Otters Camping at Beale Park

Otters Camping at Beale Park offers the chance to pitch your tent or park your campervan in a riverside meadow in Berkshire. And if the mighty Thames flowing by isn’t enough water for you, there’s a lake right next door too. It all makes for a rather relaxing setting – though it’s worth mentioning that you might hear the train from London whizzing by. For plenty of people that will be an added bonus; this place is accessible as it is rural with Pangbourne Railway Station a riverside walk of just over a mile away. To get there from London Paddington takes a mere 45 minutes on the train.

Whether you arrive by campervan, car or the train, there’s so much to do in the very near vicinity that you’re unlikely to get bored. Beyond the ample space of the 10-acre camping field, there’s that lake with its watersports (paddleboard hire, open water swimming sessions, water ski-ing, and more), the neighbouring Beale Wildlife Park and the National Trust’s Palladian mansion and gardens at Basildon Park. And then there’s Pangbourne itself; the closest place with a pub, a shop, and a bridge across the river so you can hop across and join the Thames Path National Trail.

The campsite is just downstream of a beautiful stretch of the River Thames called the Goring Gap, between the villages of Streatley and Pangbourne. It’s a picturesque place to camp and if you’re wondering why we’ve not said more about the campsite itself, it’s because there’s not a lot more to say. Thomas, your host, has kept things simple offering basic facilities for those who are happy to look after and tidy up after themselves. You’ll find portaloos and drinking water – but no showers, washing-up sinks or undercover space. Campfires are allowed here as are well-behaved dogs and groups. The pitch-where-you-please policy helps make it a particularly good place for those as you can cluster tents as suits your group. Arrive early and you might just be lucky enough to get a pitch with a view of the river or lake.