The best value UK camping holidays

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By Tom Hall

Here's a well-kept secret: camping is the most fun you can have on holiday. Romantics say it's the smell of morning dew as you stick your head outside after a night under canvas that does it for them, while realists love that camping is a great value way to discover new parts of our own beautiful countryside. Britain is brilliantly set-up for a camping holiday, so there's no need to leave the country – just pack your tent, a few supplies and a nose for adventure. And if you thought camping meant a leaky tent pitched next to rows of static caravans, think again: there's a campsite, and sometimes surprising place to lay your head, for everyone.

man walks past tent

Camping essentials
A few notes on what to take. A good tent needn't cost the earth but you do get what you pay for. If you're camping as a passing festival fling, then you should be able to get something for under £150 which meets your needs. Look for outdoor stores offering packages including a tent, sleeping bags and roll-mats. However, if a longer-term relationship with your tent is on the cards, somewhere in the region of £200 will get you a long-lasting, good quality two-man tent.

Larger structures aimed at families and big groups can be a wise investment and can offer greater privacy and comfort - but bear in mind you'll need a larger pitch for these. Apart from a tent, good waterproofs are a must: even in a heatwave you should expect some downpours. A camping stove, preferably a simple and reliable one is another good investment, as is a set of plastic plates and cutlery. Don't bring too much food. Half the fun is finding what’s good and local - you'll usually save money and put funds into local businesses by doing so.

- Shop for camping equipment

Best small campsites
Some of Britain’s best campsites are small sites with just a few pitches. Caolasnacon Caravan and Camping Park sits on the shore of Loch Leven, close to Glencoe and far enough away from Fort William to feel like the edge of the world. Stowford Manor Farm, with only twenty pitches, is perfect for a family, with paddling and fishing in the River Frome on-site. Regularly topping lists of Britain’s best small campsite, Blackberry Wood in East Sussex has got the lot: a back-to-nature atmosphere, lots to do on-site and some wonderful pubs and villages within walking distance.

family at campfire

Best for families
Camping makes for a cheap family holiday, with long days outdoors a great way to tire out everyone from toddlers to teenagers. Fisherground Farm Camping in Eskdale in the heart of the Lake District comes with an adventure playground, rafting and ropes to swing on. Bigger sites have swimming pools and plenty of organised fun. Thornton's Holt in Nottinghamshire is a good compromise between size and facilities, coming with a heated indoor pool but still being small in size and close to both Nottingham and Sherwood Forest’s Robin Hood myths and legends.

Best unusual sites
Unusual camping options have mushroomed in popularity. If you've always wanted to toss everything in the back of a VW Kombi van and relive the 1970s, Camp in a Vdub is for you. Continuing the retro theme, chrome Airstream caravans can be found on the Isle of Wight at Vintage Vacations. You can also stay in Mongolian-style Yurts in Devon and tipis in Norfolk and the Lake District. Going upmarket, luxury geodesic tents are available at Ekopod on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. It may not be exactly budget but its better value than going five-stay in a bricks and mortar hotel. Go Glamping collects together these unique campsites.

Best for wild camping
For something really off the beaten track (and free) consider wild camping. While officially not allowed anywhere in England and Wales, summer weekends see tents popping up in remote, usually high spots in the Lake District and Snowdonia. In Scotland the right to wild camp is enshrined in law and there are endless wonderful lochside or mountain locations. It can also be be a wonderful solution to the long walks often needed to reach big mountains in Scotland. Find out more information

If you want a little more in the way of facilities but are still keen to be in a mountain area, the National Trust maintains four campsites in the Lake District which are wonderful bases to explore the Fells. The sites at Wasdale Head and Great Langdale are especially recommended.

Top 10 Days out for under £10