With more sunshine promised for the summer, people across the UK are planning camping trips to make the most of the weather. Camping is booming, with research revealing 66% of families are increasing the number of times they holiday in the great outdoors.

© Globe Vale Holiday Park

During the past five years, there has been a 17% increase in the number of families who go camping with children. It has even captured the youth market, with 66% of teenagers saying they feel “enthusiastic” about camping.

What should be considered when choosing a good spot?

There are many different factors to consider when choosing a camping spot. First, study the location. Is it in a part of the country that you want to visit? You may have a particular region in mind, or maybe you’re going on impulse because you like the look of the place.

What are the transport links like? Are you looking for a wild, off-grid campsite, or one with more facilities? Are you looking for campsites near beaches?

If you want to take your four-legged friend on holiday, find out whether it’s pet-friendly. Some sites have better facilities than others for dogs, so enquire before booking.

Determine what kind of person is suited to the site – is it a family friendly campsite, or is it more for retired people? Is it somewhere that a lone camper can stay and feel comfortable?

Whether you’re a first-time camper, or a seasoned outdoor adventurer, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best camping spots around the UK.

Globe Vale Holiday Park, Cornwall

Who wouldn’t want to spend time camping in beautiful Cornwall? Open all year round, Globe Vale has received the AA’s top rating of 5 Pennants: Platinum and is described as the “elite” of campsites – and it’s easy to see why!

The dog-friendly park offers a quiet countryside setting, idyllically located in 20 acres of beautiful landscape, with stunning views across the fields to the coast and St Agnes Beacon. It’s a place where families, couples and people of all ages can relax and unwind amid the mature trees and shrubs.

There are plenty of open spaces for ball games and walking and whether you’re camping, touring or hiring a caravan, you’re promised a memorable camping experience.

Facilities include a refurbished bar and restaurant and a play park and games field for the kids. You can enjoy a hot shower in the spotlessly clean toilet and shower blocks – shower and toilet room facilities with disabled access available.

Globe Vale is a great base for enjoying day trips to Cornwall’s many attractions, while the beach is nearby for sunbathing, surfing, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaking and waterskiing.

Gill Head Farm, Lake District

Gill Head Farm is a quality farmhouse site, offering self-catering, caravan and camping facilities. There’s something special about Lake District campsites and this is one of the most splendid.

Set against a stunning backdrop of Blencathra and the fells of the Lake District National Park, it’s ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Pet-friendly, it is popular among school groups, walkers and Duke of Edinburgh Award students.

This sheltered and level campsite provides numerous hardstanding pitches with hook-ups for campervans, caravans and motorhomes. There are also insulated timber camping pods and plenty of pitches tents.

Gill Head is ideal for a “get away from it all” holiday, where you’re not going to be surrounded by the crowds. Five miles from tranquil Lake Ullswater, it is near the traditional market town of Keswick.

Farm on the Hill, Staffordshire

Are you looking for the best Staffordshire campsites? If so, Farm on the Hill campsite, in Prestwood Lane, Uttoxeter, offers a variety of pitches to accommodate both social and peaceful trips. It is the perfect location for a camping getaway far from suburbia.

An eco-campsite, located within 24-acres of meadow and woodland on the edge of rural Prestwood, it offers a mix of pitches, including private two-person spaces set in a peaceful woodland clearing and larger spaces ideal for families and groups of friends.

It’s a great place to relax as you put your cooking pot over the fire and chill out. It’s also an ideal place to stay as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and visitor attractions, such as Alton Towers.

The Secret Garden is a secluded camping pitch surrounded by trees and tall hedges, with the woodland behind. The stone firepit is great for sitting round and chatting under the stars. There’s also a purpose-built new space for families in a spacious field with six well-spaced pitches.

Bicycle hire is available to explore the surrounding countryside, while you can even hire one of 50 allotments that are organically managed.

Abbey Home Organic Farm, Gloucestershire

Abbey Home Organic Farm is a green field family campsite offering wonderful views across the rural Cotswolds. If you’re planning to go camping in the Cotswolds, this could be the ideal place for your summer break.

There are no allocated pitches: visitors can choose a spot on arrival, either in the camper van field, or on the vehicle-free side of the campsite.

Abbey Home is a family campsite with simple facilities including cold taps, hot gas showers, new toilets built in 2022 and water from a farm borehole that is natural and safe to drink.

The Magical Glade is as close to wild camping as it gets. This secret spot in Deer’s Choice Wood offers sunshine and seclusion – ideal for one or two families or a group of up to eight people, including children, or adults who want some peaceful space away from the hustle and bustle of society

No dogs can go onto the farm, as there is livestock around, although they are welcome on some of the walks.

These are just a few of the best UK campsites, although of course, there are plenty more up and down the country.

Once you’ve chosen a location, it’s vital you’re well prepared in terms of camping equipment. Whether you’re travelling light, or embarking on a home from home experience, don’t forget to compile your camping holiday checklist in advance to make sure you don’t forget anything! Above all, have fun!