Cool Camping was founded in 2006 as a UK-based publishing company producing hand-picked guidebooks for discerning campers. Created by Jonathan Knight and his team, the Cool Camping guidebook series became a bestselling reference for finding outstanding, carefully selected campsites across the UK and Europe. By 2015 the brand had expanded into a full travel booking platform, allowing users to read expert reviews, browse photographs, and reserve stays at hundreds of recommended camping and glamping locations. Cool Camping grew rapidly – stays booked through the platform rose by 340 percent between 2019 and 2022 – reflecting its strong reputation among campers seeking quality over quantity. In 2022 Cool Camping's parent company, Tripadee Ltd, was acquired by San Francisco-based Hipcamp, and the Cool Camping brand was integrated into Hipcamp's global outdoor stays platform.
What set Cool Camping apart from general listing directories was its editorial approach: every campsite featured on the platform was personally recommended by the Cool Camping team. The selection ranged from traditional tent pitches at remote countryside farms and clifftop coastal sites to luxury glamping options including shepherds huts, yurts, bell tents, and en-suite treehouses. Families, couples, solo travellers, and festival-goers could all search by location, accommodation type, or specific features to find a site that matched their needs. The platform placed particular emphasis on smaller, independent campsites that offered a genuine connection with the landscape rather than the large commercial holiday parks found on mainstream booking sites.
Before the website became a destination in its own right, the Cool Camping guidebooks were the brand's primary product. The series covered regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and mainland Europe, with each volume featuring richly illustrated campsite profiles written by experienced outdoor writers. The books earned a loyal following among campers who wanted authoritative, opinionated recommendations rather than unfiltered user submissions. The same editorial rigour that defined the print guides carried over into the online platform, giving the Cool Camping brand a consistent identity built on trust and personal recommendation.
Alongside the booking platform and guidebooks, Cool Camping ran an email newsletter that kept subscribers informed of new campsite listings, seasonal glamping offers, competitions, and editorial features on UK and European camping destinations. The newsletter was a practical way for regular campers to track availability and special rates at popular sites across the network, covering hundreds of locations throughout the camping season.
Cool Camping was acquired by Hipcamp in 2022. Hipcamp is a San Francisco-based outdoor stays platform, and after completing the purchase of Cool Camping's parent company Tripadee Ltd, it fully integrated the Cool Camping brand into the Hipcamp platform. UK users who visit the old coolcamping.com domain are now directed to Hipcamp's UK site.
Cool Camping was founded by Jonathan Knight in 2006. It began as a guidebook publishing venture before evolving into an online camping and glamping booking platform. Knight remained involved with the business after the Hipcamp acquisition, serving as UK country manager for the combined operation.
No. Although the UK was Cool Camping's primary market, the guidebook series and website both extended to European camping destinations. The platform featured campsites across multiple countries, and following the Hipcamp acquisition, UK-based users could also browse listings in Australia, Canada, and the United States through the integrated platform.
Cool Camping started as a review and recommendation resource, rooted in its printed guidebook series. From 2015 onwards it also operated as a direct booking platform, allowing users to reserve stays at listed campsites. The combination of expert editorial content and booking functionality was a defining feature of the brand during its independent years.
Unlike open-submission directories, Cool Camping used an editorial selection process. Each campsite had to be personally recommended by a member of the Cool Camping team, with an emphasis on smaller, characterful, independent sites. This approach meant the total number of listed sites was deliberately curated rather than exhaustive, prioritising quality and atmosphere over volume.
Cool Camping operated as a campsite booking platform rather than a traditional package holiday provider, so ABTA or ATOL protection did not typically apply to bookings made through the site. Individual bookings were made directly with the campsite operators. For current information on booking protections, the Hipcamp website should be consulted.
This travel newsletter listing is part of the Catalink archive and may no longer be available to order. The information above describes Cool Camping. For current details, visit the company's official website.
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