28 May 2026
Forestry England launches new Forest Campervan Road Trip for summer 2026
A unique opportunity to stay overnight in some of the nation’s most beautiful forests
Forestry England has announced an exciting Forest Campervan Road Trip, giving visitors the unique chance to stay overnight in stunning woodland locations across the country this summer, with selected forest car parks opened for campervan stays.
Running from 16 July to 14 September 2026, this limited-time experience invites campervan and motorhome users to plan a scenic journey through seven spectacular forest locations, combining peaceful overnight stays with unforgettable outdoor adventures.
Visitors can stay for up to two nights at each forest car park, offering a rare opportunity to settle in and experience the nation’s forests after hours, from dusk through to dawn.
A new way to experience the nation’s forests
Available for a limited time only, this special forest-to-forest experience gives visitors a rare chance to stay overnight for just £16 per night (£14 for Forestry England members). The price at Kielder Castle, the only site where pre-booking isn’t required, is £15 per night for members and non-members alike.
While the stopovers are designed as simple off-grid experiences, many sites offer nearby visitor centres with cafés, toilets and family-friendly facilities. For those looking for additional amenities such as showers and waste disposal, Forestry England also operates 14 forest campsites that can be incorporated into a longer road trip.
From peaceful woodland walks to high-adrenaline mountain biking, this is an outdoor adventure for all ages. Visitors can cycle or stroll along trails for every ability, seek out Gruffalo sculptures and Room on the Broom experiences with the family, ride world-class mountain bike trails at Gisburn and Thetford Forest, or enjoy activities like Go Ape, disc golf and forest play areas.
Forest locations on the road trip
Each forest on the tour delivers its own unique experience:
- Bedgebury National Pinetum, Kent – Home to one of the world’s most complete collections of conifers, with stunning landscapes to explore.
- Jeskyns Community Woodland, Kent – A mix of meadows, orchards and young woodland, rich in wildlife and open space.
- High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Suffolk – Set within the UK’s largest lowland pine forest, with family activities, cycling and walking trails.
- Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire – Scenic woodland trails with sweeping views across the Chiltern Hills.
- Cardinham Woods, Cornwall – Peaceful ancient woodland, where hidden history and nature come together.
- Gisburn Forest, Lancashire – One of the UK’s best-known mountain biking destinations, with routes for all abilities.
- Kielder Castle, Northumberland – Located within England’s largest forest and close to some of the darkest skies in the country.
Important information for visitors
Bookings will open from 21 May for stays between 16 July to 14 September only. Pre-booking is essential at all sites except Kielder Castle, and spaces are limited.
The campervan stopovers are designed for fully self-contained campervans and motorhomes only, and size limits apply. Tents and caravans are not permitted.
Visitors can stay for a maximum of 48 hours and are asked to follow Forestry England’s Forest Code and leave no trace.
Overnight campervan or motorhome stays are not permitted in any other Forestry England car parks.
Plan your forest adventure
Whether it’s a summer holiday with the kids or a quieter September escape, the forest-to-forest campervan road trip offers a new way to explore the nation’s forests and connect with nature.
http://www.forestryengland.uk/campervan-stopovers
Images are available here. Please credit Forestry England/Crown copyright.
Notes to Editor
- Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 313 million visits in 2024/25. We use our scale and expertise to grow and care for the nation’s forests for this generation and the next. We are continuing the work we have already started to make the nation’s forests resilient to climate change and by 2026 we will:
- create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests.
- increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests.
- plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high-quality woodlands.
- Visitor information and conditions:
- Stays are permitted from 16 July to 14 September only
- Pre-booking required
- Forestry England members are eligible for discounted rate of £14 per night (except Kielder Castle). Overnight stays are not included in the free parking members’ benefit.
- Fully self-contained campervans and motorhomes only
- Maximum stay 48 hours
- Vehicle size limits apply (up to 7.5m / 5 tonnes; 6.5m / 3.5 tonnes at Cardinham Woods)
- No external equipment (awnings, BBQs, furniture, etc.)
- No fires, stoves or generators
- No waste disposal on site – visitors must remove all waste
- Quiet hours 10pm–7am
- Arrival from 12 noon, departure by 11:30am
- Full rules and regulations can be found at: www.forestryengland.uk/article/campervan-stays-rules-and-regulations
- At Forestry England, we offer many ways to stay in the forest – from camping and glamping at Forestry England campsites to stylish woodland lodges designed for comfort and convenience at Forest Holidays locations. We have nearly 4,000 pitches across 14 campsites, ranging from back-to-basics sites to full-facility locations close to visitor centres and the wider visitor offer.
By providing a range of overnight stays, we enable more people to enjoy the forest for longer and build a deeper connection with the landscapes around them. Income generated through overnight stays helps support our mission to protect the nation’s forests.
For more information visit forestryengland.uk. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
Media contact:
Rebecca Ulewicz, Media Relations Officer | media@forestryengland.uk