The best romantic campsites 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.

100% (58)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Hobbit House and Secret Garden

2. The Hobbit House and Secret Garden

100%
(4)
1 unit · Glamping · Ilminster, Somerset, South West England
Your own private retreat with cosy furnished Hobbit House and quirky features set in your own large private mature gardens. You have an outdoor under cover kitchen with sink and gas hob and prep area, campfire with tripod grill. You have you're own flushing toilet and hot shower. You have your own entrance to the garden. The house is approx 3x3m. We provide cutlery, cooking utensils and wood for the log burner and campfire. There is an electric socket in the house next to the bed suitable for charging purposes. Arrival 3pm and vacate by noon. 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 
£95
 / night

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.

100% (58)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Hobbit House and Secret Garden

2. The Hobbit House and Secret Garden

100%
(4)
1 unit · Glamping · Ilminster, Somerset, South West England
Your own private retreat with cosy furnished Hobbit House and quirky features set in your own large private mature gardens. You have an outdoor under cover kitchen with sink and gas hob and prep area, campfire with tripod grill. You have you're own flushing toilet and hot shower. You have your own entrance to the garden. The house is approx 3x3m. We provide cutlery, cooking utensils and wood for the log burner and campfire. There is an electric socket in the house next to the bed suitable for charging purposes. Arrival 3pm and vacate by noon. 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 
£95
 / night

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

The best romantic campsites 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.