Stourhead Estate Motorhome Site, Wiltshire

The iconic garden, created in the 1740s, features a lake, follies, a Palladian mansion filled with treasures, and also a dedicated campsite behind the car park!

Described as a ‘living work of art’, Stourhead should be on everyone’s ‘to visit’ list. The iconic garden, created in the 1740s, features a lake, follies, and a Palladian mansion filled with treasures, all surrounded by acres of walks in the Wiltshire countryside.  

We felt privileged to discover the dedicated campsite behind the car park. In fact, the National Trust has 21 glamping and campsites (not all motorhome friendly) which vary in size and facilities.

At Stourhead Motorhome Site there was a row of five perfectly sized hardstanding pitches, each with electric hook-up. Units must be equipped with toilets, as there is no toilet/shower block. Water, chemical disposal and waste bins were available tucked away discreetly by the gate. We imagine this could be booked solid during the summer, and generally Friday and Saturday nights must be a two-night stay – this is no hardship, believe me! If you book to stay, then the pitch price includes entry into the house and garden, plus dogs are welcome in many areas of the estate, but not the house and garden buildings.

Check-in is from 2pm, so once settled we headed to the walled vegetable garden and magnificent house. We explored the rooms filled with furniture, paintings and artwork collected by the wealthy Hoare banking family.

After an extremely peaceful sleep, next day we walked around the magnificent landscape gardens. There’s follies, bridges and clever planting all designed to draw the eye across the lake to create stunning views. There are plenty of strategically placed seats to sit and relax, plus there are cafés, restaurants, and a pub all within the wider estate.  

To us, this was camping bliss – a peaceful site with a stunning attraction on the doorstep. We will definitely book again and look to explore some of the other National Trust motorhome-friendly sites, too. 

Camping at Stourhead is a rare treat: five peaceful hardstanding pitches tucked behind one of Britain’s most spectacular gardens. Though facilities are minimal, pitch fees include estate entry, making it exceptional value. With stunning walks, historic grandeur and tranquil surroundings, it’s a memorable, must-book escape for self-contained units.