You know you have a winning campsite, when you're sitting pretty, neighbouring one of England's most iconic landmarks. Toweringly beautiful and enormously overwhelming, the Stonehenge monument is a definite stellar reason to come to this neck of English woods. The other reason is the site itself – a camping hub for travellers, hippies, families and couples, all looking for a peaceful place to rest their heads.
The campsite initially looks on the small side, as you arrive into a private-feeling, tarmaced area with a few caravan hard standings and a colorful haze of flowers. Actually, though, there is plenty of space to be found and when you head back through the gates into two large open meadows you realise what an eclectic site this is. Alongside the hard-standings these fields have a cluster of campervanners, willing to forgo the luxury of a power supply, and a maze of colorful tents speckle the greens of the grass and the backdrop of bushes and shaggy ever greens that shield the campsite from a farm on the opposite side. With four luxury glamping pods and one basic budget festival pod for hire, plus a brand new gents and ladies shower block, there’s something for every type to be found.
Come the peak of the summer solstice the space we so appraise is certainly made use of – the place becomes a hive of activity as campers descend on Stonehenge to watch the sun stream through gaps in the stone – but for the rest of the year there really is room to play. Kids can kick a ball about in the meadow, campfires are lit and in winter the spare fields are mown by a handful of alpacas making their home like hardy year-round campers. It’s in these quiet times that you can also make best use of the amazing ‘campers kitchen’ a wooden lean-to structure with mugs, cutlery and utensils to use along with a microwave and kettle.
At night time, the stars come out and evoke your hidden sentiments as they glisten overhead and lead you pondering back to those who looked to the skies before. Gathering at Stonehenge may be as ancient as mankind itself but it’s stood the test of time. This is still the place to gather and you’ll quickly come to learn that Stonehenge campsite is the place for swapping stories with other campers whilst sipping a hot chocolate till the sun begins to rise.
Being one of England's premier tourist attractions, Stonehenge is a definite must. The prehistoric monument also manages to attract tens of thousands of people every year for the Summer Solstice Festival. Lots of soul searching with thousands of peaceful sunworshippers as you all watch the sun rise on the longest day of the year. Something the kids will never stop talking about is Longleat House Safari Park (01985 844400). Home to an African array of stunning wildlife, including lions, cheetas, wilderbeests, elephants and of course the infamously cheeky Longleat monkeys. Warning: keep your windows shut when the monekys are about, as they have been known to dabble in the art of the five-finger-discount.
Fresh morning eggs are sold onsite, however, the Berwick Farm Shop sells practically everything the camper could ever need. And we weren't joking when we said the location of this site is perfect , you've got 8 (yes 8) stellar nearby pubs to choose from. Top picks are the Boot Inn at Berwich St James (01722 790243) and the Bell Inn at Winterbourne Stoke (01980 620445).