Beach camping in Fernworthy Forest
Woodland walks, lakeside picnics, and Bronze Age ruins are the highlights of this Dartmoor forest.
96% (615 reviews)
- Fernworthy Forest
96% (615 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Fernworthy Forest
Under £50
Available this weekend
12 top beach campsites in Fernworthy Forest
97%
(198)
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.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£35
/ night
94%
(234)
Sweet Hill Farm
10 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Dorset, South West England
Simple, almost-wild, seaside camping on the Isle of Portland
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£15
/ night
98%
(29)
Glan Y Mor Camping
15 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · St Petrox, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
A super-friendly, family-run campsite on the edge of Pembroke
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£20
/ night
97%
(81)
Parke Farm Camping
50 units · Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Idyllic farm campsite with campfires in south Pembrokeshire, 10 minutes' drive from several top beaches
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£20
/ night
97%
(107)
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
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£12.50
/ night
97%
(126)
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping
127 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · 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
Trash
Cooking equipment
from
£25
/ night
99%
(53)
Big Barn Camping
16 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, South Wales
Care-free camping and glamping in the heart of Carmarthen Bay's Dylan Thomas country.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£25.50
/ night
100%
(121)
Westland Farm
21 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents27 acres · Barnstaple, Devon, South West England
Camping and glamping on a working farm, with yurts, huts with hot tubs, and simple, spacious, sociable camping pitches
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£12.50
/ night
93%
(134)
Heritage Coast Campsite
38 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
Simple camping (with glamping options) just a stroll from the nearest Glamorgan beach – plus a brilliant little café to boot
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£30
/ night
98%
(94)
Cider Farm Orchard Campsite
14 units · Tents20 acres · Dorset, South West England
Adult-only camping amid the apple blossom of an award-winning cider orchard
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£16
/ night
100%
(18)
Hardyes Countryside Camping
35 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Weymouth, Dorset, South West England
Camping in a Dorset field between Dorchester and the Jurassic coast.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£25
/ night
94%
(61)
Ryn Gwari Farm
15 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Penzance, Cornwall, South West England
A family-friendly, 10-pitch campsite in Cornwall with big views, rustic facilities and a touch of magic
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
£10
/ night
Star Hosts in Fernworthy Forest
Dog-friendly getaways
Beach 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.
Top regions near Fernworthy Forest
Safety at Hipcamp
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.