5 Parks In Buckinghamshire
If the heath is heaving, the local park’s packed and you’re crowded out on the common, grab the tent and get out of town. Go camping near these five parks in Buckinghamshire, home to some of the Home Counties’ most pleasant green expanses and nature reserves.
And it’s not just the acres of woodland and endless open spaces you’ll love. The stately homes, rural villages and lakeside settings help make sure your city struggles will soon be a distant memory.
Ready to go? Here are the top five parks in Buckinghamshire to visit on your camping trip.
Denham Country Park
Come to this spot for a full day of countryside and waterside exploration. With the rivers Colne and Misbourne flowing through and the Grand Union Canal nearby, it’s a scenic setting for a stroll to the Domesday village of Denham, where a pub lunch and pint is not to be resisted.
Admire the Norman tower and Tudor monuments of the village’s St. Mary’s Church and Grade II-listed Southlands Manor before ambling on into the unfolding Colne Valley for more miles of hiking pleasure.
Denham Park’s 69 acres also hold a nature reserve that’s a popular sighting spot for heron, kingfishers and a varying mix of other local wildlife.
For kid-friendly thrills and spills, there’s also the Denham Adventure Zone (opposite the main car park), a small paddling beach and café.
Dig in and go camping near Denham Park
Hughenden Park
To stroll through more stately acres, head to Hughenden Park just outside West Wycombe. As the grand former abode of Victorian PM Benjamin Disraeli, the 600-acre estate is also a gateway to one of Buckinghamshire’s most adored natural areas, the Chiltern Hills.
You can, of course, visit the house and tour its elegant Italianate grounds (certainly among the top five gardens in Buckinghamshire), but may prefer a day out on Hughenden’s rolling parkland, walking some of the way-marked circuits.
Take the Boundary walk for a tour of woodlands and open space or the Monument walk for spectacular views. You could also wander through the densely packed trees of the German Forest or take a short loop around the Chilterns on the Woodcock Wood walk.
That last one will likely lure you further into Chilterns countryside. To hike in this hilly mosaic of green field, chalk and hedgerow is rambling pleasure on another level, so it’s no surprise to learn that a sizeable portion is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Once you've finished rambling, rejuvenate at Hughenden’s fine café.
Browse campsites near Hughenden Park
Black Park Country Park
With everything from serene lakeside surroundings to winding forest trails, these 530 acres of woodland and heath are fantastic for folk wanting a full country park experience. There are family attractions, play areas, themed adventures for kids, playing fields, cycling tracks, wildlife spotting and a 14-acre lake (bring your model boats).
Home to relatively rare species of plants, insects, snakes and lizards, this perfect park is also a Special Site of Scientific Interest. Linger long enough and you might even spot its 18 types of butterfly.
Dogs are also welcome and full facilities are in place, including a café and pay and display car park.
Find a campsite near Black Park
Langley Park
Once upon a time a royal hunting ground and pleasure gardens, this green space has since become one of Buckinghamshire’s most scenic parks and a welcoming haven for local wildlife.
Meander about the 130 acres of gentle parkland and centuries-old English oak, chestnut and wellingtonia trees before admiring the stunning garden of rhododendrons. On a good day – and any day out here tends to be – you can take in a regal view of Windsor Castle.
Langley Park also intrigues historians with its links to Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and the 3rd and 4th Dukes of Marlborough. Make sure to explore the Temple Gardens and the 18th-century banqueting hall, too.
All facilities are here as well: think picnic areas, a newly refurbished café, the Jubilee Play Garden for under-12s and a pay-and-display car park.
Pitch up at a campsite near Langley Park
Emberton Country Park
Originally a gravel works, this outdoor space became England’s first country park in 1965 and is now made up of 200 handsome acres of wooded glades, meadows and parkland just north east of Milton Keynes.
Anglers can fish in the five lakes, and although no swimming or wading is allowed, you’ll still take pleasure in navigating the extensive pathways in and around their surroundings. Naturally, there’s picnic space aplenty and the kids can run around the several play areas.
For another jaunt, amble around the attractive, historic village of Olney nearby, first recorded in the Domesday book and later the scene of the 1643 Battle of Olney Bridge. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafés and pubs for when hunger and thirst strike.
If you fancy visiting any of these spots, finding an excellent campsite in Buckinghamshire is, well… a walk in the park. But it doesn’t stop there – this Home County has plenty more to explore, so have a look at this checklist of eight things to do in Buckinghamshire.