Camping in Fordscroft

England has no general right to wild camp, and the fields and farmland around Fordscroft are all in private hands, so pitching a tent here without the landowner's permission is not allowed. The good news is that this part of south Somerset has a healthy scattering of proper campsites and caravan parks on working farms, several within a few miles of Crewkerne, offering everything from simple grass pitches to fully serviced hook-ups, so there is no need to camp wild to enjoy the countryside.

The terrain here is gentle rather than dramatic: rolling arable fields, orchards and wooded valleys rather than open moor, which makes for easy, pleasant walking and cycling rather than serious hillwalking. The one exception is Ham Hill nearby, whose Iron Age hillfort ramparts give a proper climb and some of the best views in the county for the effort. Underfoot conditions are at their driest and firmest from late spring through to early autumn; Somerset's clay-heavy soils can turn heavy going after prolonged winter rain, so those months suit campers happier with mud and shorter days.

May to September is the sweet spot for a camping trip based near Fordscroft, combining warm evenings for sitting out with reliable access to the Jurassic Coast beaches at Lyme Regis and Charmouth, both under half an hour away. School holiday weeks bring the coast to its busiest, so early or late summer weekdays are worth targeting if you prefer a quieter pitch. Firepits and barbecues are usually only permitted where a site specifically allows them and provides raised stands, so check site rules before lighting anything, and always take dry, ready-cut firewood rather than gathering it from hedgerows or woodland.

For anyone who would rather skip the tent-pitching altogether, glamping has taken hold across this part of Somerset in the form of shepherd's huts, safari tents and converted farm buildings, many with wood-burners and their own hot tubs. It is a comfortable way to enjoy the same rural setting, the same views towards Ham Hill, and the same easy access to the coast, without needing to bring your own kit or worry about the weather turning.