Campgrounds for backpackers in England

Parkwithian Camping

• Wild camping on a farm 15 minutes' drive from North Cornwall’s beaches
• St Michael's Mount 20 minutes’ drive; St Ives 25 minutes
• Easy access from the A30; Camborne town five minutes’ drive

Anneth Lowen Camping

• Cosy Cornish shepherd’s hut with spectacular views to the sea
• Falmouth, Swanpool Beach and Flambards Theme Park 15 minutes’ drive
• Shower hut and well-equipped galley kitchen; pub 20 minutes’ walk

Whatton House

• Nearly-wild campsite on a private estate in Leicestershire
• Ten minutes’ drive to Download Festival at Donington Park
• Grass pitches with basic facilities; pubs and shops 25 minutes’ walk

Pike Low Farm Camping

• Family-run back to basics site in the Staffordshire Moorlands
• A five-minute drive from the edge of the Peak District and Alton Tower
• Friendly farm animals; free-range eggs available

Toad Abode

• Wild site by the River Ash, 15 minutes' drive from Bishop's Stortford
• Forage on site for elderberries, rosehips and edible Himalayan blossom
• Within 40 minutes' drive of Audley End and Knebworth House

Higher Huxhill Farm Campsite

• Small family-run campsite in rural north Devon
• Bideford 10 minutes' drive; 20 minutes to Westward Ho! beach
• Pitches in hay meadows with far-reaching views; Tarka Trail two miles

Cowage Farm Camping

• Dog-friendly family-run farm site on the edge of the Cotswolds
• Half an hour’s drive from Cirencester and 55 minutes from Bath
• River running through; barbecues allowed; pubs and restaurants nearby

Beer Youth Hostel

• Set in a hidden wooded valley
• Restaurant serving local ales, beer, wine and home-cooked meals
• Flanked by National Cycle Network Route 2

Keep It Wild

• Wild camping on a farm with stunning views of the Sterridge Valley
• A 15-minute drive from Exmoor National Park and Ilfracombe
• Campfire area and kids' mud kitchen; excellent stargazing on site

Higher Church Meadow Camping

• Small basic grass site on a 400-acre farm a mile from Landrake
• Plymouth, Looe and several beaches within a 20-minute drive
• Spacious pitches with barbecues allowed; pub 20 minutes' walk away

Time 4 Field Fun

Tollerford Camping

• Quiet rural site in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• A 25-minute drive from the Jurassic Coast; cycling and fishing nearby
• Train station, pub, shop and organic milk bar within walking distance

The Plough Inn

• Touring pitches behind a country pub just off the A12 in Wangford
• 10 minutes' drive from the seaside town of Southwold
• Kid- and dog-friendly pub with excellent food and local ales

Morleys Farm

• Relaxed adults-only Sevenoaks Weald campsite with stunning views
• A 15-minute drive to Hever Castle and Penshurst Place
• Barbecues, firepits and communal campfire; pub 15 minutes' walk

Widecombe Valley - Dartmoor Camping

• Quiet wild campsite in the village of Widecombe in the Moor
• Five minutes' drive to Haytor Rocks; 15 minutes to Bovey Tracey
• Central Dartmoor location on the banks of the river Webburn

Thurston Outdoor Education Centre

• Small Victorian Walled Garden campsite
• Views of the Coniston Old Man
• Secluded location only a short walk from Coniston Village

Throop Hollow Farm

• Rural, family-run site with fantastic views of the Piddle Valley
• A 10-minute drive to Monkey World; 20 minutes to Lulworth Cove
• Pick your own pitch on arrival; 500 metres from the river Piddle