Camping in Catthorpe

There are no campsites in Catthorpe itself, but the wider area around this small Leicestershire village, close to the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire borders, has working farms offering touring pitches and camping within a few miles. As in the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal here, so stick to recognised sites on farmland around Rugby and Lutterworth, where farmers have opened up fields for tourers, tents and sometimes glamping pods. The gently rolling farmland and river valleys of this part of Leicestershire make for easy, unhurried walking and cycling between pitches rather than dramatic terrain, with the River Avon and nearby Stanford Reservoir offering some scenic spots for a riverside or waterside stroll.

The area's appeal for campers is really its convenience: sites here sit within easy reach of the M1, M6 and A14 at the Catthorpe Interchange, making it a sensible stopover for those touring the Midlands, while still being quiet, green countryside once you turn off the main roads. Nearby Swift Valley Nature Reserve and Draycote Water both offer walking trails, birdwatching and, at Draycote, watersports, giving campers plenty to do within a short drive without needing to move the car far each day.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping around Catthorpe, when the farmland is driest underfoot and the long evenings suit sitting out after a day exploring Rugby or Lutterworth. Given how few sites there are in the immediate area, those wanting a farm campsite or glamping pod close to the village should book ahead, particularly for weekends in the school summer holidays. For a step up in comfort, some farms in the area offer glamping options such as shepherd's huts or pods, giving a warmer alternative to a tent while keeping the same rural, working-farm setting.