Camping in Sparkford

Somerset's gently rolling countryside around Sparkford is well suited to camping, and Long Hazel Park, right in the village, is the standout option: an adult-only, five-star touring, camping and lodge park with around 50 pitches set among mature trees, and a regular winner of regional tourism awards for camping and glamping. It is open all year, making it a genuinely flexible base whether you are stopping for a night on a longer trip along the A303 or settling in for a few days to explore Cadbury Castle, Castle Cary and the Somerset Levels. Beyond Long Hazel Park, the wider South Somerset area has a good spread of campsites and glamping sites, from simple touring pitches to more elaborate shepherd's huts and pods, many set on working farms or among orchards, reflecting the county's strong agricultural character.

As with the rest of England, wild camping is not legal here without the express permission of the landowner, so it is best to stick to licensed sites such as Long Hazel Park or one of the other campsites dotted around the nearby villages. The terrain around Sparkford is low, undulating farmland rather than dramatic hill country, which makes for gentle, easy walking and cycling between pitches and attractions, though the ground can turn heavy after wet weather, as it can across much of low-lying Somerset. Spring through early autumn is the most comfortable season for camping here, with reasonably dry ground and long evenings for sitting out, while winter camping is really only for those on well-drained, serviced pitches with good facilities.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in the wider area include insulated pods and shepherd's huts, some with their own hot tubs or fire pits, often on farms within a short drive of Sparkford. Combined with the village's position just off the A303, camping here offers an easy, well-connected base for exploring not just the Haynes Motor Museum on the doorstep, but also Glastonbury, the Somerset Levels and the wider West Country beyond.