Wildlife-watching campsites in North Wessex Downs AONB

·

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% (723) 375 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in North Wessex Downs AONB

Woodlands Camping

1. Woodlands Camping

97%
(104)
Ropley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A back-to-basics campsite in the South Downs National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£27
 / night
Park Farm Campsite

2. Park Farm Campsite

98%
(24)
Malmesbury, England · 3 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Off-grid pitches on an organic farm – with a sauna on site
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£25
 / night
Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

3. Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

100%
(57)
Aldsworth, England · 2 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Nearly wild camping with acres of space hired on an exclusive basis
Pets
Campfires
from 
£40
 / night
Secret Garden Glamping

4. Secret Garden Glamping

Lymington, England · 1 unit
A tucked-away bell tent within walking distance of Lymington railway station, near the coast and the New Forest.
Showers
Wifi
Potable water
from 
£113
 / night
The T Barn

5. The T Barn

99%
(90)
Cirencester, England · 17 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Bell tents and shepherd’s huts with hot tubs on a picturesque Cotswolds farm near Cirencester
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£29
 / night
Pitchcott Farm

6. Pitchcott Farm

92%
(31)
Aylesbury, England · 11 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Nearly wild, back-to-nature camping on a regenerative farm in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night
Tom's Field (New Forest)

7. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night
The Real Campsite at Park Farm

8. The Real Campsite at Park Farm

98%
(21)
Faringdon, England · 9 units
Back-to-basics camping in rural Oxfordshire with big views
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£55
 / night
Huckleberry Farm

9. Huckleberry Farm

81%
(16)
Bletchingdon, England · 6 units · Tents, Glamping
A back-to-basics campsite that’s well placed for visiting Oxford and the Cotswolds
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£30
 / night
Hollington Park Glamping

10. Hollington Park Glamping

95%
(11)
Woolton Hill, England · 6 units
Pod and bell tent glamping in woodland on the edge of the North Wessex Downs
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£105
 / night
Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

11. Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

95%
(148)
Warwickshire, England · 14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£14
 / night
Abbey Home Farm

12. Abbey Home Farm

94%
(218)
Cirencester, England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco-camping for real. Cooking on an open fire. Unspoilt natural beauty.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£9
 / night
Small Trees Campsite

13. Small Trees Campsite

97%
(38)
West Wellow, England · 33 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A small, campfire-friendly and dog-friendly campsite with approachable hosts
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

14. 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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Quaint Farm in a National Park

15. Quaint Farm in a National Park

100%
(27)
Liphook, England · 2 units
Our 17 acre Farm is set deep within the beautiful South Downs National Park on the outskirts of the quiet village of Milland (near Liphook) in rural West Sussex (close to its border with Hampshire and Surrey). We have direct access to an excellent bridleway and footpath network through peaceful open countryside and quiet lanes as well as being on the Serpent Tail and close to the South Downs Way.​ Our Glamping Pod and Shepherd's Hut are available to book all year round. We also offer stabling if you would like to take your horses or ponies on holiday with you! Milland village (0.8 miles) has the Rising Sun pub, serving great food and drink, and Milland Stores, which stocks all your essential fresh and local produce as well as having a small cafe.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Wolford Wood Camping & Cabins

16. Wolford Wood Camping & Cabins

98%
(30)
Moreton In Marsh, England · 16 units
Family camping in a Cotswolds wildflower meadow beside an ancient woodland and SSSI
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£22
 / night
The Old Airfield

17. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£30
 / night
Harry's Field New Forest

18. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Wingbury Farm Glamping

19. Wingbury Farm Glamping

98%
(26)
Aylesbury, England · 3 units
Modern pod glamping with hot tubs in a quiet Buckinghamshire meadow
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
from 
£160
 / night
Farrs Meadow

20. 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
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night

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% (723) 375 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in North Wessex Downs AONB

Woodlands Camping

1. Woodlands Camping

97%
(104)
Ropley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A back-to-basics campsite in the South Downs National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£27
 / night
Park Farm Campsite

2. Park Farm Campsite

98%
(24)
Malmesbury, England · 3 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Off-grid pitches on an organic farm – with a sauna on site
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£25
 / night
Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

3. Wild Camping in the Cotswolds

100%
(57)
Aldsworth, England · 2 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Nearly wild camping with acres of space hired on an exclusive basis
Pets
Campfires
from 
£40
 / night
Secret Garden Glamping

4. Secret Garden Glamping

Lymington, England · 1 unit
A tucked-away bell tent within walking distance of Lymington railway station, near the coast and the New Forest.
Showers
Wifi
Potable water
from 
£113
 / night
The T Barn

5. The T Barn

99%
(90)
Cirencester, England · 17 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Bell tents and shepherd’s huts with hot tubs on a picturesque Cotswolds farm near Cirencester
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£29
 / night
Pitchcott Farm

6. Pitchcott Farm

92%
(31)
Aylesbury, England · 11 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Nearly wild, back-to-nature camping on a regenerative farm in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night
Tom's Field (New Forest)

7. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night
The Real Campsite at Park Farm

8. The Real Campsite at Park Farm

98%
(21)
Faringdon, England · 9 units
Back-to-basics camping in rural Oxfordshire with big views
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£55
 / night
Huckleberry Farm

9. Huckleberry Farm

81%
(16)
Bletchingdon, England · 6 units · Tents, Glamping
A back-to-basics campsite that’s well placed for visiting Oxford and the Cotswolds
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£30
 / night
Hollington Park Glamping

10. Hollington Park Glamping

95%
(11)
Woolton Hill, England · 6 units
Pod and bell tent glamping in woodland on the edge of the North Wessex Downs
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£105
 / night
Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

11. Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

95%
(148)
Warwickshire, England · 14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£14
 / night
Abbey Home Farm

12. Abbey Home Farm

94%
(218)
Cirencester, England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco-camping for real. Cooking on an open fire. Unspoilt natural beauty.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£9
 / night
Small Trees Campsite

13. Small Trees Campsite

97%
(38)
West Wellow, England · 33 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A small, campfire-friendly and dog-friendly campsite with approachable hosts
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

14. 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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Quaint Farm in a National Park

15. Quaint Farm in a National Park

100%
(27)
Liphook, England · 2 units
Our 17 acre Farm is set deep within the beautiful South Downs National Park on the outskirts of the quiet village of Milland (near Liphook) in rural West Sussex (close to its border with Hampshire and Surrey). We have direct access to an excellent bridleway and footpath network through peaceful open countryside and quiet lanes as well as being on the Serpent Tail and close to the South Downs Way.​ Our Glamping Pod and Shepherd's Hut are available to book all year round. We also offer stabling if you would like to take your horses or ponies on holiday with you! Milland village (0.8 miles) has the Rising Sun pub, serving great food and drink, and Milland Stores, which stocks all your essential fresh and local produce as well as having a small cafe.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Wolford Wood Camping & Cabins

16. Wolford Wood Camping & Cabins

98%
(30)
Moreton In Marsh, England · 16 units
Family camping in a Cotswolds wildflower meadow beside an ancient woodland and SSSI
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£22
 / night
The Old Airfield

17. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£30
 / night
Harry's Field New Forest

18. 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
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Wingbury Farm Glamping

19. Wingbury Farm Glamping

98%
(26)
Aylesbury, England · 3 units
Modern pod glamping with hot tubs in a quiet Buckinghamshire meadow
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
from 
£160
 / night
Farrs Meadow

20. 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
Campfires
Showers
from 
£35
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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

Wildlife-watching campsites in North Wessex Downs AONB 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.

Top counties in and near North Wessex Downs AONB