When can I check in and check out of Wild Camping at Dark Lane?

Camping and touring Arrive: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Depart by: 12 p.m. Read more

Wild Camping at Dark Lane

10 7 reviews

Autumn afternoon (added by manager 17 Oct 2021)

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1/8

Wild camping in a rural field in the North Wessex Downs
A 10-minute walk to the Kennet and Avon Canal; Wolfhall 15 minutes
No parking available on site or locally, but close to public transport

If you’ve got hiking or cycling blood in your veins and you’re looking for a thoroughly sustainable camping break, how about bedding down in paddocks or private woodland at car-free Wild Camping at Dark Lane? Set in the peaceful Wiltshire village of East Grafton, the site is just off National Cycle Route 4 and near to the Pewsey Vale Circular Way hiking and cycling route. Bang in the middle of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the off-grid, pick-your-own pitches are a doddle to access without a car (please note that there is no car parking on site or nearby in the village). Arriving by bus? The number 22 meanders via Hungerford (15 minutes, with a mainline railway station) and Marlborough (also 15 minutes) and stops about five minutes’ walk away. From London, jump on a train from Paddington to Great Bedwyn (40 minutes’ walk; you can stock up on supplies in the handy stores) and enjoy a stroll along the glorious Kennet and Avon Canal to the site. Burbage (45 minutes’ walk) has more shops and laundry facilities. Perhaps most importantly, there are foodie spots within walking distance too. Closest is the pub serving locally sourced food and drink in the village of Wilton (half an hour’s walk). On site, low-key facilities include wash basins, separate composting toilets for ladies and gents, washing-up facilities and running water from a solar-powered borehole – bring your own drinking water. Dark Lane is also a dark skies site, so you may well spot the Milky Way on clear nights.

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Features

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

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

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

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

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

Themes

Budget/backpacker

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

No drinkable water point

No hot water

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Public transport nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Pop-up campsite

Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Restaurant nearby

Tennis nearby

Location

Wild Camping at Dark Lane

Dark Lane

East Grafton

Marlborough

Wiltshire

England

SN8 3DL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.34986°N
-1.63296°W

Nearest transport

Coach

5 mi Bus Shelter

6.5 mi Ladbrokes

6.5 mi Lloyds Bank

Rail

2.5 mi Bedwyn Rail Station

6 mi Pewsey Rail Station

6.9 mi Hungerford Rail Station

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

Local footpaths pose challenging treks or gentle meanders, and for anyone with even a passing interest in history, the camping field itself is situated at the base of the footpath to Wolfhall (15 minutes’ walk), the ancestral home of Henry VIII’s third bride, Jane Seymour. Nearby, the ancient Savernake Forest (35 minutes by bike) was once Henry’s hunting ground and today it is criss-crossed with walking and cycling trails. Other historic hiking and biking routes include The Ridgeway (an hour), which runs over ancient paths once used by cow herders and soldiers, while the Vale of Pewsey (40 minutes) has walking, cycling and riding options a-plenty passing pretty villages. Heritage sites are in no short supply in this area either. Built in 1821, Wilton Windmill (10 minutes) is notable for being the only operational mill in Wiltshire, while Crofton Beam Engines (five minutes) charts local industry at a former pumping station. You can also cycle to the Pewsey White Horse, carved out of the chalk hillside in the 1930s, in just under an hour.

Must see

West Kennet Long Barrow 10.3 mi

Silbury Hill 10.7 mi

Avebury Stone Circle 11 mi

Highclere Castle and Gardens 11.8 mi

Stonehenge 14.5 mi

National Trust

Avebury Manor and Garden 11.1 mi

Avebury 11.1 mi

Ashdown House 12.7 mi

Sandham Memorial Chapel 12.7 mi

Stonehenge Landscape 14.2 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Great Bedwyn – Crofton Pumping Station – Great Bedwyn 2.5 mi

Tidcombe Down - Scot's Poor - Hippenscombe Bottom 2.8 mi

TOTTENHAM HOUSE AND SAVERNAKE FOREST 3.3 mi

Little Bedwyn - Shalbourne - Great Bedwyn - Little Bedwyn 3.6 mi

Upper Chute - Blackmore Down - New Zealand Farm 5.2 mi

Local events

CarFest (Friday 23 August 2024 – Friday 23 August 2024)
Basingstoke, Hampshire 18.6 mi
Reading Festival (Wednesday 21 August 2024 – Wednesday 21 August 2024)
Reading, Berkshire 28.9 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.

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Would visit again and suggest it to like minded friends.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	6
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Jun 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Really pretty site and well looked after to give the wild camping feel. The compost toilet is very well kept and in a friendly welcoming hut. The owner was super attentive and caring. Liked to find a spot on the hill side amongst the grass and trees as my tent is tiny and can pitch in small area.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. We are delighted you were happy with everything and look forward to maybe meeting some of your friends if they decide to visit.

Fantastic place to stay, close to beautiful walks

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

Anonymous Jun 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Peacefulness, surroundings, friendliness of owner , clean very well maintained compost toilets,

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly, pretty site in a great location!

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

Kristin D. Jun 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Lovely quiet sites in a great location, eco-friendly, nice loo!

Disliked: No drinking water available yet- will be especially important when it’s solely wild camping- it would be tough to show up hiking or cycling and not have water

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your kind comments and for staying with us. I completely agree with the need for drinking water so we do supply drinking water in a water carrier. It was under the table in the wash up area so I will make it more obvious next time!

A peaceful site where you feel really at one with nature - perfect!

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

Beth H. May 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Simplicity of campsite, that no cars were allowed as it’s ideal for cycle tourers, the tranquility of the site, it had water/toilets, great hospitality from Louise providing us with local milk and more if we wanted.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for your kind feedback. Nature is crying out for us all to reduce our carbon footprint and we are now dedicating our wild camping to cyclists, walkers and those people travelling to us by public transport. GWR tells us that leaving your car at home and taking the train cuts carbon emissions by two thirds!

Loved the secluded and serene feel of the pitch up - also…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Megan C. Apr 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Loved the secluded and serene feel of the pitch up - also the small lovely touches of having a local dairy farm’s milk on offer to drink as well as a grill/firepit available to book! It was definitely the off the grid experience we were looking for with our busy London lives!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Lovely to have your feedback and glad the milk was appreciated. We have ordered a fresh drinking water container to offer to other walkers and cyclists who need a top up!

Beautiful spot with lovely walking areas and lovely hosts…

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

Anonymous Apr 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: Beautiful spot with lovely walking areas and lovely hosts

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet, basic but brill !

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Emily A. Apr 2022

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch (backpacker, no cars)

Liked: How peaceful it was with wildlife in every direction, was a great place to take the dogs and kids😊

Disliked: Nothing 😁

Recommend to friends Visit again

Does Wild Camping at Dark Lane have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Wild Camping at Dark Lane dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near Wild Camping at Dark Lane? Local footpaths pose challenging treks or gentle meanders, and for anyone with even a passing interest in history, the camping field itself is situated at the base of the footpath to Wolfhall … Read more
When can I check in and check out of Wild Camping at Dark Lane?

Camping and touring

Arrive: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Depart by: 12 p.m.

Read more