Camping under chlorophyll is a liberating experience. Woodlands offer peace and tranquility, of course, but also mystery, atmosphere and intrigue as the faces of the forest change with the seasons and position of the sun (or moon). With the narratives of our social mythology entwining branches and trunks, our imaginations dine out too. And you don't have to abandon yourself in the ravages of Alaska to have a wilderness experience; with all manner of bush-craft courses running around many of our nation's best loved woodlands, you can go all Ray Mears for a day or two without risking life and limb.
Find your roots (sorry) by camping in the forest and enjoy photography, bird-watching, canoeing, walking, cycling, horse-riding, nature-watching or simply relaxing.
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New Forest Camping
New Forest camping is a magical experience, whether you want to steep yourself in the woods or camp in more open ground in a village-pocket between the swathes of forest. It's an incredibly varied affair, with sites of all dimensions nestled in pockets of this stunning national park.
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Red Shoot Camping Park, New Forest
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The area is famous for its ancient and veteran trees, each a unique and essential host to a myriad of wildlife intrinsic to the local eco-system, including rare and endangered species of beetle, bat and bird; so if 'going all Spring Watch' for a week (and, yes, this is now a recognised psychological state!) and getting up close and personal with the flora and fauna of our native woodland is high on your agenda, then sites set within this national park make excellent bases for your forages of discovery.
Of course for the active among you, the walking, cycling, horse-riding and water-sports are pretty fabulous too. Use our 'refine search' button to identify a site that suits your particular needs and our 'show on map' function so see where each individual site is located in the National Park.
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Forest of Dean Camping
Revitalise yourself with a camping or touring trip to the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley area of outstanding natural beauty.
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Many choose Forest of Dean Camping to get their chorophyl fix, the breathtaking beauty of this gentle wilderness offering something to appeal to every member of the group or family.
Take a picturesque canoe safari down the River Wye (or challenge yourself with a more frothy, white-water experience on the river's rapids); don your binoculars and visit the RSPB Nags Head at dusk to hear the 'churr' of the Nightjar among the trees.
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Whitemead Forest Park, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
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Mountain Biking Trails
Great for family bonding or for a getaway with mates, mountain-biking and camping go hand in hand. Pack bikes, helmets and canvas and pitch up at one of the Thetford Forest Camping options available, taking advantage of the well-organised and celebrated biking trails running through the largest lowland pine forest in Britain.
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The Dower House, Norfolk, near Thetford Forest
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Several of the forest's marked trails are suitable for family bike riding, great for bonding with a picnic in a forest clearing to refuel. However there are also more challenging routes for experienced riders - the section known as The Beast has developed a certain legendary status - deep breath, weight back, try it if you dare!
If you want to balance on high wires, fling yourself off ledges on bungees and laugh in the face of vertigo, then try Go-Ape in the forest between biking sessions.
And for a bit of down-time between pockets of thrill, you could lie low in search of the forest's red deer or look to the skies for a rare Goshawk siting.
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Why not peruse our Camping in the Forest specialism, with listings for campsites in and around some of the country's best loved woodlands and forests to find your prefect pitch?
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