97% (424) • 160 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest
River Dove Camp
1. River Dove Camp
100%
(103)
10 units · Tents · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£10
/ night
Buzzard Holt Hosting
2. Buzzard Holt Hosting
100%
(7)
13 units · Glamping · Buckingham, England
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£59
/ night
The White Lodge
3. The White Lodge
90%
(55)
5 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, West Midlands
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£18
/ night
Press Brook Park
4. Press Brook Park
100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · England
Press Brook Park is in the village of Holmgate near Clay Cross. The site is situated in the countryside however still within walking distance to a dog friendly pub and farm shop with tea room.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£120
/ night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel
5. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel
92%
(38)
41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Bedfordshire, England
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£31
/ night
Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe
6. Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe
95%
(148)
14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Warwickshire, England
Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from
£14
/ night
The Pig Place Campsite
7. The Pig Place Campsite
92%
(93)
45 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Oxfordshire, South East England
Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£10
/ night
Cuckoo Farm Campsite
8. Cuckoo Farm Campsite
99%
(202)
13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Rutland, East Midlands
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£20
/ night
Heygates Lodging
9. Heygates Lodging
100%
(21)
2 units · Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
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
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
10. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
96%
(57)
8 units · Tents · Staffordshire, West Midlands
The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£20
/ night
Arthingworth Camping
11. Arthingworth Camping
96%
(56)
12 units · Tents · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Tents-only, family-friendly camping in the Northamptonshire countryside with gorgeous rural walks.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£13
/ night
Worfe Camping
12. Worfe Camping
100%
(50)
7 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Shropshire, West Midlands
A riverside meadow with just six pitches for tents and campervans, each with its own toilet, shower and fire pit – and an unlimited supply of logs
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£58
/ night
Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf
13. Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf
100%
(23)
3 units · Glamping · Warwickshire, West Midlands
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
Stamford Meadows Glamping
14. Stamford Meadows Glamping
100%
(12)
6 units · Glamping · Stamford, Lincolnshire, East Midlands
Peaceful, private yurt glamping in the heart of the Stamford Meadows
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£220
/ night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
15. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
100%
(6)
2 units · Glamping · Cheshire, North West England
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from
£115
/ night
97% (424) • 160 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest
River Dove Camp
1. River Dove Camp
100%
(103)
10 units · Tents · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£10
/ night
Buzzard Holt Hosting
2. Buzzard Holt Hosting
100%
(7)
13 units · Glamping · Buckingham, England
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£59
/ night
The White Lodge
3. The White Lodge
90%
(55)
5 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, West Midlands
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£18
/ night
Press Brook Park
4. Press Brook Park
100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · England
Press Brook Park is in the village of Holmgate near Clay Cross. The site is situated in the countryside however still within walking distance to a dog friendly pub and farm shop with tea room.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£120
/ night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel
5. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel
92%
(38)
41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Bedfordshire, England
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£31
/ night
Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe
6. Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe
95%
(148)
14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Warwickshire, England
Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from
£14
/ night
The Pig Place Campsite
7. The Pig Place Campsite
92%
(93)
45 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Oxfordshire, South East England
Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£10
/ night
Cuckoo Farm Campsite
8. Cuckoo Farm Campsite
99%
(202)
13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Rutland, East Midlands
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£20
/ night
Heygates Lodging
9. Heygates Lodging
100%
(21)
2 units · Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
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
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
10. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
96%
(57)
8 units · Tents · Staffordshire, West Midlands
The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£20
/ night
Arthingworth Camping
11. Arthingworth Camping
96%
(56)
12 units · Tents · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Tents-only, family-friendly camping in the Northamptonshire countryside with gorgeous rural walks.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£13
/ night
Worfe Camping
12. Worfe Camping
100%
(50)
7 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Shropshire, West Midlands
A riverside meadow with just six pitches for tents and campervans, each with its own toilet, shower and fire pit – and an unlimited supply of logs
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£58
/ night
Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf
13. Podtastic @ Nelsons Wharf
100%
(23)
3 units · Glamping · Warwickshire, West Midlands
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
Stamford Meadows Glamping
14. Stamford Meadows Glamping
100%
(12)
6 units · Glamping · Stamford, Lincolnshire, East Midlands
Peaceful, private yurt glamping in the heart of the Stamford Meadows
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£220
/ night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
15. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
100%
(6)
2 units · Glamping · Cheshire, North West England
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
A
Arturas
2 weeks ago
With pets
Really enjoyed staying in there.
The cosy cabin ar so modern, showers very great, heated floors in toilet, plenty electrical sockets with usb and c connections, king size bed with very comfortable mattress.
See more
A
Andrea
November 2025
Tent
Easy to get on the pitches by ourselves and had the whole site for us, not surprising as it’s late November! Very quiet and loved it! We will be back again for the 3rd time
See more
H
Hussain
September 2025
Tent
Group trip
Alex was very helpful and kind. He accommodated all our needs and made sure we had a comfortable stay.
See more
K
Keith
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Really good staff, and pleasant location. Only stayed a couple of nights, but was really pleased with the conditions.
See more
S
Sandra
August 2025
5 m Class B
With kids
Great one night stop over with my grandson. Great showers and we were there on a Sunday morning so went on the farm tour which was brilliant
See more
s
susan
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely field for camping and enjoying its natural beauty
See moreI
Ian
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely spot, nice and private. Host was great, helpful and friendly
Would book again without hesitation
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D
Daniela
August 2025
Tent
With kids
It was my first time camping and the views were amazing. Really nice and relaxing
See more
Z
Zoe
August 2025
Tent
With kids
I read mixed reviews before I visited. I personally had an amazing time with my daughter. The atmosphere was great. The staff were so amazing. Rob especially was an awesome help and vibe. Along with Luke and the soul kitchen crew and the big boss was so nice too. The river was beautiful. The music was good. My daughter and myself loved it. I would thoroughly recommend. Great memories
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N
Natalie
August 2025
Tent
As first-time campers, we couldn't have chosen a better location! Everything, from start to finish was fantastic. The instructions on arrival were clear, we ordered our golf buggy carriage to collect us and our belongings from the car park. We were chauffeured by the lovely Rob, to a spot of our choice (right by the river so beautiful views) and we set up camp. For our first night, we made full use of the pizza van onsite and bought 2 delicious pizzas and drinks from the bar. In the morning, we used the Soul-Full Kitchen for our coffee shot. I think the energy from the staff in the coffee/breakfast van alone would have stood us in good stead for the day. Despite some queues, they were bright, full of energy and welcoming to every person. As we didn't have littlies with us, I can't vouch for the kids activities, but we fully enjoyed our Coached Paddleboarding session with Dom, our Sound Bath with Shereen, Yoga with Lisa and a Sauna provided by Charlotte. We had a quick dip in the river too. The toilets were cleaner than most service stations I've been into....all weekend! The showers were better in the morning than the evenings and if I really, really had to be pressed for an area of improvement, it would be the showers but hey, it's a campsite, not a 5* accommodation right?! We will absolutely be coming back for 2026, along with the rest of the family next time! Absolutely loved it....thank you sooo much! Natalie & Ross
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L
Laura
August 2025
Tent
With kids
The campsite location was beautiful - we camped on the riverbank . Great DJs in the evening and a chilled vibe all weekend .
See morea
annaliesetruman
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Great campsite in a beautiful setting with really friendly vibes
See moreM
Michelle
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely spaced out campsite. Clean compost toilet and well stocked pantry. Eva was helpful when asked about local walks.
Would recommend x
See moreS
Sapphira
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely, quiet spot. So picturesque and peaceful. Had a great stay with the family.
See moreE
Emily
August 2025
3 m travel trailer
It was our first time camping with our new teardrop camper and we definitely chose the right place! David was so lovely and helped me to reverse it onto the pitch. Due to bad reviews I expected the facilities to be dirty but they were far from it! Very clean and plenty of toilet roll!
As for the location, it’s amazing for people who love walking, we had a few hours walk down the canal and I definitely recommend walking across the road to the Riverside cafe for some lunch. Other than that there’s not much to do unless you want to drive into Stafford Centre but perfect for a quiet chilled couple of nights!
See moreH
Helen
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Basic but exactly what we needed. Stayed with 3 teenage boys who spent most the time in the river or round the campfire.
Loo and drinking tap were a bit of a trek.
Alex and family were very welcoming.
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F
Fiona
August 2025
Tent
With kids
A lovely clean campsite with plenty of activities to do locally. There is someone on site all of the time which is reassuring . We had a beautiful spot right overlooking the canal junction . We had a great 3 night stay at Great Haywood . Thank you so much
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A
ANDREW
August 2025
Tent
Lovely campsite with well spread out pitches and plenty to do o the surrounding area
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Shanine
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely view! Farm Shop opposite where we got ice cream, fresh milkshake and fresh pizza cooked! Then we went on a walk past the canals and found Essex bridge where the kids swam with other children in a river! Kids had the best time!
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Snowdonia
August 2025
3 m pop-up camper
Lovely tranquil camp site in a nice location in the Cotswolds. Good pitches with plenty of space. Shame the local pub was closed for renovation works.
All in all a fabulous couple of days chilling, thank you Sally 😀
See more
Riverside 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.