Gidleigh Wood

View prices & book 9.7 92 reviews
View to the east
Gidleigh wood from higher murchington
Tent and campervan site
Looking north

  • Simple pitches in 150 acres of privately owned Devon woodland
  • A 20-minute drive to Okehampton; 40 minutes to Exeter
  • Direct access to Dartmoor and the Two Moors Way, plus walks on site
Get down to Devon and a gorgeous setting in Dartmoor National Park – the simple grass pitches at Gidleigh Wood are part of a 150-acre site that’s mainly filled with conifer and broadleaf trees in the north Teign river valley. It’s an extremely peaceful location – and a scenic one too, with views out over the surrounding hills and woodland. If you’ve come this way for a bit of walking or cycling, you’re in the right place. Such outings can start right there on site, as there are numerous tracks crisscrossing the woodland, including one that takes you up Princeps Tor (with an elevation of 333 metres). There’s a mile or so of river frontage too, so you can get a close look at the water (it’s an unusual colour thanks to the peaty moorland soil…) Beyond the woods, you can get out onto the moors via a footbridge over the river. Once you’ve crossed the water, there’s a generous 365 square miles of moorland to explore, with nearby walks taking you to places like Kestor Rock and some standing stones. Something even longer in mind? This is a popular spot with students on Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, and it’s also a handy stopover point for the Two Moors Way, as the Mariners Way (part of the longer trail) runs through the woods. Life on site is fairly simple, with just the essential facilities provided – guests will have access to showers, compost toilets and a washing-up area but are otherwise left to their own devices.

Site type

Tent pitches 15
Motorhome pitches 3
Open now
Opens 26 June
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Please note that the shower facilities are unisex.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.
  • Continental touring caravans (caravans built with the passenger door on the right-hand side) are not permitted.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri 26 Jun to

Open from Thu 2 Jul to

Open from Thu 9 Jul to

Open from Thu 16 Jul to

Open from Thu 23 Jul to

Open from Sat 1 Aug to

Open from Thu 31 Dec 2026 to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

  • 85%
    10
  • 4%
    9
  • 7%
    8
  • 0%
    7
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    6
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    5
  • 2%
    4
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    1
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
7

98% would recommend this site to a friend

97% would stay here again

What customers say

This is a beautiful, peaceful, and remote woodland campsite on the edge of Dartmoor, offering a true "off-grid" experience. Visitors praise the friendly and exceptionally helpful hosts, Mark and Karen, who go above and beyond for guests. Excellent walking opportunities are directly accessible from the site, and facilities, including compost toilets and hot showers, are consistently described as clean and well-maintained. While the site is on a slope, ample space allows for choosing preferred pitches. The communal fire pit is a popular feature for evening gatherings. Access roads can be narrow, but this is generally considered manageable and does not deter return visits.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 23/06/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 10
Arrival date (latest first)

Excellent, on the edge of the moor, easy access to Scorhill/Kestor

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great campsite, lovely
Location and good facilities, Mark the owner couldn’t have been more helpful, I was on a solo bike trip, Mark sorted me with a table/chair and a fully charged battery so I could charge up
My electrics!

Recommend to friends Visit again

The peacefulness.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass motorhome pitch

Liked The peacefulness.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great, quiet spot for tent or campervan.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Mark was a great host, very welcoming. Chilled out little campsite with lovely wooded walk straight from campsite.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Karen and Mark are lovely. The site…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass motorhome pitch

Liked Karen and Mark are lovely.
The site is beautiful with lots of amazing walks and views straight off the site.
Very quiet and peaceful.
Toilets, Shower and washing up facilities. We will definitely stay again.
A perfect way to spend a very cold NYE

Recommend to friends Visit again

The location is perfect. We walked…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
No rating
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass motorhome pitch

Liked The location is perfect. We walked directly on to the moor from the site. Forest location perfect for dogs. Karen and Mark are very welcoming, the site is very clean, the fire pit an unexpected bonus.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The hosts were a lovely couple,…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
8
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
1
Samuel T. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked The hosts were a lovely couple, who went out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible despite the weather. They set up the fire pit on our last night, and ensured there was enough wood to see us through.

Lovely local walks and plenty of tors not too far away. The river is a short distance away from the site which promotes scenic walks.

There was plenty for children to do with a box full of ball games, and a woodland to run through.

The facilities were clean and well maintained. No foul smells from the compostable toilets. The owners ensured that the shower was always hot after wet walls on the moors.

We will return to this site in the future, and have recommended to friends.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A wonderful, peaceful stay . Site…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
No rating
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass motorhome pitch

Liked A wonderful, peaceful stay . Site was set in woodland with beautiful views along the forest tracks perfect for dog walks. Very friendly owners. Will definitely be back.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Many thanks Helen for giving us a 10/10!
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Gidleigh wood campsite, and look forward to seeing you again next year.

Mark and Karen

Tranquility at its best.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
No rating
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10

Non-electric grass motorhome pitch

Liked The simplicity and ease of everything. Mark has yet again done it v.well indeed. This time I bought my kids so they really got stuck into the off grid camping. Lovely wild swimming nearby too.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Many thanks Luke for your lovely review and rating us a 10/10! So glad you and your kids had a great time. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Cheers

Mark

Wonderful, peaceful spot nestled in the…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Wonderful, peaceful spot nestled in the trees. Feels remote with access to beautiful walks on Dartmoor but also only around 2 miles to Chagford for a pint and a small shop.

Shout out to Mark, the friendly owner, for his helpfulness and resourcefulness - we forgot the pump for our airbed and he made one out of a milk bottle top and a canister of compressed air! Above and beyond what we expected.

Compost loos and shower also v clean and well-maintained.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Rebecca, we love your lovely review about how we managed to inflate your airbed, it's the best review of the year! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Gidleigh wood campsite and thank you so much for rating us a 10/10, well worth finding a milk bottle top and some compressed air. I love a challenge in the wilderness of Dartmoor. We hope to see you both again next year.

Cheers

Mark

Fantastic campsite! Beautiful locations and very…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Fantastic campsite! Beautiful locations and very relaxed. The owners were fantastic and very attentive. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay and hope to return in the future. Loved being able to swim in the river too!

Disliked I wake up early so it wasn’t and issue for me, but I could see how having 1 shower could be an issue when it’s busy.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Megan, many thanks for rating us a 10/10!
So glad you enjoyed your stay at Gidleigh wood campsite, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

Cheers

Mark


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No drinkable water point Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campsite Small (11-25 pitches)

Location

Gidleigh Wood

Berrydown Road

Gidleigh

Chagford

Devon

England

TQ13 8HR

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.67838°N
3.88191°W

Nearest transport

Coach
6.8 mi Thomas Cook
14.7 mi Bus Station
16 mi Bus Station
Rail
6.3 mi Okehampton Rail Station
7 mi Sampford Courtenay Rail Station
9.6 mi Yeoford Rail Station
Ferry
18.1 mi Topsham Lock Ferry Landing
18.2 mi Topsham Ferry Landing
18.3 mi Topsham (Turf Lock Ferry) Ferry Landing
Airport
20.7 mi Exeter International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Fancy a challenge once you’ve warmed up on the trails nearby? How about a hike up High Willhays, the highest point in southern England at 621 metres. Meldon Hill, just outside Chagford, is another that’s worth a climb for some excellent moorland views. Shilley Pool, a few miles north of the site, is a lovely spot to cool off with some wild swimming in the river. For a glimpse into times gone by, stop by at the National Trust’s Finch Foundry (15 minutes’ drive) to see an old water-powered forge, or head to the Museum of Dartmoor Life (20 minutes) to explore the themed exhibits. Castle Drogo (20 minutes) may look like a historic building thanks to its medieval styling but it was actually constructed in the 20th century by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens – that modern take on a traditional style makes it a fascinating place to visit. Other days out nearby might take you over to Exeter (40 minutes) to visit the cathedral and museums and delve into the underground passages, or down to the coast for a day on the beach in Dawlish (45 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Shaldon 19.2 mi Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Teignmouth Town 19.4 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Dawlish Coryton Cove 19.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Ness Cove 19.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Dawlish Town 19.5 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Castle Drogo 3.3 mi

Buckfast Abbey 13.6 mi

Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 15.7 mi

Dartmoor Zoological Park 19.2 mi

The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 20.1 mi

National Trust

Castle Drogo 3.3 mi

Finch Foundry 4.1 mi

The Church House 7.7 mi

Lydford Gorge 10.2 mi

Buckland Abbey 17.5 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Chagford - Castle Drogo - Fingle Bridge 2.2 mi

CASTLE DROGO 3.6 mi

Bennet's Cross - Huckney Tor - Vitifer Mine Complex - Bennet's Cross 4.2 mi

WOOD HOUSE 4.8 mi

Postbridge CP - Broad Down - Longaford Tor - Powder Mills 6 mi

Local events

  • Beautiful Days (Friday, 21 August 2026 – Friday, 21 August 2026)

    Ottery St Mary, Devon 26.2 mi

  • Sidmouth Folk Festival (Friday, 31 July 2026 – Friday, 31 July 2026)

    Sidmouth, Devon 28.3 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Devon?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Gidleigh Wood have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Gidleigh Wood dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Gidleigh Wood? Fancy a challenge once you’ve warmed up on the trails nearby? How about a hike up High Willhays, the highest point in southern England at 621 metres. Meldon Hill, just outside Chagford, … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Gidleigh Wood?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  5 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Gidleigh Wood? From £24 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.