The excitement and magic of wild camping is on offer at Swallow Barn Woodland Campsite where a booking secures you exclusive access to an entire five-acre wood. The site is part of a smallholding close to the banks of the River Severn and not far from the Forest of Dean. It’s a Hipcamp for folk who love the outdoors and, for people like that, there’s plenty to do around here. There’s hiking, biking, climbing, canoeing and kayaking—plus, of course, the simple pleasures of living in the woods.
There are three clearings in the trees of this broadleaf woodland where it’s suitable to pitch a tent or two. Altogether the place can sleep up to 20 but it’s priced in such a way that it’s as affordable for a family of four as it is for larger groups. Either way, you get the place to yourselves. And though it offers a good approximation of wild camping, it’s not without a few rustic conveniences and comforts. There’s a compost loo, an open-air bucket shower, and a little tarp-covered kitchen space. It even has a sink. But you’ll need to be pretty self-sufficient to enjoy it here. There’s no electricity and no cooking kit so bring a stove or be prepared to cook on the fire. For that there are no ready-chopped logs on offer either. You’ll need to gather your own firewood and chop it with your own axe. For those who’ll like it here; that’s half the fun.
The other half will be den building, tree swinging, and owl spotting—good old fashioned off-grid pastimes. Or, of course, you could head out. There are walks along the river directly from the woodland and there’s cycling in the Forest of Dean, less than a mile away. It’s a 20-minute drive to the River Wye, with kayaking, canoeing, and climbing all popular things to do.
The site offers nearly-wild camping. You'll have exclusive use of the woods and adjacent field, and the beautiful surrounding countryside is very quiet, so you will be able to explore your own little world undisturbed.
The woodland lies along a deep, lush valley, with a stream perfect for building dams. We have a rope swing that soars over the drop, and you are welcome to collect as much wood as you can carry for your fire.
The estuary coast here is steeped in history, with the hamlet of Gatcombe lying at the foot of the wood, on the estuary shore. This was once a bustling ship building port and Francis Drake is reputed to have hid away here for a number of years.
The wider Forest of Dean has a similar rich history, with very many stunning castles. It also offers a wide range of activities, including world class mountain biking trails, climbing in the Wye Valley, caving and canoeing through the Wye Gorge. If you interests are more leisurely, the walking is outstanding, with Offa's Dyke skirting the Western Edge of the district. The forest itself has wonderful opportunities for wildlife watching with a colony of wild boar and the most significant goshawk population in England.
