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Marina Base Camp — Canalside Motorhome Stopover in the Forest of Dean
📍 The Marina, Harbour Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5ET
About this Motorhome Stop
Marina Base Camp is one of Britain’s most characterful motorhome stopovers — pitched directly on the historic quayside of Lydney Canal in Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean. The canal was once part of a working industrial waterway that carried coal and goods from the Forest to the River Severn, and today its still green water hosts kingfishers, herons, swans and a resident pike. Pitches are on level AstroTurf directly beside the canal wall, with panoramic water views from your cab windows.
Facilities cover the essentials well: electric hook-up, fresh water, toilet facilities with hot water, grey and black waste disposal. The site accommodates up to eight motorhomes and is run by friendly owners Marika and Richard, who are known for their warm welcome. Dogs are very much welcome. One important note: this is an adults-only site — no under-16s — specifically because pitches sit directly beside the canal.
Lydney town with a Lidl, pub and shops is an easy mile walk. Lydney train station — 5 minutes on foot — runs direct services to Cardiff, Newport, Gloucester and Cheltenham. And the Dean Forest Railway heritage steam line departs practically next door. Recent reviews confirm prices of £15–£16 per night, making this one of the best-value waterside stays in England.
Facilities for Motorhome Stays
EHU
FRESH WATER
GREY WASTE
TOILET & HOT WATER
CANALSIDE
DOG FRIENDLY
FOREST OF DEAN
STEAM RAILWAY ADJ.
Adults only — no under-16s due to canal proximity. No shower on site.
Things to Do Nearby (Within 5 Miles)
Follow the old coal railway trackbed from the site to Lydney Harbour and the tidal River Severn — one of the world’s rivers with the highest tidal range. Wide views south to the Severn bridges and across to Wales. The harbour itself is a working sea lock. Free. Approx. 1.5 miles.
A preserved steam railway running through the Forest of Dean between Lydney Junction and Norchard — with the station essentially adjacent to the site. An ideal way to experience the forest scenery without driving. Trains run most weekends and daily during school holidays. Rated 4.5 on TripAdvisor. Adjacent to site.
A four-mile circular trail through ancient oak woodland near Beechenhurst, dotted with large-scale outdoor sculptures commissioned since 1986 — a remarkable open-air gallery in one of England’s most ancient forests. Free to walk. Café and facilities at Beechenhurst Lodge. Rated 4.5 on TripAdvisor. Approx. 5 miles.
Natural iron ore caves beneath the Forest of Dean, mined for pigment since prehistoric times and used as a wartime ammunition store. Today the nine caverns are open for guided underground tours. Rated 4.5 on TripAdvisor. Entry charges apply. Approx. 5 miles.
Just across the Severn, Chepstow Castle is one of the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortifications in Britain, perched dramatically above the tidal River Wye. The town itself has independent shops and excellent pubs. Accessible by train from Lydney. Rated 4.4 on TripAdvisor. Entry charges apply. Approx. 5 miles.
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