Bell tents in Mendip Hills AONB

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Limestone bluffs, rocky plateaus, and grassy steppes blanket the landscapes of the Mendip Hills, providing plenty of scope for outdoor adventures. Hike beneath towering cliffs in the Cheddar Gorge, explore natural caves, and climb windswept tors for views that stretch as far as Wales. Camping is just as adventurous—pitch your tent at secluded campsites surrounded by nature or enjoy glamping in a bell tent or remote shepherd’s hut. The forests, lakes, and gorges are accessible year-round but bloom with wildflowers in spring and summer. Winter camping and hiking is possible with all-weather gear, although it’s best to leave the tent behind. 

95% (634) • 247 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Mendip Hills AONB

The T Barn

1. The T Barn

99%
(86)
Cirencester, England · 17 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Bell tents and shepherd’s huts with hot tubs on a picturesque Cotswolds farm near Cirencester
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Forest Edge Camping & Glamping

2. Forest Edge Camping & Glamping

100%
(32)
Sidbury, England · 18 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A welcoming and wild-ish camping and glamping site on the edge of a forest in East Devon
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Cwmffrwd Farm Campsite

3. Cwmffrwd Farm Campsite

99%
(352)
Crickhowell, Wales · 17 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Simple, eco-friendly camping with epic views at the foot of a famed Welsh mountain range
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Oxwick Farm

4. Oxwick Farm

99%
(70)
Bristol, England · 10 units · Tents, Glamping
Camping and glamping on an eco-friendly re-wilded farm on the southern side of the Cotswolds.
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Lower Marlpits Farm Campsite

5. Lower Marlpits Farm Campsite

95%
(10)
Honiton, England · 2 units
A well-connected family farm, near Honiton and the Jurassic Coast.
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Tom's Field (New Forest)

6. Tom's Field (New Forest)

99%
(44)
Fordingbridge, England · 40 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Small, family-run camping in the New Forest National Park, brought about by popular demand
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Flowerdew Farm

7. Flowerdew Farm

100%
(18)
Bridport, England · 14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Bell tents and camping with alpacas near Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
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Marshwood Farm Camping

8. Marshwood Farm Camping

100%
(53)
Dinton, England · 15 units · Tents, Glamping
Quiet, family-friendly camping and glamping on a farm in rolling Wiltshire countryside
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Gurt Yurts

9. Gurt Yurts

100%
(36)
Churchill, England · 9 units · Tents, Glamping
Off the beaten track on top of the Mendips in an area of outstanding natural beauty. A mixture of four acres of wild woodland, orchard and field set on a hillside. Our Yurt is set up in the trees giving you peaceful seclusion and a clear view across the sea to Wales and the mountains of the Brecon Beacons. The Yurt is big and sleeps up to four very comfortably. It has its own stove and outside is a washroom just for you with hot shower , toilet and sinks. Your own meadow allows you to just relax and be. Up on the campfield you can bring your own tent or hire a Belle tent from us with all the fittings to camp contentedly. Our new Wash House has hot showers, flushing toilets and basins. You can light a fire and cook up a BBQ or maybe just watch the world go by. A huge range of activities are possible or you can lie in the hammock with a good book. We have very friendly dogs and rescue chickens who may come and visit. Wild deer wander past in the early morning mist and the odd buzzard picks an argument with a bunch of crows but nothing much else should disturb you. We moved here after an 18 month search 11 years ago. It was close to everything we wanted and we've spent some time getting a bit closer.
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Camping at Brandiers Farm

10. Camping at Brandiers Farm

88%
(12)
Upper Minety, England · 2 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Bucolic rural glamping in a beautiful natural beauty spot on the borders of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Pets
Electrical hookup
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Haddon Copse Farm

11. Haddon Copse Farm

99%
(43)
Woodrow, England · 8 units · Tents, Glamping
Simple camping and glamping in an unspoilt location with glorious views of the Dorset Downs
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Oakhill Ponds

12. Oakhill Ponds

96%
(13)
Somerset, England · 6 units
A uniquely peaceful Somerset glamping site set around two ponds in its own beautiful wildlife garden.
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
Harry's Field New Forest

13. Harry's Field New Forest

92%
(60)
Fordingbridge, England · 63 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Family-friendly, traditional New Forest camping with a pub next door and footpaths leading directly from the gateway
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Bowhayes Farm - Glamping & Camping

14. Bowhayes Farm - Glamping & Camping

98%
(21)
Sidmouth, England · 12 units · Tents, Glamping
Nearly-wild camping in a Devon cider orchard, 5 miles from the Jurassic Coast
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Harry's Meadow

15. Harry's Meadow

97%
(81)
Fordingbridge, England · 51 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Back-to-basics camping with campfires in a spacious wildflower meadow, set on a beautiful New Forest estate
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Buckland Farm Camping

16. Buckland Farm Camping

95%
(21)
Wellington, England · 12 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Dog-friendly camping on the edge of the Blackdown Hills
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West Holme Glamping, Manor Lane, West Holme,Wareham,Dorset BH20 6AQ

17. West Holme Glamping, Manor Lane, West Holme,Wareham,Dorset BH20 6AQ

100%
(3)
Wareham, England · 2 units
West Holme Glamping is a micro-site with pre-erected bell tents in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just the job for romantic mini-breaks or holidays for small families, it's set in 20 acres, so there’s plenty of privacy and lots of space to roam around. The bell tents here come equipped with a double bed, rugs, picnic tables, lanterns, a gazebo and a gas barbecue. The three showers and three toilets are shared between six tents.. You'll just need to bring your own bed linen and towels or add them to your booking. You can explore the area by car – medieval castles, beaches, National Trust sites and the Jurassic Coast are all less than half an hour’s drive away. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are 20 minutes' drive away. Pretty market towns like Dorchester (also 30 minutes) or seaside resorts like Swanage (20 minutes) are all worth a mosey, while historic Wareham has Saxon town walls and riverside churches to explore. The sandy beaches of Studland and Swanage are also within half an hour's drive of the site. If you’re feeling energetic, the Isle of Purbeck has plenty of walks and bike rides on the rocky peninsula overlooking the English Channel, as well as parts of the South West Coast Path. The local farm shop is a 2 minute walk and sells the very best of local Dorset produce if you fancy cooking on the barbecue. And if you don’t, there’s a cosy tea shop attached, and there are plenty of gastropubs serving real ales and great grub in less than a 15-minute drive too.
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Wild About Campers

18. Wild About Campers

100%
(3)
Honiton, England · 5 units
Wild About Campers is a peaceful retreat amid spectacular hiking country in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 25 minutes’ drive from cliff-top treks along the South West Coast Path. The Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis is within 25 minutes’ drive, and if you feel a major shopping expedition coming on, the historic cathedral city of Exeter (35 minutes) will see you right. Both Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are less than an hour’s drive away, while the pretty neighbouring town of Honiton (10 minutes) offers pubs and tearooms as well as antique shops to browse. But if it’s a rural retreat you’re after, well, this is the place. The camping paddock is surrounded by peaceful farmland and borders the River Otter (look out for the resident beavers, otters and kingfishers, which occasionally appear), so you can fall asleep lulled by the burble of the river along with the distant hoot of barn owls – and wake up fresh in the morning to the sound of birdsong. A popular family-run pub is five minutes’ stroll from the campsite, and you can pick up emergency supplies from a well-stocked village shop run by volunteers (five minutes’ drive).
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Knowle Meadow Camping

19. Knowle Meadow Camping

100%
(2)
England · 4 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Knowle Meadow Camping is a multi-award winning lavish camping and glamping site in a tree-enclosed meadow located in the heart of south Somerset, eight minutes from Ilminster. The site offers a small, intimate number of camping pitches as well as fantastic glamping options, including a Shepherd's Hut and Lotus Stargazer Belle tents. The site has a Scandinavian wood-fired barrel sauna available for all guests on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays typically from 5pm until 6pm. It has a half-moon window showcasing the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and an accompanying cold water bucket shower. There are hotel-style washrooms, with powerful rainfall showers. With ten generously sized pitches available for tents or small campervans, the site offers a memorable and intimate camping experience. The camping pitches are all individual, surrounded by wildflowers and long grass, creating a picturesque setting for all campers. There is also an all-weather barn with seating, and campers have access to a fridge freezer. The Yarrow Shepherd's Hut is a two person hut made locally in Merriott. It boasts a superbly comfortable double bed, warming log burner, mini kitchen, and private Scandinavian woodfired hot tub. Yarrow's private hedge-enclosed garden has a firepit with a grill and outside seating, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. The site also offers two Lotus Stargazer Belle Tents (each sleeps up to two adults and two children), Bluebell and Foxglove, each with its own unique style. Both tents are six metres in diameter with skylight windows, providing uninterrupted views of the night sky. Each tent has a king-size bed and two single "camp" beds suitable for children. There are log burners, fire pits and outdoor kitchens. Electricity is available too. There are a wealth of walks direct from the campsite to a number of local pubs and other attractions. Further down our lane is a cycle path which links to Ilminster, Chard and beyond. The Jurassic Coast (and Lyme Regis) can be reached within 25 minutes. Knowle Meadow Camping won gold for the New Tourism Business of the Year and silver for Campsite of the Year at the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards 2024/25 and silver for Campsite of the Year in 2025/26.
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Manor Farm Cottage Bell Tent

20. Manor Farm Cottage Bell Tent

England · 1 unit
The Birch Bell at Manor Farm Cottage Escape to our charming smallholding and micro-flower farm in the heart of Somerset for a truly wonderful camping experience. Nestled near the stunning Mendip Hills and the serene Somerset Levels, this idyllic little campsite invites you to unwind, reconnect with nature and experience the restorative peace of this place. Along the way you'll meet our sheep, and be welcomed by the camp Guardians (Frodo, our friendly little Jack Russell and Nemo, our very agile mouse-hunting cat). With easy access to both the Somerset levels and surrounding Mendip Hills, and with the wonderful city of Wells just a short distance away, this spot makes a great base from which to explore the outstanding and unique countryside and nearby places of interest and attractions. From Manor Farm Cottage you can take in some gorgeous walks along the lanes and public footpaths. A short walk from us you'll find our local vineyard at Fenny Castle where you can book a vineyard tour and wine tasting to sample their award winning English wines, or pop over to Wookey Farm where you can meet the very friendly rare-breed goats and buy their incredible goats cheese. There are 3 local pubs within walking distance, and if you head out onto the Levels, you can enjoy a cider by the river at The Sheppey, a great riverside pub in the nearby village of Godney. If you want to venture a little further, discover the breathtaking beauty of local RSPB nature reserves, ideal for peaceful walks and bird watching. Wander through the historic city of Wells, marvelling at its stunning cathedral and charming streets. Just a short drive away, experience the mystical allure of Glastonbury and its famous Tor, and then of course there is the dramatic landscape of Cheddar Gorge to explore. For a dose of culture and history, visit the elegant city of Bath with its Roman baths and Georgian architecture. Each destination offers a unique and unforgettable experience, making your stay in Somerset truly magical. And if you want to indulge in a day of learning about flowers, how to grow them, and floristry tricks and techniques, get in touch to find out about the workshops that are on offer at Manor Farm Cottage Flowers on the smallholding.
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Mendip Hills AONB camping guide

Where to go

Cheddar and Around

Jagged cliffs and rocky ravines carve out the Cheddar Gorge, where explorers can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and caving. After taking in the AONB’s star attraction, hike up Black Down Hill for a view from the region’s highest point or cycle the scenic Strawberry Line. Don’t miss a visit to the town of Cheddar to sample Somerset’s famous cheese and cider. 

Northeast Somerset & the Lakes

Sweeping gorges give way to forested valleys and lowland lakes in the northern part of the Mendip Hills. Enjoy nature walks, bird-watching, and lakeside picnics at the Chew Valley or Blagdon Lakes, or escape the crowds at a peaceful country campsite. To the north, the UNESCO city of Bath and the Cotswolds AONB are within day-trip distance. 

South Mendip Hills

Hiking, cycling, and horseback riding trails traverse the southern stretch of the Mendip Hills. Adrenaline seekers should head to the Wookey Hole caves, where caving excursions incorporate abseils and Via Ferrata climbs. A short drive south, Glastonbury turns into a hippy haven each summer during the massive Glastonbury music festival, and the nearby Glastonbury Tor is both a historic landmark and a popular viewpoint.

West Mendip and the Somerset Coast

Winscombe is the gateway to the west Mendip Hills, home to some of the area’s lesser-explored hiking trails. Continue west to the coast, where sandy beaches, cliff-top walks, and lively seaside towns dot the shores of the Bristol Channel. Weston-Super-Mare, Burnham-On-Sea, and Clevedon are Somerset’s flagship beach resorts, where summer campers have a choice of seafront camping grounds. 

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

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