Henry's
The Lizard, Cornwall
This small, quirky site on the Lizard peninsula claims to be the most southerly in Great Britain. Owners Jo and Ron have created a relaxed and bohemian ambience here with chickens roaming freely and art and sculpture dotted around.
Acoustic instruments are encouraged; mobile phone ringtones are not. Perched at the top of the Caerthillian valley, the site has spectacular sea views and sunsets. The nearest beach – a small tidal cove – is a 15-minute walk away along a footpath, but a further 10 minutes will bring you to the white sand beaches of Kynance Cove.
There's a small shop on site selling everything from camping spares to food (don't miss out on Jo's legendary home-baked scones) and a village shop and two pubs within easy walking distance. Alternatively, you can follow the coast path to Cadgwith Cove, a working fishing village three miles away, where you can snap up local lobster, crab and fish for your barbecue. The Cadgwith Cove Inn also has folk night on Tuesdays and Cornish songs on Fridays. But you may prefer to be back at Henry's, sat by your own campfire with a jug of Rosie cider watching the stars.
Open all year; £9.60 per adult per night, £4.80 per child (5-18); 01326 290596
Nantcol Waterfalls
Llanbedr, Gwynedd
This laidback site offers a true back-to-nature experience, hugging a riverbank at the foot of the Rhinog mountains. Children will love launching themselves into the river on the rope swings, bobbing about on inflatables and building dams. If you can tear them away, there are woodland trails to explore, including a delightful riverside amble to the Nantcol waterfalls themselves, just a few minutes from camp.
In hot weather you will often find brave souls leaping from the rocks into the falls. Further afield, the sandy beaches of Shell Island and seaside attractions of Barmouth are just a short drive away. Back at base, facilities are basic but well maintained. Welsh ice-cream, hot drinks and camping equipment are on sale in the site shop and there's a good deli, butchers and pub in the nearby village of Llanbedr. In the evening, toast marshmallows over the campfire (the friendly owner sells logs) and fall asleep to the soft sound of the river.
Open all year; £8 per adult per night, £3 per child; 01341 241209
Hurley Lock
Maidenhead, Berkshire
For a real sense of adventure just a short hop from the capital, nothing beats camping on an island in the river Thames.
Several of the locks on the upper reaches of the Thames are home to small, simple campsites overseen by the lock-keeper, often accessible only by boat or on foot. Hurley Lock is an attractive and bustling spot with boats navigating the lock, kayakers paddling in the white water of the weir and children splashing about on dinghies in the shallows. The river separates into several channels at this point and one of the islands has been set aside for campers, with just 10 pitches.
The village of Hurley has a handful of appealing pubs, including the Olde Bell, a low-beamed inn hung with copper kettles, parts of which date back to the 12th century. It's just a short stroll back across the footbridge to your island but it feels like you've travelled much further when dusk falls, when the pleasure craft disappear and the peace is disturbed only by the flapping of herons taking off.
Apr–Sep; £8 per pitch per night; 01628 824334
Glenbrittle
Carbost, Isle of Skye
If you are feeling the call of the wild but can't quite face life without a hot shower, Glenbrittle is the perfect compromise: rough and ready enough to feel like you are wild camping, but with hot water on tap and a well-stocked shop. Sandwiched between the mountains and the shores of Loch Brittle, this spot attracts climbers and hill walkers, who use it as a base camp for exploring the rugged Cuillin range.
But you don't have to bring crampons to feel at home. Many are drawn here by the sense of isolation, the rugged beauty and the absence of a mobile phone signal. Collect mussels at low tide and cook them over a campfire on the beach. Or else walk to the romantically named Fairy Pools, a few miles back up the single-track road towards Glenbrittle, for an invigorating dip (not for the fainthearted). A word of warning: don't forget the midge repellent. This is Scotland after all.
Apr-Sep; £6.40 per adult per night, £4.20 per child; 01478 640404
Low Wray
Ambleside, Cumbria
It would be hard to imagine a more idyllic spot to pitch your tent than the shores of lake Windermere. You pay a premium for a waterside pitch at this National Trust-run site, but it's money well spent for the pleasure of sitting outside your tent or campervan in the early morning watching the sun appear over the lake.
If you want added protection from the elements, you can book a wooden camping pod. The site has good facilities, including a small shop, a laundry, hot showers and children's playground. On the quieter, western shore of Windermere, it also offers great opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing and non-powered watersports such as kayaking. Stock up with provisions at Lucy's Specialist Grocers in Ambleside, a marvellous delicatessen specialising in Cumbrian produce, from Windermere char to Cumberland sausage (and damson gin to wash it all down).
Easter–Oct; £8 per pitch per night (1 adult plus vehicle), £5 per extra adult, £2.50 per child; 01539 463862
Masons Farm
Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
On summer weekends the river Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales is a magnet for families and day-trippers who pack picnics and spend lazy days splashing about in the water. One of the best spots along the river is the attractive village of Appletreewick, which has two good pubs and this deservedly popular campsite, Masons Farm. Though it can get lively in high season, the young owners ensure the ambience stays relaxed and friendly. Bring your lilo, your fishing rod and arrive early to bag one of the sought-after riverside pitches.
When the children tire of paddling and fishing for crayfish in the shallow water, there's a large field for games of football and rounders, and free-roaming ducks and chickens to befriend. For a spot of wild swimming, follow the river downstream towards the Appletreewick falls where you will find a natural pool with a ropeswing. Alternatively head to the nearby village of Burnsall, which has some popular spots for swimming.
Apr–Oct; £17 per pitch per night (2 adults), £6 per extra adult per night, £3.50 per child per night; 01756 720275
Delamont country park
Killyleagh, Co Down
On the sleepy shores of Strangford Lough, one of Europe's most important marine wildlife sites and the UK's largest sea inlet, lies this well-kept, 62-pitch family site.
Watery wildlife is the name of the game here. An ideal way to explore is to take one of the park's boat trips – in summer, you're quite likely to spot seals and porpoises.
The lough teems with life, and is paradise for birdwatchers in particular, who flock here to see the large numbers of breeding or wintering birds that nest here and on the lough's 120 islands.
Sea fishing is available off Ardglass, both coarse and game fishing are available locally, and various marinas, anchorages and yacht clubs are on hand to serve budding sailors along the coast.
Other attractions nearby include beautiful blue-flag Tyrella beach and the world-famous Giant's Causeway – both a short drive away.
In the unlikely event that the kids get antsy, the park also has an adventure playground with a fortress and aerial runway. It also hosts Northern Ireland's longest miniature railway.
Apr–Nov; adults £5.90–£9.05, children £2.65 per night; 02844 821833
Outney Meadow
Bungay, Suffolk
If messing about on the water is your idea of holiday heaven, look no further than Outney Meadow. Once you get past the slightly ramshackle entrance with its collection of dilapidated caravans, you'll find yourself on a charmingly unpretentious and friendly riverside site surrounded by the water meadows and marshlands of the Waveney valley.
Try a spot of wild swimming or fishing, or hire a canoe from the friendly owners (£30 per day) and set off on your own voyage of discovery, looking out for kingfishers, swans and the elusive otters. Alternatively you can hire a bike and cycle to Bungay, an attractive market town with some excellent specialist food shops.
Mar–Oct; from £13 per pitch per night (2 adults), £3 per extra adult, £2 per child; 01986 892338
Clachtoll Beach
Lochinver, Sutherland
It's not uncommon to spot schools of dolphins, basking sharks and the odd minke whale from the bay at Clachtoll Beach campsite. This is just one reason to make the long drive along the 23-mile single-track road to this remote spot north of Lochinver.
The warm welcome from owners Jim and Ishbel and the spectacular natural beauty of the location are two more. Set back 100m from the sandy beach, this campsite attracts a loyal band of followers who return year after year, praising the site's friendliness and the spotless facilities.
The clear waters of the bay are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and boogie boarding; though you might want to bring a wetsuit – the sea may look Caribbean-blue, but the temperature is most definitely Scottish. There are plenty of rock pools to explore and the woodlands are home to badgers, deer and pine martens.
Apr–Sep; from £8 per pitch per night, £2 per adult, £1 per child (5-16), under-5s free; 01571 855377
Mount Folly Farm
Bigbury, Devon
A refreshing antidote to the all-singing, all-dancing "holiday parks" that monopolise huge swaths of the West Country with their regimented ranks of caravans clubhouses and swimming pools, Mount Folly is a working farm offering low-key, rustic camping.
What it lacks in frills, it more than makes up for in location, in an area of outstanding natural beauty with staggering coastal views over Bigbury Bay. It's just 100m from the South West Coast Path, and a 10-minute walk will take you to the sandy beach at Bigbury-on-Sea, which is popular with surfers. At low tide you can walk across the causeway to Burgh Island and enjoy a Devon cream tea at the imposing art deco hotel, which was a popular haunt of Agatha Christie. At high tide the 1930s "sea tractor" ferries visitors to and fro.
Open all year; caravans/campervans £6 per person per night; tents £5, £2.50 per child (10-14), under-10s free; 01548 810267
