Campsites with showers 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% (1.6K)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Look Out

4. The Look Out

1 unit · Glamping · England
Welcome to the ‘Look Out’, our beautiful handmade pod, set in 12 acres of woodland and pasture nature reserve above our offgrid eco lodge - The Sanctuary Cornwall. First things first - this is for those guests who are used to camping and all that it entails, but with the opportunity to explore an offgrid stay with quite a bit more comfort than camping normally provides! It needs to be emphasised that booking this space is really for the relatively fit and active. There is one car parking space available half way up our driveway, but after that it is not only a walk uphill to the main building, but a further steep walk uphill to the Look Out. You will need to carry everything that you need. It is definitely worth it - the views are amazing! You are away and up above, but within easy reach of the Sanctuary. There will also be some filling and emptying of water containers involved, and you may like to charge the solar battery from the panel on sunny days! So, what do we offer? A king bed. Fair trade, organic bed linen, and cotton & bamboo towels. A fold up table and two wicker chairs. Charnwood wood burning stove, with firelighters, kindling, brush and poker set. Wood, selected and dried is available free of charge for the first basket, £5 after that. A tiny kitchen pod with a single gas burner and even tinier sink with pop up tap. Underneath, there is a 10 litre water container for fresh water and another for waste. These can be filled or emptied at the Sanctuary. There is a kettle, teapot, coffee pot, enamel mugs, crockery & cutlery, knives, breadboard and washing up things. A solar battery to provide power for the tap pump along with charging facilities for charging your phone or laptop (we hope you won’t be bringing work with you!) Led battery lanterns - we ask that you do not burn candles - we have a good range of battery candles for you. There is also a separate wooden shelter kitchen, with kitchen worktop, washing up bow and two burner gas stove. It has a cool box, saucepans, crockery etc and a lidded storage box for food. There is a 10 litre water container with a tap, and bins for kitchen waste, recycling and general rubbish. This is next to the Look Out, and there is a separate charcoal fire pit and seating under the trees. We ask that you burn nothing other than the fuel you are provided with. A composting toilet in its own, handmade building next to the Crow’s Nest, with a water container and small bowl for washing hands. An exclusive use shower room is back at the Sanctuary (a short walk downhill) and there is a separate flushing toilet (not exclusive, but only used by occasional staff members) Another outdoor kitchen for all guests with a gas barbecue, and wood fired pizza oven, picnic tables and an outdoor sink. You can wash up and fill your containers there from our own filtered spring water. This is at the side of the Sanctuary building. Storage benches on the covered deck area, with outdoor cushions, and a welly rack. In good weather, a pair of hammocks under the trees to relax in! Hopefully, during the season, there will be produce available from our new vegetable garden and polytunnel - as long as the voles, rabbits, pigeons, blackbirds & deer haven’t beaten us to it! You have a parking space in the carpark for one car - this is halfway down the steep entrance track. If you are nervous of driving small lanes and steep hills, we may not be right for you. We do not accept dogs at The Lookout, as we feel it is a bit small, and we do not allow dogs on any furniture so it’s not fair to them. Also, it is a wild landscape with deer etc and so there is no secure place for them to be other than on a lead. We are also adults only, and there are quiet hours between 10pm and 9am, and we are strictly no smoking. Although you are private at The Look Out, you are also part of our Eco Lodge surroundings, and nature reserve, and we also welcome bed and breakfast guests, so there will be others around. You are also welcome to join us for breakfast at the Sanctuary building for an extra charge. We have a good village pub, 5 mins walk away, (www.fishermansarmsgolant.co.uk) and a kayak/paddleboard company in the village (www.encountercornwall.com)
Potable water
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£100
 / night
Fire Beacon Camping

7. Fire Beacon Camping

95%
(11)
16 units · Tents · Sidmouth, Devon, South West England
Set in a peaceful, rural location in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Fire Beacon Camping is a fabulous location for a countryside escape, 1.5 miles along a traditional Devon country lane, when you arrive the views of Devon countryside, will not disappoint! Perfectly situated for stunning sunsets and the best starry night skies, how many shooting stars will you see? (weather permitting) This is a tranquil, off grid nearly wild campsite, with a strong eco ethos with views across to Exmoor, composting toilet facilities, and recycling facilities. the wildlife is abundant, all the pitches are extremely generously sized and a Fire Pit provided for each one. It's a 10 minute drive to Sidmouth with its beautiful beaches and wide range of Independent shops, Cafes and pubs, and 10 minutes drive in the opposite direction to Ottery St Mary, which also boasts a wide range of Independent shops, there are also plenty of Farm Shops in the area. There is no end of wonderful beaches to explore along the Jurassic coastline. From Fossil hunting in Lyme Regis to the East, the quaint fishing village of Beer to massive golden sandy beaches in Exmouth to the west. With lots of woodland walks on the 'doorstep' the East Devon Way is a 5 minute walk away, 15 minutes walk to the Fire Beacon Nature Reserve and for keen hikers, we're close to the South West Coast Path. For mountain bikers, there are some great routes in the local woodlands and bike routes are also close by with the challenging River Exe Loop and family bike routes along the Otter river less than 15 minutes’ drive away.
Pets
Campfires
from 
£18
 / night
Camping5Acres

14. Camping5Acres

93%
(15)
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

16. 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
Trash
from 
£25
 / 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.

96% (1.6K)

Top-rated campgrounds

The Look Out

4. The Look Out

1 unit · Glamping · England
Welcome to the ‘Look Out’, our beautiful handmade pod, set in 12 acres of woodland and pasture nature reserve above our offgrid eco lodge - The Sanctuary Cornwall. First things first - this is for those guests who are used to camping and all that it entails, but with the opportunity to explore an offgrid stay with quite a bit more comfort than camping normally provides! It needs to be emphasised that booking this space is really for the relatively fit and active. There is one car parking space available half way up our driveway, but after that it is not only a walk uphill to the main building, but a further steep walk uphill to the Look Out. You will need to carry everything that you need. It is definitely worth it - the views are amazing! You are away and up above, but within easy reach of the Sanctuary. There will also be some filling and emptying of water containers involved, and you may like to charge the solar battery from the panel on sunny days! So, what do we offer? A king bed. Fair trade, organic bed linen, and cotton & bamboo towels. A fold up table and two wicker chairs. Charnwood wood burning stove, with firelighters, kindling, brush and poker set. Wood, selected and dried is available free of charge for the first basket, £5 after that. A tiny kitchen pod with a single gas burner and even tinier sink with pop up tap. Underneath, there is a 10 litre water container for fresh water and another for waste. These can be filled or emptied at the Sanctuary. There is a kettle, teapot, coffee pot, enamel mugs, crockery & cutlery, knives, breadboard and washing up things. A solar battery to provide power for the tap pump along with charging facilities for charging your phone or laptop (we hope you won’t be bringing work with you!) Led battery lanterns - we ask that you do not burn candles - we have a good range of battery candles for you. There is also a separate wooden shelter kitchen, with kitchen worktop, washing up bow and two burner gas stove. It has a cool box, saucepans, crockery etc and a lidded storage box for food. There is a 10 litre water container with a tap, and bins for kitchen waste, recycling and general rubbish. This is next to the Look Out, and there is a separate charcoal fire pit and seating under the trees. We ask that you burn nothing other than the fuel you are provided with. A composting toilet in its own, handmade building next to the Crow’s Nest, with a water container and small bowl for washing hands. An exclusive use shower room is back at the Sanctuary (a short walk downhill) and there is a separate flushing toilet (not exclusive, but only used by occasional staff members) Another outdoor kitchen for all guests with a gas barbecue, and wood fired pizza oven, picnic tables and an outdoor sink. You can wash up and fill your containers there from our own filtered spring water. This is at the side of the Sanctuary building. Storage benches on the covered deck area, with outdoor cushions, and a welly rack. In good weather, a pair of hammocks under the trees to relax in! Hopefully, during the season, there will be produce available from our new vegetable garden and polytunnel - as long as the voles, rabbits, pigeons, blackbirds & deer haven’t beaten us to it! You have a parking space in the carpark for one car - this is halfway down the steep entrance track. If you are nervous of driving small lanes and steep hills, we may not be right for you. We do not accept dogs at The Lookout, as we feel it is a bit small, and we do not allow dogs on any furniture so it’s not fair to them. Also, it is a wild landscape with deer etc and so there is no secure place for them to be other than on a lead. We are also adults only, and there are quiet hours between 10pm and 9am, and we are strictly no smoking. Although you are private at The Look Out, you are also part of our Eco Lodge surroundings, and nature reserve, and we also welcome bed and breakfast guests, so there will be others around. You are also welcome to join us for breakfast at the Sanctuary building for an extra charge. We have a good village pub, 5 mins walk away, (www.fishermansarmsgolant.co.uk) and a kayak/paddleboard company in the village (www.encountercornwall.com)
Potable water
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£100
 / night
Fire Beacon Camping

7. Fire Beacon Camping

95%
(11)
16 units · Tents · Sidmouth, Devon, South West England
Set in a peaceful, rural location in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Fire Beacon Camping is a fabulous location for a countryside escape, 1.5 miles along a traditional Devon country lane, when you arrive the views of Devon countryside, will not disappoint! Perfectly situated for stunning sunsets and the best starry night skies, how many shooting stars will you see? (weather permitting) This is a tranquil, off grid nearly wild campsite, with a strong eco ethos with views across to Exmoor, composting toilet facilities, and recycling facilities. the wildlife is abundant, all the pitches are extremely generously sized and a Fire Pit provided for each one. It's a 10 minute drive to Sidmouth with its beautiful beaches and wide range of Independent shops, Cafes and pubs, and 10 minutes drive in the opposite direction to Ottery St Mary, which also boasts a wide range of Independent shops, there are also plenty of Farm Shops in the area. There is no end of wonderful beaches to explore along the Jurassic coastline. From Fossil hunting in Lyme Regis to the East, the quaint fishing village of Beer to massive golden sandy beaches in Exmouth to the west. With lots of woodland walks on the 'doorstep' the East Devon Way is a 5 minute walk away, 15 minutes walk to the Fire Beacon Nature Reserve and for keen hikers, we're close to the South West Coast Path. For mountain bikers, there are some great routes in the local woodlands and bike routes are also close by with the challenging River Exe Loop and family bike routes along the Otter river less than 15 minutes’ drive away.
Pets
Campfires
from 
£18
 / night
Camping5Acres

14. Camping5Acres

93%
(15)
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

16. 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
Trash
from 
£25
 / night

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Campsites with showers 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.