Canalside camping on a working farm at the foot of the Caen Hill flight, with narrowboats drifting past your tent.
Our verdict
Cracking-value canal camping for boat-mad kids, as long as you can live with a basic two-shower block.
| Distance from SN7 | 37 miles |
|---|---|
| County | Wiltshire |
| Price band | £ what the bands mean |
| Open | April to November |
| Tents | Yes |
| Campervans & motorhomes | Yes |
| Electric hook-up | Yes |
| Campfires | No |
| Swimming pool | No |
Foxhangers sits on a 90-acre working farm at the bottom of the famous Caen Hill flight, where 29 locks climb the hillside towards Devizes. The campsite itself is small, just two paddocks with around 20 pitches, each with its own water tap and a 2kw electric hook-up included in the price. The Kennet & Avon Canal is 200 metres away, so mornings start with narrowboats chugging past and the same family has run the whole place since 1997.
This is simple farm camping rather than a holiday park: a shower and toilet block a short walk from the pitches, level grass for kids to run on, and not much else laid on, which is rather the point. Watching boats work the locks will absorb children for hours, but the canal is unfenced, so keep little ones close by the water. Rowde village and its well-known pub are about a mile away, and Devizes is a 40-minute walk along the towpath.
Why children love it
- Lock-watching at Caen Hill is free entertainment: 29 locks in a row, boats to cheer up the flight and towpath ducks to feed
- Level, well-drained grass paddocks give children space to run and ride bikes, with the site praised by guests as quiet and peaceful
- The canal and marina are unfenced and close by, so supervise young children near the water at all times
Days out nearby
- Caen Hill Locks, one of the wonders of the waterways, a short walk along the towpath
- Devizes for the wharf, the Kennet & Avon Canal Museum and a proper market town, 3 miles
- Avebury stone circle and its stone-hugging opportunities, around 20 minutes by car
Know before you go
- Electric hook-up is capped at 2kw per pitch, fine for lights and a coolbox but not a heater, so pack warm bedding for shoulder-season nights
- Recent seasons have run roughly April to November, but dates and pitch availability shift, so check with the site or Pitchup before travelling
- The George & Dragon in Rowde is a food pub with a big reputation, about a mile away; book a table ahead in summer
The honest bit
The shower and toilet block is small and dated, with only two showers a walk from the pitches, and a September 2025 guest found them grubby.
Camping weather this week
Live 7-day forecast for Rowde, straight from Open-Meteo.
Quick answers
Are campfires allowed at Foxhangers Canalside Holidays?
No, open campfires are not part of the offer at Foxhangers Canalside Holidays. A raised BBQ is usually fine, but check the site's current rules when you book.
Does Foxhangers Canalside Holidays have a swimming pool?
No. The nearest pool site in this guide is Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park, about 29 miles away. Foxhangers Canalside Holidays makes up for it outdoors.
How far is Foxhangers Canalside Holidays from Faringdon and Oxford?
Foxhangers Canalside Holidays is about 37 miles from Faringdon (SN7) and roughly 57 miles from Oxford city centre. Distances are approximate road miles.
When is Foxhangers Canalside Holidays open?
Foxhangers Canalside Holidays is typically open April to November. Dates shift a little year to year, so confirm with the site before travelling.
Kids Under Canvas is an independent guide and takes no commission. Details last checked July 2026; facilities and opening dates change season to season, so always confirm directly with the campsite before travelling. Photography is illustrative, not of the campsite itself.
