Here are the top places in the UK for a socially-distanced camping holiday

Camping is enjoying a massive resurgence this summer as British families choose a staycation over a holiday abroad.

Findings of a survey of 1,007 adults show that nearly half (47%) had either booked or were considering a camping trip this year.

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With protection from COVID-19 on British holidaymakers’ minds this year, a guide to a list of the top unsung places in the UK to head to for a socially-distanced pitch has been published.

Incredible countryside

Northern Ireland topped the list as the most socially-distant camping destination in the UK, with just 5% of campers heading there this summer. This is despite a ferry connecting the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland via Birkenhead, meaning visitors needn’t fly, and it being home to both incredible countryside and Giant’s Causeway.

Just 7% are planning on pitching in the West Midlands, meaning campers wanting to make like the Peaky Blinders and camp out in the wild of the Black Country, or visit historic Stratford-upon-Avon, will find they have more space.

Amazingly, only 8% intend to head to the East Midlands, an area which includes parts of one of England’s most stunning national parks the Peak District.

Wild beaches

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The north east of England - home to stunningly wild beaches and beautiful sights like Bamburgh Castle and the Angel of the North - are also likely to offer quieter camping spots this year, with just 9% intending to pitch up.

Surprisingly, just 11% intend to camp within the south east, meaning many will be able to enjoy campsites near beautiful beaches such as Brighton and Hove, or beauty spots like High Weald and the Kent Downs, away from the crowds.

Beat the crowds

To assist would-be campers in finding a spot that will allow them to enjoy the great outdoors in more relative isolation, sports wear and equipment company Decathlon has teamed up with Ordnance Survey to produce the Beat The Crowds Camping Calculator.

Campers can use the calculator to identify less popular areas, based on who they are travelling with and what kind of nature they would like nearby.

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The research, commissioned by Decathlon,  shows that campsites near beaches (52%), the countryside (49%) and lakes (40%) are proving to be the most popular this year.

To view the Beat The Crowds Camping Calculator go to www.decathlon.co.uk/beat-the-crowds.html website.