A selection of the best apps and websites to help you find your next ideal campsite.
With over 12,000 campsites to choose from across the UK, how are you meant to pick one for your next adventure?
Fortunately things have moved on a bit from dialling a landline number and hoping to catch the farmer when they were back in the 'office'.
There's now a plethora of apps and websites where you can search by region, features and facilities, and then book everything online. Here's a list of my favourite websites for choosing somewhere to pitch your tent or park your van.
Cool Camping started life as a series of books, but has grown into a great website for searching, booking and reviewing campsites, glamping spots, and even campervans. I love the variety of sites on offer, and can always find somewhere new and interesting to stay.
BEST FOR: Gorgeous photos...each listing includes some stunning snaps of the site, which really give you a flavour of what you can look forward to.
Park 4 Night is a fantastic app that really comes into its own in Scotland where 'wild camping' is permitted.
It's a community based app where users (it's been downloaded 2 million times!) can submit different listings. There are now 170,000 to choose from worldwide!
If you are thinking of wild camping, please follow the guidance HERE and remember to leave no trace.
BEST FOR: Wild camping and stopovers on long drives.
In their own words, Pitchup started in 2009 to make it a doddle to book a campsite, caravan park or glamping site. They wanted to help not just with somewhere to stay, but with local bike info, walking routes, pubs (of course) and nearby events. Everything you need to book a terrific break.
BEST FOR: Venturing to mainland Europe - there are about 1000 sites in France, Spain and Italy to choose from.
Nearly Wild Camping is a growing network of locations willing to host campers who are looking for a wilder, more secluded or quieter camping experience. A £20 annual subscription gets you access to around 150 locations, some of which you can have all to yourself. You'll also get member discounts, and a say in how the organisation is run. If you'd rather Wild Camp (such as in Scotland, please follow the guidance HERE and remember to leave no trace. Please don't wild camp where it isn't allowed, or do so in a way that will annoy the locals.
BEST FOR: Back to basics camping
A selection choice of exceptional camping and glamping sites, in outstanding settings, predominantly across Wales, other parts of Wales and branching out into parts of England. All the sites have a shared passion for sustainable, low-impact camping holidays. Membership costs just £10 a year, and the club will plant a tree for everyone who joins. That's 20,000 trees and counting!
BEST FOR: Environmentally friendly camp-sites
Our own map! One of the most common questions I get when people are booking is 'can you recommend any campsites?' With that in mind, I compiled a google map of campsites that have been personally tested by me or our customers. If you think I've missed a corker, just get in touch and I'll add it to the map.
BEST FOR: Campsites that take campervans and are (mostly) close to Manchester.
The National Trust might only have 17 campsites, but not surprisingly they're in some incredible locations, such as the edge of Windermere or the foot of Scafell Pike. Wasdale Campsite features in my blog about mountains you should hike in the UK. The National Trust campsites are well organised, clean, quiet, and have everything you need to make your stay comfortable.
BEST FOR: Sought after locations
(Thanks to Trek Snappy for the photo by the way...check out their awesome blog!)
Camping in the Forest is another small but perfectly formed group of campsites. Set up as a partnership between Forestry England and the Camping and Caravanning Club, these campsites are located deep within beautiful woodlands in England and Scotland. Pitches are big, locations are great, and you get a real sense of being away from it all.
BEST FOR: Peace and Quiet
Everyone has heard of The Camping and Caravanning Club, and it's hardly surprising as they've been running for 120 years and have 700,000 members! As a private members club, you get to stay at sites that you won't find listed anywhere else. With membership from around £40 a year, you get access to a network of over 2000 campsites, and with member discounts you could probably make your membership back in savings!
BEST FOR: Picturesque locations and quiet campsites.
Campsites.co.uk is another great campsite directory site, now in its 18th year! Their mission is to make it easy to find and book the best campsites, caravan parks and holiday parks around the UK, and their site makes it easy to do just that. With well over 2000 campsites across the country, you're bound to find something that ticks all the boxes. I searched for sites that allow fires and have spaces for campervans...487 to choose from!
BEST FOR: Choice across the UK
I hope this helps you find somewhere to stay this summer. Feel free to get in touch if you need any advice about your camping trip, or visit the website to check availability and book a campervan! You can use this handy flowchart to decide which van's the best one for you.
Thanks for reading,
Nick 🚌 😄