Camping in Charnwood Forest

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

94% (1204 reviews)

United Kingdom
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England
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Charnwood Forest

94% (1204 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Charnwood Forest

Community favorites in and near Charnwood Forest

Stories from the community

Alison

1 week ago

Tent

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.

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 White Peak Camping

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

4 nights at Intake Farm

Beautiful site, lovely people and the kids loved the animals. Nice walks from the area. Brilliant campsite

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!

Weekend Trip to White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

The views here are absolutely beautiful, Clean toilets and hot showers, Would definitely recommend Kids and dog friendly Lots to do nearby Fab holiday Thank you

1 night at Shire Camping

Great spot for a weekend camping. Lovely site that is well looked after. Harry was a welcoming host and the site hits just the right balance with all the facilities you need with compromising the feeling of simple camping. We will visit again.

Weekend Trip to Shire Camping

Lovely well-maintained site. Quiet and spacious. We liked the meadow feel between pitches, good toilets and showers, plus the pop-up pizza oven was a fab bonus!

Weekend Trip to Damside Campsite

Excellent, peaceful location. Toilets spotlessly clean and pitch was great value for money. Would have liked to have purchased the fire pit but didn’t see the owners once during the whole stay. Otherwise would definitely recommend.

1 night at White Peak Camping

Lovely views and location! Basic facilities but very clean and just what needed! Will definitely be coming back for another short stay :-)

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

Lovely simple campsite Cheedale and monsale trail accessable by foot from site. Loved the fire pits and the no loud music rule. Would definitely stay again

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

We loved our couple of days on Janice and Paul's campsite! We received a warm welcome and it's a wonderful, rural site. We were there with our sprinter van and it was just what we needed. The facilities were always clean and just as described. We loved it! Hope to return soon. :)

1 night at White Peak Camping

It was as expected and more. What a great spot! Toilets, open fire, quiet. Looking forward to making it a yearly tradition. We stayed for 1 night as it was the first camping experience for my 7 and 12 yr old sons. They enjoyed the hike and the tinned food, burnt sausages, Basic rural living, no fuss. The site is what i come to love about the peak district. If all you want is a spot to pitch up, a great one.

Weekend Trip to Alder Carr Farm

Great back to basics camping on a working farm in the beautiful Dovedale area of Derbyshire. A large peaceful field to ourselves with a campfire and access to the river. Alex is a very friendly and helpful owner.

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

White peak camping is beautiful out of the way and a brilliant experience Even though our weekend had the best of the British unpredictable weather we still enjoyed ourselves and the facilities available was perfect for us to enjoy ourselves

Weekend Trip to White Peak Camping

Brilliant stay, owners always on hand with a quick response via messages. An email sent before arrival with local recommendations for food/hikes etc. The dogs loved it and we will definitely be returning.

Weekend Trip to Secret Wood Glamping

This was a lovely area for our tent camping. There was a beautiful outlook onto the surrounding farms. There were lots of amenities to make the stay comfortable including a clean bio toilet, warm shower and a small hut to cook in, especially useful when raining. Would definitely recommend and stay here again!

5 nights at White Peak Camping

The camping field was clean and tidy with a swing and benches in the middle for picnicing. The field wasnt too big.u just turn up pitch your tent and no one bothers you at all. So quiet and peaceful with lovely veiws. No noise at night which was great. You can take a dog as long as you keep it on a lead. Theres 2 toilets with washhand basins in .its cold water but u can always boil a kettle and there urinals for the men. Theres washing up sinks there and also a fresh water tap in the field.people were friendly but left you to do your own thing. Theres logs to buy and fire pit if you want one. I loved the peacefulness of this campsite.i would recomend it to anyone and i will come back if i get the opportunity. Janice and Paul the site owner are very helpful and obliging .very nice people. The site is near Buxton ,Matlock and Bakewell if your driving.

2 nights at White Peak Camping

A lovely simple campsite in a beautiful setting with friendly and helpful hosts

Available this weekend

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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.

98%

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Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

8 units · Tents3 acres · Staffordshire, West Midlands

The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road

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

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Country bumpkins

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

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

100%

(16)

Aylesmore Farm Campsite

1 unit · Motorhome, Tent2 acres · Shipston On Stour, England

Quiet camping on a Warwickshire hillside near The Cotswolds

Star Hosts in Charnwood Forest

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.

100%

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Twitey's Camping & Glamping meadows

50 units · Glamping, Tents14 acres · Wellesbourne, England

A family-friendly site with secluded, individual pitches hidden among the long grass and campfires permitted

93%

(30)

Camping with a festival spirit

32 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents25 acres · Bedfordshire, England

A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe

Mandale Campsite

20 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Bakewell, England

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

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(42)

Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

5 units · Tents47 acres · Leicestershire, East Midlands

Wild camping in the woods with campfires, starry skies and a pub just across the road

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%

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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%

(127)

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.

Blossom in the Beans

2 units · Glamping5 acres · England

Rustic A-frame cabins on the border of Leicestershire & Warwickshire. Set amongst the rolling countryside in 5 acres of private land, you can relax & rewind in our cabins which feature a mezzanine master bedroom, kitchenette, private fire pit with BBQ grill and hot tub. We have an array of animals on site from our friendly Shetland pony, cheeky pygmy goats and chickens. Enjoy fresh eggs in the morning and complimentary welcome gift on arrival. There is lot to explore and do in the area from country walks, traditional village pubs, Twycross Zoo, Drayton Manor Theme Park and vintage railway which can take you to the Battle of Bosworth Heritage Site. Your Summer adventure starts with us!

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.

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Alder Carr Farm

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

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

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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

97%

(15)

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.

90%

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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.

97%

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Brook Meadow at The Wrongs Farm

175 units · Tents20 acres · Northamptonshire, East Midlands

A secluded lakeside campsite to fall in love with

91%

(116)

Burrs Manor Wild Camping

30 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Buxton, England

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

100%

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Cotswolds Glamping

4 units · Glamping12 acres · Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, South East England

Fun, laid-back, glamping that's ideal for groups, with silent discos and wood-fired hot tubs.

Under £50

78%

(16)

The Old Vicarage

6 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · 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. CHECK IN BETWEEN 2PM AND 6PM CHECK INS AFTER 6PM INCUR A FEE OF £10.00 FOR LATE CHECK IN

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!

98%

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Purple Badger Camping&Fishing Lakes

12 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Beeby, England

Glamping and campfire-friendly camping by a pair of fishing lakes in the Leicestershire countryside

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

100%

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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.

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.