Glamping in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve with swimming
Tangled forests and Bronze age ruins make a memorable backdrop for nature walks and wildlife-watching.
98% (131 reviews)
- Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve
98% (131 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve
12 top glamping sites in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve with swimming
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Battle Pods & Bells
10 units · Glamping7 acres · Battle, England
Off grid bell tents and pods in a woodland just outside Battle
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£80
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(8)
American Airstream Glamping
15 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Ryde, England
Retro Staycations near Ryde on the Isle of Wight
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£17
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(3)
Glamping at Swanage by PitchingIt
4 units · Glamping1 acre · Swanage, England
Camping is all about horses for courses: some people want to stay somewhere so remote that it’s accessible only by car, while others prefer the convenience of getting to the site by train and then being able to reach everything within a short walk. If you belong in the second camp (and if you are after a holiday at the seaside), Glamping at Swanage Bijou by PitchingIt, in Dorset, might well be the answer to your prayers.
You’ll have little need for your car at this family- and dog-friendly Swanage site, since it’s only a short stroll from the High Street (about 10 minutes) and an even shorter stroll from the beach (five minutes). Despite being so close to town, though, the site feels remarkably peaceful – likely thanks to the high hedges that surround it and make it feel more secluded than it is.
Bell tents decorated with bunting and floral accents sit on a level grassy field that’s part of Kirkwood Park, an outdoor complex that includes an 18-hole golf course, plus foot and frisbee golf. There is also direct access to a well-equipped playground and to a skateboard park with multiple ramps where the kids can practise their kickturns and flips.
Toilets and hot-water showers complete the picture, alongside an area where you can wash up after your barbecue. The nearest supermarket is a five-minute drive away (10 minutes on foot), but if you prefer to let someone else take care of the cooking, there are lots of restaurants and cafés within walking distance.
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£115
/ night
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Great Cotmarsh Farm
6 units · Glamping, Tents155 acres · Swindon, England
Nature isn't tidy so expect some wilderness when you visit. We manage Great Cotmarsh Farm in a way that helps nature flourish and our small campsite, with panoramic views of the Marlborough Downs, is managed to the same philosophy. Small and quiet, tucked away in the Wiltshire countryside our campsite is arranged around pathways and pitches mown into one of our fields for Spring and Summertime. Come and stay in one of our luxury tipis or bring your own tent, to share our little slice of heaven.
Sleep under canvas and enjoy the pleasures of campfires and proper outdoor cooking. We have our own delicious 100% pasture fed lamb and beef to buy for hearty evening meals and can arrange an essentials hamper of locally sourced, organic produce for some starter supplies. When you visit you can say hello to our stunning native breed cattle and sheep and explore our wonderful, species diverse pasture. If you are after the kind of holiday where you can have fun outdoors, nourish yourself with delicious food and discover your connection to nature - Great Cotmarsh Farm is the perfect place to come and stay.
Whether you're an outdoor adventurer, foodie fanatic or love touring historic homes and gardens, Wiltshire and the surrounding area has tons on offer and we will provide you with a welcome pack full of useful information. If you want to keep your stay super local, there are footpaths leading off the farm into local meadows and up onto the Marlborough Downs, including access up onto the White Horse Trail. Within walking or quick cycling distance of the farm is the fantastic Broad Town Brewery and Hop Garden where you can enjoy locally brewed ales and street food vendors at the weekends.
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£35
/ night
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(24)
Bells at Cleavel Point
3 units · Glamping3 acres · Wareham, England
Allow us to introduce you to Bells at Cleavel Point. It's the only campsite with direct access to Poole Harbour and offers panoramic views over Brownsea Island and the small peninsula of Sandbanks. Tucked in a private woodland, down a no-through road, it would be easy to overlook this waters-edge glamping site but, trust us, you won't want to. This basic-but-beautiful bell tent site is ideally situated for exploring Dorset. Not only does it offer the chance to launch paddleboards and kayaks in to Poole's famous harbour only a five-minute walk from your tent, but it's also within reach of many of the county's iconic treasures from Corfe Castle to the Jurassic Coast.
The bell tents are located within the woodland of a private estate, ensuring privacy by way of a key code provided to visitors for entry. The set-up here offers just what you need for a good night's sleep and an easy morning — tents equipped with inflatable beds for four, portaloos and a hot shower. All this means that you can leave the tents at home in favour of a pre-pitched setup. If you want things even easier, how about booking bed linen (for an extra charge) so you don't need to bring that either?
And you might need that extra room in the car to take full advantage of the location. Bring swimsuits, paddleboards and kayaks for Poole Harbour, the largest natural harbour in Europe and a dream for watersports enthusiasts, and your bike to pedal around the Isle of Purbeck. There are on and off road routes providing stunning views of your surroundings from the towering chalk formation of Old Harry Rocks to Corfe Castle. Speaking of the castle, a brief drive will get you down to these millennia-old ruins, with pub gardens at The Greyhound and The Fox Inn providing a drink and a bite to eat with tremendous views of this former Saxon stronghold.
But you needn't venture far out to be well-fed and watered, thanks to the on-site pop-up bar and shop, where you can pick up some barbecue bits to then cook on one of the tripods available to hire. Or, if you don't fancy cooking yourself, you can order some stone-baked pizzas and breakfast baps to be delivered right to your bell tent from owner Jon and his friendly team. It all makes for an easy getaway in one of the UK's most scenic regions, and you don't get a better combo for a glamping site than that.
Communal Marquee
Breakfast baps
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£115
/ night
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Elham Treehouse
2 units · Glamping170 acres · Folkestone, Kent, South East England
Rustic glamping in the Kent countryside between Folkestone and Canterbury
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£110
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Southwood Park Estate
12 units · Glamping4 acres · Chichester , England
Southwood park estate is a beautifully manicured and peaceful destination for those who want to get back to nature and still have all of the home comforts that they are used to.
We are at the foot of the South Downs, and only 8 minutes drive from Chichester and the Good Wood Estate
We are family and pet friendly site.
All bookings come with cooked breakfasts for each guest per day as well as a large log / lighters pack for each day!
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£90
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Rolling Fields Glamping
6 units · Glamping2 acres · Oxfordshire, South East England
Luxury farm glamping with epic views, a 10-minute walk from the Thames
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£100
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Stud Farm
1 unit · Glamping25 acres · Brockenhurst, England
A shepherd’s hut on a traditional New Forest farm
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£125
/ night
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Stone Pit Meadows
5 units · Glamping12 acres · Sandhurst, England
Bell tent and shepherd's hut glamping in a wild and luscious space, 5 minutes from Bodiam Castle.
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£125
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Andrea's Farm Breaks Keepers Hut
1 unit · Glamping1 acre · Corfe Castle, Dorset, South West England
Andrea's Farm Breaks is Keepers Hut glamping accommodation run alongside a working farm campsite in the heart of Purbeck. Andrea is pleased to offer a little luxury for those who want to camp at Downshay Farm in a comfortable bed. Farm is a working farm in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, ideally located for exploring the stunning World Heritage Site coastline. The Pike family has farmed here since 1956. The farmhouse is largely Victorian although parts of the house and some farm buildings are much older. The accommodation looks out over the lovely views of Corfe Castle and the Purbeck Hills. The seaside town of Swanage is just over 4 miles away as are the sandy beaches of Studland Bay. Local footpaths and Swanage Steam Railway also make exploring Purbeck easy, and we are a few minutes’ walk from Harmans Cross Station. Enjoy the sandy beaches of Shell Bay, Studland and Swanage or go rock pooling or fossil hunting at Kimmeridge Bay. The Coastal Path will take you along the coast to Durlston Country Park, Dancing Ledge and Winspit. The deserted village of Tyneham and its own bay is a short drive away, then follow the scenic road over the Ranges to Lulworth and Durdle Door. Local attractions include Monkey World and Bovington Tank Museum, and a walk through the RSPB bird sanctuary at Arne to Poole Harbour is recommended.
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£100
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Hastingford Fishery Glamping
4 units · Glamping32 acres · Uckfield, England
Searching for a peaceful holiday/short break without kids underfoot? Ramble along to Hastingford Fishery, an adults-only shepherd's hut and fishing site set in a scenic lakeside setting less than five minutes’ drive from the East Sussex village of Hadlow Down and 20 minutes from Royal Tunbridge Wells. This site should suit couples or singles wanting to 'get away from it all' and also fishing fans down to the ground. It’s got several fishing lakes to choose from with lots of different species, so settle down on the banks with rod in hand and while away a few hours (or days) in quiet contemplation, waiting for something to bite. But please note, the site is not for 'competition anglers' although there are plenty of good sized carp around. and asks anyone fishing to only use barbless hooks, and for fish to be returned to the lake quickly after being caught.Not the fishing type? Chill out in and around your secluded hut, or there’s plenty to entertain in a leisurely fashion: paths wind around the lakes and through copses/shaws (as this is the High Weald) plus through the local countryside. There are spectacular views towards the South Downs National Park from the top lakes. A spring-fed lake is also on site to cool off in with some wild swimming. Lots of bird life around, with feeders outside each hut and waterfowl visitors to the lakes.When it comes to eats, pick up or have supplies delivered from supermarkets or takeaways in Uckfield, Heathfield or Crowborough or take a drive to Buxted Park for some posh food or pubs in Blackboys, Crowborough, Ringles Cross, 5 Ash Down, Rotherfield, or Buxted (it'll take about 10 minutes to drive to any of these). Lots of sample menus in huts.
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£110
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Dog-friendly getaways
Star Hosts in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve
Glamping in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve with swimming guide
Overview
On the southern borders of the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is one of the region’s most visited attractions. Explore 130 hectares of ancient woodlands, where the giant Yew trees and twisted branches create a fairy-tale backdrop. Look out for birds and butterflies as you follow the nature trails—the reserve is home to woodpeckers, buzzards, and many rare butterflies. North of the forest, climb up to the lookout point at Bow Hill for views across the Sussex countryside, and discover the Bronze age barrows (burial mounds) known as the Devil’s Humps.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- South Downs campsites can book up quickly, especially in July and August, so reservations are always advised. Plan three to six months in advance for popular sites.
- If you do arrive without a reservation, it’s a good idea to secure a pitch first thing in the morning or call ahead, as available spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- You will need to pay a deposit to secure your campsite reservation, and many sites ask for the full payment prior to arrival.
- Hiking and camping season in the South Downs runs from mid-March through early October, and many campsites close out of season. However, campsites open year-round often offer lower rates in low season.
When to go
Kingley Vale is magnificent in autumn, when fall foliage transforms the forest into a kaleidoscope of colour, while summer visitors flock to see the butterflies. Crowds descend on the reserve in July and August, so get there early to secure a parking spot or choose a quiet weekday out of season if you want the forest to yourself. Allergy sufferers might want to avoid visiting in spring—Yew pollen is notoriously allergenic.
Know before you go
- Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is located within the South Downs National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Chichester. Direct trains run to Chichester from London Waterloo and take 1.5 hours.
- Free parking is available at the West Stoke car park, at the south end of Kingley Vale.
- Getting around the nature reserve is only possible on foot and uneven terrain means access for wheelchairs is very limited.
- All land within the national reserve is privately owned and wild camping is not permitted anywhere.
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