Best family campsites UK: awesome pitches, as recommended by families

Mumsnetters wax lyrical about this coastal campsite near Weymouth. Set on a farm in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the sea views are incredible from most parts of the site and guests can access a private beach. You can rock up with camping gear for a traditional camping experience or book a bell tent for a bit of luxury. Each bell tent comes with proper mattresses, sheepskin rugs, a BBQ fire pit, fairy lights and bunting. 

On-site activities during the peak summer months of July and August include wholesome pursuits like breathwork sessions, sheep sheering and fossil hunting and there are a bunch of free amenities like a solar sauna and a Turkish bath. Kids will love the hay bale play area, story time events and craft sessions. 

Not into campfire cooking? The on-site farm shop stocks organic produce and there's a bakery for fresh bread, an ice cream parlour and some fab food outlets including a pizza van, a crepe bar and even a candlelit restaurant in a converted barn.

The downside? It’s VERY popular and popular dates get snapped up quickly. It’s well worth booking as early as you can to nab a pitch.

Perfect for nature lovers, a shallow river runs through this campsite nestled in the picturesque Doone Valley and you may well spot ponies or deer when emerging from your tent of a morning. However, this doesn't mean you're deprived of creature comforts. There's a quaint tearoom with a beautiful walled garden, which serves full English breakfasts in the morning and traditional cream teas in the afternoon (as well as boring sensible meals like lunch and dinner). The shop stocks everyday camping essentials and is open daily.

The ideal base for days spent rambling on Exmoor and nights sitting around a campfire, Cloud Farm certainly provides an authentic family camping experience. The toilets and showers are clean and well-presented, but it's worth noting that electrical hook-ups are limited.

There's a wide variety of accommodation options at this lovely site near Scarborough including standard camping and caravanning pitches, pretty Nomadic Yurts, cosy Merry Dale Bell Tents and luxury cottages.

The star attraction for glampers? The Deluxe Wigwam Lodges which sleep two adults and two children and come with heating, running water, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and an ensuite loo. 

You can enjoy your very own electric hot tub and private patio and can even bring your pet because, unlike the site’s Bell Tents, the lodges are dog friendly.

The site is on a working farm and has plenty going on for families, including farm walks, a nature trail, a football area, a playground and duck pond. There's also a shop and a licensed cafe bar called ‘The Hive’, with pre-ordered pizza and burger nights at peak times. In the wider area, enjoy the North York Moors National Park and all it has to offer. Scarborough is less than 9 miles away for a classic beach day. 

Trevornick campsite between Newquay and Perranporth in Cornwall offers lots of different ways to camp: from traditional non-serviced pitches, to lodges and cottages. Plus, if you're new to this camping lark, you can stay in one of their pre-pitched Eurotents before splashing out on a tent of your own.

There's so much going on at this campsite that you never need to leave. For little ones there are kids' live shows, arts and crafts sessions, sports and family games, an outdoor adventure playground and a heated outdoor swimming pool – as well as indoor soft play if the weather isn't favourable – all included in the cost of your stay. During the school holidays the campsite also runs a kids' club, meaning you can have a bit of time off to enjoy surfing, golf, fishing or the on-site spa. Bliss.

If you venture beyond the campsite you'll find plenty of sandy beaches, miles and miles of glorious coastal paths, and lots of Cornish seaside towns to explore. There are more local restaurants than you can shake a stick at, but, if fresh seafood is wasted on your kids, there's a bar and restaurant back at the campsite which serves family favourites. 

Surrounded by natural beauty with breathtaking views at every turn (even on drizzly days), this peaceful campsite near Ambleside sits between Crinkle Crags and Bowfell. 

It's a pretty dramatic setting for a spot of camping and is perfect if you're looking for family adventures in the Lake District. There are 175 pitches available and tents, campervans and motorhomes are all welcome. There are also wooden camping pods available to hire if you want to travel light. 

Newly upgraded toilet and shower blocks are a welcome addition and there's a laundry and drying room to take care of your soggy supplies. 

It's open all year round and you'll find basic food and camping items available, as well as fresh pastries and takeaway drinks on offer each morning. 

You won't be short of hiking and biking opportunities in the area, and of course you'll be within easy reach of Windermere, Coniston and Wast Water but there's a kids' play area and a climbing wall at the site if you want to stay local. 

A short drive from the picturesque seaside towns of Lowestoft and Southwold (with Kessingland and Pakefield beaches within walking distance), Heathland Beach is ideally located for exploring Suffolk as a family. The camping pitches are all equipped with electric hook-ups, with shared water taps and TV outlets. If you're thinking of visiting during the cooler months, there’s also the option of staying in one of the park's holiday homes instead of under canvas.

There are three on-site heated swimming pools, or if you're brave, you could try swimming in the North Sea (though we'd recommend bringing wetsuits if you're seriously considering it). If you prefer to stay dry, there are play areas dotted throughout the site and an all-weather tennis court with rackets available to hire.

Between the mountains of the Scottish Highlands, on the shores of Loch Morlich, you'll find the Mumsnetter-favourite Glenmore campsite. It’s in the middle of the Cairngorms National Park, but close to the town of Aviemore, so outdoorsy types can hike, swim, kayak and canoe to their heart's content – without being stranded in the middle of nowhere with little kids. The site is well equipped with showers, toilets, laundry and dish-washing facilities but, unlike others mentioned above, it doesn't have a shop so make sure you stock up before you arrive.

Little nature-lovers will be able to spot deer, otters, ospreys and, sometimes, golden eagles as you roam around the park and older kids can try their hand at windsurfing and paddleboarding at the watersports centre. Slightly further afield, there's lots to do on Cairngorm Mountain and the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig is well worth a visit.

This Haven site tops the list of our favourite holiday parks in Wales but it makes a great campsite too with 100+ (hard-standing and grass) pitches on offer for tents and motorhomes. 

As well as being able to enjoy Tenby's award-winning Blue Flag beach nearby, campers will have full access to the park facilities including indoor and outdoor pools and water slides and activities like archery, a climbing wall and a NERF training camp. There's plenty to keep kids buys, particularly in the summer months. 

Tenby’s stunning North beach is a must-see - its soft sand and clean water will provide hours of fun for the whole family. Elsewhere in Pembrokeshire, you’ll find Colby Woodland Garden, Manor Wildlife Park and Tenby Dinosaur Park, which are all worth a visit.

Fforest Fields is set in the middle of a 500-acre family-run farm, surrounded by green hills, woodland trails, and two lakes – complete with free kayaks – which campers are welcome to explore during their stay.

Although you'll feel pleasingly off-grid, this small site has plenty of facilities that make camping with little ones easier. Mumsnetters recommend Fforest Fields for its spotless shower block, including a family washroom, and there's also a launderette, washing-up room, fridges and a drying room on-site – there's even free site-wide WiFi (just don't tell the kids). The licenced cafe is well-stocked with local ales and ciders, as well as proper coffee for your morning caffeine fix, and there's a little shop where you can pick up any forgotten essentials.

Reluctant campers will be pleased to discover there are glamping yurts available for a more luxurious visit. Each yurt sleeps four and is equipped with a wood-burning stove, floor cushions and solar lights – you'll also have a dedicated kitchen hut, complete with gas cooker, cool box and eating utensils.

If you’re keen on exploring the New Forest on your camping trip, then Red Shoot camping park is an ideal base. You’re never more than a 10-minute walk from a secluded beauty spot.

It’s a family-run camping park and you can really tell. Facilities include an on-site shop and bakery, a children’s play area, a laundry room, underfloor heated showers and toilets, and family and disabled bathrooms.

It’s a dog-friendly campsite - you'll find dog treats on-site as well as a pub that welcomes pooches. You'll also have access to acres of forest for scenic walks.

There are electric and non-electric pitches for camping and there’s also space for caravans and campervans. There are plenty of things to do and see in the surrounding area so even on rainy days you'll be bound to find something that everyone enjoys.