‘Best campsites’ in the UK have been crowned

Experts from Camplify have released their Best Campsites Index for 2024, with one region coming out on top as “the best of the best” when it comes to its offering for camping, caravan and motorhome holidays. Created by Camplify, the campervan and motorhome sharing community, the index considers factors that make campervan holidays great – from the campsites’ proximity to Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB) and iconic landmarks to the fun and functional facilities they offer guests on-site.

Campsites in Wales, Devon, Dorset and Shropshire all made it onto the list, but the stunning county of Cornwall came out on top with the most campsites on the list – four campsites making it into the top 20, and 15 in the top 100.

Three campsites tallied scores that put them in joint second, with Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay, Bryn Gloch in Caernarfon and Beer Head Caravan Park in Devon missing out on the top spot by only three points. Golden Cap Holiday Park in Dorset completes the top five.

With all corners of the country featuring in the index, Wales saw multiple campsites rank highly, with four featuring in the top 10, and six in the top 20.

The index also revealed the remainder of the south-west to be a camping hotspot, with five campsites across Dorset and Devon featuring within the top 20.

Flavia Robles Llorente, Performance Manager at Camplify, said: “We created this index to help adventurous campers find the best campsite for them and their needs.

“We know that campers love to explore and get close to nature, so this was an important factor in our rankings – as well as the facilities that campers will need to use whilst on site, from the necessities to the nice-to-haves. With plenty of beautiful areas and beaches across Cornwall, it’s no surprise that the area appears so often in our index.”

Top 10 ‘best’ campsites in the UK – Camplify Best Campsites Index for 2024

1. Elysian Fields – Ashton, Cornwall

Elysian Fields is a family-run campsite which takes its name from Greek and Roman mythology, where Elysian Fields was thought to be the paradise awaiting those who’d led a particularly virtuous and/or heroic life. Open all year round, the campsite is set in seven acres of beautiful countryside, offering distant sea views and proximity to the World Heritage site Tregonning Hill.

It’s described as being an “ideal base” for exploring South Cornwall’s lovely beaches, the campsite has grass pitches that accommodate campervans with electric, water and drainage hookups. For downtime, there’s a host of facilities including a children’s playground, a shop, and the restaurant and bar.

The holiday park has beautiful places right on its doorstep, including Porthleven Fishing Harbour, Praa Sands and Gunwalloe Beaches and the famous St Michael’s Mount.

Visitors can also stroll along quiet footpaths to the local villages – both Breage and Ashton. The fishing port town of Porthleven, with its ancient harbour, is just a short distance away along with the golden sandy stretch of Praa Sands

2. (Joint second place) Hendra Holiday Park – Newquay, Cornwall

Hendra Holiday Park is set in the beautiful Cornish countryside just five minutes from Newquay’s sandy beaches. Spread over 80 acres, the park is pet-friendly and offers a variety of spacious pitches, with excellent facilities including play parks, eateries, live entertainment, and a shop. Families will also love the Oasis Fun Pools, one of the largest indoor fun pools in the South West, which features an indoor pool and three exciting water flumes.

Recognised with numerous awards, Hendra provides a great base for exploring Cornwall while enjoying a range of on-site amenities and scenic views.

3. (Joint second place) Bryn Gloch – Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales

Bryn Gloch Caravan and Camping Park is a serene site located at the foot of Snowdon in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, offering stunning views and access to a range of outdoor activities.

It caters for campervans, caravans, and motorhomes with spacious grass and hardstanding pitches, offering options for electric and fully serviced hookups. There are facilities for paddleboarding, swimming, and fishing in the river. The park includes a games room, bike hire, play areas, and a stone-built BBQ.

Open from March to October, it welcomes dogs in designated areas and provides a tranquil setting for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

4. (Joint second place) Beer Head Caravan Park – Beer, Devon

Beer Head Caravan Park offers a peaceful retreat along the Jurassic Coast. Located next to the South West Coast Path, it’s a short walk to the historic fishing village of Beer and its sandy beach, with Lyme Regis just a 25-minute drive away.

The family-run park provides grass and hardstanding pitches with electric hookups, and campers can enjoy sea views, an on-site bistro, a dog walk, and a shop.

5. Golden Cap Holiday Park – Seatown, Dorset

Golden Cap Holiday Park, situated on the Jurassic Coast next to Seatown Beach, offers a variety of grass and hardstanding pitches for tourers, motorhomes, and campervans. Surrounded by 2,000 acres of National Trust land, the park boasts breathtaking sea views and direct access to the South West Coast Path. Family and dog-friendly, the park features non-electric grass pitches, fully serviced hardstanding pitches and more.

6. Love2Stay – Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Love2Stay touring site and glamping village, set in 22 acres of landscaped grounds close to the England-Wales border, just a short drive from the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The campsite has 116 fully-serviced pitches, along with outdoor yoga, a Pilates studio, a gym and wellness centre, a coffee shop, an Italian pizzeria, outdoor barbecues and cooking fire pits, jogging and walking paths and even barefoot trails.

The Shropshire touring site also features a separate dog walking area, a wooden adventure playground for children, a BIOTOP natural swimming pool with a water garden and heated outdoor hot springs, splash pool with a beach and sun terrace.

7. Wooda Farm Holiday Park – Bude, Cornwall

Family-run and owned campsite Wooda Farm Holiday Park is set in 40 acres of parkland surrounded by stunning views of the Cornish coastline and rolling countryside. The site offers facilities for touring and camping, along with a bar, grill, tennis courts, fishing locations, archery and a pitch ‘n’ putt golf course.

The site also features luxury holiday homes overlooking Bude Bay, with two-bedroom holiday homes sleeping five, and three-bedroom holiday homes sleeping six. There are also dog-friendly options.

8. (Joint eighth place) Nicholaston Farm Caravan & Camping – Penmaen, Swansea

Nicholaston Farm Caravan & Camping is a family-friendly campsite located near the beaches of Gower in South Wales. Pitches here cater to tents, campervans, caravans and motorhomes with optional electric hook-ups.

Site facilities include three modern toilet and shower blocks with underfloor heating, hairdryers, as well as disabled shower and toilet facilities, plus family and unisex rooms. There is also a laundry room onsite that is equipped with coin operated washing machines and tumble dryers.

Fridges/freezers are free for guests to use, as well as 24 hour phone charging lockers. free WiFi access across the whole site, outdoor showers for board and wetsuit washing, and a separate outdoor shower for dogs.

An on-sote tea room and shop is open from 8am every day of the week, serving a range of snacks and hot drinks and basic necessities.

9. (Joint eighth place) Carn Springs – Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Set around a lake, Crane Springs is just a few minutes from Tenby’s beaches and coastlines but offers a place to camp nestled in the tranquillity of nature. Tents and tourers are located with electric hook-up points. The site also offers a range of hardstanding pitches, along with bubble pitches for those coming as a small group.

The site includes two modern toilets and shower blocks with large showers and hot running water, plus a washing-up area, ice pack freezing and chemical disposal. Coin-operated washers and tumble dryers are also available.

There is a small shop on-site for essentials and a burger van regularly visits the site to offer breakfast and dinner options, or there are multiple pubs within reach.

10. (Joint eighth place) Llys Derwen Caravan & Campsite Snowdon – Llanrug, Gwynedd

Near the foothills of Snowdonia National Park Llys Derwen Caravan & Campsite Snowdon is a family-friendly site where tents are welcome, along with tourers.

Located just 10 minutes from Snowdonia National Park, this is a great spot for those who want to soak up nature and get active with plenty of incredible walks. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, with a large field onsite for walks.

There is a heated utility block with showers and toilets, plus an indoor dishwashing area, launderette and a catering trailer which is open most weekends and during busy periods. Alternatively, there are local shops and pubs within walking distance.