Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre

View prices & book 9.1 54 reviews
Corner plot
Corner plot
Large tents welcome
Views from the site
View of the orchard from the site
Barbecue ready
View from the site
Pitch with electric hook-up
Meeting the ponies
1/42
Large tents welcome
Views from the site
View of the orchard from the site

  • On a working equestrian centre 15 minutes' drive from Bury St Edmunds
  • Lessons and rides for ages five and up, including for beginners
  • Modern heated shower room, toilets and launderette
Horsey guests, non-horsey guests, non-horsey guests hoping to be transformed into horsey guests… all sorts of visitors are welcome to stay at Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre, a friendly site within a riding centre 20 minutes’ walk from the village of Ixworth and 20 minutes’ drive from Bury St Edmunds. Experienced riders champing at the bit to set off into the Suffolk countryside can sign up for various hacks here, and lessons can be arranged as well – both adults and kids aged five and above. Book your riding activities in advance to avoid disappointment. Actually (whisper it…) not all that fussed by all the equestrian activity? It’s possible you may be converted – but even if you’re not, this is a splendid spot for a Suffolk break. The riding centre is set well back from the road and the site has just a handful of pitches – they’re next to an orchard and surrounded by horses grazing in the fields, so you should be in for a peaceful stay. With all this countryside roaming to be done (on horseback, on foot or on two wheels as you wish) it’s entirely possible you’ll end up a bit mucky at some stage. That situation doesn’t have to last long, as the site has two showers and washing-up facilities for guests.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 3
Tent pitches 3
Touring caravan pitches 3
Open now
Opens 12 April
Please note

Languages spoken

English

Open from Sat, 12 Apr to

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent pitchesTouring caravan pitchesMotorhome pitchesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
Other options

Reviews

9.1

Overall rating from 54 Pitchup.com customers

  • 61%
    10
  • 9%
    9
  • 22%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 5%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 1%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 8
Peaceful

94% would recommend this site to a friend

94% would stay here again

What customers say

This small, peaceful campsite is ideal for equestrian enthusiasts, offering lovely views of horses in surrounding fields. Guests consistently praise the friendly and helpful staff, as well as the clean, though basic, facilities including showers and toilets. WiFi is available. While some reviewers noted the access track could be improved, particularly after rain, the tranquil rural setting and pleasant atmosphere are highlighted as major draws, with many expressing a desire to return.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 6
Arrival date (latest first)

Site had everything we needed, and the horses were a lovely bonus.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 10
Emma B.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great facilities, always clean on each use
Lovely scenery - horses were fascinating to watch
Super quiet at night
Very friendly owners/horse owners
Had the entire field to ourselves on second night which was great!

Disliked Pitches are quite close to each, I heard multiple snorers throughout the night from surrounding campers!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant stay.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Eleanor S.

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Relaxing stay on a very level pitch. It was nice to see the horses nearby. Facilities were basic in style but were clean and we had everything we wanted.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site,clean facilities, Flat spacious pitches, lovely staff

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Olwyn P.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked What a lovely little place this is
We stayed for 3 nights over the Bank holiday weekend in our tent we're a couple in our 60's
The Lady who checked us in was very nice & she showed us where everything was
It's a small site (perfect for us) the field is flat and the pitches were spacious
With views over the fields. The shower and toilet block were clean with hot water at the washing up sink also a washing machine looking forward to booking again

Recommend to friends Visit again

Sharon, her husband and their team…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 9
Lindsay G.

Electric grass pitch

Liked Sharon, her husband and their team were very welcoming.
They offered to show us around upon arrival.
The location was beautiful and it was lovely to be surrounded by beautiful horses.
The toilet and shower facilities were modern and kept clean.
There was an area for washing up and a washing machines available if needed.
We will definitely be returning.
Thank you.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

We liked the fact that is…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Diana F.

Electric grass pitch

Liked We liked the fact that is a perfect authentic experience of English countryside. It’s not a place for all but it is definitely one for us. We slept alone surrounded by horses in an extremely quiet and peaceful easy place. We absolutely loved it.

Disliked Nothing, we loved it.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Definitely recommend

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 10
Anonymous

Electric grass pitch

Liked If you like horses you will love this place!! We/I loved staying here for one night and was booked last minute. Was great to have a view of the horses.
Talking to the staff you can book for a riding lesson too (book in advance though to avoid disappointment!). Free WiFi was really good signal.

Disliked None

Recommend to friends Visit again

If your looking for a truly amazing riding lesson, this is the place!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Paul C.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked A Magical Discovery in the Heart of Norfolk
Driving through the sun-drenched Norfolk countryside, we stumbled upon a place so enchanting it felt like stepping into a storybook for my Daughter Amelia, This hidden gem, nestled between an abunance of mature green trees with a large open expanse of sun lavished fields and winding contry lanes, instantly captured our hearts and helped us both unwind.
The moment my daughter caught sight of the horses, galloping, bucking, and neighing across vast open fields, the place seemed to come alive with nature replacing the silence added to be gueese walking around in search of feed.
Was great weather with the intense heat shining down, the crickets chirping and the coohing and chirping of the resident birds just added to make this an amazing experience to unwind.
The owners were incredibly knowledgeable on horse riding/jumping and were amazng trainers and it just added to the magic . Great staff, amazing location, facilities are basic but its a more unique semi-wild camping experience but with just enough basic facilities to add to the enjoyment!

Disliked Could do with more electric pitches!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Check-in staff were friendly and showed…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Electric grass pitch

Liked Check-in staff were friendly and showed us around the site.
The field was flat, and mown.
Ample electrical hookups
Surrounded by horses, geese, orchards
Toilet block well supplied with toilet roll and hand towels
Small and peaceful

Disliked Kept missing the brown sign for camping/horses at entrance (not sure how as the road had just been re-surfaced with loose stones so we drove slowly, but went past and had to reverse each time)
Some of our party were afraid of the geese, when they marched in line across the field- but they were on their own mission and so didn't bother us.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The site was small but the…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Electric grass pitch

Liked The site was small but the view of the horses was lovely
The facilities were basic but clean

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very peaceful. Great free WiFi. Lovely…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 10
Janice C.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Very peaceful. Great free WiFi. Lovely helpful owners.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

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 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

D. of E. 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

Budget/backpacker Peaceful 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 Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre

Ixworth Road

Bardwell

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk

England

IP31 1AU

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.31533°N
0.84329°E

Route directions

Turn off the A1088 at the signpost for Bardwell; once you've made this turn the site is the second drive on the left: the long drive between leylandii hedges. Look out for a brown sign at the end of the drive with a caravan, tent and horse on.

Nearest transport

Coach
1.3 mi Village Hall
1.4 mi Village Hall
1.6 mi Jacobs Close
Rail
4.7 mi Thurston Rail Station
6.1 mi Elmswell Rail Station
7 mi Bury St Edmunds Rail Station
Airport
29.3 mi Cambridge 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

Bardwell’s a good place to set out for a stroll or a cycle ride in the Stanton Rides, which has three circular trails running through the splendid Suffolk scenery (totalling 28 miles if you do the lot). For dog walks, head to nearby Knettishall Heath. If you’ve still got leg power left, there are more walks to be had in Thetford Forest Park (20 minutes’ drive), as well as Go Ape. If not, perhaps it’s time for a gentler day out at Bressingham (25 minutes), where you can hitch a ride on the steam railway, take a slow-paced gallop on traditional fairground rides and explore Walmington-on-Sea memorabilia at the official Dad’s Army Appreciation Society collection. Leave the country views behind for a bit and head over to Bury St Edmunds (15 minutes) for a day of bimbling around the historic town, taking in the cathedral and abbey gardens, or meandering around the market (if you’re in town on a Wednesday or Saturday). It could well be thirsty work, so perhaps it’d also be wise to plan a stop at the Greene King brewery for a tour or a pint at the beer café.

Must see

Bressingham Steam and Gardens 10.2 mi

Ickworth House, Park and Gardens 10.2 mi

Banham Zoo 11.8 mi

Grimes Graves 13.8 mi

Newmarket Racecourses 20.3 mi

National Trust

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds 7.5 mi

Ickworth House, Park and Gardens 10.2 mi

Lavenham Guildhall 14.4 mi

Melford Hall 16.9 mi

Oxburgh Hall 21.7 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Ixworth - Great Livermere - Troston - Ixworth 1.3 mi

Ixworth Thorpe 1.5 mi

Fakenham Magna 3 mi

EUSTON PARK 4 mi

Hepworth 4.2 mi

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.

Want to know more about camping in Suffolk?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre? Bardwell’s a good place to set out for a stroll or a cycle ride in the Stanton Rides, which has three circular trails running through the splendid Suffolk scenery (totalling 28 miles … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Bardwell Manor Equestrian Centre? From £19 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.