Dog-friendly glamping in Thetford Forest

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Across the level heathland of North Suffolk and South Norfolk spreads England’s largest human-made lowland forest: Thetford Forest. The King’s Forest also lies to its south, and together, they are an arboreal wonderland where you’ll find well-kept hiking and biking routes, including the Icknield Way, which claims to be Britain’s oldest road. Nearby, campers can also find ancient sites like the Grime’s Graves prehistoric flint mine, delightful waterways like the River Lark, and an abundance of picnicking spots. For camping, Thetford Forest’s northern fringes have the best choice.

96% (633) 214 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Thetford Forest

North Norfolk Camping & Glamping

1. North Norfolk Camping & Glamping

89%
(14)
Sheringham, England · 191 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
🌲 North Norfolk Camping & Glamping Holt Hollow - Lakeside Forest Retreat North Norfolk Camping & Glamping, known as Holt Hollow, provides a rare, tranquil, and back-to-nature escape in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. Nestled in a wooded area on the outskirts of the AONB, the site's most distinctive feature is its beautiful natural lake and surrounding peaceful woodlands, ideal for walks and wildlife spotting. 🔥 Back-to-Basics & Off-Grid Ethos The site strongly emphasizes its back-to-basics philosophy: Off-Grid Living: Holt Hollow operates off-grid with limited to no phone coverage, promoting full disconnection from technology. Glamping units (Shepherd's Huts/Bell Tents) utilize gas-powered showers and solar lighting, with log burners for heat. Campfires: Campfires and BBQs are encouraged and allowed. Glamping units include private fire pits/braziers for evening gatherings under the clear, dark Norfolk skies, which are excellent for stargazing. Core Facilities: Essential amenities are kept clean and functional, including shared shower/toilet blocks and fresh drinking water stations. 🐾 Dog-Friendly Woodland & Accommodation The campsite is proudly dog-friendly, welcoming companions on all pitches (tents, campervans, caravans) and in most glamping units. The open meadows and surrounding woodlands provide ample space for walks, and the lake allows for safe paddling. Some pitches even allow dogs to be off-lead. 🗺️ Local Area: Holt Village and the Coast The site’s rural location is conveniently close to key North Norfolk highlights: Holt Village: The charming Georgian market town of Holt is just a short 5-minute drive away (or a longer walk). It is perfect for exploring independent shops, cafes, and art galleries, and for accessing local gems like Holt Country Park. The Coast: The stunning North Norfolk Coast (part of the AONB) is only a short drive (approx. 20 minutes) away, providing access to: Blakeney Point (famous for seal watching boat trips). Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham Bay (vast sandy beaches). Coastal walks along the Norfolk Coast Path. North Norfolk Camping & Glamping offers an authentic outdoor adventure, blending rustic living with the comfort of having the best of the Norfolk coast and countryside within easy reach.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Canal Camping

2. Canal Camping

98%
(122)
North Walsham, England · 39 units · Tents, Glamping
Paddle the waterways, read among the reeds and bask beneath the big, blue skies of the Norfolk Broads at this family-friendly, tent-only campsite
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Archer’s Field

3. Archer’s Field

97%
(223)
Erpingham, England · 22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Scenic, simple camping with North Norfolk's best sights on your doorstep
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
Fellows Farm

4. Fellows Farm

CA · 1 unit
Welcome to Fellows Farm — 13 acres of organic Suffolk countryside, big skies and proper farm life. Nestled in the village of Gosbeck, Fellows Farm is home to our family (Ben, Femke, Rory & Aran), our market garden, micro bakery, vineyard, weaving studio, flock of sheep — and a beautifully spaced, private campsite. This is a working, Soil Association–certified organic farm where much of the food you’ll eat is grown metres from where you’ll sleep. Solar-powered, borehole-fed, and surrounded by pasture and wildlife, it’s a place to slow down, cook together, watch the sunset over 12-mile views and wake to birdsong. Stay in one of our 5m bell tents (one with a double bed, one with a double + single) or our cosy shepherd’s hut, all thoughtfully scattered across the meadow for space and privacy. We also offer the whole site as a private campsite for up to 30 guests — perfect for gatherings, celebrations and retreats. At the heart of the site is our beautiful barn with a wood-fired pizza oven, long dining tables, hot water, fridges and freezers, crockery and plenty of space to feast. Cook for yourselves or let us make pizzas (or something special) for you. Breakfast and seasonal produce boxes from our market garden are also available. There’s a wildlife pond, fire pits and barbecues, a beer keg tap, and a sound system (with a gentle 11pm curfew for amplified music). Compost toilets and a heated rustic outdoor shower keep things comfortable but close to nature. Charging sockets are available in the barn. Well-behaved dogs are welcome (just not in the sheep field). We’re a short stroll from Gosbeck Wood (a Triple SSSI woodland), 15 minutes from the market town of Debenham, 20 minutes from Woodbridge, and around 45 minutes from the beautiful Suffolk coast. Coddenham community shop is a 5-minute drive (or a lovely hour’s walk). Helmingham Hall and its stunning walled garden are just down the road. Come for dark skies, long tables, wood-fired evenings and food grown from the soil beneath your feet.
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
Goldcrest - Breakaway Camping

5. Goldcrest - Breakaway Camping

88%
(13)
Beccles, England · 9 units · Tents, Glamping
Situated in NR34 Suffolk , 15 Minute drive to beaches and market towns . *6 large camping pitches *8 Birth caravan - Gas central heating - Bedding included *Indoor & outdoor eating area's *2 communal fire pits and seating *Woodland walk *Wildflower meadows *Shower and toilet Room Welcome Barn with -washing station - microwave - Fridge - Toaster - Kettle - charging point - Drinking water-Honesty Shop.
Showers
Potable water
Picnic table
Whitlingham Broad Campsite

6. Whitlingham Broad Campsite

98%
(164)
Norfolk, England · 69 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Laid-back camping and glamping a stone's throw from Norwich and at the gateway to the Norfolk Broads
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
Secluded Woodland Camp

7. Secluded Woodland Camp

96%
(12)
Ware, England · 26 units · Tents, Glamping
Glamp or pitch up here in our secluded and peaceful mini off-grid site combining both field and forest. We have a shared under cover space and also an outdoor fire-pit to gather more than 20 people comfortably. There is a simple compost loo for your use with hand-washing and dish washing area outside. And the rest is all Mother nature! There is no running water or drinking water. You will need to bring your own. No electricity points or WIFI are in the campsite and no masts nearby so enjoy the EMF cleanse. Whether you chose to stay in the ancient woodland or the herbal pasture, you will feel the benefits of reconnecting with yourself in nature, breathing the clean air and hearing the birds singing. The parking is 800m away and there is minimal tractor use so you can imagine yourself roaming the fields and forest of England in days gone by. Fitness required. It's a long walk from the car park to the campsite. Trolleys provided.
Campfires
Picnic table
Cooking equipment
Hickling Campsite

8. Hickling Campsite

99%
(118)
Hickling, England · 31 units · Tents, Glamping
Tent camping and glamping within walking distance of Norfolk's largest broad and less than 10 minutes' drive from the beach
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Bircham Windmill

9. Bircham Windmill

97%
(136)
Norfolk, England · 17 units · Motorhomes, Glamping
Flat grassy tent pitches beneath a magnificent working windmill, all accompanied by Norfolk's best bakery
Electrical hookup
Showers
Potable water
Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

10. Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

97%
(145)
Ely, England · 6 units · Tents, Glamping
Cosy year-round glamping and seasonal camping in a fenland meadow with views of Ely cathedral
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

11. Hunstanton Camping & Glamping

78%
(30)
King's Lynn, England · 108 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
🌅 Hunstanton Camping & Glamping with mYminiBreak: The Coastal Escape Hunstanton Camping & Glamping offers a relaxed, back-to-basics coastal escape in Heacham, Norfolk. The site, a former dairy farm, maintains a peaceful, natural atmosphere, perfect for those looking to unplug. 🐾 Exceptionally Dog-Friendly Haven The site is dog-friendly, welcoming companions in all accommodation types. Its best feature is the immediate access to the sea, being just a quick 2-minute walk from the vast sands of Heacham South Beach. Crucially, this beach operates with no year-round restrictions for dogs, offering unrestricted playtime. 🌊 Prime Location and Local Area The site's unique west-facing position on the West Norfolk coast means guests witness spectacular sunsets directly over the sea—a daily, breathtaking ritual. You are perfectly situated to explore North Norfolk: Hunstanton: The nearby Victorian resort offers seaside fun and the famous striped cliffs of Old Hunstanton. Nature & Walks: Enjoy direct access to the Norfolk Coast Path and close proximity to the Wild Ken Hill rewilding project and Sandringham Estate for extensive hiking and wildlife spotting. Activities: The calm, shallow local waters are excellent for watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding. 🔥 Back-to-Basics Ethos and Core Facilities The ethos of the site embraces a simple, "back-to-basics" camping philosophy. Accommodation: Pitch your own tents, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans, or choose glamping in rustic Shepherd's Huts or spacious Bell Tents. Campfires: Campfires and BBQs are encouraged and allowed, with private fire pits/braziers provided for glamping units, perfect for gatherings under the clear, dark Norfolk skies Core Facilities: Essential amenities are clean and functional: shared toilet/shower blocks with hot water; designated washing-up station and access to fresh drinking water. Limited electric hook-ups are available for pitches upon request, though the emphasis is on a connected-to-nature experience. Wifi available. This site offers an unforgettable escape, blending traditional outdoor life with coastal charm.
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Showers
The Old Vicarage Campsite

12. The Old Vicarage Campsite

99%
(71)
Norwich, England · 17 units · Tents, Glamping
Laid back, free-range camping with campfires
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Barn Owl Camping

13. Barn Owl Camping

97%
(18)
Suffolk, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Dog-friendly camping and shepherd’s huts in rural Suffolk
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Wardley Hill Campsite

14. Wardley Hill Campsite

100%
(111)
Bungay, England · 19 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite on the Norfolk Suffolk border
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Willow Grove Farm Glamping

15. Willow Grove Farm Glamping

100%
(12)
Lakenheath, England · 13 units
Furnished bell tents with private shower rooms, great for gatherings and get togethers.
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
Driftways Glamping and Camping

16. Driftways Glamping and Camping

100%
(12)
Pulham Market, England · 13 units · Tents, Glamping
Camping and glamping in a spacious meadow on a South Norfolk smallholding
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Gemini Camp

17. Gemini Camp

100%
(11)
Elsenham, England · 1 unit
Glamping stays in a cabin on a private six-acre nature reserve in Essex
Showers
Potable water
Cooking equipment
Hillside Farm Camping

18. Hillside Farm Camping

100%
(9)
Market Weston, England · 12 units · Tents, Glamping
Camping with campfires on the Norfolk-Suffolk border
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Glamp and Tipple

19. Glamp and Tipple

92%
(13)
Great Ellingham, England · 5 units
Hotel-style glamping in Yurts on a Norfolk farm
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
Ashcroft Field

20. Ashcroft Field

100%
(4)
Hindolveston, England · 3 units
A small bell tent site in a Norfolk meadow, just 25 minutes from the coast
Showers
Campfires
Potable water

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Thetford Forest camping guide

Where to go

The King’s Forest

Together with Thetford Forest to its north, the King’s Forest helps comprise the biggest human-made lowland forest in England. The Icknield Way long-distance trail passes through, while a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village sits in the south by West Stow Country Park and a number of camping options.

Isleham & the River Lark

From its confluence with the Great River Ouse, the River Lark winds southeast to Isleham, nine miles from Thetford Forest, before continuing upstream to Bury St Edmunds and beyond. Navigable until Jude’s Ferry between Isleham and Mildenhall, and with a major marina at Isleham, the waterway is a favourite among pleasure boaters and walkers who frequent the footpaths lining the river. Several campsites dot the area, some near the water.

East of Thetford

The town of Thetford hugs the forest’s southeast corner, east of which are many important wildlife areas including Brettenham Heath National Nature Reserve with its nationally rare chalk grassland and heathland habitats, plus the SSSI Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve. The Peddars Way long-distance path runs east of landscaped 18th-century parkland Shadwell Park, then intersects with Icknield Way near Knettishall Heath. Look for a fair number of kid-friendly campsites nearby.

Ely & Around

West of Thetford Forest, pancake-flat farmland spreads across to Ely. This is one of Britain’s smallest cities, arranged around a stunning cathedral on the highest land in all the East Anglian fens  (with a whopping elevation of 85 feet!). Ely’s countrified surroundings, also known as Bedford Level, are the place to come for excellent boating and a fine choice of campsites, many with pitches scattered through lovely wildflower meadows.

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

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