Camping in North Wootton

North Wootton sits right at the point where the Mendip Hills drop away to the Somerset Levels, which makes for a striking backdrop to camp against, even though the village has no campsite of its own within its small centre; nearby sites, including Greenacres Camping in the parish, make the most of the setting. As with the rest of England, wild camping here is not legal without the express permission of the landowner, so pitching up on the open hillside or beside the Levels without asking first is not an option — stick to licensed campsites and CAAP (Certificated Sites) instead, of which the wider Wells and Glastonbury area has a good spread.

The terrain is gently rolling rather than dramatic: the Mendip escarpment rises steeply enough to give proper views but is easily walked, while the Levels below are flat, watery and prone to standing water and mud after rain, so a pitch with good drainage and solid ground underfoot is worth seeking out, particularly outside the summer months. The Monarch's Way passes close by, giving campers a ready-made walking route straight from the tent, with Glastonbury Tor as a natural landmark to aim for across the fields.

Late spring through early autumn is the most reliable window, when the ground is firmer and the long evenings suit sitting out with a view over the Levels as the light fades behind the Tor; midsummer coincides with Glastonbury Festival traffic in the wider district, so it is worth booking ahead if travelling in June. For anyone who would rather not pitch a tent, glamping options including shepherd's huts, pods and yurts have become increasingly common on farms around Wells, Glastonbury and the Mendip villages, offering the same views with rather more comfort, and they are a good option if the Levels have had a wet spell.