Isle of Wight
Back-to-basics clifftop camping above Compton Bay, campfires allowed
Compton Farm is a National Trust tenant farm on the island's southwest coast, between Brook and Brighstone, and its campsite is about as simple as legal camping in England gets. The field sits in a hollow beneath the chalk downs with the sea a short walk away, sheltered from the worst of the wind by the slope but very much open to the elements. There are no marked pitches — you find a spot and put your tent where it suits.
Facilities are deliberately minimal. Expect composting toilets and cold water taps, and nothing else: no showers, no electric hook-ups, no hardstandings, no shop and no WiFi. Campfires are permitted, which is rare in England and a large part of why people return year after year. Dogs are welcome. Tents, small campervans and motorhomes are accepted, though large touring caravans are not really suited to the ground. Bring everything you need, including water containers, a decent stove and warm bedding, because clear nights on the downs are cold even in July.
What you get in return is location. Compton Bay is one of the best beaches on the island for surfing and swimming, reached on foot in a few minutes, and the cliffs there regularly yield fossils and exposed dinosaur footprints at low tide. The coastal path runs directly past, with Tennyson Down and the Needles a walk to the west and Brighstone to the east. The site opens for a short season, generally from around Easter to the end of September, and pitch prices start from roughly £12 per adult per night. Book direct and expect to be off-grid.