Starting a camping adventure is all about finding that perfect spot where you can enjoy, connect with nature, and create lasting memories. To assist you in your quest for the ideal camping and glamping experience, we’ve meticulously curated a list of our top 4 places to pitch your bell tent. These picturesque locations offer affordable rates and a wide array of activities for nature enthusiasts. We’ve got you covered, whether you’re seeking the serenity of waterside pitches at Nantcol Waterfalls or the unspoiled beauty of Fidden Farm on the Isle of Mull.
So, before you set out on your next outdoor escapade, let’s explore these fantastic destinations and discover what awaits you in the world of camping and glamping.
Bell Tent Campgrounds
Here, we have curated a list of our top 4 places to pitch your bell tent for a terrific glamping and camping experience at affordable rates:
1. Nantcol Waterfalls, Llandebr
Located in Wales and opening from March to October yearly, Nantcol Waterfalls is the perfect family-friendly campsite for waterside pitches. This campground offers living amenities that you won’t get in wild camping, like bathrooms, loos, dishwashing areas, a launderette, and facilities for others. For fun activities, there are well-labeled walk trails (including one for kids) for hiking enthusiasts, picturesque waterfalls to swim in, a hill farm covering about 400 acres of land, and several holiday cottages.
2. Woodfire, Sussex
Hidden in the heart of the South Downs, Woodfire campsite is owned and run by a couple duo and offers a vast expanse of greenery to pitch your tent, free from electronic distractions, closely imitating traditional camping style.
From fishing and biking to wildlife watching, star gazing, hiking, and surfing, there are loads of nature-centric fun activities to keep you occupied in Woodfire – don’t forget the campfires! And if you are new to the South Downs, this is your cue to get on this camping site for a free pass to exploring the South Downs. Woodfire is all yours to explore from Easter to the end of September, weekends, and school holiday periods.
3. Petruth Paddocks, Somerset
A couple of minutes away from the famous Cheddar Gorge, Petruth Paddock’s campsite comes with spacious camping fields for you to pitch your tents. With running taps, toilets, and hot showers, you are guaranteed a home away from feel here in the grassy meadows of Paddocks. Exploring the cliffs and caves of the Gorge just after being served breakfast is the highlight of this free-range campsite. What’s more fun about this site? You can bring your pets along. Opening all year round, you can camp just at any season in the year at Petruth Paddocks.
4. Fidden Farm, Isle of Mull
One of Scotland’s finest, Fidden Farm offers an open-plan campsite with nothing but breathtaking scenery of nature as your companion. A family business that started in the 1950s, now run by the 3rd generation owners, it is a site along the Mull’s coastline, giving you unrestricted access to the sea and a few shallow beaches for your lads and lasses. It is super easy to find a flat spot to pitch your tent in Fidden Farm, and of course, it is okay to bring your camping tents, including bell tents, caravans, and campervans, as long as it is anytime between the 1st of April and 30th of September when this site is open to visitors.
Top 5 Unique Places to Pitch Your Tent
1. Desert Camping in White Sands, New Mexico: Surreal Sands under Starry Skies
If you’re looking for an otherworldly camping experience, consider pitching your tent in White Sands, New Mexico. This national monument is home to the largest gypsum dune field in the world, creating a landscape that resembles a pristine, snow-white desert. Camp under a sea of stars and wake up to the surreal sight of the sun’s rays painting the dunes in shades of pink and orange.
2. Treehouse Camping in Oregon: Canopy Camping in the Pacific Northwest
For a unique take on camping, head to Oregon and spend a night in a treehouse. In various parts of the state, you can find treehouses that offer a comfortable and whimsical camping experience high above the forest floor. Fall asleep to the rustling leaves and wake up to the songs of birds in the treetops.
3. Beach Camping in Big Sur, California: Coastal Camping Paradise
Big Sur, along the rugged California coast, offers some of the most breathtaking beach camping in the United States. Pitch your tent on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and listen to the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore. During the day, explore the dramatic coastal cliffs, waterfalls, and redwood forests.
4. Camping on a Volcano in Iceland: Fire and Ice Adventure
Iceland is known for its unique landscapes, including volcanoes. For a one-of-a-kind camping experience, consider camping on the flanks of a volcano. This is a chance to witness the raw power of nature up close. Make sure to do this with a guided tour for safety, and you’ll have a story like no other to tell.
5. Glacier Camping in Norway: Frozen Wilderness Experience
If you’re up for an extreme adventure, consider camping on a glacier in Norway. Imagine spending the night surrounded by ice and snow, far away from civilization. This is an opportunity to connect with the natural world in its purest form.
Just before you set out to any of these sites for your most picturesque glamping and camping yet, ensure to get quality bell tents that will serve you for the duration of your stay. What fun activity do you have planned for your camping trip?