Camping in Charnwood Forest

Easily reached from major Midlands towns, Charnwood’s walks, narrowboating, and camping attract.

94% (1221 reviews)

United Kingdom
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England
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Charnwood Forest

94% (1221 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Charnwood Forest

Community favorites in and near Charnwood Forest

Stories from the community

Melanie

2 days ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Alder Carr Farm

We spent a couple of nights at this very basic yet perfectly wonderful place. If you are looking for a break away from it all then I highly recommend. The only neighbours you share the huge field with is sheep who are no problem at all. There is a river that runs behind which is suitable for paddling or for those a bit braver - wild swimming. There are plenty of walks directly from the site or just a short drive away. Also, the Royal Oak at the top of the road is a good place for food and drinks. Luckily we had lovely weather during our stay which made our stay as perfect as it was. Also, the toilet hut is something to behold. It really is a room with a view!!

Weekend Trip to Alder Carr Farm

We loved camping at the farm, the site is so secluded and peaceful- lots of wildlife to see and hear!. So relaxing.

Weekend Trip to Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

So quiet and peaceful. The property was really beautiful

Weekend Trip to Camping at The Hollies

The place is beautiful with nice view in the back field. Plenti of space for kids to zoom around and the host is very attentive. The surroundings are beautiful with lots of places to visit.

Weekend Trip to Cuckoo Farm Campsite

Good facilities and a lovely lady running the site. Busy at weekend but quiter in the week. Very well organised and farm animals lovely. Shop was an added bonus.

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

Lovely views friendly staff and the facilities were clean. First time to the site won't be the last very enjoyable stay

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

I had a nice time at Janice and Paul’s camp, it was small and basic, but everything you need for a short break away from it all, clean and respectful it’s also good bass for plenty of great walks near by. Would recommend

3 nights at White Peak Camping

IT was a nie quiet place and good for a quick little camping trip Marcin

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

A really lovely relaxed campsite, set on a farm in the beautiful Peak District. A family friendly place and plenty of space for children to play. Toilets are clean and the washing station is also great. The campsite also a short drive to the Monsal Trail.

Weekend Trip to Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

Second visit to this campsite, such a great spot next to the canal and the farm shop across the road. I'm sure we will be back again!

Weekend Trip to White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

Clean facilities and great views with plenty of room.

3 nights at Burrs Manor Wild Camping

The lady who ran the site was approachable, visited the site twice a day and checked in on us after some epic weather the night before. She even offered us some logs. Facilities were fine- enough flushing loos for the number of people, and a shower to boot. Cleaned daily.

Weekend Trip to Camping at The Hollies

Great stay, beautiful views! Amenities great and my nephew loved the Pizza !

Weekend Trip to Camping at The Hollies

Our 2nd time visiting! We love how we're just left to it, yet feel secure and like we can message if there's any issues. Stunning views and the facilties are great. We'll be back for a third time I'm sure.

Weekend Trip to Aylesmore Farm Campsite

Really nice basic little camp. Worth noting there are no showers. Mud kitchen for children to play with plus a small library. Great views across the valley.

2 nights at Alder Carr Farm

The river is lovely and camping was very peaceful. We also saw a new born calf whilst we stayed! Great location and the food from the farm shop was excellent.

2 nights at Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

We had a lovely stay at the one and only Bell Tent there (glamping-wise, they also offer 2 wooden pods and a vintage caravan), it was set-up as described and included a small fridge and kettle and cups (which all came in useful). Although we didn't take it up, there's fresh croissants in the morning, which you will need to order the night before. The facilities were modern and clean, couldn't ask for any more. And the shop supplies the essentials. A+ It was dead quiet whilst we were there, just how i'd liked it, I would say it was only a third full so noise wasn't a problem. There are suggested local walks pinned up in one of the out-houses which are worth doing, esp down to and along the River Avon. If the kids are bored, the nearby Valley complex is worth visiting, where there is a (rather short!) mini-train ride for the smaller ones, and a crazy-golf and high-ropes for the older ones. Would definately recommend this place!

1 night at Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

The host, Patrick, was amazing. He fixed an issue which I had created when booking the trip. The location was perfect for our plans. Lovey canal side location. Great cafe 2 minutes walk of site, pub 5-10 minutes. No issues with noise from the train track close by. Thank you

1 night at White Peak Camping

Lovely private site! Very friendly and helpful - loved the cows nearby :)

3 nights at White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

Basic, quiet campsite with good, clean basic facilities. Easy to locate & beautiful views in every direction. I really enjoyed a couple of days here. My dog enjoyed it too!

Star Hosts in Charnwood Forest

100%

(24)

Glamping West Midlands

4 units · Glamping16 acres · Enville, England

Head here for an authentic glamping getaway in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside

100%

(9)

Country bumpkins

6 units · Glamping1 acre · Lincoln, Lincolnshire, East Midlands

Glamping with a hot tub and an outdoor cinema in the Lincolnshire countryside

96%

(12)

Chrome Hill campers

5 units · Motorhomes1 acre · England

Far reaching views from one of the highest touring site in England, overlooking Chrome Hill in the picturesque village of Hollinsclough in Derbyshire. The site only accepts campervans and has 5 pitches available. This is a new site and has new toilet and shower facilities, water and waste disposal points and also there is a secure paddock area for children to play.

100%

(7)

Sweet Knoll Farm

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Chapel En Le Frith, England

Sweet Knoll Farm, with six acres of flat land, is ideal for camping with breathtaking views in the Peak District . It is great for walking, cycling, horse riding and caving. Next to a working farm, it is surrounded by sheep grazing and is next to the Pennine Bridle Way. Castleton a short drive away is famous for it’s caverns blue john and speedwell.

98%

(61)

Intake Farm

7 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Alton, Staffordshire, West Midlands

Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire

Under £50

91%

(11)

Yew Tree Farm

10 units · Tents3 acres · Stretton, England

A tents-only, dog-friendly campsite near Matlock and the Peak District

100%

(1)

The Mushroom Farm Campsite

36 units · Glamping, Tents11 acres · Oakham, England

Authentic old school camping! Bring your own tent and stay in one our lovely private pitches. Our pitches are big enough to park your car and pitch a large family tent with plenty of space for sitting and BBQs. Our site is off grid so you will be provided with plenty of fresh water in containers. There are compost toilets dotted around the site which are cleaned daily and there is firewood and charcoal available to buy. We also have a little honesty shop selling a few bits and pieces that campers often forget to pack. The mushroom farm feels more like wild camping or a pioneers camp. It is not a manicured site so we recommend bringing an airbed for a comfortable sleep. But a positive you’ll be sharing it with wildlife – frequent visitors include songbirds, red kites, kestrels, owls, bats, lizards, frogs and toads, snakes, rabbits and hares, muntjac deer, mice, foxes, dragonflies, butterflies, moths and beetles… The camp is set on a mushroom farm with young trees and large areas left to rewild. This means flowering thistles and uneven ground so it may not be suitable for babies, very young children or people with health conditions. The 2025 camping season at the Mushroom farm is from Friday the 23rd of May until Sunday the 22rd of June. We are then closed for a few weeks but open again from Friday the 18th of July until Sunday the 17th of August.

100%

(1)

Millview Glamping, Camping & Events

25 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Shelford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands

Peaceful, off-grid vibes and walks along the Trent Valley Way, yes please… Millview Camping is a completely off-grid site just 20 minutes’ drive from Nottingham city centre and 15 minutes’ walk from the 116-mile Trent Valley Way. With westerly views over the Trent Valley and in the shadows of a ruined 18th-century windmill, this is a peaceful and scenic place to take a break indeed… Well-positioned too, with a generous handful of pubs, restaurants and cafés a scenic 35 minutes’ walk away in Gunthorpe alongside the river Trent. Radcliffe on Trent and Bingham are five minutes’ drive away for any other amenities you might (supermarkets, shops, restaurants, pubs and the likes). And if you’re after even more of a buzz, Nottingham city centre is 25 minutes’ drive away. Even with such good access to so many towns and the big city, the site itself is remote. It has 10 acres of hay meadows and woodlands for guests to explore and, of course, sublime sunsets over the valley. If you prefer to keep your whole stay pretty rural, the Vale of Belvoir and the historic Belvoir Castle are 20 minutes’ drive away from the site. It’s no frills here. The grass and woodland pitches have facilities including water and portaloo access. Dogs are also permitted, as are barbecues.

92%

(93)

The Pig Place Campsite

45 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Oxfordshire, South East England

Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm

Hobnails View LittleWashbourne GL20

1 unit · Glamping5 acres · England

Scenic dog-friendly site across the road from a 15th-century pub with a stunning view of the hills Five minutes drive Cotswolds in an area of outstanding beauty in a rural setting 20 minutes drive from Cheltenham -a great place to relax and enjoy the open countryside Available tent pitch for hire 27a2 staying in own canvas/fabric tent not provided No camp fires allowed but small gaz cooker ok if contained/monitored by an adult for cooking only no litter no nuisance This delightful little plot is the last one we have here at this location and is much sought after. If you are hunting down a getaway near the Cotswolds and access to a high-quality pub grub and hill views are quite high on your priorities, then Hobnails View is here to deliver. The site is only five minutes’ drive from the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the most splendid parts? IThe pub serves good quality food with a big beer garden, kids’ play area, real ales The pub serves quality food and has a lovely fire place to relax and enjoy a pint or two and can certinly reccomend it. Unfortunately it doesn't offer any accommodation so if you want to visit the Cotswolds often you may wish to condsider hiring or buying your own little peice of land opposite to pitch up on at your leisure and enjoy a peaceful getaway and own your own countryside retreat, get in touch if you want to buy one optional. This land provides seasonal hire of a rural grassland non electric pitch situated within one of the site’s plots. Staying opposite to the long-established, Grade II-listed pub is certainly a big perk to staying down here. The pub serves traditional pub grub as well as light lunches from only a tenner, so you’ll have somewhere nice to eat out. Another big pull is the scenery over the surrounding hills. The site is gated There no need to speak to the owner jst meet online There’s parking at the pub and then it’s a short walk to reach the land. There’s a handy bus stop on the road, just behind the hedge, if you’d like to leave the car behind while you set about exploring. The local village is pretty nearby cities within driving distance include Cheltenham (20 minutes’ drive), Bristol ( 1 hour ) and west Oxford 1 hour Make your holiday memories at Hobnails View! x

12 top campsites in Charnwood Forest

99%

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White Peak Camping

18 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands

Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail

95%

(185)

Camping at The Hollies

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands

Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park

95%

(128)

Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

14 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Warwickshire, England

Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.

Park Hill Farm

30 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acres · England

Park Hill Farm offers a peaceful getaway surrounded by nature, where birdsong and farm animals provide a soothing soundtrack to your mornings. Located just 10 minutes from Market Drayton in north Shropshire, this dog-friendly working farm provides stunning views of the Cheshire Plains, the Wrekin, and the Welsh Hills. The farm sits alongside a woodland that is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, making it an ideal spot for nature lovers. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are a ‘Leave No Trace’ site (https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/) and we appreciate your help in keeping the space clean and green. We ask that you prepare your food in reusable containers and use our washing-up station to clean them for reuse. Please take all your rubbish home, though we do provide bins for recycling clean cans and bottles. For 2025, we’re excited to offer new eco-friendly features: composting toilets that use sawdust, a convenient washing-up station, and a brand-new toilet and shower block (available from July 2025) with 2 male and 2 female toilets and showers. We also sell a variety of fresh, local produce right on-site, including free-range eggs, beef burgers, pork sausages, and bacon, along with some essential items like bread, milk, breakfast cereals, and ice cream. If you need more supplies, the village of Loggerheads is just a 10-minute drive away, offering small shops, a pub, and an Indian restaurant. Thank you for helping us care for the environment while enjoying your stay at Park Hill Farm. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful corner of Shropshire!

97%

(16)

Shire Camping

40 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · England

Shire Camping is located in a peaceful 10 acre meadow looking towards Edge Hill. Spacious and with running drinking water, hot showers and flushing toilets. There is a footpath running alongside it taking you 25 minutes to a village shop one way and 20 minutes to a good pub the other way, all across fields. There are some amazing walks to do from the site, and being on the edge of the cotswolds there are plenty of pretty villages and market towns to explore. There are also some well regarded cycling routes in the area.

100%

(43)

Alder Carr Farm

5 units · Tents10 acres · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands

A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District

97%

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Nightingales Rustic Camping

15 units · Motorhomes, Tents40 acres · England

Back down the farm enjoying Warwickshire's beautiful countryside camping alongside a working farm. Farm shop with our home reared meats and BBQ packs. Relax or have a few glasses of wine around the camp fire. Don't forget the Marshmallows. They are a perfect treat around the camp fire. No Fixed pitches we camp alongside nature.

91%

(118)

Burrs Manor Wild Camping

30 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Buxton, England

Nearly wild camping in the Peak District National Park, near Buxton

90%

(83)

White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

61 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Wardlow, England

What a little Derbyshire gem: back to basics Whitehouse Farm Campsite is a simple site in a most scenic setting five minutes’ drive from the pretty village of Tideswell. The site’s central location in the Peak District National Park means it’s a top spot for those who want to ramble or ride bikes – several circular trails leave from Tideswell and the traffic-free Monsal Trail is a five-minute drive away. And there’s plenty more activity if you require it too, as activity centres nearby can sort you out days of horse riding, abseiling, climbing and caving. All this activity isn’t mandatory, of course – this is an equally fine location for days pottering off to local pubs, pigging out on pudding in Bakewell or taking a leisurely stroll around the Chatsworth Estate, 20 minutes away. And if even that’s too much, you’d be welcome to spend some time loafing about on site: there’s heaps of space here, and as facilities have been kept quite minimal (just showers and toilets) there should be a good serving of peace and quiet to go with it all. Guests are welcome to light up a barbecue or campfire for cookouts and keeping warm; Tideswell’s the place for supermarket supplies, and it’s also handily got a fish and chip shop and a couple of pubs for days when your firelighting skills aren't up to much.

99%

(199)

Cuckoo Farm Campsite

13 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents130 acres · Rutland, East Midlands

Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater

100%

(7)

Secret Wood Glamping

18 units · Glamping, Tents4 acres · Derbyshire S18 7 Wf, England

A private woodland and stream all to yourself, with one spacious bell tent and a hot tub beneath the stars

99%

(36)

Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

3 units · Glamping3 acres · Evesham, England

Laid-back glamping near Evesham, overlooking Bredon Hill and the Malverns.

Available this weekend

100%

(3)

Buzzard Holt Hosting

12 units · Glamping11 acres · Buckingham, England

Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire

93%

(49)

The White Lodge

5 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, West Midlands

A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.

Larch’s Hideaway Hut

1 unit · Glamping25 acres · Bridgnorth, Shropshire, West Midlands

Wonderful, remote, private camp in the middle of ancient woodland, with incredible views over the River Severn Valley. Deep woodland setting, restorative effect being off-grid in nature. 10 minutes from the town of Bridgnorth and 30 minutes from Ludlow and Shrewsbury, 2 minutes from local village pub! The glamping location is set overlooking a decking with a view and comprised of: - Shepherds Hut en-suite - Day time hut with a heater - Outdoor Kitchen - Compost loo - Outdoor Shower - Firepit, two seating areas - Remote woodland walks The shepherds hut and pod sleep 3 people, a soul pad can be put up sleeping a further 4, or pls contact owner for additional glamping accommodation

Mandale Campsite

20 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Bakewell, England

Old school camping in the Peak District on the edge of Lathkill Dale

100%

(3)

Damside Campsite

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents105 acres · England

Well-maintained and peaceful wild camping site in the Peak District Buxton 15 minutes’ drive; Chatsworth House half an hour Dogs welcome; 10 minutes’ walk from a pub; nearby playground Just how remote would you like your holiday accommodation to be? If the answer is fair to middling, Damside Campsite might just be the place for you: this pop-up spot is surrounded by the glorious wilderness of Peak District National Park. Doesn’t get much more blissfully peaceful than that – except for the occasional lowing cow, all is stillness here. Having said that, don’t worry: you won’t have to scramble across hills and dales for a pint: a traditional pub serving real ales and home-cooked food is right in the village of Peak Forest, a 20-minute walk away. Both the site and the pub welcome dogs, though it might be wise to keep them on a lead when walking past the farm animals. This is wild camping; facilities might not be abundant (there are no showers), but they are well maintained and include a portable toilet and a washing-up area. There is also fresh running water, and you’re welcome to start a campfire or a barbecue. You can grab essentials in the village shop, or head to Chapel-en-le-Frith (10 minutes) or Buxton (15 minutes). If you’re here with the kids, the flat, grassy field where you’ll set up your tent makes for an excellent play area on which to run around, kick a ball or fly a kite. A nearby playground has swings, slides, a small adventure course and a multisport pitch. Walking paths start from right outside the farm, or you can drive to hiking areas like Chee Dale Stepping Stones (10 minutes), a dramatic gorge on the River Wye.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in Charnwood Forest guide

Overview

This surprisingly wild, craggy, and forested area of countryside sits roughly between Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. It encompasses several popular outdoor spaces including Bradgate Park and parts of Middle England’s major reforestation project, the National Forest. Take a walk in Bradgate Park, try your hand at narrowboating, or relax at a waterside country pub on the Grand Union Canal, then visit historic spots like the Battle of Bosworth Field battle site. The region’s best camping is around the parish of Quorn, where pitching places include Broome Island—only accessible by boat.

Where to go

Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood

The big go-to outdoor playground for citizens of Leicester, Bradgate Park is a delightful old deer park and a montage of moors, crags, and woods seeming more similar to the Peak District than to the suburb-adjacent country park it is. Come to walk, explore wildlife-reclaimed industrial land, bird-watch in Swithland Woods, and visit the former home of Lady Jane Grey, Britain’s shortest-reigning monarch.

Moira & The National Forest

The area around Moira was heavily scarred by its former coal mining industry, which was why it was chosen as the location for the National Forest. This major reforestation project straddles parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, combining existing old-growth forest with newer plantations, and has rejuvenated the area as an outdoor destination for walkers, cyclists, and horse-riders. Ex-mining village Moira now hosts the National Forest Discovery Centre, some restored mining attractions, and camping options nearby.

Ashby Canal

The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal links Leicestershire’s Moira and Warwickshire’s Bedworth, with the section between Bedworth and Snarestone navigable. Interesting sights along its course include the Battlefield Line heritage railway between Shackerstone and Shenton, plus the Bosworth Field battle site. The canal winds close to several campsites catering to tent campers, caravanners, and glampers.

Grand Union Canal

The UK’s longest canal brushes the northeast of Charnwood Forest at villages like Mountsorrel and nearby Sileby, with its convenient railway station. The 137-mile waterway, connecting Birmingham and London, is full of surprises, showing off a greener, quieter side to the big towns it passes through and crossing some pretty countryside too. Narrowboat, walk, or cycle the towpath, visit idyllic canal-side pubs and camp at unique waterside sites like Broome Island near Quorn—accessible only by boat.