Popular Northamptonshire overnight stopover point reopens as a caravan-friendly campsite

A much-loved overnight parking area at Fineshade Wood in Northamptonshire has been reopened as a campsite for caravans, motorhomes and tents following a short closure to upgrade its facilities.

The site has reopened at a time when many van owners will be planning their summer tours to the best caravan campsites in the UK and beyond.

The location – which is situated on the A43 between Stamford and Corby – was previously used by motorhoming overnighters keen to explore the woodland, which offers tremendous walking and cycling trails. Forestry England has since upgraded the parking area to become a peaceful, back-to-nature campsite with upgraded facilities, and dedicated wardens to help ensure safety and security.

Both hardstanding and grass pitches are open for bookings, and while there are no shower facilities, toilets are also available. Those who are caravanning with dogs will be pleased to head canine companions are also welcome, and bike hire is available at Fineshade Wood.

Pitches cost from £13.60 per night, and check-in is from 1pm-8pm, giving campers plenty of flexibility in when they can arrive.

Hayley Skipper, Director of Operations – Commercial Visitor Development at Forestry England, added: “Fineshade Wood is a haven for nature-lovers, walkers and cyclists of all abilities, with great play areas and a family activity trail, sensory garden, and fantastic visitor centre and café, all right on the doorstep for campers.”

Fineshade Wood Campsite is managed by Camping New Forest Ltd, which operates 11 sites in the beautiful New Forest National Park.

In other campsite news, the results of our Top 100 Sites Guide 2026 have been announced, with Somerset-based Old Oaks named the Overall Winner. The feat is all the more impressive as it is the second year in a row that the campsite has won the title.

Image: Forestry England/Crown copyright

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SarahWakely

Sarah - who is editor in chief of Practical Caravan magazine - began caravanning longer ago than she can remember, thanks to family holidays which were spent touring the UK’s south-west (and much further afield) in a Sprite Alpine; one of her first memories is falling off a swing at a tiny campsite in Cornwall. Since joining Practical Caravan more than a decade ago she’s added many miles on her caravanning adventures, with tours across Europe - her favourite destination being the wonderful landscapes of France. Her favourite thing about caravanning is the opportunity to just get out there into the wilds and explore, so she’s a big fan of smaller tourers - that said, she also loves the luxury offered by larger caravans (not least the spacious fixed beds). Wherever she goes she’s accompanied by her husband and golden retriever, the latter who also appreciates the finer things in caravanning life (including a comfortable bed to stretch out on).