Avon Wild Camping

There are many reasons why one might fancy settling down by a river – perhaps for the fishing, the views, the wildlife… maybe even the chance to get in the water. Happily, all of the above are on the cards at Avon Wild Camping, a peaceful Warwickshire site on the banks of the River Avon 15 minutes' drive from Leamington Spa.

There’s a mighty pretty stretch of the river running alongside one side of this site, making it a prime spot for kids to paddle and catch minnows in the shallows (under supervision, of course) or for grownups to pick up permits (available on site for an extra charge) to try their luck with the chub, pike, grayling, roach and brown trout that swim in the waters. It’s a popular part of the world with wildlife too, so settling down by the river with binoculars and/or a drink also comes highly recommended.

All is very laidback around here: it’s a pick-your-own pitch place, with heaps of space to choose from around the 12 acres of meadow. Being a back to basics site there are no electric hookups or showers, but there is access to limited (but clean) toilet facilities. As this is an eco site, the toilets run on rain water, guests are strongly encouraged to recycle and, without wifi, the kids are free to focus on wizzing down the zipwire or playing on the rope swing by the river.

Alfresco meals can be cooked up at the campfire area; there are firepits and kiln-dried timber available if you need them. Pick up supplies for such things at the farm shop a mile away; it’s also got a café for coffee, cakes, pizzas and other meals if you’d rather eat out. There are several good country pubs nearby too, or you could scoot into Royal Leamington Spa (10 minutes’ drive) for more places to eat and drink.