Riverside glamping 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.

98% (186) 104 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Charnwood Forest

Cuckoo Farm Campsite

1. Cuckoo Farm Campsite

99%
(202)
Rutland, England · 13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
Hartington Hills, Peak District

2. Hartington Hills, Peak District

100%
(1)
Dovedale, England · 9 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Well-placed Peak District camping near the Manifold Way and Tissington Trail, with a luxury yurt and hot tub in a private space
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£37
 / night
Buzzard Holt Hosting

3. Buzzard Holt Hosting

100%
(7)
Buckingham, England · 11 units
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£59
 / night
Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf

4. Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf

100%
(24)
Stockton, England · 3 units
Pod glamping and tent camping while watching boats go by on the banks of the Grand Union Canal
Showers
Wifi
Potable water
from 
£95
 / night
Heygates Lodging

5. Heygates Lodging

100%
(21)
Market Harborough, England · 2 units
A place to unwind in the heart of the countryside. Canalside walks are on your doorstep and nature is never far away - birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards are plentiful, and you may be lucky enough to see otters in the canal. There's a variety of pubs and restaurants within a short drive, and the market towns of Rugby and Market Harborough area about 20 minutes away. Unwind in the hot tub, enjoy local beers and ciders or pick from our expertly curated wine list. Our Lodges have their own fire pits and BBQs, and all fuel is provided. Each lodge has its own hammock, and a designated private fishing peg at a turning point in the canal, meaning that you'll be largely undisturbed by passing boats.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£180
 / night
Stamford Meadows Glamping

6. Stamford Meadows Glamping

100%
(12)
Stamford, England · 3 units
Peaceful, private yurt glamping in the heart of the Stamford Meadows
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£220
 / night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

7. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£115
 / 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.

98% (186) 104 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Charnwood Forest

Cuckoo Farm Campsite

1. Cuckoo Farm Campsite

99%
(202)
Rutland, England · 13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
Hartington Hills, Peak District

2. Hartington Hills, Peak District

100%
(1)
Dovedale, England · 9 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Well-placed Peak District camping near the Manifold Way and Tissington Trail, with a luxury yurt and hot tub in a private space
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£37
 / night
Buzzard Holt Hosting

3. Buzzard Holt Hosting

100%
(7)
Buckingham, England · 11 units
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£59
 / night
Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf

4. Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf

100%
(24)
Stockton, England · 3 units
Pod glamping and tent camping while watching boats go by on the banks of the Grand Union Canal
Showers
Wifi
Potable water
from 
£95
 / night
Heygates Lodging

5. Heygates Lodging

100%
(21)
Market Harborough, England · 2 units
A place to unwind in the heart of the countryside. Canalside walks are on your doorstep and nature is never far away - birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards are plentiful, and you may be lucky enough to see otters in the canal. There's a variety of pubs and restaurants within a short drive, and the market towns of Rugby and Market Harborough area about 20 minutes away. Unwind in the hot tub, enjoy local beers and ciders or pick from our expertly curated wine list. Our Lodges have their own fire pits and BBQs, and all fuel is provided. Each lodge has its own hammock, and a designated private fishing peg at a turning point in the canal, meaning that you'll be largely undisturbed by passing boats.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£180
 / night
Stamford Meadows Glamping

6. Stamford Meadows Glamping

100%
(12)
Stamford, England · 3 units
Peaceful, private yurt glamping in the heart of the Stamford Meadows
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£220
 / night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

7. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£115
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Charnwood Forest camping 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.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Top towns in and near Charnwood Forest