This historic market town has heritage trails, AONBs, and UNESCO sites right on its doorstep.
While the crowds make a beeline for nearby Oxford and Bath, the Wiltshire market town of Swindon makes a strategic basecamp for in-the-know campers wanting to explore the region’s headline acts. Check into a quiet farm campsite or caravan park and enjoy easy access to the surrounding cities and AONBs. Browse the shops and markets in the Old Town, enjoy a picnic by the lakeside in Queens Park, or stroll around the woodlands and landscaped gardens of The Lawns. Swindon also lies along the Great West Way heritage trail, and a highlight is the Great Western Railway at STEAM Museum.
South of Swindon, the verdant hills of the North Wessex Downs AONB have miles of trails for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Marvel at the Wiltshire White Horses, giant chalk drawings etched onto the hillsides; explore the ancient stone circle at Avebury; or cruise along the Kent & Avon Canal. Stop by the market towns of Marlborough, Hungerford, and Pewsey, where you’ll find traditional pubs and local artisan shops.
England’s most idyllic slice of residential countryside is the Cotswolds AONB. Hire a campervan for a road trip along the winding country lanes, stopping to explore the pretty stone villages, walk or cycle through rolling farmlands, or spot celebrity residents in villages like Castle Combe, Broadway, and Bourton on the Water. The Cotswolds adds a touch of glamor to camping, too—there are some great glamping options, and you’re never far from a gastro-pub.
An hour’s drive south of Swindon, the enigmatic ruins of Stonehenge lie high on the Salisbury Plains. Visit the UNESCO site at sunrise or sunset for the most dramatic views, take a hike through the hills, then head to nearby Salisbury to admire the mediaeval cathedral. To the south, quiet hiking trails and backcountry campsites await in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB.
If you’re visiting in peak season between July and August, Swindon makes a smart choice to dodge the crowds, and there’s also a busy calendar of summer events and festivals. Wiltshire weather is best from May through September—plan a hiking trip in late spring to see the countryside blossoming with wildflowers, or in fall for autumnal walks through the Cotswolds.