Camping in Dedham Vale AONB

Discover English countryside at its most Romantic in Dedham Vale AONB, a 90-square-kilometre (35-square-mile) haven of waterways, working farms, and dense woodland.

97% (653 reviews)
97% (653 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Dedham Vale AONB

Available this weekend

Under £50

12 top campsites in Dedham Vale AONB

92%
(55)

Holistic Woods Campsite WILD

47 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Woodbridge, England
We are a WILD campsite with character and history. Our most popular pitch is our beautiful SSSI woodland. There are only 25 pitches available. We have a mid wild pitch on the outskirts of the woods, lovely grassed area between trees. Our top field is perfect for motorhomes & caravans. Plenty of space to breath and relax. Located on the stunning heathlands of the Sutton Heath. We are surrounded by beautiful woodland walks, including the Sandlings walk and just 10 minutes from the river Deben. We have a bus stop at the top of the track and Melton train station is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive. There are access points onto public footpaths, leading to Rendlesham Forest. A famous site for UFOs! Sutton Hoo is a stone's throw away. Bring your bikes and explore the area on wheels. There is water access and portaloos. We do not have showers yet. Blue/grey waste must be taken away. LEAVE NO TRACE
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Trash
from 
£15.20
 / night
98%
(31)

The Meadow @ Waples Mill

12 units · Tents8 acres · Dunmow, England
Spacious grass pitches in the green Essex countryside A 15-minute drive to Chelmsford; 40 minutes to Audley End Tractor rides on site; firepits provided for campfires. Rural walks, How about proper farm activities like tractor rides (ask site staff for details)? The place to find all this is The Meadow at Waples Mill, an Essex farm site between Chelmsford and Dunmow (and about 15 minutes’ drive from both). This family-friendly site is handy for walks on the Essex Way and other local footpaths, and tractor and trailer rides around the farm are organised on alternate days to give guests a glimpse into agricultural life. Activities complete for the day, it's time to chill out, and that should be easy here – all pitches have access to toilets and hot showers in a trailer close by, and firepits are provided so you can have a safe campfire (with wood available to buy on site and a great farm shop 10 minutes’ drive away for fireside snacks). Pitches themselves are large, well kept and well spaced within a meadow that backs onto the River Roding. Dogs are welcome, and there are plenty of places to take them for a walk nearby. London folk looking for a quick escape to the countryside, this is a place to bear in mind – it’s only about an hour and quarter by road from the city.
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Booked 5 times

Secluded Woodland Camp

4 units · Tents10 acres · England
Glamp or pitch up here in our secluded and peaceful mini off-grid site combining both field and forest. We have a shared under cover space and also an outdoor fire-pit to gather more than 20 people comfortably. There is a simple compost loo for your use with hand-washing and dish washing area outside. And the rest is all Mother nature! There is no running water or drinking water. You will need to bring your own. No electricity points or WIFI are in the campsite and no masts nearby so enjoy the EMF cleanse. Whether you chose to stay in the ancient woodland or the herbal pasture, you will feel the benefits of reconnecting with yourself in nature, breathing the clean air and hearing the birds singing. The parking is 800m away and there is minimal tractor use so you can imagine yourself roaming the fields and forest of England in days gone by. Fitness required. It's a long walk from the car park to the campsite. Trolleys provided.
Pets
Campfires
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£12
 / night

Star Hosts in Dedham Vale AONB

Dog-friendly getaways

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in Dedham Vale AONB guide

Overview

Deep in the Stour Valley, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty encompasses forests, farmland, villages, and waterways, making it a Great British favourite among ramblers, riders, boaters, and anglers alike. Nicknamed Constable Country for its links to Romantic artist John Constable, the region boasts a vast network of footpaths and cycleways, which reveal striking seasonal landscapes to outdoor adventurers at any time of year. Touring parks, riverside pitches, and no-frills field sites are the camping mainstays of the region.

Where to go

Dedham

The village that gives the valley its name, Dedham is a popular destination for outdoor adventurers right on the River Stour. From here, several walking and cycling routes take adventurers deep into Constable Country, via landmarks such as the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Castle House, Fern Bridge, and Flatford Mill. Private farmland provides plenty of camping options, while Ardleigh to the south boasts its own caravan site.

Nayland & Wissington

These two villages in the west of Dedham Vale AONB remain off the region’s beaten track, despite their riverside locations and Norman landmarks. Strolling along the Stour’s banks and wildlife-watching from the water are both popular pastimes here, with canoe rental available at area campsites.

Bures & Sudbury

These well-connected towns just west of Dedham Vale offer easy access to both Essex and Suffolk, as well as the Area of Natural Beauty itself, and can be reached in just over an hour from London Liverpool Street. Bikers can explore the rolling cyclepath that connects the two rural towns, while walkers can wander the area’s reserves, woodland, and water meadows. Camping options include wild-style experiences or caravanning at one of the region’s touring parks.

Cattawade, Manningtree & the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB

The spot where the River Stour splits is a favourite among outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to its striking views, nature reserves, and waterside campsites. Plus, just a stone’s throw away is the beginning of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB, which stretches up the coastline all the way to Lowestoft. Coastal caravan parks and campgrounds make it easy to tick both AONBs off in one tour.

Top counties in and near Dedham Vale AONB

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