When is the best time to go camping in the UK? A month-by-month guide
The best months for UK camping, region by region — when it's warm, when it's quiet, when the midges arrive and when the campsites actually open.
By Firecamp · · 2 min read
The best time to camp in Britain is not simply "summer". July and August are the warmest months, but they are also the busiest, the priciest and — on the west coast of Scotland — the midgiest. Here's how the year actually breaks down.
March and April: the early season
Most UK campsites open around Easter. Days are lengthening fast, prices are at their lowest and you'll have the pick of the pitches. The catch is the weather: frost is common, and you need a proper three-season sleeping bag and a tent that shrugs off wind.
Best for: walkers, couples, anyone with a campervan or pod. Dorset and Cornwall warm up first.
May: the sweet spot (part one)
May is arguably the finest month for camping in Britain. The bluebells are out, the evenings stretch past nine, the school holidays haven't started and the midges haven't woken up. Bank holiday weekends aside, sites are quiet.
Best for: everywhere, but especially Scotland and the Lake District before the crowds.
June: long days, warm nights
The longest days of the year mean you can walk until ten and still watch the sun go down over the tent. Sea temperatures are still cool, but the weather is often the most settled of the year. Midges start to appear in the Highlands from mid-month.
Best for: Snowdonia, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales.
July and August: peak season
Warmest, busiest, most expensive. Coastal sites in Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire book out months ahead for the school holidays, and popular Lake District valleys turn people away at the gate. It's still glorious — just book early and consider midweek arrivals.
Midges peak in the west of Scotland now. Choose breezy, coastal or elevated pitches, or head east to the Cairngorms.
Best for: families, beach camping in Pembrokeshire and Devon, swimming in warm(er) seas.
September: the sweet spot (part two)
Schools go back, prices drop, and the sea is at its warmest all year. September is the connoisseur's camping month: golden light, quiet sites, harvest-time pubs and still-long evenings in the first half.
Best for: Cornwall surf trips, Northumberland beaches, the Scottish Highlands once the midges fade.
October: colour and campfires
Autumn colour in the New Forest and Welsh valleys, dark skies for stargazing, and fire pits coming into their own. Many sites close at the end of the month. Pack for cold nights and short days.
Best for: pods, glamping, dark-sky camping in the Brecon Beacons.
November to February: the brave few
A handful of campsites stay open year-round, mostly those with hardstanding pitches and heated facilities aimed at campervans. Winter camping in a tent is a specialist pursuit; winter camping in a wood-fired pod is a genuine treat.
The short version
| Priority | Go in |
|---|---|
| Warm weather | Late July – August |
| Warm sea | September |
| Quiet sites | May, September |
| Long evenings | June |
| Low prices | April, October |
| No midges (Scotland) | Before mid-June, after mid-September |
| Autumn colour | Mid-October |
Whenever you go, check the campsite's opening dates and book ahead for weekends — browse destinations to get started.
- planning
- seasons
- weather