Camping in Sampford Brett

There are no campsites within Sampford Brett itself, and it is worth being clear that wild camping is not legal anywhere in England, including on the Quantock Hills, without the explicit permission of the landowner — unlike parts of Scotland, there is no general right to pitch a tent on open land here. That said, the Quantock Hills AONB immediately north-east of the village, and the Brendon Hills to the south-west, are dotted with licensed campsites and caravan parks around villages such as Bicknoller, Crowcombe, Holford and Williton, many set on working farms with basic pitches for tents alongside hardstanding for caravans and motorhomes. Booking ahead is sensible in peak season, particularly around the Quantocks' most popular walking trailheads.

The terrain here rewards a tent-based trip: the Quantocks combine open heather moorland on the ridgelines with steep, wooded combes running down towards the coast and the Vale of Taunton, giving walkers and cyclists a genuine change of scenery within a small area, and the network of bridleways and footpaths connects easily to campsites in the valley villages. Late spring through early autumn is the most comfortable camping season, when the ground is drier and the days long enough for a proper walk on the hill before returning to camp, though the moor can turn cold and wet quickly even in summer, so it pays to come prepared regardless of the forecast.

For those who would rather have a roof and a proper bed while still camping in spirit, glamping options such as shepherd's huts, safari tents and yurts have become increasingly common on farms around the Quantocks and Brendon Hills in recent years, often set up with wood burners or underfloor heating to extend the season into autumn and make an easier first step for anyone new to sleeping outdoors. Combined with Sampford Brett's quiet lanes and its 700-year-old church as a focal point, the surrounding countryside makes for an unhurried, low-key camping base rather than a headline destination in its own right.