Cotswolds Camping

Under new ownership since the summer of 2019, Cotswold Camping, haf an hour from Oxford, has long been a stalwart of the quieter camping scene in the north of the Cotswolds. Thankfully, Keith and Nicole Dighton have picked up where the previous owners left off, not only maintaining a well organised, extremely relaxed experience for everyone who stays but also making extra additions, including new glamping pods, a cute toy shed for youngsters and two seperate meadows for groups, with their own kitchen and toilet facilities.

The campsite is on the edge of the beautiful market town of Charlbury, with stunning views across the Evenlode Valley. It offers a spacious main camping field flanked by pine trees, with walks across open countryside accessible through a gate at the back. Caravans aren’t banned, but there’s more grass than hardstandings and the scale of this site appeals far more to dedicated tenters. It’s a perfect place to kick back, fill your lungs with fresh air, read the paper, and listen to the surrounding cows, sheep, and chickens. Oh, and waking up to the soft cooing sounds of resident wood pigeons is priceless.

As well as being a great springboard for visiting the surrounding Oxfordshire and Cotswolds villages, with their honey-coloured stone buildings, Cotswolds Camping is surrounded by yumminess of the food variety. Wander into Charlbury for its many pubs, or head to the little village of Chadlington for a community-managed shop at its best, complemented by a coffee shop that sprawls out on to the pavement a few doors down. You’re not in the middle of nowhere here, but it feels like it.