Camping in Southwell

There are no campsites within Southwell itself, and it is worth remembering that wild camping is illegal in England without the landowner's express permission, so any pitch needs to be booked through a proper site. The wider Nottinghamshire countryside around Southwell, though, is gently rolling farmland and orchard country rather than dramatic wilderness, and it sits within easy striking distance of the sandy heaths and pine woodland of Sherwood Forest to the north-east, where a number of established campsites and glamping sites operate, some close enough to the Major Oak and the Sherwood Forest visitor centre to combine woodland walks with an evening around the fire.

Terrain in this part of Nottinghamshire is mostly flat to gently undulating, making it comfortable ground for family camping, cycling from the pitch, and walking the Southwell Trail's old railway path without serious climbs to contend with. The River Greet, which loops around Southwell itself, and the wider Trent Valley nearby add a bit of watery interest for anyone camping in the area, alongside the region's orchards, which are particularly attractive around blossom time in spring.

Late spring through to early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping here, with reasonably dry, mild weather and long evenings for exploring the Minster, the Workhouse gardens or the fringes of Sherwood Forest before dark. Nottinghamshire's campsites increasingly offer glamping options — pods, safari tents and shepherd's huts — for those who want the feel of a countryside break near Southwell without the full commitment of tent and sleeping bag, a useful option given the changeable nature of an English summer.