Campsites with swimming in Fernworthy Forest
Woodland walks, lakeside picnics, and Bronze Age ruins are the highlights of this Dartmoor forest.
97% (599 reviews)
- Fernworthy Forest
97% (599 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Fernworthy Forest
Star Hosts in Fernworthy Forest
Dog-friendly getaways
12 top campsites in Fernworthy Forest with swimming
97%
(255)
South Dean Camping
70 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Barnstaple, Devon, South West England
Clifftop camping with epic sea views, right next to Exmoor National Park.
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£35
/ night
93%
(255)
Sweet Hill Farm
10 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Dorset, South West England
Simple, almost-wild, seaside camping on the Isle of Portland
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£15
/ night
99%
(184)
Coverack Camping & Glamping
160 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · Cornwall, South West England
Traditional family camping near Coverack, with the promise of coast, countryside and Cornish ice cream
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£12
/ night
91%
(32)
Bredy Farm
31 units · Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Bridport, England
Back-to-basics camping on a Dorset farm with a party vibe at weekends
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£14.85
/ night
98%
(49)
Glan Y Mor Camping
15 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · St Petrox, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
A super-friendly, family-run campsite on the edge of Pembroke
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£17
/ night
85%
(20)
Stowford Manor Farm Campsite
51 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents25 acres · Trowbridge, England
We are a family run farm situated in the beautiful Frome valley. The farm has a range of interests from the traditional Jersey milking cows to a community of workshops used by local craftsmen. The cafe serves cream teas from Easter to the end of September and pizzas are sold in evenings during the summer months.
Ours is a small family run camp site with the River Frome on one side, next to the medieval buildings of Stowford Farm. The river is suitable for fishing, boating, swimming and paddling. Historic Bradford-on-Avon is only a 5 minute drive and the City of Bath 15 minutes. For those who enjoy more rural pleasures, 200 metres from the campsite Farleigh Hungerford boasts the only river swimming club in the country, and you can become an instant member for a very small fee.
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£18
/ night
89%
(18)
Paddington Farm
20 units · Motorhomes, Tents43 acres · Glastonbury, Somerset, South West England
A simple campsite at the foot of Glastonbury Tor
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£23.50
/ night
100%
(22)
Hardyes Countryside Camping
35 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Weymouth, Dorset, South West England
Camping in a Dorset field between Dorchester and the Jurassic coast.
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£25
/ night
97%
(132)
Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping
127 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Cornwall, South West England
Wake up to the sound of birdsong, go swimming before breakfast in the clear water of a secluded lake. Cook your bacon and eggs over an open fire while you plan your day, or just laze it away in the peace and quiet of your own personal tipi. You can always go fishing tomorrow, and walk along the cliffs the day after that…
The site is a unique woodland valley folded around a clear, spring-fed lake created from the old Tregildrans Quarry. Our tipis and tent pitches are dotted about this secret 20 acres full of ferns, bluebells, oak and meadowsweet.
Left in peace for many years there's been no modern chemicals or poisons on the land, meaning we've got bluebells, dormice, Red Admirals and shy woodland Jays for you to spot.
It’s a place set apart from the rush and clutter of the modern holiday experience, with an atmosphere that makes you forget the world outside, and just lounge, ramble, or potter about in a boat.
We're committed to giving you a genuinely individual service from first contact to your time staying with us.
We established CTH in 1996. This was the first and we believe still is the best tipi holiday site in the UK. We know our area inside out and can always help with local knowledge or contacts if you need them.
We want to offer our guests a sustainable holiday. A return to real camping means the lowest possible impact on the land and environment - our tipi poles don’t even break the surface of the earth. Your footprint while here could only be bettered by a survival expert. You don't have to fly! a major bonus, and we source all our wood, fish and canvas locally and work with local people wherever possible.
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£25
/ night
100%
(14)
Belle Camping Cornwall
5 units · Glamping7 acres · Cornwall, South West England
Bell tents with sea views on the Lizard Peninsula
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£65
/ night
95%
(21)
Roskilly Camping
20 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Helston, England
A small family run campsite located on the famous ice cream farm, Roskilly’s. On the Lizard in South West Cornwall, the farm is remote and tucked away with a Cornish feel, yet there is plenty to do.
The farm has a vast array of animals that you can feed, a large woodland and ponds walk where the cows may be grazing. There are also many stunning beaches and Cornish fishing villages a small walk or drive away. We have a restaurant offering lovely food all day from breakfast to dinner.
During the summer season there is also live music performed by local bands on selected evenings.
Our campsite offers large grass pitches for tents and camper vans as well as a pristine toilet and shower block and communal area.
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£15
/ night
92%
(12)
Cerenety Eco Campsite
5 units · Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Bude, Cornwall, South West England
Back-to-basics camping on the edge of Bude
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£30
/ night
Available this weekend
Under £50
Campsites with swimming in Fernworthy Forest guide
Overview
Set on the banks of the Fernworthy Reservoir at the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, Fernworthy Forest has some of the NP’s most rewarding short walks. Follow the lakeside trail, enjoy bird-watching or fish for brown trout around the lake, then stop for a picnic by the lakeside. Hikers can choose from a variety of forest trails. Explore Bronze Age stone circles, follow scenic woodland walks, and spot herds of native Dartmoor ponies grazing the moors. There are no campsites at Fernworthy Forest, but wild camping is permitted—pitch your tent beneath the trees for a real back-to-nature experience.
When to go
July and August are the peak season in Dartmoor National Park, and popular spots such as Fernworthy Forest can get crowded—parking is limited, so get there early. Forest walks can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s most magical in autumn, with its canopy of fall foliage. Dartmoor weather is notoriously changeable, so pack a sweater and raincoat even in summer.
Know before you go
- Fernworthy Forest is located north of Dartmoor National Park, about a 15-minute drive southwest of Chagford. There is a pay and display car park by the entrance to the forest.
- Restrooms are located at the forest car park, but there are no other facilities, so bring everything you need with you. The closest village is Chagford, which has a few pubs and small shops.
- Trout fishing is possible on the lake between March and October, and fishing permits can be purchased on-site.
- Parts of the lakeside trail are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
- Dartmoor National Park is one of the few places in the UK where wild camping is permitted. Tents must be pitched away from roads and attractions, and large group camping is not allowed.
- Dartmoor has free-roaming ponies, sheep, and cattle, and these animals have the right of way on moorland roads. There is a strict speed limit of 40 mph throughout. It is a fineable offense to feed any of the animals in the park, and visitors are also advised to keep a distance for their own safety—these are feral animals and may kick or bite.
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