This West Country shire has hillside hikes, sandy beaches, and a world-famous music festival.
At the heart of the West Country, Somerset is renowned for its beach-lined coast, epic English countryside, and farming landscape. Hike dramatic gorges and moorlands, go rock climbing along limestone crags, or explore ancient caves in the four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For a change of scenery, the beach is never more than an hourâs drive away, and donât forget to sample local specialties, Cheddar cheese and Somerset cider, along the way. With all of this, Somerset is a camping havenâfrom the beach-bearing coast in the east to the wide river valleys of the west, there are heaps of incredible campsites to discover, and like in nearby Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall, Somersetâs rural landscapes and mild southern climate are favourites with campers. May through September is the best time for camping, but prepare for rainy days even in summerâwellies are a fashion must for campers attending Glastonbury Festival.
Hiking comes with spectacular views in the Mendip Hills AONB. Walk the cliff-tops of the Cheddar Gorge, then venture underground to explore limestone caves at Wookey Hole or enjoy bird-watching by Chew Valley Lake. The Somerset Coast is just a short drive away, with sandy beaches and seafront camping at Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-Super-Mare.
History, culture, and nature meet head-on in northeast Somerset. Admire Roman ruins and follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen in UNESCO-listed Bath, then head south to hike through wildflower valleys and forests in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs. For an unforgettable camping experience, join hippies and revellers for the annual Glastonbury Festival.
A ride on the West Somerset Railway affords views of the Somerset countryside as you travel from Taunton to Minehead, West Somersetâs main town. Coast and country are within easy reach from Minehead. Hikers have the Quantock Hills AONB and the Exmoor National Park to explore, and the 630-mile South West Coast PathâEnglandâs longest National Trailâstarts here.
Picturesque market towns, lowland marshes, and country parks pepper the landscapes of South Somerset. Enjoy bird-watching in the Avalon Marshes, go mountain biking around Yeovil, and stop for a pub lunch in Castle Cary. Along the Devon border, the Blackdown Hills AONB has trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as numerous camping options.
Somersetâs seaside resorts and stunning coastline are two reasons why this West Country destination has become a popular place for camping holidays in the UK. Thereâs traditional seaside fun in Weston-super-Mare and Minehead, where you can pick up a bucket and spade and tuck into fish and chipsâyou might even find a donkey ride to keep the kids amused. The smaller (but no less fun-filled) resorts of Brean and Burnham also serve up waterside holidays, but away from these busy hot spots is where youâll find some of our favourite Somerset beach campsites.
On the northeast edge of the county, youâll find quiet coves and traditional harbour towns like Portishead. And to the west sits wild beauty. Exmoor National Park extends to the coast, home to quieter spots on the seaside. If youâre hankering for a sea view, head for the South West Coast Path for a day out. This long-distance footpath starts in Somerset and offers walking with stunning clifftop views.
With just 40 miles of coastline, the seaside is only a small part of Somersetâs attraction. The vast expanse of countryside that covers most of the inland area is the other big draw, offering holidays where you can enjoy a taste of life in the country or down on the farm.
In the expanse of low-lying fertile land that makes up the Somerset Levels and Moors, campers can find a good line in farm campingâplaces to pitch your tent with a chance to meet animals and try local produce. These wetlands are also a unique place for wildlife, and any high spots on the land, like Glastonbury Tor, are worth visiting for the views alone.
The Somerset Levels and Moors are bordered by hills: the Mendip, Blackdown, and Quantock Hills are all Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Head for the Mendips for a campsite near Cheddar Gorge or Wookey Hole. And away from the most famous subterranean sites, you can have a go at caving. Above ground, the Mendips are also a great place for walking and other outdoor activities among dry valleys, gorges, and wildflower meadows.
To the south, the Blackdown Hills are a more gentle landscape of rolling hills, hedgerows, and quiet bridleways with plenty of campsites to help make the most of it all. The Quantock Hills stretch to the Bristol Channel, characterised by deep wooded valleys and the heather moorland expected in neighbouring Exmoor National Park. While many associate Exmoor with Devon, the majority of the park actually falls within Somerset. It can feel like another world with rivers, waterfalls, and woodland, as well as free-roaming wild ponies and red deer.
A camping holiday in Somerset offers endless opportunities to get out and explore.
1. Cheddar Gorge
Perhaps the most famous part of the gorge is Goughâs Cave, which offers a chance to discover a subterranean world. But thereâs actually as much, if not more, overground as there is underground at Cheddar Gorge. Towering limestone cliffs and wildflower meadows make this landscape worth exploring.
2. Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company
Thereâs no better place to try what must be Somersetâs most-famous export: cheddar cheese! Head to the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company visitor centre to watch the cheese-making process take place and tuck into the most beloved of British cheeses.
3. Wookey Hole
After exploring this famous cave systemâs underground and learning about the famous Wookey Hole Witch, thereâs more fun to be had. Access to a range of family-friendly attractions is included in the ticket price, which makes it good value if youâve got kids.
4. Exmoor National Park
With 267 square miles of protected land, Exmoor offers lots of opportunity for exploration. Walk across the heather moorland, follow streams through deep wooded valleys, and enjoy the wildest parts of Somersetâs coast.
5. The South West Coast Path
This long-distance coastal footpath is one of the best ways to see the coastline both in and outside of Exmoor. With a starting point in Somersetâs Minehead, the 630-mile path traces the coast of the south west right around to Dorsetâs south coast.
6. The seaside
Minehead, Weston-super-Mare, and Burnham offer the chance for traditional seaside fun with arcades, funfairs, and fish and chips, but plenty of quieter beaches and coves also feature spots for swimming, sandcastle building, and skimming stones.
7. Glastonbury Tor
A place of special spiritual significance for 1,000 years, this prominent hill offers great views over the Glastonbury festival site and much of the rest of Somerset. While in the area, you might also visit Glastonbury Abbey.
8. Area orchards
Somerset is famous for its apples and the cider that comes from them, so no visit to the county would be complete without a glass of apple juice or cider fresh from the farm.