Camping in Newnham on Severn

Newnham on Severn sits right on the edge of the Forest of Dean, England's oldest oak woodland, with the tidal River Severn on its doorstep — a combination that makes it a quietly excellent base for camping and glamping. As anywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's explicit permission, so plan around one of the area's licensed sites rather than pitching informally on riverbank or forest land.

The closest option is the Severn Valley Touring Caravan and Camping Site, half a mile from the Severn Way and around 1.5 miles off the A48, which offers grass touring pitches with electric hookups for caravans, motorhomes and campervans, plus some tent camping in peak season and a converted vintage railway carriage set up as an ensuite shepherd's hut for those wanting glamping comfort without giving up the outdoor feel. It's a working-farm setting, so it's kept dog-free other than assistance dogs, and the rural, low-key atmosphere suits couples and families happy with a quieter site over a resort-style one.

Further into the Forest of Dean, a wider choice of family-friendly campsites and caravan parks opens up, many with on-site shops, cafés and easy access to the Forest's cycling and walking trails at Cannop and Beechenhurst, as well as more upmarket glamping pods, safari tents and shepherd's huts for those wanting a softer introduction to camping.

The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn, when the Forest's paths are driest and evenings are long enough for a walk down to the Severn after pitching up. Spring and autumn also bring a bonus for anyone camping nearby: the Severn Bore's biggest tidal surges pass directly below Newnham, and a well-timed early morning stroll from a local site to the riverbank is one of the most memorable free things to do in the area. Ground can be soft after wet weather given the site's proximity to the river and farmland, so it's worth packing for mud regardless of season, and booking ahead in summer and around known bore dates, when the best pitches go quickly.