Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat

View prices & book 9.3 35 reviews
Lovely Sunny Day (added by manager 09 Apr 2023)
Bell tent entrance (added by manager 02 aug 2022)
Bell tent (added by manager 11 apr 2023)
Kubi, one of the site's animal (added by manager 02 aug 2022)

  • Family-run and dog-friendly sustainable retreat in the Kent Downs
  • A 15-minute drive from Folkestone and 25 minutes from Canterbury
  • Hand-feed alpacas, goats and other animals; pub and shop nearby
Time to channel that adventurous side in the Kent Downs – Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat is a family-run, sustainable retreat set in a splendid countryside landscape. Adventurers staying here will have the company of an array of animals including alpacas, goats, pigs and chickens, all of which can be met at hand-feeding sessions. Simple, friendly entertainment is this site’s tune. The family – Dan, Stacey and Eva - very much look forward to meeting their guests (dogs included) and making their stay a splendid time from start to finish. When you’re not relaxing on site, you’ll have plenty of choices for adventures elsewhere too, like trying out watersports or witnessing Dover’s white cliffs (25 minutes’ drive away). This rural retreat isn’t without a place to sink your teeth into a tasty dinner either. There’s a village shop 25 minutes’ walk away, so it should be easy to source all the bits for a barbecue of your own. Just along from the shop is a traditional 18th-century pub too. Down the coast from Dover is the seaside town of Folkestone (15 minutes’ drive), part of a North Downs valley with a harbour, creative quarter, beach and mile-long promenade. Inland is historic Canterbury, 25 minutes’ drive away. And if you're planning onward journeys across the Channel, the Eurotunnel and Dover ferry port are a short drive away.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 1
Rent a tent 1
Tent pitches 15
Open now
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Dogs are not allowed if you are staying in the accommodation units.
  • No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Sun, 24 Mar to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

95%

would recommend this site to a friend

84%

would stay here again

  • 67%
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Good value, nice to see the animals, friendly staff…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Good value, nice to see the animals, friendly staff

Disliked: Bit small for the amount of tents, fire pit set is a bit chaotic

Recommend to friends Visit again

The pitch was nice and flat making for a comfortable sleep. The…

Overall 4/10
Location 6
Value for money 4
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: The pitch was nice and flat making for a comfortable sleep. The owners were friendly and helpful. A great place for families where the kids can securely play and run around (as the whole area is fenced in and there is an electronic gate to let cars in and out).

Disliked: Unfortunately we didn't realise how many children there would be there... (This is obviously great for families and I would recommend for family camping trips) Perhaps we just came on the wrong weekend...but It was a little chaotic for us though. The camping field itself is quite small for the amount of tents that were pitched there. The only space available was right next to the children's play area and then another three people set up about four feet from our tent so there wasn't much personal space. I love animals and felt a little uncomfortable to see how happy parents were to allow their children to torment the goats and pigs...with one man even getting into the goat pen and having the children shake the fence and shout at the goats to make them chase him. This is not the fault of the owners I suppose but it made me feel pretty sad that they didn't do anything to put a stop to this, as I think it's their responsibility to make sure the animals aren't mistreated by guests. The toilet and shower facilities weren't great, with the water working intermittently and the toilets being very high up, which meant that children were making quite a bit of mess whenever they used the toilets.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to leave your detailed review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the flat pitch, comfortable sleep, and the friendliness of our staff. We're also glad that you found our site to be a secure and enjoyable place for families. We appreciate your feedback regarding the number of children present during your stay. We aim to create a family-friendly environment, and it seems that you visited us during a particularly busy weekend. We understand that this may not have been ideal for guests seeking a quieter experience, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this caused. Regarding the proximity of tents and personal space, we currently do not have a fixed pitch plan, allowing guests the freedom to choose their own spots. This flexibility is generally appreciated by our visitors, but we understand it can sometimes lead to crowded conditions. We are considering ways to better manage this to ensure a more comfortable experience for everyone. We would like to address your concerns about the behavior towards our goats. Our goats are quite playful and do enjoy running around, which can sometimes be encouraged by the presence of visitors. However, it is important that this interaction remains respectful and gentle. We apologize if the situation you witnessed was distressing. We also regret to hear about the issues with the shower and toilet facilities and are taking steps to improve water consistency and maintain cleanliness. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. It helps us to improve and provide a better experience for all our guests. We hope to welcome you back in the future under more favorable conditions. Best regards, Dan

Lovely place very well run good facilities…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Keith C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Lovely place very well run good facilities

Disliked: Non

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great friendly site, added bonus of animals on site. Very picturesque

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: We liked the owners. The site was very pretty with lights and a pond . The animals were great. Overall nice feel, great for families, great for dogs. Everyone very friendly. Very secure with cameras and electronic gate making you feel very safe on site.

Disliked: Toilets were v grim by the end of the day, no fault of the owners, but guests using them incorrectly. However, the kids have said they will miss the toilets as found it all funny!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay and appreciated the friendliness of our staff, the beauty of the site, and the presence of the animals. We're glad you found our site secure and welcoming for both families and dogs. We also appreciate your understanding regarding the state of the toilets by the end of the day. While it is indeed a challenge to maintain them due to misuse by some guests, we are actively working on solutions to keep them clean and pleasant throughout the day. It's great to hear that your kids found some humor in the situation! Your feedback is invaluable to us as it helps us improve our facilities and services. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back for another enjoyable stay. Best regards, Dan

I like that Is a small place with lovely animals…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Ingrid stefany T. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: I like that Is a small place with lovely animals

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing place, friendly staff

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Jan R. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Bell tent

Liked: Dan and Stacy were fabulous hosts making sure we were happy and if anything needed to give them a shout Dan has made an amazing place loved all the recycling the hot water shower was fabulous the glamping kitchen had everything and more that one needed The animals were so cute and well looked after paradise for small children

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Hart P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Animals, friendly hosts, beautiful location

Disliked: Lack of showers

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful farm, was lovely camping around animals. Very nice family run…

Overall 6/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 4
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Beautiful farm, was lovely camping around animals. Very nice family run

Disliked: Wasn’t impressed with amenities. Only 3 unisex toilets for the whole campsite, wouldn’t consider it as a toilet block. Only 1 sink to wash hands and 1 sink to wash dishes. Wouldn’t be adequate for more than 5 tents

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean Location, close to the city.…

Overall 6/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 4
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Benoit L. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Clean Location, close to the city.

Disliked: We can’t feed or touch the animals. Geese are sometimes noisy at night.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very clean and comfortable experience

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Lee A. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Bell tent

Liked: Very comfortable glamping experience, great scenery with the animals.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Public transport nearby

Type

Farm

Pop-up campsite

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby

Location

Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat

Hoad Meadow

Hoad Road

Dover

Kent

England

CT15 7HS

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.14511°N
1.16437°W

Nearest transport

Coach
7.4 km Bus Station
8 km War Memorial
8 km War Memorial
Rail
6.7 km Shepherds Well Rail Station
6.8 km Folkestone West Rail Station
6.9 km Folkestone Central Rail Station
Ferry
6.3 km Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal
11 km Dover Western Docks Ferry Terminal
11.6 km Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal
Airport
26.2 km Kent International Airport
26.7 km Lydd London Ashford Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Creative, historic, attractive… There are many adjectives that can be given to the city of Canterbury (25 minutes’ drive). Its historic highlights include the grand Canterbury Cathedral, Roman walls and timber houses, and its creative side can be tracked down in the theatres and galleries (and you'll pick up attractiveness just by taking a walk…) Dover (20 minutes) isn’t just about the white cliffs and castle. There are World War II tunnels beneath the castle and gorgeous coastal walks at Samphire Hoe. In Hythe (20 minutes), things are just as historical in the way of attractions, with the resort being home to the largest collection of human skulls and bones in the whole of Britain. What a way to split your day, between bone collections and the splendid beachfront. When you’re not busying yourself with all the different watersports that take place in Folkestone (15 minutes), take time to visit Folkestone East Cliff and Warren Country Park (10 minutes). On these easterly cliffs, there are sandy beaches and a nature reserve to investigate.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Folkestone 7.3 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Sandgate 8.8 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Hythe 10.7 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
St Margaret`S Bay 15.5 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Dymchurch 17.8 km Sea N/A Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 10.5 km

Roman Painted House 10.5 km

Dover Castle 11 km

White Cliffs of Dover 12.3 km

Howletts Wild Animal Park 13.7 km

National Trust

The White Cliffs of Dover 12.3 km

South Foreland Lighthouse 14.4 km

Smallhythe Place 34.7 km

Lamb House 37.2 km

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 41.4 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Cheriton Hill 5.1 km

BROOME PARK 5.3 km

Kearsney Court 7.2 km

WALDERSHARE PARK 8.7 km

SANDLING PARK 10 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Kent?

  • Does Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat? Creative, historic, attractive… There are many adjectives that can be given to the city of Canterbury (25 minutes’ drive). Its historic highlights include the grand Canterbury Cathedral, Roman walls and timber houses, … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  noon –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat? From R586.76 (for 1 night, 5 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.