Camping in Charnwood Forest

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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.

94% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest

13. The Old Vicarage

79%
(17)
6 units · Tents, Glamping · Retford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
The Old Vicarage offers a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere for your stay for camping. We have BBQ's, camp fires to hire and have the shallow river to play in. Free Wifi. Well behaved dogs allowed on leads at all times. Riverside site in grounds of a 17th-century house in Nottinghamshire Close to Sherwood Forest and 25 miles from Nottingham Cave bar on site open on Bank Holidays You'll sense the history all around you at The Old Vicarage, from the old house to the remains of the water mill in the river bed. Stays here are in the grounds of a 17th-century house in the village of Elkesley, six miles from Worksop and 25 miles from Nottingham. Its grounds run down to the banks of the Poulter river, and are lined with stands of acacia, sycamore, ash and oak trees which were originally donated to the first vicar by the Duke of Newcastle in the 1830s. There's plenty of space around the site for traditional outdoor activities, with a rope swing and stepping stones over the shallow river and a bridge that's perfect for playing Pooh Sticks. In the surrounding area there are animal parks and nature reserves to walk around, or to head back further in time, you could take one of the trails through ancient Sherwood Forest, around quarter of an hour's drive away. Guest facilities on site centre around the Cave Bar, a cool little space built into an exposure of 500-million-year-old sandstone, plus an outdoor terrace for sipping drinks out in the sunshine. Other amenities include a washing-up area and bathrooms with plentiful hot showers, toilets and baby changing facilities. No Fire Pits BBQ;s off the floor. No disposable BBQ;s CHECK IN BETWEEN 2PM AND 6PM CHECK INS AFTER 6PM INCUR A FEE OF £10.00 FOR LATE CHECK IN
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night

16. The Mushroom Farm Campsite

100%
(6)
36 units · Tents, Glamping · 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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night

17. The Duchess's Meadow

100%
(1)
2 units · Motorhomes · England
Tucked away in peaceful woodland yet just a short stroll from the vibrant heart of Buxton, The Duchess’s Meadow offers the perfect blend of nature, history, and convenience. Set within the private grounds of Corbar Hill House — originally built in the 1850s as a retreat for the Mistress of the 7th Duke of Devonshire — our site sits amid tranquil trees and abundant wildlife. Expect to spot owls, rabbits, woodpeckers, and even the occasional stoat and deer, all against a backdrop of panoramic views across Buxton and the Peak District. Our family fell in love with this land and set out to create a welcoming space where visitors can relax, recharge, and enjoy the beauty of the area. Whether you’re here for a peaceful stopover or a longer stay, you’ll find yourself surrounded by nature yet just a 10-minute walk from Buxton’s bustling town centre. Buxton is famed for its natural thermal spring water, elegant Georgian and Victorian architecture, and rich cultural scene. Home to the magnificent Buxton Crescent, the Opera House, and the gateway to the Peak District National Park, it’s the ideal base for exploring Derbyshire’s scenic walks, limestone caves, and charming villages. At The Duchess’s Meadow, you’ll experience the best of both worlds — the calm of the countryside and the charm of a historic spa town, all from the comfort of your motorhome.
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from 
£14
 / night

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.

94% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest

13. The Old Vicarage

79%
(17)
6 units · Tents, Glamping · Retford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
The Old Vicarage offers a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere for your stay for camping. We have BBQ's, camp fires to hire and have the shallow river to play in. Free Wifi. Well behaved dogs allowed on leads at all times. Riverside site in grounds of a 17th-century house in Nottinghamshire Close to Sherwood Forest and 25 miles from Nottingham Cave bar on site open on Bank Holidays You'll sense the history all around you at The Old Vicarage, from the old house to the remains of the water mill in the river bed. Stays here are in the grounds of a 17th-century house in the village of Elkesley, six miles from Worksop and 25 miles from Nottingham. Its grounds run down to the banks of the Poulter river, and are lined with stands of acacia, sycamore, ash and oak trees which were originally donated to the first vicar by the Duke of Newcastle in the 1830s. There's plenty of space around the site for traditional outdoor activities, with a rope swing and stepping stones over the shallow river and a bridge that's perfect for playing Pooh Sticks. In the surrounding area there are animal parks and nature reserves to walk around, or to head back further in time, you could take one of the trails through ancient Sherwood Forest, around quarter of an hour's drive away. Guest facilities on site centre around the Cave Bar, a cool little space built into an exposure of 500-million-year-old sandstone, plus an outdoor terrace for sipping drinks out in the sunshine. Other amenities include a washing-up area and bathrooms with plentiful hot showers, toilets and baby changing facilities. No Fire Pits BBQ;s off the floor. No disposable BBQ;s CHECK IN BETWEEN 2PM AND 6PM CHECK INS AFTER 6PM INCUR A FEE OF £10.00 FOR LATE CHECK IN
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night

16. The Mushroom Farm Campsite

100%
(6)
36 units · Tents, Glamping · 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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night

17. The Duchess's Meadow

100%
(1)
2 units · Motorhomes · England
Tucked away in peaceful woodland yet just a short stroll from the vibrant heart of Buxton, The Duchess’s Meadow offers the perfect blend of nature, history, and convenience. Set within the private grounds of Corbar Hill House — originally built in the 1850s as a retreat for the Mistress of the 7th Duke of Devonshire — our site sits amid tranquil trees and abundant wildlife. Expect to spot owls, rabbits, woodpeckers, and even the occasional stoat and deer, all against a backdrop of panoramic views across Buxton and the Peak District. Our family fell in love with this land and set out to create a welcoming space where visitors can relax, recharge, and enjoy the beauty of the area. Whether you’re here for a peaceful stopover or a longer stay, you’ll find yourself surrounded by nature yet just a 10-minute walk from Buxton’s bustling town centre. Buxton is famed for its natural thermal spring water, elegant Georgian and Victorian architecture, and rich cultural scene. Home to the magnificent Buxton Crescent, the Opera House, and the gateway to the Peak District National Park, it’s the ideal base for exploring Derbyshire’s scenic walks, limestone caves, and charming villages. At The Duchess’s Meadow, you’ll experience the best of both worlds — the calm of the countryside and the charm of a historic spa town, all from the comfort of your motorhome.
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from 
£14
 / night

Camper favorites in and near Charnwood Forest

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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Camping in Charnwood Forest guide

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.

Top towns in and near Charnwood Forest