Camping in Fernworthy Forest

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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.

96% (2K) 3,742 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Fernworthy Forest

Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

1. Meldon Lake and Woods Wild Camping

98%
(253)
Okehampton, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Seriously simple but beautiful wild camping beside a lake on Dartmoor
Pets
Campfires
Girt Down Camping

2. Girt Down Camping

99%
(93)
Ilfracombe · 23 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
UPDATES FOR 2026! 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!
Pets
Campfires
Showers
South Dean Camping

3. South Dean Camping

98%
(334)
Barnstaple, England · 70 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Clifftop camping with epic sea views, right next to Exmoor National Park.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
WILDSWIM2SAUNA

4. WILDSWIM2SAUNA

94%
(9)
England · 32 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Set within 146 acres, the wildswim2sauna campsite at the Yeo farm estate lends itself to adventurous and active families looking for a unique off grid camping experience. If alfresco living, wild swimming, hot tubbing, saunas, wild fire cooking, rivers, woods, fishing and being surrounded by nature and wildlife then you’re in the right place. fantastic beaches and cool places to visit such as Salcombe, Totnes, Bantham Beach, Hope Cove are just 20mins drive away.. Facilities include private riverside pitches, outside gym, trampoline adventure playground, fire pits, picnic tables, cinders gas bbq and outside dining area. The riverside sauna needs to be booked. Please visit; WWW.WILDSWIM2SAUNA.COM for a detailed description of our boutique riverside camp Ps Don’t forget your swimmers
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
Goren Farm

5. Goren Farm

100%
(114)
Seaton, England · 8 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Nearly wild camping in Devonshire wildflower meadows
Showers
Potable water
Wifi
Wonton Park Camping

6. Wonton Park Camping

100%
(15)
Totnes, England · 13 units · Tents, Motorhomes
View-tastic pitches for tents, campervans and caravans on a farm in Devon
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
Berries Farm Camping

7. Berries Farm Camping

99%
(47)
England · 30 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Berries Farm Camping is a small eco-friendly family-run campsite, located in the heart of West Dorset Countryside. We are situated at the top of Lyme Regis, on the A3052. Set amongst 5 acres of picturesque farmland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within walking distance to Charmouth, which is part of the World Heritage Coast. With your own spacious camping spot, enjoy the panoramic views of the rolling hills of Lyme Regis. We provide generous grass only pitches for tents and camper-vans. These are unpowered sites. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate for caravans. Nearby attractions include the Jurrasic Coast, quaint market towns and local pubs serving farm fresh food and local seafood. Enjoy River Cottage HQ for a cookery course and get a taste of local cuisine. Also near by is Lyme Regis driving range, golf course and foot-golf. If you fancy exploring Lyme Regis, take the park and ride which is within a short walking distance South of the farm. If walking is more your thing, there is an abundance of local footpaths including the south west coastal path, with Lyme Regis just 1 mile away. Our amenities include flushing toilets and hot water shower blocks. A designated space is avaliable for washing dirty dishes. Be advised that only cold water is provided. BBQ's are permitted; however, they must raised off the ground to prevent damage to the grass. Bricks will be provided for this purpose. Please note that campfires are now allowed at this time. Please feel free to bring your pets, but bear in mind there will be sheep on the farm. Our “what3words” for Berries farm is: ///lives.grandest.honeybees https://w3w.co/lives.grandest.honeybees) Postcode: DT7 3UE (this will NOT take you directly to the farm, please follow the ''what3words'' above) Latitude, Longitude: 50.740819, -2.936091 You’ll share 5 acres of land surrounded by a further 15 acres of beautiful hillside farmland for you to enjoy.
Pets
Showers
Water hookup
Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

8. Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

98%
(31)
England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes
🌿 Camping Season: 3rd April – 18th September 2026 Welcome to Tregonetha Lake – your little corner of paradise. We’re Mel and Tom, and we’d love to welcome you to our peaceful, eco-friendly camping site, proudly awarded a Silver Green Tourism Award. Sometimes you just need to slow down and surround yourself with nature. 🌿 If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, wake up to birdsong, enjoy beautiful lake views and reconnect with nature, you’re in the right place. Our small, off-grid campsite is surrounded by beautiful Cornish countryside, with a stunning two-acre coarse fishing lake at its heart. Watch damselflies dancing across the water, spot kingfishers and other wildlife, enjoy spectacular sunsets over the lake and spend your evenings beneath some of Cornwall’s darkest skies. Although you’ll feel wonderfully tucked away, we’re perfectly placed for exploring Cornwall. Mawgan Porth is just 9 miles away, Padstow 10 miles, Newquay 11 miles and Mevagissey 15 miles away, making Tregonetha Lake the perfect base for exploring both the north and south coasts. As a Freedom Camping Club Certified Site, we offer peaceful, low-impact camping in a natural setting — no membership required. Camping Tregonetha Lake is home to around 20 camping pitches, so while you’ll have other campers nearby during busier periods, we’ve designed the site to feel spacious, peaceful and relaxed. Whether you choose a lakeside pitch or one of our secluded woodland pitches, there’s always plenty of room to unwind and enjoy nature. All camping pitches are non-allocated, so simply choose your favourite spot when you arrive and make yourselves at home. Fishing At the heart of the campsite is our beautiful two-acre coarse fishing lake, where guests can enjoy peaceful days by the water surrounded by nature. Fishing day tickets are available during your stay. 🍕 NEW for Summer 2026 – Wildfire Lakeside Bar & Kitchen From 16th July until the end of August, we’re excited to introduce Wildfire – Lakeside Bar & Kitchen. Enjoy stone-baked pizzas, homemade loaded nachos, cold drinks and fresh coffee beside the lake while watching the sun go down. Opening Hours Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm Friday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm Saturday: 1:00pm – 9:00pm 🍳 Breakfast Fresh coffee and breakfast rolls are available every morning for campsite guests between 8:00am and 10:00am. 🍕 Sunday – Wednesday Don’t fancy cooking? We also offer evening food for campsite guests by pre-order between 5:00pm and 9:00pm. Just let us know in advance and we’ll have everything freshly prepared for you. 🥐 Freshly Baked Breakfast Treats Fresh croissants and pain au chocolat are available to pre-order and collect from 8:00am each morning. A little about us We’ve called Cornwall home for over 20 years and love sharing our favourite beaches, walks, restaurants and hidden gems with our guests. Tom is a keen surfer and is always happy to recommend the best local beaches depending on the weather and surf conditions, while Mel is full of local knowledge to help you make the most of your stay. We’re a small family-run campsite and genuinely enjoy meeting the people who stay with us. Whether you’re here for a weekend escape, a family holiday or simply passing through, we hope you’ll leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and already planning your next visit. We can’t wait to welcome you to Tregonetha Lake. 🧡
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Potable water
Tregella Place Camping

9. Tregella Place Camping

94%
(34)
Padstow, England · 40 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Laid-back dog-friendly, family camping near Padstow
Pets
Showers
Potable water
Wild Wanderers - Riverside Camping

10. Wild Wanderers - Riverside Camping

100%
(8)
Holsworthy, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Wild Wanderers, family friendly, rough and ready, wild and woolly Camping on the Devon/Cornwall Border! We family run and we are excited to offer our very first camping season! NEW FOR 2026! After three years of welcoming families to our much-loved holiday cottages, we're thrilled to open our fields for our very first camping season. With just a handful of boutique pitches on our family-run smallholding, we're giving even more families the chance to experience the magic of Wild Wanderers. Expect the same warm welcome, beautiful countryside and unforgettable adventures, just with a tent, a campfire and a little more wilderness. This isn't a holiday park. There are no flashing arcades or rows of identical pitches. Instead, you'll find space to breathe, children free to explore, and the kind of camping that creates the stories you'll still be talking about years later. Wake up to birdsong, wander down to the river for a paddle or wild swim, meet our friendly sheep and farm animals, toast marshmallows around the campfire and watch the stars come out. We're keeping things beautifully simple with clean toilets, hot showers and a washing-up area everything you need, without taking away the feeling of being close to nature. Bring your BBQ, hire one of our raised fire pits, or join us on one of our popular wood-fired pizza evenings. Don't forget to grab one of our famous s'mores kits... because camping simply isn't camping without gooey marshmallows! Perfectly placed on the Devon and Cornwall border, we're just a short drive from Bude's award-winning beaches, fantastic surfing, breathtaking coastal walks and endless family adventures. Already loved by hundreds of families staying in our cottages, this is now your chance to enjoy the same beautiful setting on a camping budget. What you'll love • Spacious pitches on our boutique family smallholding • Riverside adventures, fishing, paddling and wild swimming • Friendly sheep and farm animals to meet • Campfires (raised fire pits only) and BBQs welcome • Wood-fired pizza nights on selected evenings • S'mores kits available to make evenings extra special • Family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of space to roam • Well-behaved dogs welcome • One-night stays accepted • A short distance from Bude, surfing beaches and the best of both Devon and Cornwall Whether you're surfing at sunrise, building dams in the river with the kids, or ending the day around the fire beneath a sky full of stars, Wild Wanderers is all about slowing down, reconnecting and making memories together. We can't wait to welcome you to our little corner of the countryside.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Brig's Farm

11. Brig's Farm

97%
(171)
Bridport, England · 21 units · Tents, Glamping
Family camping with campfires near Charmouth, with sea views and a couple of quirky glamping lorries
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Forest Edge Camping & Glamping

12. Forest Edge Camping & Glamping

100%
(33)
Sidbury, England · 18 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A welcoming and wild-ish camping and glamping site on the edge of a forest in East Devon
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Cottage Farm Camping

13. Cottage Farm Camping

100%
(1)
Kingsbridge, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
We are a small camp site on the edge of Loddiswell. The large and level-grounded pitches with plenty of space for groups or for dogs (on leads) to sit with you. The facilities at your disposal include compost toilets , shower and a dishwashing station. Non electric hookup £15 a pitch Camper van or tent for for 2 adults £5 per extra person up to a max of 6. 2 vehicle per pitch. It’s beaches and walks galore from Cottage Farm Camping just outside the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. On the edge of Loddiswell, this easily accessible site is 20 minutes’ drive away from a reel of beaches, including Bigbury on Sea, South Milton Sands, Hope Cove and Mothecombe. There are a fair few golf courses and National Trust properties in the local area. Plus, with Kingsbridge 10 minutes’ drive away and Plymouth 40 minutes’ drive away, town life isn’t too far either – a great situation for things like restaurants, cafés, shopping and the likes (not forgetting seafood in Salcombe, 20 minutes’ drive away). Those of you who are fans of walking will have a good run of Dartmoor National Park’s moors, 20 minutes’ drive away, or the splendid walks. Friday and Sat evening the Pavillioj in the playing field run a pop ip pub. 5 minute walk from the site.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Bush Farm Campsite

14. Bush Farm Campsite

99%
(110)
Saltash, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
As close to wild camping as you can get on a rewilded 200-acre farm in Cornwall
Pets
Campfires
Showers
The Enchanted Wilderness

15. The Enchanted Wilderness

93%
(62)
Yelverton, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor
Pets
Showers
Potable water
Tencreek Holiday Park

16. Tencreek Holiday Park

100%
(1)
England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Nestled on a gentle hillside approximately 100 m above sea level, Tencreek Holiday Park offers sea views from virtually every pitch—whether you're on tent, caravan, or motorhome. Its terraced layout with low tree rows ensures both privacy and vantage points across the rolling Cornish countryside and the shimmering bay beyond. The park boasts modern underfloor‑heated toilet, shower, and wet‑room blocks, including facilities suitable for families and mobility-restricted guests. Every comfort station includes hand and hair dryers, chemical disposal, dishwashing sinks, and water points close to pitches
Pets
Showers
Potable water
Berry's Ground Lane Campsite

17. Berry's Ground Lane Campsite

97%
(38)
Martinhoe, England · 40 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Wake up to sea air, wide open skies and the sound of nature at this peaceful, wild-style campsite on the North Devon coast. Set on an organic working farm, each spacious field has no more than six pitches, giving you plenty of room to relax, explore and enjoy the incredible coastal views. Campfires are very much part of the experience. We provide raised firepits to borrow, with logs available to buy on site, making evenings perfect for stargazing, sharing stories and unwinding together around the fire. The campsite is located just outside the small hamlet of Martinhoe, with direct access to the South West Coast Path for spectacular coastal walks straight from your pitch. A historic Roman beacon sits nearby, and the surrounding farmland is rich in wildlife — deer are often spotted in neighbouring fields, alongside birds of prey and songbirds. Facilities are simple and low-impact, with a compost toilet and a water point provided. There is no electricity, no showers and no Wi-Fi — a delightfully off-grid setting designed for those who value peace, space and time outdoors. Spacious, calm and family-friendly, this is an ideal place to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy a truly rural coastal escape.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
Aldridge Mill

18. Aldridge Mill

96%
(23)
Tiverton, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A yurt, a gypsy wagon, and wild camping pitches in a Devon valley.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

19. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%
(150)
St Kew, England · 83 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Wake up to the sound of birdsong, go swimming before breakfast in the clear water of a secluded lake. Cook your bacon and eggs over an open fire while you plan your day, or just laze it away in the peace and quiet of your own personal tipi. You can always go fishing tomorrow, and walk along the cliffs the day after that… The site is a unique woodland valley folded around a clear, spring-fed lake created from the old Tregildrans Quarry. Our tipis and tent pitches are dotted about this secret 20 acres full of ferns, bluebells, oak and meadowsweet. Left in peace for many years there's been no modern chemicals or poisons on the land, meaning we've got bluebells, dormice, Red Admirals and shy woodland Jays for you to spot. It’s a place set apart from the rush and clutter of the modern holiday experience, with an atmosphere that makes you forget the world outside, and just lounge, ramble, or potter about in a boat. We're committed to giving you a genuinely individual service from first contact to your time staying with us. We established CTH in 1996. This was the first and we believe still is the best tipi holiday site in the UK. We know our area inside out and can always help with local knowledge or contacts if you need them. We want to offer our guests a sustainable holiday. A return to real camping means the lowest possible impact on the land and environment - our tipi poles don’t even break the surface of the earth. Your footprint while here could only be bettered by a survival expert. You don't have to fly! a major bonus, and we source all our wood, fish and canvas locally and work with local people wherever possible.
Campfires
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Potable water
Pittaford Farm

20. Pittaford Farm

99%
(69)
Kingsbridge, England · 15 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A campfire-friendly site in South Devon, with a beach, a nature reserve and a pub all less than 45 minutes' walk away
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Fernworthy Forest camping guide

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Restrooms are located at the forest car park, but there are no other facilities, so visitors should bring everything they need with them. The closest village with amenities is Chagford, which has a few pubs and small shops.

Yes, camping is allowed at Fernworthy Forest. 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. It is recommended to get there early as parking is limited. You can also explore different options for camping near Fernworthy Forest on Hipcamp.

Yes, trout fishing is possible on the lake at Fernworthy Forest between March and October. Fishing permits can be purchased on-site.

Forest walks can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s most magical in autumn, with its canopy of fall foliage. 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.

Yes, parts of the lakeside trail at Fernworthy Forest are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

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

Popular Fernworthy Forest holidays