Camping in Devon

Devon has more campsites than almost any English county, and they fall into three broad groups: large full-facility holiday parks near the south coast resorts, working farms with basic fields and a shower block, and small adults-only or eco sites on the Dartmoor and Exmoor fringes. Deciding which of those you want matters more than the exact location.

The terrain is rarely flat. Devon fields slope, and coastal sites in particular are often pitched on a hillside for the view, so check whether pitches are levelled or terraced before you book a large caravan or motorhome. Ground on the moors is thin over granite and can be hard to peg in a dry spell, while the red clay of mid Devon holds water and turns greasy after heavy rain. Take both proper steel pegs and a mallet, plus a groundsheet you are happy to see muddy.

Weather is the honest limitation. Devon is one of the wetter parts of England, and the north coast catches Atlantic fronts year round. Even in July, plan for two or three wet days in a fortnight, which means a decent awning or tarp, spare dry clothing and a site with an indoor space or a pub within walking distance.

Dartmoor is the only place in England where backpack camping is permitted on open land without the owner's consent, a right upheld by the Supreme Court in 2023. It is genuinely wild camping: no facilities, one or two nights maximum, small tents only, no fires, and you must check the current Dartmoor National Park map for permitted zones and military firing times. Everywhere else in Devon, Exmoor included, needs the landowner's permission.

The season runs roughly Easter to October, with May, June and September the best combination of weather, space and price. Glamping has expanded fast here, and safari tents, shepherd's huts and pods are worth considering in spring and autumn when canvas stops being fun. Expect 20 to 30 pounds a night for two on a mid-range pitch, rising sharply in August, with electric hook-up usually five to eight pounds extra.