Calling all water babies — Roadford Lake Campsite is, as the name suggests, situated right on the shore of a lake stretching across 730 acres of mid Devon. There are boatloads of opportunities here for campers to immerse themselves in outdoor activities - either on the water in kayaks, canoes, dinghies, and on water skis or around the water's edge on walks, cycle routes, and bridleways. Craft and equipment can be hired or visitors are welcome to bring their own; and private tuition and 'taster' courses are on offer at the friendly onsite centre.

The bold outcrop of granite that is Lundy Island juts over 120 metres into the air out of the Bristol Channel. It's just 11 miles from the North Devon coast, but feels more remote; the landscape is barren and desolate, with wild, towering cliffs, wind-battered fields, and little in the way of shelter. And like all the best natural campsites, Lundy's is essentially a field with nothing in it. Its peaceful, remote location feels a million miles from modern life, and relies solely on the simple pleasures - clear surrounding waters and dazzling night skies that remain unspoilt by the usual unforgiving streetlights.

Whether you bring your own tent or opt for a pre-erected Rent-A-Tent here, you're going to love your pitch. There are just 19 of them, each bearing a number and spread about the place in woodland clearings or in the neighbouring Culm meadow. Woodland pitches offer privacy within a magical tree-tilled setting, while the meadow pitches are a short stroll from the facilities and enjoy the heaven-scent smells from flowers growing all around them.

It's a fully certified organic farm and takes sustainability very seriously, from using solar energy to recycling everything, even yogurt pots. Numbers are limited in the camping fields so you shouldn't ever feel penned in. Or if you fancy a bit of luxury you can opt for one of the Three Bears: the Mongolian yurts that occupy a separate field.

Some people are excited by complexity -calculating the difference between a super-saver off-peak return and two day-rover singles, for example, or explaining the active/passive clause of the offside rule - while for others there's nothing quite so pleasing as simplicity.

Dennis Cove Camping occupies a lovely spot within easy boat-watching proximity of the Camel Estuary, at Cornwall's famous Padstow. Comprising just two simple grass fields - an upper overflow that opens during the busy school holidays, and a sheltered lower field available throughout the season - this well cared-for campsite is all about simple, old-fashioned camping.

Lucky campers who've stayed at Porth Joke Campsite know it's an unspoilt, tucked-away, tiny hideout of a site with a warm and genuine atmosphere. Acquiring a pitch here in midsummer will be a challenge because this place is popular and spots are limited, but you'll understand why.

There are no worries about designated drivers and drink-driving limits when you camp at the Golden Lion. When the landlord calls time and you've drained the last dregs from your pint, you can just roll out the back door and into your tent.

Cornwall offers the perfect seaside sojourn for all makes and models of human holidaymaker: surf dudes and dudettes; sand fortress construction engineers (junior or senior); cute-village viewers; ice-cream lickers; and suckers for scenery will all find what they crave when taking a break by the briny in England's south-western corner.

Back then it was known as dropping out. In the 1940s it was a slow boat to Tangier. In the 1960s it was the hippy trail to Kathmandu in a clapped-out combi van. Nowadays it's called going off-grid, and you can do it pretty much anywhere.Just shed the trappings of modern life and live as simply as possible. Some people even manage to do without money altogether; foraging for berries, trapping the odd rabbit, and sleeping wherever they lay the worn-out hat they can't afford to repair or replace.