Accessible Camping in the UK: How to Find and Check Sites
· Updated
Accessible camping in the UK comes down to two things: finding a site with the right facilities, and confirming those facilities are real before you hand over a deposit. The word "accessible" on a booking page means very little on its own, so the job is to check the detail. A wheelchair-accessible pitch, a wet room with a level-access shower, hardstanding you can wheel across and a toilet with grab rails and enough turning space are all specific, checkable things, and a good site will tell you the measurements without you having to ask twice.
This guide covers what to look for, the resources that let you verify a site, and the questions to put to a campsite before you book. It is part of our wider advice on planning your first camping trip, and it sits on Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the country.
What accessible facilities to look for
An accessible site is one where you can get from the car to your bed, the toilet and the water point without hitting a step, a stile or a boggy field. The features below are the ones that make the difference for wheelchair users and campers with mobility needs, and each one is worth confirming in writing.
Wheelchair-accessible pitches and hardstanding
Look for a level pitch on hardstanding rather than grass. Hardstanding is a firm surface, usually gravel or a concrete slab, that a wheelchair, a rollator or a walking frame can cross without sinking. Grass pitches turn to mud after rain and are hard work on wheels even when dry. Ask how far the accessible pitch sits from the toilet block and from parking, because 50 metres across a field is a very different trip from 10 metres on a paved path.
Accessible toilets and showers
The toilet block is where most sites fall short, so check it carefully. A genuinely accessible facility has a level-access or wet room shower with a fold-down seat, grab rails by the toilet and shower, a wide door, and enough clear floor space to turn a wheelchair. Some sites have a single accessible wet room shared across the whole park, which means queues at peak times, so ask how many there are. If you need a ceiling track hoist or a mobile hoist, say so early, because very few standard campsites carry one.
Level access and pathways
Level access means no steps between your pitch, the facilities and the communal areas, and firm paths wide enough for a wheelchair or scooter. Gravel that is too loose, a single step into the shower block or a heavy spring-loaded door can each stop a trip dead. Ask about the surface, the gradient of any slopes, and whether the routes are lit for getting to the toilet after dark.
Hoists and equipment
Standard campsites rarely provide hoists, but specialist accessible units and some holiday parks do. If you use a hoist at home, you will usually need to bring a portable one or hire a mobile hoist and confirm the accommodation can take it. Purpose-built accessible lodges and cabins are the most likely to have ceiling tracks fitted, so these are worth prioritising if hoisting is essential.
Accessible glamping and cabins
Glamping is often the easiest way into camping with mobility needs, because a fixed structure removes the hardest parts of a tent trip. Accessible lodges, pods and safari tents can offer ramped entry, a bed at transfer height, an en suite wet room and level thresholds throughout. They cost more than a tent pitch, but always confirm the ramp gradient, the door widths and the bathroom layout, because "glamping" alone tells you nothing about access.
Facilities at a glance
| Feature | Why it matters | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Hardstanding pitch | Wheels sink on grass, especially after rain | Surface type, level or sloped, distance to facilities |
| Accessible wet room | Step-free washing and toileting | Grab rails, fold-down seat, door width, turning space, how many on site |
| Level access | No steps or stiles on your daily routes | Path surface, gradients, lighting after dark |
| Blue Badge parking | A short, firm route from car to pitch | Distance from bay to pitch, surface of that route |
| Hoist provision | Safe transfers if you cannot stand | Ceiling track or mobile hoist, or space to bring your own |
| Accessible glamping | Removes the hardest parts of a tent trip | Ramp gradient, bed height, en suite layout |
Useful resources for checking accessibility
Three resources do most of the heavy lifting when you are researching a site: independent access reviews, the parking scheme that gets you close to your pitch, and the national quality schemes that grade parks on access.
Euan's Guide for real reviews
Euan's Guide is a disabled access review website, set up by Euan MacDonald, who has motor neurone disease, and his sister Kiki. It carries thousands of reviews of venues across the UK and beyond, written by disabled people and their families, covering exactly the detail that booking pages leave out. Search for a campsite or an area and read what other people with mobility needs actually found on the ground. It is the single most useful starting point, because a first-hand review of a shower block is worth more than any brochure photograph. See Euan's Guide.
The Blue Badge scheme
A Blue Badge lets you park in designated accessible bays and, off the campsite, in places other drivers cannot. On site it means you can ask for the pitch or bay closest to the facilities. You qualify automatically if you receive certain benefits, such as the higher rate mobility component of certain disability payments, and you can also apply if you have another condition that affects your mobility. You apply through your local council, and there is a small fee that varies by nation. Check the current criteria and apply at GOV.UK.
Accessible-friendly holiday parks and schemes
Larger holiday parks are often the most reliably accessible option, because they have the budget for adapted lodges, wet rooms and firm paths. Look for parks assessed under the VisitEngland National Accessible Scheme, which independently rates places to stay on their access for visitors with mobility, visual or hearing needs. The charity Tourism for All also lists accessible places to stay and offers advice. Start with VisitEngland's accessible England pages.
How to check a site before you book
Never rely on the word "accessible" alone; phone the site and ask specific questions. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers in England, Scotland and Wales have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers, so a good site will expect these questions and answer them plainly. If the answers are vague or evasive, treat that as your answer and look elsewhere.
- How far is the accessible pitch or lodge from the car, and what is the surface of that route?
- Is the shower a level-access wet room, and does it have grab rails and a fold-down seat?
- How wide are the doorways to the toilet, shower and any accommodation?
- Is there a step anywhere between the pitch, the facilities and the communal areas?
- How many accessible toilets and showers are there for the whole site?
- Can I reserve a specific accessible pitch rather than take pot luck on arrival?
- Is there a hoist, or room to use my own?
Ask for photographs of the accessible facilities, including the shower interior and the door thresholds, and ask for measurements rather than reassurances. It is also worth reading our pre-camping checklist for avoiding common mistakes before you go, and our advice on maintaining personal hygiene while camping, which matters more when facilities are shared and washing takes planning.
Getting there and settling in
An accessible trip is usually a car camping trip, because arriving with your kit close at hand removes a lot of friction. Our guide to a successful car camping trip covers packing and pitch layout, and the same logic applies here: keep the car near the pitch, keep routes short, and arrive in daylight on your first visit so you can see the ground before you commit to a spot.
When you are ready to find somewhere, browse and compare options in our campsite directory, filter for the region you want, then verify the access detail directly with the site using the questions above. The directory finds you candidates; the phone call confirms them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find accessible campsites in the UK?
Start with independent reviews on Euan's Guide, look for parks rated under the VisitEngland National Accessible Scheme, and browse our directory to shortlist sites by region. Then phone each site to confirm the specific facilities you need before booking.
What makes a campsite wheelchair accessible?
A level hardstanding pitch, step-free paths from pitch to facilities, a wet room shower with grab rails and a fold-down seat, wide doorways, and accessible parking close by. The route from car to bed to toilet should have no steps or stiles.
Can I use a Blue Badge at a campsite?
Yes. A Blue Badge lets you use accessible parking and ask for the pitch or bay nearest the facilities. Apply through your local council at GOV.UK. Take the badge with you, as sites and nearby attractions both honour it.
Is accessible glamping easier than tent camping?
Usually, yes. Accessible lodges and pods offer ramped entry, a bed at transfer height, an en suite wet room and level thresholds, which remove the hardest parts of a tent trip. Always confirm the ramp gradient, door widths and bathroom layout first.
Do campsites have to be accessible by law?
Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers in England, Scotland and Wales must make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. That does not mean every site is fully accessible, so you still need to check the specific facilities before you book.
Are hoists available at campsites?
Rarely at standard sites. Purpose-built accessible lodges and some holiday parks have ceiling track hoists, but for most trips you will bring a portable hoist or hire a mobile one. Always confirm there is room to use it.
The short version
Find a shortlist through Euan's Guide, the VisitEngland accessible scheme and our directory, then phone each site and ask for measurements, photographs and a named accessible pitch before you pay. The word "accessible" is only a starting point, and the detail is what makes or breaks the trip.
When you have your questions ready, browse the campsite directory or read the rest of our advice on planning your first camping trip.
