Camping In The Cotswolds: The Best Campsites to Consider
Are you thinking about camping in the Cotswolds and are looking for the best campsites in the region? Find out our top picks for campsites in the Cotswolds as well as all the best places for glamping in the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is one of England’s most popular areas and for great reason. From quaint villages consisting of hundreds-of-year-old stone cottages to delicate streams and rolling hills that dissect the landscape, the Cotswolds is an area everyone should visit at one point in their lives.
Nothing quite trumps a weekend escape to road trip through these pretty villages and exploring the cute cottages, tiny, winding streets, local pubs and outdoor activities. While there are many hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts located in the area one of the best ways to experience the local beauty is by camping in the Cotswolds.
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Camping really has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days when it’s purely limited to pitching a small, cramped tent that you can’t stand up in in a muddy, windy field. We no longer have to put up with walking hundreds of metres to the nearest bathroom in which there are only cold showers which are dirty and in need of a face-lift.
Nowadays, there are so many different camping options available from luxury yurts to eco pods to your standard tent pitch to glamping in the Cotswolds even. The camping bar just got raised and if you have yet to experience what camping today has to offer you’re in for a treat.
Camping in the Cotswolds, in this area of stunning beauty, greenery and historical villages that are quintessentially English is a real treat. In this area of South-Western England, you’ll find a special variety of options to suit all needs from romantic glamping getaways to family holiday parks.
They are the perfect places to base yourself as you explore the beautiful surrounding area of the Cotswolds. You can either choose to base yourself at one campsite, returning there each night after a day of exploring or it’s also possible to road trip the whole area choosing a different one each night.
Here are the most beautiful campsites/glamping experiences you should definitely consider for your Cotswolds trip.
In need of the perfect Cotswolds Itinerary? Check out The Ultimate Cotswold Itinerary for the Perfect Weekend Trip (including Oxford and Bath)
Where are the Cotswolds?
Firstly let’s clarify exactly where the Cotswolds are. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Beauty is a large area in Southwestern England. The Cotswolds Area stretches all the way to Stratford-Upon-Avon in the north, Oxford in the east, Bath in the south and Gloucester and Cheltenham in the West.
The Cotswolds is quite a large area and is composed of rolling green hills, and pretty, historic villages with the occasional, larger market town between them. It’s the perfect place to spend a weekend, a week or even two.
The Best Time of Year to Visit the Cotswolds
The best time of year to visit the Cotswolds is between May-September. At this time you can expect to see less rain, sunnier and warmer days. Days during this time of the year are much longer too allowing you to really make the most out of your day.
Visiting the Cotswolds in early spring on late autumn might also be possible but you’ll need to wrap up quite a bit when camping. I’d suggest staying in a yurt or pod at this time of year for added comfort.
During the winter many campsites close down and it’s generally a little too cold and wet to camp.
How Long Should You Spend in the Cotswolds?
In all honesty, you could spend a whole month or two in the Cotswolds and never get bored. There are so many lovely villages to discover; some well-known and some hidden gems.
My advice would be to spend as much time as you can in the area. If you only have a weekend or a few days I’d choose one campsite and one area of the Cotswolds to explore instead of trying to drive everywhere in just a weekend.
If you’ve got a week then you’ll definitely have more time to spend in different parts of the Cotswolds Area.
The Best Campsites when Camping in the Cotswolds
#1 Campwell
Located just northeast of Bath, Campwell is the perfect place to stay if your goal is to retreat to and reconnect with nature.
This sustainable, eco-friendly woodland plot provides a gorgeous natural setting to get you more engaged with the outdoors. Forget your tent, Campwell is the ultimate definition of glamping in the Cotswolds and has several, off-grid cabins, huts and yurts for all tastes, groups and budgets where you can experience nature right on your doorstep.
Opt for one of the yurts, shepherd’s hut, roundhouse or cosy cabins and enjoy a stay full of privacy and pure nature. On-site you can also access the secret lake hidden in the Cherry Wood as well as massages, fitness activities and yoga classes. This really is one of the most magical places you can go camping in the Cotswolds.
Find out more on their website here. Located in Cherry Wood, Oakford Ln, UK. Open all year, except New Years.
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#2 Notgrove Holidays
At the very heart of Notgrove Estate, you’ll find the lovely Notgrove Holidays Pods and Clamping Tents.
Surrounded by rolling green hills and the resident grazing animals such as sheep, donkeys and alpaca, these pod hideaways make the perfect Cotswolds escape.
Choose between the cosy wooden pods, which come with a double bed, sofa bed and adjacent kitchen or the luxurious 3-bedroom Safari tents, perfect for larger families and groups. Nearby you’ll find the slow-flowing river Windrush and the estate also rents out bicycles if you want to explore the area further.
As an added bonus this property is only 3 miles from Bourton-on-the-Water and close to Upper and Lower Slaughter- some of the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds.
Find out more on their website here. Located in Notgrove, Cheltenham. Open all year.
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#3 Beckford Lake Yurts
For camping in the Cotswolds with an element of luxury and romance, then you might not want to give Beckford Lake Yurts a miss.
Located in the North-West corner of the Cotswolds Area, on the border of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire these yurts are all stylishly decorated, located right around a peaceful lake and many include features such as a hot tub and sauna with amazing lake views.
They are the ideal place for a couples retreat due to their seclusion and peaceful surroundings and they’re also dog-friendly. After a long day of exploring the Cotswolds villages, there’s nothing better than to watch the sun go down sipping champagne in the hot tub with the sound of nature all around you.
Find out more and book here. Located in Beckford, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
#4 The Real Campsite at Park Farm
If you’re dying for a true camping experience without all the glamping, the luxury and a solid roof over your head, then The Real Campsite, as its name suggests, might be the one you should consider.
They pride themselves on being a real camping experience in its most ‘boutique’ sense and while you won’t be pitching randomly in a crowded field right next to someone else, staying in a glamorous yurt isn’t an option either.
Here, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch your tent in a wide-open field with gorgeous views over the hills. You’ll have your own private toilet facilities, picnic bench and campfire area and they also have many animals on site including chickens and sheep.
Find out more on their website here. Located just outside Farringdon, Oxfordshire, just outside the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Beauty.
#5 Cotswolds Camping
A simple, no-fuss campsite in Oxfordshire that’s large, spacious and green. Pitch your tent in a gorgeous green meadow and wake to the sounds of the wood pigeons cooing and the birds singing but if staying in a tent isn’t for you then they also have cute glamping pods available to sleep couples.
Things at this campsite and well-run and organised and you’re guaranteed to have a great stay (weather is unfortunately not guaranteed). Caravans and motorhomes are also allowed at this campsite and you have access to all the facilities you might need including bathrooms, washing up areas and kitchen. There is also plenty of eating and drinking options in the town of Charlbury nearby.
Find out more on their website here. Located outside of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, in the North-East part of the Cotswolds Area. Open from March-October.
#6 Far Peak Camping
Located on the Gloucestershire side of the Cotswolds, Far Peak provides a lovely escape or staycation. The campground is surrounded by miles of countryside, perfect for day walks and cycles.
Far Peak Camping has a range of simple grass pitches, electric hook-ups for vans and caravans, domes, shepherds huts and even bell tents. It’s the perfect spot for everyone as you’ll find accommodation to suit your needs. Facilities are also top-notch and kept really clean.
Onsite you’ll find a cafe outdoors center and my favourite, a climbing wall where you can test and learn new climbing skills. There’