The best campsites in the UK near water to book for the hot weather – with sea views, luxury cabins and otters
CAMPING is great way to take the family on an affordable summer holiday and there are plenty of great sites all over the UK.
However, with temperatures starting to soar, a place to pitch up near some cooling water might be at the top of most people’s wishlists.
Luckily the good folks at Hipcamp have got some seriously good camping suggestions for anyone looking to get away in the near future.
They have put together a list of places to stay near to some water, be it a beach or loch or a river, giving campers and glampers plenty of options to cool off.
St Conon’s Estate, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Guests can wake up to incredible views during a stay in one of the glass-fronted lodges at St Conan’s Escape in Scotland’s southern Highlands.
These mountainside cabins in Argyll and Bute look over the aptly-named Loch Awe, where the resident wildlife includes ospreys, pine martens and otters. Get lucky and you might see sea eagles too.
Glamping units start from £129 a night.
Pigs in Blankets, Southwold, Suffolk
With a handy footpath from the campsite across the farm towards Southwold, you won’t get far along the way before you spy the sea.
Campers here can experience much of what makes Suffolk special: countryside, coast, lots of great food, a little quirkiness, and plenty of Adnams ales.
Pitches are available from £18 per night.
Social District, Grizedale, Lake District
This is a back-to-nature campsite with exclusive direct access to England’s largest lake, perfect for taking a dip to cool down.
Guests can try out paddleboarding, kayaking, boating or tucking into some tasty food from a cafe in one of the lakeside villages around the national park.
Pitches start from £50 per night.
Lagnersh Camping, Bognor, West Sussex
With a large kids play park and campfires allowed Lagnersh makes for a wonderfully laid back campground.
It’s the perfect place to make memories, set over six acres and close to the seaside, surrounded by breathtaking views.
Prices start from £30 per pitch per night.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
Surf Pods and Camping at Atlantic Farm, Bude, Cornwall
Set within easy reach of Bude’s thriving surf scene, this retreat has some of Cornwall’s most eye-catching glamping accommodation.
With eco-pods, a treehouse for couples as well as traditional tent camping, there is something for everyone.
Glamping pods from £99 a night and tents from £24 a night.
Cosy Camping, Bucklesham, Suffolk
At Cosy Camping you can choose from traditional camping, pre-pitched bell tents or glamping pods on this arable farm.
Walk or cycle to the local pub on quiet lanes, visit a lavender farm or pick your own fruit at the local farm shop a few miles away.
It’s also only a 15-minute drive to the beach at Felixstowe to make the most of the weather.
From £30 per night for a pitch or £75 for a family pod.
The Old Air Field, Burley, Hampshire
This old RAF base in the New Forest was so vital to the Second World War it used to operate under a code name.
Campervans and motorhomes are welcome, but the focus here is very much on back-to-basics family camping, with tents dominating the scene and more bicycles about the place than there are cars.
It’s only a short cycle to Highcliffe Beach with a good number of fish and chip shops to enjoy watching the sunset with a tasty supper.
Pitches start from £26 a night and £135 for Bell tents.
Mendip Basecamp, Churchill, Somerset.
Mendip Basecamp is the ideal base for adventurous campers looking to explore the Mendip Hills with the Somerset coast around Weston-Super-Mare also easily reachable from camp.
A short walk from camp, through a beautiful illuminated woodland path, is the main lodge where there’s a pop-up tavern, serving local ales and ciders, cooked breakfasts, pizzas and more. Pitches from £12 per pitch per night.
Parke Farm Camping, Pembrokeshire
“Easy to get to but difficult to leave”, that’s how owner Charles describes Parke Farm Camping.
And, when you see the site, as well as the endless list of local options to explore, you’ll understand the struggle.
The National Trust beaches, the cosy pubs and the nearby Stackpole Estate offer pitches for families with children and a field just for adults.
Prices start from £20 per night.
Heritage Coast Campsite, Vale Of Glamorgan, Glamorgan, Wales
Starting from Cardiff Bay’s regenerated waterfront and spanning 35 miles westwards, this stretch of Wales‘ recently opened national trail takes in some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.
Simple camping (with glamping options) are just a stroll from the nearest Glamorgan beach – plus a brilliant licensed café to boot.
Pitches from £30 a night.
Meanwhile, these are the best campsites next to beaches.
And this clifftop campsite overlooks one of the UK’s best shorelines.