Camping in Fernworthy Forest

Woodland walks, lakeside picnics, and Bronze Age ruins are the highlights of this Dartmoor forest.

96% (1554 reviews)

United Kingdom
—
England
—
Fernworthy Forest

96% (1554 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Fernworthy Forest

Community favorites in and near Fernworthy Forest

Stories from the community

Weekend Trip to LEE MEADOW FARM CAMPING

Very accommodating and friendly. Beautiful well equipped campsite. Great stay

2 nights at Girt Down Camping

Loved my stay here this week! I went with my beagle and we both enjoyed the hugs of coast and countryside—peaceful walks, lots of beautiful wildlife, stunning views high in the hillside looking down through the valley to the sea, and a private, relaxing space to unwind. Lesley and Paul were incredibly warm and welcoming, and when I had some unexpected car trouble, they made sure I felt comfortable to ask if I needed anything - I had everything I needed already provided! It’s truly a special spot ☺️🐶🍃🌊

5 nights at Goren Farm

The amount of land and privacy for camping is really great. Showers were really good too, very generous to have two showers with hot water and good pressure for the amount of pitches.

Weekend Trip to The Camping Field

Great camping site. Facilities, while basic, were kept very clean. Lots of space from other campers and tucked down a secluded lane in beautiful Cornwall. The dozen eggs that were delivered when we checked in was great too! I’d recommend. Check out The Crown pub close by for a delicious meal.

Weekend Trip to South Dean Camping

Amazing views, clean and tidy facilities, would definitely stay again!

1 night at Girt Down Camping

Beautiful views and a huge amount of space available for your pitch. Brilliant if you would like a quiet corner. 40 minutes walk down to the town and beach. Really kind and accommodating hosts. And hot showers. I'll be back!

Weekend Trip to Girt Down Camping

Amazing secluded campsite with gorgeous views! Facilities were great too. A fantastic spot.

1 night at Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

Lovely place, will be back. We stayed on the far side of the lake and had a great view

Weekend Trip to Goren Farm

This was our second time camping at Goren Farm and we loved it. The Oak pitch was fantastic; a wonderful big oak to camp and shelter under, amazing evening sun, peaceful and remote, but still in easy walking distance of the excellent compost toilets. We didn’t try the showers, but have heard they’re good. The adventure trail is fantastic for adventurous people that aren’t afraid of a bit of mud; so much fun for our family. Julian and the others are really friendly and helpful. Just a beautiful, peaceful place to get away. Already booked our next stay!

Weekend Trip to South Dean Camping

Beautiful location to pitch up our tent for the bank holiday weekend! Stunning sea view on the cliff top pitch. Awesome walks across the cliff tops with breathtaking scenery. Doggo had the best time 🐶 super friendly hosts on site for anything you need. Well thought out immaculate toilets with everything you could need and hot showers / sinks to wash up dishes too. Will definitely be going back, it was lovely! (we were slightly unlucky with the windy weather on our last night however our tent survived and there is always the option to select a more sheltered pitch if the weather is not on your side. Highly recommend staying at South Dean and we will definitely be going back!

Weekend Trip to Goren Farm

Really amazing location and views. Great if you like to have your own space and chill out. Good facilities available and Julian and everyone was very friendly and helpful, would definitely recommend.

Weekend Trip to Girt Down Camping

Really stunning campsite and amazing views, a 30 minute walk to combe martin, is well worth it, stunning views the whole way down, i’d suggest a taxi back tho the hill was very taxing😂, I can’t fault this campsite or the hospitality of Lesley and her lovely dog. Thanks for having us, we will be back when the weathers better!

2 nights at Aldridge Mill

Nice place to get away from everything. Only the sound of the birds and the stream. Lovely place.

Weekend Trip to Goren Farm

Dream campsite. Perfect pitch, surrounded by wildflowers. Just right hot showers, compost loos and wash up. Great welcome, lovely cafe, and cider. 5*

Weekend Trip to Brig's Farm

Very relaxing campsite with beautiful views. Showers are very good.

Weekend Trip to The Camping Field

Another great stay thanks Richard. Highly recommend for a traditional camping stay, camp fire few beers and under the stars

1 night at Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

Beautiful spot. Nice to share the space with ponies

4 nights at Wytch Wood Camping

This is a little gem of a campsite. Individual hidden camping pitches. Wood fires and tripods to cook on. The water is pure! Excellent showers. Lovely woodland and trail to explore. E, A & A are fabulous hosts. Definitely recommend!

4 nights at Wytch Wood Camping

An amazing idyllic site. Shower block immaculate. A truly relaxing camping holiday

12 units · Glamping, Tents30 acres · Sidmouth, Devon, South West England

Nearly-wild camping in a Devon cider orchard, 5 miles from the Jurassic Coast

Under £50

Wilderfox

2 units · Tents10 acres · England

A beautiful space nestled within the site of an old grass tennis court. Surrounded by beautiful trees and lots of games including outdoor table tennis in keeping with the space! Shower, field kitchen and loo on site including mains water. Small site and very private. Wilderfox also offers a multitude of outdoor activities including Archery, Axe throwing and Bushcraft and survival.

98%

(64)

Farm camping in the Blackdown Hills

15 units · Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Devon, South West England

Farm camping in the Blackdown Hills, with campfires, big views and homegrown produce for sale

100%

(16)

Berry's Ground Lane Campsite

40 units · Motorhomes, Tents40 acres · Martinhoe, England

Lovely wild camping pitches on the North Devon coastline. You will be one of a maximum of 6 pitches in a large field on the beautiful North Devon coast with incredible sea views. We can provide a firepit to borrow and you can purchase logs onsite so you can stargaze and chatter around the fire - back to nature! We are based just outside the pretty hamlet of Martinhoe in North Devon, a stone's throw from the SW Coast Path. There is a historic Roman Beacon closeby and plenty of wildlife around, we'd be surprised if you didn't see deer in the neighbouring fields! There is a compost loo and a water point, but no electricity / wifi - delightfully off-grid. Situated on an organic working farm this is the perfect place to escape!

100%

(2)

Buttles Farm Campsite

7 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Taunton, England

Buttles Farm is located at the head of the Culm Valley on the boarder between Somerset and Devon. We are blessed with magnificent views, tranquil countryside and the kind of quiet that will let you just relax. Situated off the road and well away from traffic, your stay can be as calm or energetic as you want. We moved here in 2009 and started keeping a few pigs, sheep and chickens. In 2010 I planted 51 cider apple trees and we are beginning to see a useful crop for making some of the good stuff! Carl has spent time upgrading fencing, hedges, some of the barns and our new access track to ensure you have the best possible stay. We offer 20 pitches either for tents or caravans. Come and enjoy our lovely tree-lined 4 acre paddock. Our flock of Rhode Island Rock hens are producing eggs all year and are available to buy if you fancy a local breakfast!

100%

(1)

The Hen's Dens at Orchard Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Torquay, England

The Hen's Dens at Orchard Organic Farm is our small and unique site offering three timber tents / glamping pods - The Hen's Dens and six individual camping pitches all set within our organic farm orchards. The three Dens are spaced out in their own quiet and private area of the orchard accessed via a short path from named parking spaces. Inside the three pods is toasty heating, lighting and electric - with a picnic bench outside and space to make up a campfire. You can choose how you`d like to stay, either renting unfurnished and bringing your own beds, or booking a set of camping beds for your trip for an extra fee, so that things are nice and easy. Each den comes with the luxury of your own private lockable bathroom and kitchen area where you can safely keep bits and bobs. It has your shower, toilet and wash basin inside, along with an indoor sofa area. There`s space for washing up and a small kitchen area with a fridge-freezer, microwave and kettle. Bringing a good sleeping bag is recommended to make sure you`re comfy at any time of year. Extras such as beds and stoves can also be booked at an additional cost, and you can even book a farm tour! The six camping pitches are grass pitches carefully set within a quiet part of an orchard. Sleeping up to five and dog friendly, they`re ideal for couples and families. Stay on an attractive, small farm site, set in Devon countryside and close to a lovely beach. Open year round and only 15 minutes from Torquay and its beach vibes. There are just six individually named grass pitches for tents and campervans only, each nestled away in its own private slot of the orchard on a slight slope. The maximum number of people per pitch is five and each pitch measures 3.6m x 7m and comes with 6 amp electric hook up. One well behaved dog is welcome to join you on your glamping adventure. The Hen`s Dens at Orchard Organic Farm is open all year round.

12 top campsites in Fernworthy Forest

99%

(144)

Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

5 units · Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Okehampton, Devon, South West England

Seriously simple but beautiful wild camping beside a lake on Dartmoor

100%

(29)

Girt Down Camping

11 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Combe Martin, Devon, South West England

Set the edge of Exmoor, we have unrivalled coastal views, direct access to the South West Coast Path and Combe Martin bay is just a little walk away (perfect for paddle-boarding and dolphin spotting!). Choose your pitch, settle down by a fire pit and watch the sun set across Combe Martin bay. With pizza’s available on some weekends, breakfast baguettes for breakfast and a selection of farm produce available - we have everything you could need, we are campervan friendly too. With footpaths from the farm in all directions you can join the South West Coast Path or just ramble down to the village where there are shops, cafes and pubs a plenty. With full flushing toilets and hot showers, as well as a washing up area, there is even an old railway carriage with electric plugs to charge your phone or dry your hair, with a fridge and freezer to look after your supper too. We are a small site focusing on that quiet get-away. There is no road noise, just the farmer going about his day job, who’s more than happy to chat about the wildlife, birds and weather!

99%

(93)

Bush Farm Campsite

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents200 acres · Saltash, England

As close to wild camping as you can get on a rewilded 200-acre farm in Cornwall

Booked 1 time

Silver View Campsite

40 units · Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · England

Welcome to Silver View Campsite, we are a family and dog friendly site offering a traditional camping experience right next to Exmoor National Park. Our non-electric grass pitches are perfect for tents, campervans, trailer tents, and small motorhomes, all set in a gently sloping field with stunning coastal and countryside views. There are plenty of flat spots to choose from too! With Ilfracombe, the South West Coast Path, and beautiful sandy beaches just 15 minutes away, we’re the ideal base for your North Devon adventures. Nestled next to Exmoor National Park, just five minutes from Combe Martin and the coast, our family-friendly campsite offers a traditional camping experience in the heart of North Devon. With the South West Coast Path nearby, we’re the perfect base for keen walkers too. We welcome tents across our 50 non-electric grass pitches, each with space for up to six guests and stunning countryside and coastal views—perfect for sunset watching. Campfires and fire pits are welcome, with logs available on-site and fire pits to hire, ideal for toasting marshmallows under the stars. Up to two dogs are welcome per pitch too! We are open from the 23rd to the 1st of June, weekends from the 20th of June to the 20th of July, and from the 24th of July to the 31st of August for the summer holidays. Our campsite offers eco-friendly loos and showers, plus a converted horse box with flushing toilets, extra showers, and a washing-up area. You can hire a fire pits (wood available to buy onsite), and we’ve got USB sockets for phone charging and a freezing facility for ice packs. Combe Martin is just a 25-minute walk away, with plenty of pubs and shops, including the Pack o' Cards Inn, Castle Inn, a Premier, and a Co-Op - perfect for stocking up or enjoying a meal out!

97%

(131)

Brig's Farm

21 units · Glamping, Tents1 acre · Bridport, Dorset, South West England

Family camping with campfires near Charmouth, with sea views and a couple of quirky glamping lorries

98%

(267)

South Dean Camping

70 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Barnstaple, Devon, South West England

Clifftop camping with epic sea views, right next to Exmoor National Park.

100%

(56)

Goren Farm

7 units · Motorhomes, Tents70 acres · Seaton, Devon, South West England

Nearly wild camping in Devonshire wildflower meadows

90%

(31)

The Enchanted Wilderness

6 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents22 acres · Yelverton, England

Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor

100%

(21)

Tregella Place Camping

40 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Padstow, England

Laid-back dog-friendly, family camping near Padstow

99%

(78)

Wytch Wood Camping

21 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Somerset, South West England

A small, quiet, eco-friendly campsite on a working sheep farm

93%

(7)

LEE MEADOW FARM CAMPING

45 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Ilfracombe, England

Traditional camping with lovely farm shop and take away Bike hire Zip wire camping shop Camp fires allowed bell tent glamping stays available cycle trail at the end of the lane situated just off the South West Coast Path 5 min drive from award winning Woolacombe Beach set in the beautiful countryside with some amazing views some of the sea electric hookup available grass pitches free hot showers washing up facilities family bathroom plenty of room for everyone to have a lovely time

100%

(4)

Trewan Hall

20 units · Motorhomes, Tents36 acres · Saint Columb, England

The grounds of a 17th century manor where a relaxed atmosphere and sense of pleasant privacy rules

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in Fernworthy Forest guide

Overview

Set on the banks of the Fernworthy Reservoir at the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, Fernworthy Forest has some of the NP’s most rewarding short walks. Follow the lakeside trail, enjoy bird-watching or fish for brown trout around the lake, then stop for a picnic by the lakeside. Hikers can choose from a variety of forest trails. Explore Bronze Age stone circles, follow scenic woodland walks, and spot herds of native Dartmoor ponies grazing the moors. There are no campsites at Fernworthy Forest, but wild camping is permitted—pitch your tent beneath the trees for a real back-to-nature experience.

When to go

July and August are the peak season in Dartmoor National Park, and popular spots such as Fernworthy Forest can get crowded—parking is limited, so get there early. Forest walks can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s most magical in autumn, with its canopy of fall foliage. Dartmoor weather is notoriously changeable, so pack a sweater and raincoat even in summer.

Know before you go

Fernworthy Forest is located north of Dartmoor National Park, about a 15-minute drive southwest of Chagford. There is a pay and display car park by the entrance to the forest.
Restrooms are located at the forest car park, but there are no other facilities, so bring everything you need with you. The closest village is Chagford, which has a few pubs and small shops.
Trout fishing is possible on the lake between March and October, and fishing permits can be purchased on-site.
Parts of the lakeside trail are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Dartmoor National Park is one of the few places in the UK where wild camping is permitted. Tents must be pitched away from roads and attractions, and large group camping is not allowed.
Dartmoor has free-roaming ponies, sheep, and cattle, and these animals have the right of way on moorland roads. There is a strict speed limit of 40 mph throughout. It is a fineable offense to feed any of the animals in the park, and visitors are also advised to keep a distance for their own safety—these are feral animals and may kick or bite.