Camp Corve and Canopy Skatepark

You don’t need to own a skateboard to pitch a tent at Camp Corve – but if you’ve got one, you’ll want to bring it. The small dog-friendly campsite here is one of a number of linked enterprises that are breathing new life into an old farm in the Isle of Wight’s quiet south west. Another is a 4,000-square foot skatepark housed in a renovated barn. But whether it’s skateboarding, scenery, surf or something else that you’re here for, this sheltered, tree-lined, tents-only site is a fun place to pitch a tent.

Situated just outside the hamlet of Chale Green, a couple of miles from the sea, Camp Corve is a rural hideaway that you’ll find at the end of ever-narrowing country lanes. The countryside rolls down towards the island’s south coast from here and there are distant sea views from parts of the farm. There are just seven pitches for tents sharing a wooded glade and facilities with one large bell tent that’s available to hire. It’s a simple set up with simple facilities in a brick-built block housing toilets and showers. Campfires are allowed in two designated fire pits in the sociable ‘Ash Circle’ where there’s an open-air washing up sink too.

The site is the work of the Fleming family who not only care for campers but also provide skateboarding lessons. Anyone can enjoy camping here, but those who will like it most will embrace the opportunity to use the skatepark, whether they need a lesson or not. It’s as good for experienced skaters as it is for beginners and as fun for adults as it is for kids. Beyond camping and skating, there’s a whole island to explore and at 22 miles across and just 13 north to south, all of it is within reach. There’s great walking and cycling on the quiet country lanes and coastal path, great beaches in every direction and, according to some, more visitor attractions per square mile than anywhere else in the UK.