Ditch the Airport Queues This Summer – Why Camping in the Woods Could Be the Ultimate Staycation

Delayed flights, passport panics, baggage restrictions, traffic to the airport and the ever-growing cost of travelling abroad – it's no wonder more Brits are looking closer to home for their summer adventures.

For those wanting to escape without the stress, one type of staycation is quietly growing in popularity: camping in the woods.

Unlike a busy holiday park where tents can be pitched just a few feet apart, woodland camping offers space to breathe. Wake to birdsong instead of alarm clocks, cook breakfast over a campfire, watch deer emerge at dusk, listen for tawny owls after dark and spend evenings beneath some of Britain's darkest skies.

Across the UK there are some exceptional woodland campsites for those wanting to reconnect with nature, including:

• Low Wray Campsite, Lake District – woodland pitches on the shores of Windermere with direct access to lakeside walks.
• Cloud Farm Campsite, Exmoor – nestled amongst ancient woodland in the beautiful Lorna Doone Valley, with opportunities to spot red deer, kingfishers and even otters.
• Biblins Campsite, Wye Valley – a back-to-basics woodland campsite surrounded by ancient forest and the River Wye, popular with families seeking a true outdoor escape.
• Swallow Barn Woodland Campsite, Forest of Dean – an off-grid woodland campsite where guests often share the woods with badgers, owls and other native wildlife.

For some people though, camping in the woods isn't just a holiday – it's something they can enjoy whenever they choose.

Woodlands.co.uk, which has been helping people buy small woodlands across the UK for more than two decades, says many owners purchase woodland simply to have their own peaceful place to escape modern life.

Steve Sangster, a woodland owner through Woodlands.co.uk, regularly spends weekends camping with family and friends in his own woodland. "With four children, the cost of travelling abroad can quickly add up once you've factored in flights, accommodation, airport parking and all the extras. We still enjoy family holidays, but some of our best weekends have been spent much closer to home in the woodland. It's affordable, simple and there's a sense of adventure that the kids absolutely love."

"Every trip feels different. One weekend we'll be spotting deer tracks, another we'll be watching woodpeckers, hunting for insects or sitting around the campfire as the sun goes down. The children have the freedom to explore, build dens and spend time outdoors, and it's amazing how quickly they forget about tablets and screens. For us, the woodland has become a place where we can spend quality time together as a family without the stress and expense that often comes with travelling abroad."

While woodland ownership comes with responsibilities and owners should always follow regulations and manage their land responsibly, many enjoy occasional camping, wildlife watching, conservation work and simply having somewhere private to unwind.

With the average overseas holiday becoming increasingly expensive and airport travel often adding stress before the holiday has even begun, swapping departure lounges for woodland clearings could be one of this summer's most rewarding escapes.

Ends

Editors notes

Founded with a mission to make woodland ownership accessible and enjoyable, Woodlands.co.uk offers private woodlands for sale across the UK. The company provides resources and guidance for new owners to explore creative ways of managing their woodlands for personal and community benefit. Whether for conservation, leisure, or environmental education, Woodlands.co.uk empowers individuals to steward and protect their woodlands for generations to come.