Camping in Fernworthy Forest

95% (1784 reviews)

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.

Popular camping styles for Fernworthy Forest

Top-rated campgrounds

Camping5Acres

9. Camping5Acres

93%
(14)
24 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Taunton, Somerset, South West England
As you'd expect from a site with such a name, there's a whole lot of space in which to relax and explore at 5 Acres, a large grassy site in the Somerset Levels. Kids and dogs are both welcome on site here, and there's plenty of scope for them to run about and play games safely away from barbecues and campfires (which are also permitted to keep you warm and fed in the evenings). Facilities on site include firepits, a toilet and shower block and outdoor sinks with mains water. Dogs must be kept on leads at all time. We class ourselves as a quite site so no amplified music. The premier pitch is fully enclosed so dogs can be let off the lead. There is a maximum of six people allowed on this pitch at any one time. Visitors are allowed as long as the total number of people doesn't exceed six and they are chargeable at the overnight rate and must leave by 18:00 - Sorry, had the envelope pushed a bit! Mains hook ups are 6Amp max rated. Pitches are approximately 16m x 20m. The flag, firepit and pitch number line up in the centre of your pitch. The surrounding Somerset Levels aren’t just out in the sticks – they also produce them. Willow cane has been cultivated the traditional way in this part of the county for hundreds of years and can be seen growing within a mile of 5 Acres. The Levels are also a wildlife haven, making them an all-round top choice for country walks along the many trails nearby. And while this may be a rural retreat, it's also one that's easy to get to as it's just off the A378 (no winding country lanes to negotiate for this one…) Taunton town centre, with its wide range of shops and supermarkets, is a 15-minute drive away. The closest pub and coffee shop are five minutes away by road.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£12
 / night
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

12. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%
(147)
168 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Cornwall, South West England
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.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£25
 / night
Buzzard yurt and terrace

15. Homemade Holidays

100%
(18)
2 units · Glamping · Devon, South West England
A hidden paradise of organic vege, swimming pond, wild areas and views, next to a large ancient woodland, footpaths and the Jurassic coastline near Lyme Regis. Two unique and comfortable off grid yurts (each sleep 5), with extra sleeping spaces available on request. Dog friendly. Kid heaven! No smoking please in the yurts. Beware fire risk in other spaces. Buzzard Yurt on the hillside at the top of the paddock, with its large terrace and stunning views across the Axe valley. Kingfisher Yurt, nestled down by the wild swimming and kayaking pond, amongst the oak trees. Each has exclusive use of their own homemade, separate, fully equipped kitchen, a cosy chill-out area with books and games, and private indoor shower. Each yurt pitch has its own compost loo and campfire area. Extra wood at low cost, freezer space and additional tent space all available. Buzzard also has a rustic indoor loo (close to daytime spaces.) Shared games/pool/music room with a piano and guitars. Homegrown vege and eggs often available from the organic smallholding. Welcome to join in with growing, harvesting, juicing, preserving, cooking, egg collection etc. Detox and unwind from the digital world - though you'll find wi-fi /ethernet cable in daytime spaces😉 Wild swimming in our natural swimming pond, which has a selection of kayaks and boards. Great for building open water confidence and paddle practice. Woodfired hot tub £50 one day, £75 for two. Msg me to book. Fresh spring water (no chemicals). Relax and enjoy the views. Dog friendly, but please let me know. Please pay for any damage to bedding or fittings, thanks 🐾 Next to Holyford Woods Nature Reserve, famous locally for its magical bluebell display. Please msg for details of great local walks, eating out etc. Seaton Wetlands, Tramway and new Jurassic Centre...Fossil hunting..Lyme Regis museum and aquarium...Beer Quarry Caves, Pecorama model train gardens...crazy golf...Sidmouth Folk Festival...Beavers on the River Otter...wolves, bears, lynx and more at Escot Park. By booking either yurt you take full responsibility for your group's safety.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£81
 / night
95% (1784 reviews)

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.

Popular camping styles for Fernworthy Forest

Top-rated campgrounds

Camping5Acres

9. Camping5Acres

93%
(14)
24 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Taunton, Somerset, South West England
As you'd expect from a site with such a name, there's a whole lot of space in which to relax and explore at 5 Acres, a large grassy site in the Somerset Levels. Kids and dogs are both welcome on site here, and there's plenty of scope for them to run about and play games safely away from barbecues and campfires (which are also permitted to keep you warm and fed in the evenings). Facilities on site include firepits, a toilet and shower block and outdoor sinks with mains water. Dogs must be kept on leads at all time. We class ourselves as a quite site so no amplified music. The premier pitch is fully enclosed so dogs can be let off the lead. There is a maximum of six people allowed on this pitch at any one time. Visitors are allowed as long as the total number of people doesn't exceed six and they are chargeable at the overnight rate and must leave by 18:00 - Sorry, had the envelope pushed a bit! Mains hook ups are 6Amp max rated. Pitches are approximately 16m x 20m. The flag, firepit and pitch number line up in the centre of your pitch. The surrounding Somerset Levels aren’t just out in the sticks – they also produce them. Willow cane has been cultivated the traditional way in this part of the county for hundreds of years and can be seen growing within a mile of 5 Acres. The Levels are also a wildlife haven, making them an all-round top choice for country walks along the many trails nearby. And while this may be a rural retreat, it's also one that's easy to get to as it's just off the A378 (no winding country lanes to negotiate for this one…) Taunton town centre, with its wide range of shops and supermarkets, is a 15-minute drive away. The closest pub and coffee shop are five minutes away by road.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£12
 / night
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

12. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%
(147)
168 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Cornwall, South West England
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.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£25
 / night
Buzzard yurt and terrace

15. Homemade Holidays

100%
(18)
2 units · Glamping · Devon, South West England
A hidden paradise of organic vege, swimming pond, wild areas and views, next to a large ancient woodland, footpaths and the Jurassic coastline near Lyme Regis. Two unique and comfortable off grid yurts (each sleep 5), with extra sleeping spaces available on request. Dog friendly. Kid heaven! No smoking please in the yurts. Beware fire risk in other spaces. Buzzard Yurt on the hillside at the top of the paddock, with its large terrace and stunning views across the Axe valley. Kingfisher Yurt, nestled down by the wild swimming and kayaking pond, amongst the oak trees. Each has exclusive use of their own homemade, separate, fully equipped kitchen, a cosy chill-out area with books and games, and private indoor shower. Each yurt pitch has its own compost loo and campfire area. Extra wood at low cost, freezer space and additional tent space all available. Buzzard also has a rustic indoor loo (close to daytime spaces.) Shared games/pool/music room with a piano and guitars. Homegrown vege and eggs often available from the organic smallholding. Welcome to join in with growing, harvesting, juicing, preserving, cooking, egg collection etc. Detox and unwind from the digital world - though you'll find wi-fi /ethernet cable in daytime spaces😉 Wild swimming in our natural swimming pond, which has a selection of kayaks and boards. Great for building open water confidence and paddle practice. Woodfired hot tub £50 one day, £75 for two. Msg me to book. Fresh spring water (no chemicals). Relax and enjoy the views. Dog friendly, but please let me know. Please pay for any damage to bedding or fittings, thanks 🐾 Next to Holyford Woods Nature Reserve, famous locally for its magical bluebell display. Please msg for details of great local walks, eating out etc. Seaton Wetlands, Tramway and new Jurassic Centre...Fossil hunting..Lyme Regis museum and aquarium...Beer Quarry Caves, Pecorama model train gardens...crazy golf...Sidmouth Folk Festival...Beavers on the River Otter...wolves, bears, lynx and more at Escot Park. By booking either yurt you take full responsibility for your group's safety.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£81
 / night

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Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Camping in Fernworthy Forest 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.
  1. Fernworthy Forest