UK van glamping September: 5 best autumn destinations

Ready to go glamping in the UK this September? As the weather turns a little colder, even the keenest camper or free camper might find their thoughts turning to something more comfortable instead, especially when a romantic couples’ break is on the cards.

You and your partner might think of a particular destination when you consider “glamping in the UK in autumn”, possibly log cabins somewhere like the Lake District or luxury shepherd’s huts in Cornwall. But there’s so much more to UK glamping than that.

Go glamping in a luxury motorhome to have the best of both worlds – the perks of glamping facilities along with the freedom of being on the road. Hire a motorhome and stay at unique and well-equipped glamping sites all over the country to have advantages like a private hot tub, a blazing campfire, home-from-home comfort and the fresh air of the great outdoors.

Here’s our roundup of the best UK places for van glamping in the UK.

Glamping in Bristol

Bristol and its surrounds are a beautiful setting for UK glamping, with easy access to the arts and nightlife of Bristol as well as proximity to famous Somerset attractions like Glastonbury, Stonehenge and Cheddar Gorge.

Arrange a Bristol glamping holiday to visit famous highlights like the Floating Harbour, Bristol Zoo and Bristol Cathedral, or have an active holiday by cycling the Bristol and Bath Railway Path or hiking the nearby Mendip Hills.

You can glamp very close to Bristol by staying at the Baltic Wharf Caravan Club Site only five minutes’ cycle ride from the city centre. Or stay in the countryside between Bristol and neighbouring city Bath atKnight’s Folly Farm, overlooking the Bristol to Bath cycle route and the Avon Valley Railway and a mile from garden centres, cafés, fishing and a camping shop.

Glamping in Berkshire

Probably best known as the home county of Windsor Castle , the oldest and biggest continually occupied castle in the world, Berkshire is fabulous for attractions like Eton College (available to tour between April and August) and Highclere Castle, the filming location for Downtown Abbey.

Have a day at Ascot, Newbury or Windsor racecourses, see a game at Rugby or visit pythons, water dragons and more at The Living Rainforest just outside Newbury.

There are lots of options for Berkshire glamping for two, such as gorgeousCalifornia Chalet and Touring Park near Wokingham, a woodland campsite that was once part of Windsor Forest and a hunting ground for Tudor royals. Hurley Riverside Park is right by the Thames if you prefer water rather than woodland and is close to Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor for days out.

Glamping in Northumberland

Northumberland is home to many famous attractions and destinations including Hadrian’s Wall, Lindisfarne, Bamburgh Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Kielder Water & Forest Park, and is perfect for activities like hill walking, stargazing, horse riding, watersports and climbing.

A glamping trip to Northumberland isn’t complete without a visit to stunning Northumberland National Park, a land of moorland, woodland, valleys and the uplands of the Cheviot Hills ideal for hiking, mountain biking, cycling and nature spotting.

Have a couples’ glamping holiday in Northumberland with a stay at adults-onlyWestfield Paddock Caravan Site, on the edge of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty five minutes’ drive from Seahorses village and boat trips to the Farne Islands.

Another option isPaxton House Caravan Park five miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Scottish Borders: this quiet and secluded park is set on 80 acres in the grounds of an 18th-century manor.

Glamping in East Sussex

You and your partner will find plenty to see and do in East Sussex. The county is home to the lively seaside centre of Brighton, the quirky town of Hastings and East Sussex’s only sand dune system at the seven-mile stretch of beach at Camber Sands. Also visit Seven Sisters Park and Beachy Head, Battle and Battle Abbey, and castles at Bodiam, Lewes, Herstmonceux and Pevensey.

For glamping stays in East Sussex, check out award-winningChestnut Meadow Camping & Caravan Park, a four-star campsite close to the Sussex seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea. Or take your loved one for a lakeside stay at Bodiam’sAshburnham Place Camping, set over 220 acres of privately owned Capability Brown landscaped grounds and gardens with its own swimming lake, orangery and café serving cream teas.

Lakeside glamping

Of course, you may opt for a “type” rather than a “destination” glamping break, for example staying by a lake, on the coast, in a forest or in a national park. Lakeside glamping is a popular choice in the UK for its tranquillity and beautiful scenery, especially somewhere like Cumbria and the Lake District which has been a popular holiday spot in the UK for over two centuries.

We recommend looking for a Lake District campsite to use as a base, then hiking or cycling around the area, or soaking up the best the Lakes have to offer by sampling a different campsite every night.Coalbeck Caravan Park,Irton House Farm andWaters Edge Caravan Park are all excellent picks.

September glamping – the practicalities

What’s it like to glamp in the UK in September? You might be a little apprehensive if this is your first autumn glamping trip, but with a little preparation and a decent glamping motorhome you’re sure to have a brilliant holiday.

Depending on where you’re going, you mightn’t find too much of a temperature difference in September as compared to August – London and the south-east are generally more “summerlike” in early autumn compared to regions further north like Northumberland or Scotland.

Average UK temperatures for September range from 10 to 18 °C;this handy site gives expected September temperatures for all over the country.

As with any camping or glamping trip at any time of year, make sure you pack at least one change of clothes and at least one warm and waterproof outfit (preferably two). As you’ll be motorhome glamping, add in extra blankets/duvets too and ensure you know how heating and charging facilities in the motorhome work. A woolly hat or two is always a plus.

What to see and do when glamping in September

Autumn is a beautiful time in the British countryside, while the calm and contemplative nature of glamping makes it a perfect holiday for nature spotting. Look out for muntjac deer, red admiral butterflies, moth caterpillars, goldfinches feasting on seeds, and swallows and house martins gathering for their mammoth journey back to Africa. This is a perfect time for wild food foraging too, when mushrooms, blackberries, nuts, hawthorns and sloes start to appear in abundance.

Otherwise, get along to some of the many September events and festivals all over the country, such as theLudlow Food Festival,Faversham Hop Festival,St Annes International Kite Festival and theoldest classic horse race in the world.

This page from VisitEngland has a comprehensive overview of UK September events.

How much?

An important question if you’re on a budget: how much does it cost to glamp in the UK in September?

Obviously that will depend on the motorhome you hire for your autumn glamping trip (see our UK motorhome for hire listings for a quick overview of prices), but apart from that, a one-night glamping stay on a motorhome campsite should cost between £20 and 40 depending on what’s included in the price (electric hook-up, hot tub access etc).

For glamping breaks and glamping holidays, it’s always worth asking what discounts are available for stays of over two nights: like other businesses, campsites had a difficult summer season in 2020 so may offer special deals to entice glamping customers.

Ready to go glamping this September in the UK? Get a new perspective by glamping in a motorhome, for glamping holidays at your own pace and at your own level of safety and comfort. Browse ourUK motorhome listings to get started!

Plan your trip today

Get away from the city jungle and have a romantic break with your loved one. Bourton-on-the-Water and The Cotswolds are a very romantic destination for a short break.

The selection of romantic things to do and enjoy should make the Cotswolds one of your first options for a getaway.

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