Bell tents in Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve

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For its tiny extent (under two square miles!) Gibraltar Point NNR, south of popular beach resort Skegness, packs in an impressive array of landscapes. Two banks of sand dunes are centred in a tract of salt marsh, while bordering it to the east is the sand, mud, and shingle beachscape that forms the northern edge of The Wash—one of England’s largest estuaries. These contrasting habitats make the reserve and its encircling marshes a mecca for many bird species to be seen while walking the trails winding through the reserve. The closest camping is at Skegness, three miles north, or west via footpath around Wainfleet All Saints.

97% (253)

Top-rated campgrounds

Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

6. Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

78%
(29)
108 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · King's Lynn, England
🌅 Hunstanton Camping & Glamping with mYminiBreak: The Coastal Escape Hunstanton Camping & Glamping offers a relaxed, back-to-basics coastal escape in Heacham, Norfolk. The site, a former dairy farm, maintains a peaceful, natural atmosphere, perfect for those looking to unplug. 🐾 Exceptionally Dog-Friendly Haven The site is dog-friendly, welcoming companions in all accommodation types. Its best feature is the immediate access to the sea, being just a quick 2-minute walk from the vast sands of Heacham South Beach. Crucially, this beach operates with no year-round restrictions for dogs, offering unrestricted playtime. 🌊 Prime Location and Local Area The site's unique west-facing position on the West Norfolk coast means guests witness spectacular sunsets directly over the sea—a daily, breathtaking ritual. You are perfectly situated to explore North Norfolk: Hunstanton: The nearby Victorian resort offers seaside fun and the famous striped cliffs of Old Hunstanton. Nature & Walks: Enjoy direct access to the Norfolk Coast Path and close proximity to the Wild Ken Hill rewilding project and Sandringham Estate for extensive hiking and wildlife spotting. Activities: The calm, shallow local waters are excellent for watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding. 🔥 Back-to-Basics Ethos and Core Facilities The ethos of the site embraces a simple, "back-to-basics" camping philosophy. Accommodation: Pitch your own tents, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans, or choose glamping in rustic Shepherd's Huts or spacious Bell Tents. Campfires: Campfires and BBQs are encouraged and allowed, with private fire pits/braziers provided for glamping units, perfect for gatherings under the clear, dark Norfolk skies Core Facilities: Essential amenities are clean and functional: shared toilet/shower blocks with hot water; designated washing-up station and access to fresh drinking water. Limited electric hook-ups are available for pitches upon request, though the emphasis is on a connected-to-nature experience. Wifi available. This site offers an unforgettable escape, blending traditional outdoor life with coastal charm.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£17
 / night
The Mushroom Farm Campsite

9. The Mushroom Farm Campsite

100%
(6)
36 units · Tents, Glamping · Oakham, England
Authentic old school camping! Bring your own tent and stay in one our lovely private pitches. Our pitches are big enough to park your car and pitch a large family tent with plenty of space for sitting and BBQs. Our site is off grid so you will be provided with plenty of fresh water in containers. There are compost toilets dotted around the site which are cleaned daily and there is firewood and charcoal available to buy. We also have a little honesty shop selling a few bits and pieces that campers often forget to pack. The mushroom farm feels more like wild camping or a pioneers camp. It is not a manicured site so we recommend bringing an airbed for a comfortable sleep. But a positive you’ll be sharing it with wildlife – frequent visitors include songbirds, red kites, kestrels, owls, bats, lizards, frogs and toads, snakes, rabbits and hares, muntjac deer, mice, foxes, dragonflies, butterflies, moths and beetles… The camp is set on a mushroom farm with young trees and large areas left to rewild. This means flowering thistles and uneven ground so it may not be suitable for babies, very young children or people with health conditions. The 2025 camping season at the Mushroom farm is from Friday the 23rd of May until Sunday the 22rd of June. We are then closed for a few weeks but open again from Friday the 18th of July until Sunday the 17th of August.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£35
 / night

For its tiny extent (under two square miles!) Gibraltar Point NNR, south of popular beach resort Skegness, packs in an impressive array of landscapes. Two banks of sand dunes are centred in a tract of salt marsh, while bordering it to the east is the sand, mud, and shingle beachscape that forms the northern edge of The Wash—one of England’s largest estuaries. These contrasting habitats make the reserve and its encircling marshes a mecca for many bird species to be seen while walking the trails winding through the reserve. The closest camping is at Skegness, three miles north, or west via footpath around Wainfleet All Saints.

97% (253)

Top-rated campgrounds

Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

6. Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

78%
(29)
108 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · King's Lynn, England
🌅 Hunstanton Camping & Glamping with mYminiBreak: The Coastal Escape Hunstanton Camping & Glamping offers a relaxed, back-to-basics coastal escape in Heacham, Norfolk. The site, a former dairy farm, maintains a peaceful, natural atmosphere, perfect for those looking to unplug. 🐾 Exceptionally Dog-Friendly Haven The site is dog-friendly, welcoming companions in all accommodation types. Its best feature is the immediate access to the sea, being just a quick 2-minute walk from the vast sands of Heacham South Beach. Crucially, this beach operates with no year-round restrictions for dogs, offering unrestricted playtime. 🌊 Prime Location and Local Area The site's unique west-facing position on the West Norfolk coast means guests witness spectacular sunsets directly over the sea—a daily, breathtaking ritual. You are perfectly situated to explore North Norfolk: Hunstanton: The nearby Victorian resort offers seaside fun and the famous striped cliffs of Old Hunstanton. Nature & Walks: Enjoy direct access to the Norfolk Coast Path and close proximity to the Wild Ken Hill rewilding project and Sandringham Estate for extensive hiking and wildlife spotting. Activities: The calm, shallow local waters are excellent for watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding. 🔥 Back-to-Basics Ethos and Core Facilities The ethos of the site embraces a simple, "back-to-basics" camping philosophy. Accommodation: Pitch your own tents, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans, or choose glamping in rustic Shepherd's Huts or spacious Bell Tents. Campfires: Campfires and BBQs are encouraged and allowed, with private fire pits/braziers provided for glamping units, perfect for gatherings under the clear, dark Norfolk skies Core Facilities: Essential amenities are clean and functional: shared toilet/shower blocks with hot water; designated washing-up station and access to fresh drinking water. Limited electric hook-ups are available for pitches upon request, though the emphasis is on a connected-to-nature experience. Wifi available. This site offers an unforgettable escape, blending traditional outdoor life with coastal charm.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£17
 / night
The Mushroom Farm Campsite

9. The Mushroom Farm Campsite

100%
(6)
36 units · Tents, Glamping · Oakham, England
Authentic old school camping! Bring your own tent and stay in one our lovely private pitches. Our pitches are big enough to park your car and pitch a large family tent with plenty of space for sitting and BBQs. Our site is off grid so you will be provided with plenty of fresh water in containers. There are compost toilets dotted around the site which are cleaned daily and there is firewood and charcoal available to buy. We also have a little honesty shop selling a few bits and pieces that campers often forget to pack. The mushroom farm feels more like wild camping or a pioneers camp. It is not a manicured site so we recommend bringing an airbed for a comfortable sleep. But a positive you’ll be sharing it with wildlife – frequent visitors include songbirds, red kites, kestrels, owls, bats, lizards, frogs and toads, snakes, rabbits and hares, muntjac deer, mice, foxes, dragonflies, butterflies, moths and beetles… The camp is set on a mushroom farm with young trees and large areas left to rewild. This means flowering thistles and uneven ground so it may not be suitable for babies, very young children or people with health conditions. The 2025 camping season at the Mushroom farm is from Friday the 23rd of May until Sunday the 22rd of June. We are then closed for a few weeks but open again from Friday the 18th of July until Sunday the 17th of August.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£35
 / night

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Bell tents in Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve guide

Where to go

Skegness

Chances are that visitors will arrive at Gibraltar Point NNR from Skegness—Lincolnshire’s most popular seaside resort. Skegness excels in traditional seaside activities with a long, tan sandy beach, pleasure pier, funfair, boating lake, and crazy golf course. Follow the beach and dunes out to the reserve on foot from Skegness’ seafront. Camping is mostly found in busy holiday parks and caravan parks around the edges of town.

Wainfleet All Saints

Not the closest place to the reserve by road yet only a leisurely walk across the marshes, the handsome old town of Wainfleet All Saints has amassed several excellent, laid-back campsites in its immediate environs. It also has a station on the Nottingham-Skegness line. A network of paths leads out across the marshes, which attract much of the same birdlife that the reserve does, and you can continue by footpath via Havenhouse Station to reach the reserve’s North Car Park area.

North Car Park Area

Coming from Skegness three miles north, this is the first part of the reserve you reach. From the car park and picnic area, you can access the reserve’s main circular trail, which takes in a mix of saltmarsh, dunes, and lakes. Most bird hides are in this zone too. The nearest camping is around Wainfleet All Saints, where there are a few choices.

Visitor Centre Area

Continuing south beyond the North Car Park area, you’ll hit the NNR’s heart—where you can find a car park, picnic area, and visitor centre, which informs about the birds that are spottable here, from skylarks to brent geese. Pick up the reserve’s circular trail, offering a taster of the area’s various habitats, or walk out to a viewpoint over The Wash. Several campsites can be found around nearby Wainfleet All Saints.

Popular Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve glamping styles