The best campsites near Swindon with horseback riding

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While the crowds make a beeline for nearby Oxford and Bath, the Wiltshire market town of Swindon makes a strategic basecamp for in-the-know campers wanting to explore the region’s headline acts. Check into a quiet farm campsite or caravan park and enjoy easy access to the surrounding cities and AONBs. Browse the shops and markets in the Old Town, enjoy a picnic by the lakeside in Queens Park, or stroll around the woodlands and landscaped gardens of The Lawns. Swindon also lies along the Great West Way heritage trail, and a highlight is the Great Western Railway at STEAM Museum.

97% (431) 155 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Swindon

4. Offas Dyke Retreat

93km from Swindon · 8 units · Glamping
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.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£117
 / night

8. Quaint Farm in a National Park

100%
(26)
92km from Swindon · 2 units · Glamping
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

While the crowds make a beeline for nearby Oxford and Bath, the Wiltshire market town of Swindon makes a strategic basecamp for in-the-know campers wanting to explore the region’s headline acts. Check into a quiet farm campsite or caravan park and enjoy easy access to the surrounding cities and AONBs. Browse the shops and markets in the Old Town, enjoy a picnic by the lakeside in Queens Park, or stroll around the woodlands and landscaped gardens of The Lawns. Swindon also lies along the Great West Way heritage trail, and a highlight is the Great Western Railway at STEAM Museum.

97% (431) 155 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Swindon

4. Offas Dyke Retreat

93km from Swindon · 8 units · Glamping
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.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£117
 / night

8. Quaint Farm in a National Park

100%
(26)
92km from Swindon · 2 units · Glamping
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

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The best campsites near Swindon with horseback riding guide

Where to go

North Wessex Downs

South of Swindon, the verdant hills of the North Wessex Downs AONB have miles of trails for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Marvel at the Wiltshire White Horses, giant chalk drawings etched onto the hillsides; explore the ancient stone circle at Avebury; or cruise along the Kent & Avon Canal. Stop by the market towns of Marlborough, Hungerford, and Pewsey, where you’ll find traditional pubs and local artisan shops.

The Cotswolds

England’s most idyllic slice of residential countryside is the Cotswolds AONB. Hire a campervan for a road trip along the winding country lanes, stopping to explore the pretty stone villages, walk or cycle through rolling farmlands, or spot celebrity residents in villages like Castle Combe, Broadway, and Bourton on the Water. The Cotswolds adds a touch of glamor to camping, too—there are some great glamping options, and you’re never far from a gastro-pub.

Salisbury Plains

An hour’s drive south of Swindon, the enigmatic ruins of Stonehenge lie high on the Salisbury Plains. Visit the UNESCO site at sunrise or sunset for the most dramatic views, take a hike through the hills, then head to nearby Salisbury to admire the mediaeval cathedral. To the south, quiet hiking trails and backcountry campsites await in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB.

When to go

If you’re visiting in peak season between July and August, Swindon makes a smart choice to dodge the crowds, and there’s also a busy calendar of summer events and festivals. Wiltshire weather is best from May through September—plan a hiking trip in late spring to see the countryside blossoming with wildflowers, or in fall for autumnal walks through the Cotswolds.

Know before you go

  • Swindon has several camping and outdoors stores where you can pick up supplies for your camping trip. 
  • Swindon has public transport links to many of the surrounding towns and attractions, but it is handy to have your own transport, especially if staying at rural campsites.
  • Most campsites require advance booking, and many ask for the full payment upfront. Be sure to check opening dates, as some campsites close in the winter months.
  • Wild camping is illegal throughout Wiltshire.