Best campsites for surfing in River Avon

From the grassy banks of the Wiltshire countryside to the urban riverbanks of Bath and Bristol, the River Avon is witness to some of South West England’s most impressive scenery. Whether you choose to set sail on a sightseeing cruise, navigate its canal ways on a narrowboat, or pitch your tent by the riverside, there’s plenty to explore along the river. In Wiltshire, escape the crowds for tranquil waterfront walks or bike rides, and stop by the mediaeval village of Lacock. Further west, the UNESCO city of Bath and Bristol both have iconic bridges spanning the river—the Pulteney Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

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Top-rated campgrounds

From the grassy banks of the Wiltshire countryside to the urban riverbanks of Bath and Bristol, the River Avon is witness to some of South West England’s most impressive scenery. Whether you choose to set sail on a sightseeing cruise, navigate its canal ways on a narrowboat, or pitch your tent by the riverside, there’s plenty to explore along the river. In Wiltshire, escape the crowds for tranquil waterfront walks or bike rides, and stop by the mediaeval village of Lacock. Further west, the UNESCO city of Bath and Bristol both have iconic bridges spanning the river—the Pulteney Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

100% (31)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Gurt Yurts

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9 units · Tents, Glamping · Churchill, England

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. 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 8 years ago. It was close to everything we wanted and we've spent some time getting a bit closer.

2. Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

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2 units · Glamping · Crickhowell, Wales

A secluded, riverside bell tent in the heart of The Black Mountains

3. The Yellow Submarine!

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1 unit · Glamping · England

Stay in the only Yellow Submarine Glamping in the UK! Our Yellow Submarine is comfy and cosy and lots of interactive fun. Its a unique, magical (and totally land-based!) experience! The Yellow Submarine is complete with Radar, Giant Octopus Detector, Shark Warning System, Anti-Whale-Bump technology and a special cool space for Mums' wine. There are buttons to press, and knobs and dials and gauges and lights and real portholes. Look through the Periscope to check for any Sharks, Whales, Dolphins and Sea Monsters lurking nearby. There's a Galley Kitchen with Hob, Fridge, Sink, Crockery, Cutlery, and all the bits and bobs you'll need. Outside you'll find a BBQ & Firepit. When not deep under the Ocean, you'll find the Yellow Submarine at Petruth Paddocks - the best fun Free-Range Camping in Somerset. The vibe is as chilled as a rather good Prosecco thanks to the cucumber-cool Jules and the team there. There's a Family Field with an activity area where kids are free to clamber on old cable reels, sleepers, tractor tyres and an old Land Rover. You’ll find a great food shack serving delicious Paninis, Loaded Chips, Baked Potatoes, and brekky rolls in the morning and get your caffeine hit with proper coffee, or great tea, iced milkshakes and hot choccy! Veggy / dairy free available too! ‘Kev the Ice-Man’ has the most delicious flavours of Marshfield’s Ice Cream, and the most wonderful Stone-Baked Pizzas are on Friday evenings from June - end August with Vegan & dairy-free options available. A small shop in Reception sells the essentials - drinks, snacks, toiletries and a few other bits and bobs! In the Village nearby; 6 great Restaurants 5 lovely Take-aways (some deliver) 8 fabulous pubs plus lots more a short drive away Local stores, farm shops, supermarkets In the area; Buses, Bike / E-Bike hire, Taxis, Trains 9 Gorgeous Beaches Marshes, Lakes, Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, RSPB / Nature Reserves, Animal Parks and Zoos, Landscaped Gardens, Culture, Historical Landmarks and the Paranormal! Whooooooo! Local activities; A Shooting Range, Yachting, Kayaking, Horse Trekking, Alpaca Experiences, Activity Centres, Ballooning, Gliding, Racing, Karting, a Steam Railway Walking, Running, Cycling, River activities, Wild Swimming, Carboot and Local Market, Cakery, Softplay, Gym and Leisure Centre… Phew!

4. Long Beach the American School Bus!

2 units · Glamping · Cheddar, Somerset, South West England

Long Beach School Bus – an authentic, beautifully converted American School Bus for a memory-filled (and Insta-worthy!) stay on a welcoming free-range Somerset campsite full of fun and adventure. Freshly retired from the highways of California, 'Long Beach' is an iconic American Yellow School Bus – or ‘Skoolie’ for aficionados – lovingly converted into a truly unique Glamping retreat. Gloriously spacious, there’s plenty to delight couples, families, and groups of friends alike. For starters, you’ll have a proper kitchen to whip up your own school dinners complete with a gas oven, hob, grill, sink, and cooking equipment galore (There’s even a seriously cool fridge freezer, to help you chill those essential holiday tipples!) Enjoy gastronomic delights at the dining table while enjoying the views through the panoramic windows, or outside enjoying a sizzling sunset supper on the barbecue. With toasty underfloor heating and a clean-burning wood stove you’ll be gorgeously snug. There’s a thoughtfully-chosen selection of books and games on board, and if music’s more your thing, remember to bring your Bluetooth speaker and choose your own groove. You could even plonk yourself down in the driver’s seat if you like…with the original cab fully intact, you can travel anywhere your imagination cares to take you! When it’s finally time to turn in, you’ll discover a king-sized John Lewis bed to the rear dressed in Egyptian cotton sheets and a gorgeous duvet. Flanked by windows, you’ll wake up to stunning scenery. If you miss out on claiming this for yourself, you’ll also find two comfy, John Lewis full-sized singles, and a really good sofa bed too. Freshen up with a shower and fluffy towels (there’s even an illuminated mirror and a plug socket for your hairdryer!) then it’s on with the important business of planning your day. Parked at Petruth Paddocks, your cosy bus couldn’t be in a better spot for a fabulous stay. Things to note; Check in from 3pm, check out by 11am. Pets are not permitted. Facilities Authentic American School Bus, sleeps 6 guests. Original driver’s cab area, kitchen with gas oven, grill, hob, fridge freezer, sink, cooking and dining equipment, storage and surface space, dining table and chairs, sofa bed, selection of books and games, power for charging all your stuff, lighting, underfloor heating, eco wood burning stove, kingsize bed, two full-sized singles, storage. Shower, loo, towels, 240v sockets, illuminated mirror. Outside: firepit, barbecue, garden table and chairs. Acres of Beautiful and fun Camping with a huge Premier pitch for Long Beach! A Family Field with an activity area where kids are free to clamber on old cable reels, sleepers, tractor tyres and of course our old friend Mr Landy - an original Land Rover. There are picnic benches for parents sit nearby and keep an eye on toddlers. The great coffee shack ensures you get your caffeine hit as well as tea, hot chocs, iced coffee, iced tea and milkshakes. A small shop in Reception sells the essentials - drinks, snacks, toiletries and a few other bits and bobs! Waste disposal and recycling facility. In the Village and nearby; 6 great Restaurants 5 lovely Take-aways (some deliver) 8 fabulous pubs plus lots more a short drive away plenty of local stores and farm shops as well as all the main supermarket chains In the area; Buses, bike & E-Bike hire, Taxis, Trains 9 Gorgeous Beaches Marshes, Lakes, Cheddar Gorge & Wookey Hole, RSPB & Nature Reserves, an Animal Park, Landscaped Gardens, Culture & Historical Landmarks Local activities; A Shooting Range, Yachting, Kayaking, Horse and Alpaca Riding and Trekking, Activity Centre, Ballooning, Gliding, Racing, Karting, a Zoo, a Steam Railway, Walking, Running, Cycling, River activities, Wild Swimming, Carboots, Local Market, Cakery, Woodworking, Softplay, Gym & Leisure Centre… Phew!

Stories from the community

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Ashik

September 2025

2 nights at Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

Thanks Mark for the lovely stay! The area is secluded and picturesque, which really gave us the feeling of living a nomadic life with just the basic amenities. A few tips for future visitors: Bring a hanging light or headlamp, as it gets very dark and there’s no lighting provided. There’s a gas stove and cooking area, but you’ll need to bring your own utensils. Pack warm duvets and thick jackets if you’re visiting in autumn, as nights can get very cold. 🚗 Important: Do not drive your car down to the tent. Park just after entering the gate and walk down instead. I missed the host’s message about this, got stuck trying to drive back up, and had to be rescued by a farmer with his tractor (thankfully the host responded quickly and was super helpful!). Despite that little adventure, I absolutely loved the stay and would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a unique experience without the hassle of putting up a tent yourself.

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Emma

August 2025

With kids

2 nights at The Yellow Submarine!

My 2 boys (13 and 9) and I stayed 2 nights in the Yellow Submarine and it was great fun! The controls and labels and various flashing lights were hilarious and the hatches and portholes were brilliant, all very authentic. My boys were convinced it had been a real sub once and totally loved the ‘history’ section of the welcome pack. The beds and sofa bed had comfy mattresses and it was good to have a little sink, fridge and hob inside. Really well stocked with sheets and duvets, plates, cutlery and pan and there was a lovely care package including tea coffee cereal boxes and marshmallows for the fire. There was even a heater/cooler so we didn’t get cold at night. Toilets are in the nearby wash block which was kept nice and clean and the showers were great. We didn’t use the BBQ and instead grilled over the top of our fire drum (tip - bring a grill if you have one, or they sell them in the excellently stocked campsite shop). The bunk bed was a bit too small for my tall 9-year old so he slept in the big bed with me and the sofa bed was comfy but narrow for my 13 yr old so 2 nights was about right. Sleeping would’ve been tricky if there’d been another person. The site was excellent and we’d love to come back - maybe to check out the school bus! Cheddar village is in easy walking distance and the site itself has lots of room for playing and football. Loved it!

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Richard

June 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Gurt Yurts

It exceeded our expectations. Lovely comfort bed in a beautiful secluded location with walks all around.

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Laura

June 2025

With kids

3 nights at Gurt Yurts

We loved staying in the yurt and our two kids really enjoyed the experience to. Lovely place for them to play outside. Tim was very accommodating and really made us feel welcome. Thank you for a lovely stay

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Alice

June 2025

With kids

5 nights at Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

Great location, secluded but close to crickhowell. Amazing bird song. Nice river. Loved the ease of camping we without putting up a tent. We stayed in the wild camp bell tent.

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Ines

May 2025

Weekend Trip to Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

Quiet and beautiful camp spot, perfect for hiking in the black mountains. One WARNING, there is a gas stove but no cooking equipment provided contrary to listing so plan ahead if you want to cook. Still great value and would recommend

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Thomas

May 2025

Weekend Trip to Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

The camp site is great! Hot shower hit the spot! Fire pit was awesome! Tranquil sound of running water from the river! Overall a very good spot! Would recommend!

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Donna

April 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Gurt Yurts

We want to give the best feedback possible for Tim and the yurt. Tim is a fantastic host, so helpful, makes himself available for any enquiries and local information, and genuinely cares that his guests are well looked after. It really wasa complete experience for us as Tim welcomes well behaved dogs too. The yurt is a dream! So comfortable, everything you could possibly need to be warm and cosy and prepare easy food , especially with Tim’s own hens eggs, and breakfast and barbecue packs (much of which are from the organic farm just down the road) a lovely bonus . Super wood burner, a quilt which has had me looking online since we got back it’s so warm and comfortable and the setting is beautiful in its own paddock (which our dog loved!) with lovely views. The washing up, shower and compost loo facilities were so convenient on the decking next to the yurt, well lit at night by sensor lights, clean with all the all required products supplied, and eco friendly too. The lovely bottle of Prosecco and fresh apple juice were a really kind and very much appreciated gift. We would recommend anyone to stay here and we shall certainly be coming back. THANK YOU!!

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Philippa

April 2025

With kids

2 nights at Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

Beautiful spot, very peaceful. Lovely next to the river for a refreshing dip!! The tent and facilities were great, very comfortable and all the bits you could need! Great to have our own loo and shower as well. A really peaceful escape from the world.

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helen

April 2025

With pets

3 nights at Gurt Yurts

We absolutely loved our few days at Gurt Yurt and cannot recommend it highly enough. Our boys are aged 9 and 7, and this was a dream trip for them: beautiful views over the countryside, deer, buzzards, Tim’s hens and so much space to run around and play. They loved the tyre swings and hammock too. The beds were super cosy and the yurt is equipped with a wood burner, electric blanket and hot water bottles which kept us warm on the cool April nights. Tim is a lovely host - so accommodating, knowledgeable about the area, and goes above and beyond to ensure his guests have a great experience. We will treasure our camp fire memories and the time we spent here. Hope to return again soon.

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Louise

November 2024

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cuddfan - The Hiding Place

We loved the beautiful setting and peaceful location - the sound of the rushing river and bird calls were all that could be heard. As far as camping in November goes, we got lucky and it was dry and very mild. The camp facilities were great, with most things supplied, and importantly, the beds were comfortable. We can recommend the local pub and would love to come and stay again.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Best campsites for surfing in River Avon guide

When to go

Summer (June through August) is the best time to get on the water, and events and festivals are often held along the riverfronts in Bath and Bristol. Boat tours and cruises typically run from mid-March to mid-October, although winter visits are still possible for private groups. Many campsites stay open year-round, but be sure to check for seasonal closures.

Know before you go

The River Avon (or Bristol Avon) rises in South Gloucestershire and flows through Wiltshire, Bath, and Bristol, before connecting to the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Kennet Navigation.
Sightseeing cruises or multi-day boat cruises along the River Avon are possible from Bath and Bristol.
Most campsites in South West England require advance booking, and you may need to pay the full amount before arrival.