Shepherd's Huts 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. 

98% (358) 102 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Mendip Hills AONB

Abbey Home Farm

1. Abbey Home Farm

95%
(219)
Cirencester, England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco-camping for real. Cooking on an open fire. Unspoilt natural beauty.
Campfires
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Potable water
Bridgewood Camping - Woodland camps

2. Bridgewood Camping - Woodland camps

97%
(33)
Sherborne, England · 4 units · Tents, Glamping
Nearly wild woodland camping in Dorset
Pets
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Bowhayes Farm - Glamping & Camping

3. Bowhayes Farm - Glamping & Camping

98%
(20)
Sidmouth, England · 12 units · Tents, Glamping
Nearly-wild camping in a Devon cider orchard, 5 miles from the Jurassic Coast
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Everdene Hut

4. Everdene Hut

England · 1 unit
Everdene Hut is a traditional shepherd’s hut on wheels located in a secluded location beside the pond at Laverstock which offers far reaching countryside views with a private space to enjoy the fire pit and star gazing. The hut has a cosy double bed, small table with stools and is heated by a wood burner, perfect for a relaxing comfortable stay. Rechargeable lanterns are provided and found in the washroom. There is a separate kitchen shed hut next to the Everdene Hut which has a generous supply of crockery, cutlery and pots and pans. A two-ring gas hob, kettle, barbecue, and fire pit are available for cooking. Water is provided in the hut kitchen. There is a shared washroom located at the farm (approximately 100m from the Hut) with a walk-in shower, WC and a small kitchen unit with a sink and draining board for washing up. The washroom also has a washing machine, tumble dryer plus a fridge with freezer compartment, trolleys and electricity for charging.
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Great Cotmarsh Farm

5. Great Cotmarsh Farm

100%
(13)
Swindon, England · 6 units · Tents, Glamping
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. 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 a pizza oven for your to make the best tasting stonebaked pizzas with bases provided. 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.
Campfires
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Marshwood Farm Camping

6. Marshwood Farm Camping

100%
(53)
Dinton, England · 15 units · Tents, Glamping
Quiet, family-friendly camping and glamping on a farm in rolling Wiltshire countryside
Campfires
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Potable water
Farrs Meadow

7. Farrs Meadow

96%
(141)
Wimborne, England · 31 units · Tents, Glamping
A charming Dorset campsite overlooking the Stour Valley and a short walk from both the river and the market town of Wimborne Minster
Pets
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Lower Marlpits Farm Campsite

8. Lower Marlpits Farm Campsite

95%
(10)
Honiton, England · 2 units
A well-connected family farm, near Honiton and the Jurassic Coast.
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
Jordans Estate Glamping

9. Jordans Estate Glamping

100%
(42)
Ilminster, England · 3 units
Two shepherds huts and a pair of pods set on a West Somerset estate close to the Somerset Levels and in sight of the Blackdown Hills
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
Offas Dyke Retreat

10. Offas Dyke Retreat

100%
(1)
England · 10 units
A holiday taking in two countries – a tad ambitious? Not in the slightest. Take off to Offa’s Dyke Retreat and such escapades are very easy indeed, as you’re almost on the border of England and Wales, with plenty of gorgeous scenery and outdoorsy antics on both sides of the divide. Site is set in 3 acres with new 2023 communal space, including games room sofa snug, dinning area, new wet rooms and kitchen to be complete December 2023. You can start gazing at that scenery without even leaving this friendly glamping site in the little village of Longtown, for the outlook here is one of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Ready for a closer look? Get those boots on and set off for a wander. The Offa’s Dyke path passes nearby on its way from Pandy to Hay-on-Wye, and there are lots of little local paths to explore too. A stroll of a much less strenuous variety (barely a 7 minute, in fact) takes you to the local pub for home-cooked meals, local ales. If you can manage a little further (a 6 minutes walk), you can get to a fab village shop stacked with fresh and frozen food, local tipples and homemade cakes. Stock up there and trot back to the site for a picnic or barbecue (firepit provided, with firewood available to buy on site), or use the well-equipped communal kitchen to prep your eats. 5 ensuite railway carriages with kitchenette, 2 pods and 3 further carriages use shared facilities on site include a toilet block with a couple of showers; no need to bring your own towels, as you’ll be provided with these when you get here, along with bedding for your cosy sleeping quarters.
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Oakhill Ponds

11. Oakhill Ponds

96%
(13)
Somerset, England · 6 units
A uniquely peaceful Somerset glamping site set around two ponds in its own beautiful wildlife garden.
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At Goathill Farm

12. At Goathill Farm

100%
(7)
Sherborne, England · 1 unit
A lovely lakeside shepherd’s hut on a working farm in Dorset
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Potable water
Cholderton Estate, near Stonehenge

13. Cholderton Estate, near Stonehenge

90%
(20)
Salisbury, England · 3 units
Quirky accommodation on a 2,500-acre nature-filled estate, just 15 minutes from Stonehenge
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Askr Grange

14. Askr Grange

100%
(1)
Bridport, England · 3 units
Camping and hot tub glamping with views all the way to the Jurassic Coast.
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Romantic Country Glamping

15. Romantic Country Glamping

92%
(12)
Bradford On Avon, England · 2 units
A pair of self-contained glamping getaways in Wiltshire
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Wild About Campers

16. Wild About Campers

100%
(2)
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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The Burrow at Little Buckholt

17. The Burrow at Little Buckholt

100%
(3)
Salisbury, England · 1 unit
The Burrow is a luxury off-grid getaway, situated in a quiet spot on our 55-acre family farm. The perfect place to turn off your phone and reconnect with nature. A bespoke shepherd’s hut with artisan features. A king-size bed, modern log burner, solar-run with USB charging, hand crafted kitchen with fridge/freezer, en-suite hot shower and composting loo. Enjoy relaxing on your sun deck with gorgeous views of the farm and surrounding woods, with the option of internal or outside dining. Surrounding Area: Located on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border, there are brilliant walks on your doorstep. The Clarendon Way and Monarch's Way walking routes are next to the farm and lead onto Broughton Down and Bentley Woods. The Iron Age hill fort of Danbury with beautiful hillside walks is a short drive away and is located next to the charming town of Stockbridge with perfect food, coffee and shopping options. The Burrow is perfectly situated near the historical market towns and city’s of Romsey, Salisbury, Winchester as well as the historical Stonehenge and The New forest all within 30 minutes drive. As a family we have been working this land since 1953 and from time to time you may hear your firewood being split in the yard or a tractor chugging by. You may also see smoke signals on occasion from the kiln producing a fresh batch of locally sourced sustainable charcoal! We hope you’ll find this gives you an even more authentic farm experience! Included in your stay: Kitchen with gas hob and fridge/freezer Frying pan, sauce pans dining and glassware Salt, Pepper Tea, Coffee Tea Towels Washing up liquid Kettle Bed Linen and Egyptian Cotton Towels Shampoo/Conditioner/Shower Gel/Hand wash Wood, Kindling and Fire Lighters for Log Burner. Blankets Extras: Additional logs and kindling at £5 a bag Breakfast, Cheese and Smoothie box’s are available to order in advance. Price start at £18 Private Yoga session from £45
Showers
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Potable water
Shirehill Farm

18. Shirehill Farm

100%
(5)
Chippenham, England · 2 units
Newly installed Shepherds huts in the Cotswolds. Outside kitchen with woodburning stove /oven, gas rings, Firepit, indoor and outdoor seating. Newly installed compost toilets and shower cubicle. Electric sockets and lighting in the huts. Both have double beds. A tipi allows flexible sleeping for families and larger groups. The farm is a wildlife lover’s paradise with woodland walks and bird spotting opportunities. Fancy a cooked breakfast? Buy farm-fresh eggs for a morning fry-up, and add seasonal vegetables to your evening barbecue from the farm or by picking up supplies in Marshfield (five minutes’ drive) – although you’re also spoilt for choice of welcoming pubs serving good food within a 5 minute drive.
Pets
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The Exmoor Woodland Escape

19. The Exmoor Woodland Escape

100%
(29)
Minehead, England · 2 units
A pair of charming self-contained shepherd’s huts on Exmoor – with hot tubs and views
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
Dreamhuts Retreat

20. Dreamhuts Retreat

100%
(18)
Kerswell, England · 2 units
A pair of super-luxury shepherd's huts in the rural Culm Valley countryside, where good walks and welcoming pubs abound
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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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