Dog-friendly caravan parks in North Wessex Downs AONB

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Miles of rolling countryside await in the North Wessex Downs, but this AONB also has plenty of surprises up its sleeve. White chalk horses gaze down from the hillsides, ancient stone circles lie in the valleys, and lively market towns pepper the riverside. Explore the natural landscapes on foot, by bike, or on horseback; cruise the canals by boat or kayak; or escape to a tranquil campsite by the waterfront or in the forest. May through September is the most pleasant time for camping, but the weather can be temperamental even in summer, so pack for all-seasons.

95% (842) 2,324 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in North Wessex Downs AONB

Penn Meadow Farm

1. Penn Meadow Farm

91%
(238)
Beaconsfield, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Penn Meadow Farm is a beautiful 145 acre, family farm, nestled perfectly into the Chiltern Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. We’re just a 5 minute walk across our grassy fields to the oldest free-house pub in England (The Royal Standard of England) Say hello to our resident alpacas, sheep, pigs, pigmy goats, flock of 250 sheep and of course our lovely boarder collies. We aim to be a very relaxed spot to be able to rest for a few nights and maybe enjoying a nice camp fire in the evening. The site includes; Showers and Toilet block with toilet paper stocked. Open family pitches for you to choose where you want to set up Running drinking water Shared open kitchen Fires allowed BBQ's allowed To ensure everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please follow these rules: Supervise children: Always supervise your children and ensure they do not wander off alone. Clean up after yourself: Dispose of all waste properly in the designated bins and leave no trace behind. Wash any items you use and return them to where you found them. Respect other campers: Be courteous to fellow campers and respect their privacy and space. Pets: If you bring pets, ensure they are well-behaved, kept on a leash or have impeccable recall, and cleaned up after. Do not allow your pet to enter another camper's space. Quiet time: Maintain quiet hours between 11pm and 7am. All music must stop by 10pm, and noise should be minimal after 11pm. Campfires: Penn Meadow Farm allows fires; please use existing scorched areas if possible rather than creating new ones. Never leave any fires unattended and ensure they are completely extinguished when finished. Wipe your feet prior to entering the Bell tents to remove any coal that may have become attached. Cars/vehicles: Cars and vehicles can be on the field but should move minimally and always under 5mph. Car stereos should not be used for music entertainment. Drugs and Alcohol: Drug use is prohibited, and violators will be asked to leave. Consume alcohol responsibly, and do not drive or move your vehicle after consuming alcohol. We do not typically book Large non-family groups unless they are seeking a calm and peaceful stay. These groups must have authorization prior to the visit.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Crooked Willows Farm

2. Crooked Willows Farm

92%
(25)
Wimborne. Dorset, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Adults-only, back-to-basics camping on a Dorset farm
Campfires
Potable water
Holyrood Farm Campsite

3. Holyrood Farm Campsite

97%
(33)
Shaftesbury, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Wild camping half a mile from Shaftesbury Spectacular views over the Blackmore Vale Campfires allowed As is the setting: small and secluded Holyrood Farm Campsite is in Dorset countryside overlooking the Blackmore Vale, within easy walking distance of the pubs and shops of Shaftesbury. It's close to several good footpaths for walking too. 10 minute walk to the famous Gold Hill.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Ushercombe Fields

4. Ushercombe Fields

England · 46 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Escape to wide-open countryside with beautiful sunset views and space to truly unwind — weekend camping done properly. A peaceful, family-run pop-up campsite designed for simple, low-impact stays close to nature. Tucked away in the Oxfordshire countryside, Ushercombe Fields is a small, family-run site focused on keeping things low-impact, sustainable, and in tune with nature. Guests can enjoy clean, modern toilets, washing-up facilities, and a children’s play area — everything you need for a comfortable stay while still keeping that back-to-nature feel. With far-reaching views and generous space between pitches, it’s an ideal place to slow down, breathe in the fresh country air, and switch off for the weekend. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, with plenty of scenic walks nearby, and on clear nights you can relax under a sky full of stars. If you fancy exploring, Hook Norton Brewery is just 10 minutes away for real ales and a great breakfast, while The Farmer’s Dog — owned by Jeremy Clarkson — is around 40 minutes’ drive.
Campfires
Potable water
The Old Airfield

5. The Old Airfield

85%
(143)
Burley, England · 114 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A New Forest airfield that's been overtaken by nature, less than 10 minutes' drive from the coast
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Stowford Manor Farm Campsite

6. Stowford Manor Farm Campsite

88%
(44)
Trowbridge, England · 51 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
We are a family run farm situated in the beautiful Frome valley. The farm has a range of interests from the traditional Jersey milking cows to a community of workshops used by local craftsmen. The cafe serves cream teas from Easter to the end of September and pizzas are sold in evenings during the summer months. Ours is a small family run camp site with the River Frome on one side, next to the medieval buildings of Stowford Farm. The river is suitable for fishing, boating, swimming and paddling. Historic Bradford-on-Avon is only a 5 minute drive and the City of Bath 15 minutes. For those who enjoy more rural pleasures, 200 metres from the campsite Farleigh Hungerford boasts the only river swimming club in the country, and you can become an instant member for a very small fee.
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
Woodlands Camping

7. Woodlands Camping

97%
(110)
Ropley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A back-to-basics campsite in the South Downs National Park
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Haywards Bridge Farm

8. Haywards Bridge Farm

77%
(13)
Shillingstone,, England · 99 units · Tents, Motorhomes
We are a Riverside Wild Camp site. Eight acre small until recently growing sustainable vegetables and wild flowers, hosting camping and events, nestled beneath Hambledon Hillfort on the bank of the Stour. We have access to the North Dorset trailway at our entrance, our neighbours are the North Dorset Railway, a museum, cafe and soon to be working line, all under preservation and within 50 yards walk, the mighty Hambledon hill is a great trek with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, for those looking to relax Bournemouth and Weymouth beaches are less than 30 miles, for shoppers Salisbury to the East or Bath just over an hour to the North, there really is something for everyone!
Campfires
Potable water
Oak & Ash & Thorn in the Cotswolds

9. Oak & Ash & Thorn in the Cotswolds

100%
(47)
Minchinhampton, England · 4 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Secluded almost wild camping spots in an ancient woodland in the Cotswolds
Campfires
Potable water
Picnic table
Stockbridge View Campsite

10. Stockbridge View Campsite

94%
(100)
Stockbridge, England · 62 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A simple campsite in the Test Valley, just a 15-minute walk from Stockbridge
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Harry's Meadow

11. Harry's Meadow

97%
(73)
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
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Cotswolds Camping

12. Cotswolds Camping

87%
(176)
Charlbury, England · 56 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Simple camping surrounded by all the delicious Oxfordshire and Cotswolds village food offerings
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
Shire Camping

13. Shire Camping

98%
(25)
England · 40 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Shire Camping is located in a peaceful 10 acre meadow looking towards Edge Hill. Spacious and with running drinking water, hot showers and flushing toilets. There is a footpath running alongside it taking you 25 minutes to a village shop one way and 20 minutes to a good pub the other way, all across fields. There are some amazing walks to do from the site, and being on the edge of the cotswolds there are plenty of pretty villages and market towns to explore. There are also some well regarded cycling routes in the area.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Weston Caravan and Campsite

14. Weston Caravan and Campsite

96%
(14)
England · 30 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A small family run site in Weston-on-the Green village located with a local pub 5 minutes walk away and on site cafe. The site also has newly refurbished toilet and shower facilities. Amazing location to access Oxford city and easy access to M40 (Junction 9). Good things await for those who grab a berth at Weston Caravan and Campsite, in the Oxfordshire village of Weston-on-the-Green. For starters, space seekers should be pleased to see that there’s plenty of breathing room around this former dairy farm – excellent news for kids or dogs that need a bit of haring-about time after being cooped up in the car. Depending on where you’ve plonked down you may find that your nearest neighbours are the resident beef cattle, sheep or horses; it’s worth keeping your eyes open for sightings of the hedgehogs that often scuttle about the place too. Perhaps most crucially for those whose stomachs dictate a site’s success is the presence of a café that serves up a tempting range of freshly cooked goodies: breakfasts (no rush – they’re served all day), salads, cakes and coffees, plus cheeses, pies and the like to take away. And the crème de la crème – literally: homemade ice cream in up to 16 (yes, a lipsmacking 16) different flavours. Evening appetites can be sated with a barbecue out on the field, or trotting off to the local pub five minutes’ walk away. The site added a new toilet and shower block in 2018. And how to get to this little slice of rural loveliness? The village is just a few minutes’ drive from the A34 and Junction 9 of the M40, making it both a useful stopover on cross-country voyages and a handy spot for Oxfordshire breaks (perhaps taking in Oxford, Blenheim Palace or bagging bargains in Bicester).
Electrical hookup
Showers
Water hookup
Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

15. Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

100%
(60)
Aldsworth, England · 1 unit · Tent, Motorhome
Nearly wild camping with acres of space hired on an exclusive basis
Campfires
Tom's Field (New Forest)

16. 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
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

17. Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

100%
(14)
Emsworth · 9 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
We are a small, friendly site on a working farm in the beautiful South Downs National Park. We have shepherds huts, bell tents and a land pod in an old sheep paddock, all with private fire pits. We’re surrounded by footpaths and bridleways that can be explored all day, and 10 minutes drive from the sea. We also have a small grass-pitch campsite that opens in the summer for tents and camper vans.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
The Pig Place Campsite

18. The Pig Place Campsite

92%
(93)
Adderbury, England · 45 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Potable water
Park Farm Campsite

19. Park Farm Campsite

98%
(24)
Malmesbury, England · 1 unit · Tent, Motorhome
Off-grid pitches on an organic farm – with a sauna on site
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Pitchcott Farm

20. Pitchcott Farm

92%
(31)
Aylesbury, England · 11 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Nearly wild, back-to-nature camping on a regenerative farm in Buckinghamshire
Campfires
Showers
Potable water

North Wessex Downs AONB camping guide

Where to go

Wiltshire

Most of the North Wessex Downs lie within Wiltshire, where you can hike, cycle, or horseback ride across open chalklands. Visit the UNESCO-listed Avebury stone circle, explore the Great West Way heritage trail, or marvel at the Wiltshire White Horses, giant chalk drawings etched onto the hillsides. To the south, the world-famous Stonehenge is an easy detour, and there are more hiking opportunities in the surrounding Salisbury Plains. 

Hampshire

Downton Abbey fans won’t want to miss a visit to Highclere Castle—the real-life Downton Abbey—in the southeast corner of North Wessex Downs. Explore the surrounding farmlands by bike, stop off at pretty Hampshire villages, or stay at quiet country campgrounds. To the south, the cathedral city of Winchester and the New Forest National Park are less than an hour’s drive.

Berkshire

Newbury and Reading are the gateways to the eastern downlands, where the hillside towns are dotted with thatched-roof cottages and traditional pubs. Take a leisurely boat cruise along the Kent & Avon Canal, stop to browse the markets in Hungerford, or hike the 20-mile Lambourn Valley Way.

Oxfordshire

The northern borders of the North Wessex Downs spill over into Oxfordshire, where highlights include the market town of Wantage and the Uffington White Horse. Continue north to visit the university city of Oxford or take a road trip along the winding country lanes of the Cotswolds, another AONB.

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

Top regions near North Wessex Downs AONB