own canoe if they want to. The site has 19 glamping tipis plus 20 acres for wild camping.
The details: Pitches from £25 per person per night. hipcamp.com
