Wildlife-watching campsites in North Wessex Downs AONB

Hillside hikes, canal cruises, and ancient monuments are among the highlights of this AONB.

97% (438 reviews)
97% (438 reviews)

Popular camping styles for North Wessex Downs AONB

Star Hosts in North Wessex Downs AONB

Under £50

12 top campsites in North Wessex Downs AONB with wildlife watching

81%
(81)

Daisy May’s Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Bishop's Stortford, England
Our pop up campsite is set in 20 acres on a not for profit community farm. Come and join us in the great outdoors! Help collect the eggs, feed the chickens and milk the goat! There is always lots going on at Daisy May’s Farm! Children’s play areas, paddle stream, woodland walks and lots more! PITCH FEE INCLUDES ENTRY TO THE FARM & ALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS! Open 7 days a week. Coffee Cabin and Ollie’s Food Hut also serving hot food (Weekends & school holiday 10-3pm) Local pub - 5 mins walk Golf Course (crazy golf, top golf, 9 hole course, bar and food) - 5 mins walk Shop/post office/chip shop - 10 mins walk Toilets & shower ; hot gas shower available but we are a basic wild, mostly off grid site. No concrete heated toilet blocks I’m afraid! (Showers unavailable in Winter months) There will be mud. Bring your wellies! Drinking water and bins available. Bring a torch for walking around the site at night. The site is off grid and the toilet lights are solar operated! CARAVANS - ONLY BOOKABLE MAY - SEPTEMBERTENTS - CAMPER VANS - MOTORHOMES WELCOME ALL YEAR (all pitches are the same. No need to specify which type of unit you are booking) We look forwards to welcoming you soon!
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£25
 / night
94%
(229)

Sweet Hill Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Dorset, South West England
Simple, almost-wild, seaside camping on the Isle of Portland
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£12
 / night
94%
(8)

Bredy Farm

31 units · Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Bridport, England
Back-to-basics camping on a Dorset farm with a party vibe at weekends
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£16.50
 / night
96%
(136)

The Barn KT9

21 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · Greater London, South East England
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£12
 / night
91%
(29)

Lagnersh camping

75 units · Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Bognor Regis, England
Dog-friendly camping near Chichester and the West Sussex coast
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£30
 / night
99%
(242)

Cwmffrwd Farm Campsite

28 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents22 acres · Crickhowell, Wales
Simple, eco-friendly camping with epic views at the foot of a famed Welsh mountain range
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£10
 / night
96%
(150)

Abbey Home Farm

21 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1600 acres · Cirencester, Gloucestershire, South West England
Eco-camping for real. Cooking on an open fire. Unspoilt natural beauty.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Cooking equipment
from 
£8
 / night
85%
(95)

The Old Airfield

114 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Hampshire, South East England
A New Forest airfield that's been overtaken by nature, less than 10 minutes' drive from the coast
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£26
 / night
100%
(171)

Pwllyn Farm Camping

19 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Brecon, Powys, Mid Wales
A wild-feeling, adult-only campsite in the Brecon Beacons National Park, with impressive views of Pen y Fan
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£12
 / night
97%
(100)

Cotswolds Camping at Holycombe

14 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Warwickshire, England
Think Countryfile meets Time Team. Camping in six-acres of unspoiled Cotswold countryside, built in the grounds of a Norman castle.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£14
 / night
95%
(11)

Red Sky at Night Campsite

11 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Monmouth, Wales
If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see at least one of the amazing sunsets at Red Sky at Night Campsite near Monmouth – but if you don’t, there’s mighty compensation in the shape of the spectacular views from just about everywhere on the site. And of course, on clear nights, the night skies are diamond-bright with stars - we are under one of Wales' Dark Sky Reserves! This family-run camping field on a livestock farm is managed on very laidback lines. Pitch up wherever you like and feel free to park by your tent (weather permitting). Raised campfires are allowed and you can hire firepits and grills (the owners sell local eggs & sausages) and buy bags of wood & kindling. You can bring your dogs too (take them for walks in the adjoining woods) but just be sure to keep them on a lead. Kids are certainly carefully looked after here. Get a fact sheet on arrival and join mini-campers in wildlife hunts through the trees, looking out all the while for buzzards and red kites. Round and about the site, your offspring can entertain themselves on rope swings, making dens and following a mini-tractor course across the camping field. There’s also a football pitch. Wild camping this may be (there’s no electricity on site, please note) but there are two nicely designed compost loos and a covered sink areas with fresh water tap. So bring your guitar, light that fire, break out the barbecue and enjoy the chilled vibe.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from 
£12.50
 / night
98%
(149)

Beech Estate Campsite

55 units · Glamping, Tents25 acres · Battle, England
Tent pitch camping and wild glamping in a Sussex woodland hideaway
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£24
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop

Wildlife-watching campsites in North Wessex Downs AONB guide

Overview

Miles of rolling countryside await in the North Wessex Downs, but this AONB also has plenty of surprises up its sleeve. White chalk horses gaze down from the hillsides, ancient stone circles lie in the valleys, and lively market towns pepper the riverside. Explore the natural landscapes on foot, by bike, or on horseback; cruise the canals by boat or kayak; or escape to a tranquil campsite by the waterfront or in the forest. May through September is the most pleasant time for camping, but the weather can be temperamental even in summer, so pack for all-seasons.

Where to go

Wiltshire

Most of the North Wessex Downs lie within Wiltshire, where you can hike, cycle, or horseback ride across open chalklands. Visit the UNESCO-listed Avebury stone circle, explore the Great West Way heritage trail, or marvel at the Wiltshire White Horses, giant chalk drawings etched onto the hillsides. To the south, the world-famous Stonehenge is an easy detour, and there are more hiking opportunities in the surrounding Salisbury Plains. 

Hampshire

Downton Abbey fans won’t want to miss a visit to Highclere Castle—the real-life Downton Abbey—in the southeast corner of North Wessex Downs. Explore the surrounding farmlands by bike, stop off at pretty Hampshire villages, or stay at quiet country campgrounds. To the south, the cathedral city of Winchester and the New Forest National Park are less than an hour’s drive.

Berkshire

Newbury and Reading are the gateways to the eastern downlands, where the hillside towns are dotted with thatched-roof cottages and traditional pubs. Take a leisurely boat cruise along the Kent & Avon Canal, stop to browse the markets in Hungerford, or hike the 20-mile Lambourn Valley Way.

Oxfordshire

The northern borders of the North Wessex Downs spill over into Oxfordshire, where highlights include the market town of Wantage and the Uffington White Horse. Continue north to visit the university city of Oxford or take a road trip along the winding country lanes of the Cotswolds, another AONB.

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Cool Camping is now Hipcamp, your best resource for beautiful private campsites.

Discover & reserve tent camping, caravan parks, cabins, treehouses, & glamping.

Download the Hipcamp App

Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.