Lake camping in Fernworthy Forest

·

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% (144) 336 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Fernworthy Forest

The Enchanted Wilderness

1. The Enchanted Wilderness

92%
(55)
Yelverton, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Simple riverside camping pitches in the Tamar Valley on the edge of Dartmoor
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

2. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%
(149)
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
Showers
Potable water
WILDSWIM2SAUNA

3. WILDSWIM2SAUNA

100%
(5)
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
Stones and Stars Boutique Glamping

4. Stones and Stars Boutique Glamping

England · 2 units
Escape to "Stones and Stars" - a brand new boutique glamping site with 5-10 tents surrounded by nature in a peaceful quarry on the edge of two lakes. Named after the star Sirius, this 5m luxury Bell tent has comfy bedding and everything you need to reconnect with nature. Explore nearby sandy beaches, forests and the vibrant maritime city of Plymouth or the remote Dartmoor. Charming communal areas and brand new luxury showers and toilets. Nature, comfort and adventure awaits!
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
The Dorset Hideaway

5. The Dorset Hideaway

90%
(5)
Bridport, England · 6 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Rural family run site in the heart of the Dorset country side just a couple miles from the Jurassic coast.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

6. Tregonetha Lake Camping & Glamping

98%
(26)
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. 🧡
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

7. Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

91%
(70)
St Austell, England · 67 units · Tents, Glamping
Lakeside camping with streams, rope swings and farmyard animals in rural Cornwall
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Dartmoor Domes

8. Dartmoor Domes

100%
(34)
Plymouth, England · 4 units
Geodesic glamping domes with a ceiling that lets you stargaze and a dark-sky setting on the edge of Dartmoor
Pets
Showers
Campfires
North End Farm

9. North End Farm

94%
(8)
Bridport, England · 3 units
North End Farm is situated in the spectacular Dorset countryside, yet only a couple of miles from the Jurassic Coast, beaches, pubs, restaurants. Wonderful walks are available on and beyond the farm. The Pavilion is a great place to rest and strike out from. The beach is 1.5 miles away. It is on a network of footpaths in the middle of it's own organic farmland. Bridport and Lyme Regis offer plenty of art and culture and are reknown for food, River Cottage and the Jurassic Coast. There is nothing better than being warm and cosy around the wood burner looking out at the great views. The Pavilion is good for couples, solo adventurers, art lovers, foodies and furry friends (pets)..
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Wolf Meadows Farm

10. Wolf Meadows Farm

100%
(1)
Umberleigh, England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Relaxed camping in a riverside meadow in north Devon
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Spring Fields

11. Spring Fields

100%
(1)
Lostwithiel, England · 1 unit
Set on 20 acres of natural fields with panoramic views, pond, woodlands and view walks. We have a seven acre field set aside for glamping with a Safari Camp and Shepherds Hut overlooking our natural pond complete with island. Stroll 100 metres to the farm mini shop, book a breakfast, order one of our luxury picnics or book a local distillery taster tour. Friendly farm animals, quirky accommodation, sunsets and glorious views.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Everdene Hut

12. Everdene Hut

England · 1 unit
Everdene Hut is a traditional shepherd’s hut on wheels located in a secluded location beside the pond at Laverstock which offers far reaching countryside views with a private space to enjoy the fire pit and star gazing. The hut has a cosy double bed, small table with stools and is heated by a wood burner, perfect for a relaxing comfortable stay. Rechargeable lanterns are provided and found in the washroom. There is a separate kitchen shed hut next to the Everdene Hut which has a generous supply of crockery, cutlery and pots and pans. A two-ring gas hob, kettle, barbecue, and fire pit are available for cooking. Water is provided in the hut kitchen. There is a shared washroom located at the farm (approximately 100m from the Hut) with a walk-in shower, WC and a small kitchen unit with a sink and draining board for washing up. The washroom also has a washing machine, tumble dryer plus a fridge with freezer compartment, trolleys and electricity for charging.
Pets
Showers
Campfires

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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

Popular Fernworthy Forest holidays