Rushbanks Farm Campsite

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9.2 74 reviews
Pitches by the water (added by manager 02 Sep 2022)
Grass pitches (added by manager 02 sep 2022)
Boating and canoeing available in the nearby area (added by manager 08 apr 2015)
Constable country on your doorstep (added by manager 08 apr 2015)

  • On the banks of the River Stour in Dedham Vale
  • Excellent for boaters and canoeists: canoe hire and launching stations
  • Very quiet site with friendly family atmosphere
Sssh – you'll want to sit quietly and drink in the serenity of this site and its surroundings on the river in Dedham Vale. Rushbanks Farm Campsite is a peaceful little site in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and since opening in 1962 has been a firm favourite with guests in all seasons who like to combine pitching up with mucking around in boats. (Owner Gareth Bates is a member of the River Stour Trust and reckons this is the quietest and most scenic part of the river.) Watery options from Rushbanks include hiring canoes or launching your own craft from one of the stages nearby; paddling upstream along the Stour to the Anchor pub at Nayland or downstream to Bures – all before settling down to a riverside view and sizzling up dinner over the campfire… The area is also part of Constable country, the Suffolk paths and fields trodden by painter John Constable, and the whole of Dedham Vale is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A footpath crosses the farm and acres of artistically scenic walks are nearby. The well-kept facilities on site include warm showers, ladies' and gents' toilets, a water tap, chemical disposal and a washing-up area, plus a track and play area for the tiddlers.

Site type

Tent pitches 20
Rent a tent 2
Touring caravan pitches 20
Motorhome pitches 20
Opens 1 May
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Facilities/activities including canoe hire are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Only firepits provided by the site are allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Wed, 1 May to

Reviews

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95%

would recommend this site to a friend

93%

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Excellent site- clean, friendly and large pitches

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Beautiful, friendly campsite, next to the river. Was very peaceful on the Thursday, but got very busy over the weekend. Maybe not the place to go if you are wanting peace and quiet over a weekend, but the kids were obviously having a great time on paddleboards ans suchlike. The camp manager was so helpful and friendly, and the amenities were cleaned regularly. Beautiful view of the sunset along the river from the bench too. Already planning our next visit.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A lovely place to stay with the option to hire a canoe.

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Many Pitches to choose from and having a fire pit was an added bonus for evening marshmallows and hot chocolate. Really enjoyed our adventure canoeing down to the pub for lunch and a tipsy return back to camp. All the staff were very helpful and the safety instructions for the canoes was explained well by Gareth.

Disliked: We only stayed one night but would have liked to have stayed longer. Wanted a shower but they seemed to be closed when required.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The river! Took our canoes and the boys went off and had…

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: The river! Took our canoes and the boys went off and had a great time. The field out the back was perfect for cricket / football / rugby / general shenanigans.

Disliked: Showers not being available in the afternoon for environmental reasons is a bit frustrating when you’ve been out on the water and need a wash down / some warmth.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site but not enough to do for longer than a couple of days.

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Quiet campsite, lovely river.

Disliked: Play park consisted of 2 swings. Very misleading. Expensive hire of the fire pits and wood per night. Hire of canoes was far too expensive as well.

Recommend to friends Visit again

justin@justinhook.co.uk

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: what an amazing find !!! fantastic location, right on the river bank of the stour, with launches so your paddleboard or kayak, or even hire a canoe on-site... a bustling little site, was a bit nervous it was going to be noisy all night long, but people stick to the rules and its all quiet at 11pm facilities on the more basic side, but can't fault them - clean and well-stocked fire pits to hire and wood to buy, coffee & pastries at the weekend, plus the ice cream van - all just add to the good vibes - make sure you take cash tho staff friendly and attentive, and akways available - overall a fantastic couple of days ! def. get on the water and head to the anchor pub in nayland if you're feeling adventurous - about an hours paddle for great food and great atmosphere

Recommend to friends Visit again

A place back in time where children ( adults) can be free to play

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 4
Lynn C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Such a peaceful place. Clean and staff friendly and helpful A place where no technology is needed. The children can play like years gone by. Ball games and laughter by all. Keep this up. Will go back many more times.

Disliked: No water in the afternoon. But again you do get used to it.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would visit again

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Does what it says on the tin, a lovely off grid campsite, I enjoyed my stay.

Disliked: Disappointed by the loud music but that wasn't the campsites fault, just disrespectful individuals.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing pitch next to the river, perfect for our canoe trips.…

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Amazing pitch next to the river, perfect for our canoe trips.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite and very friendly staff.

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

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Right next to a river and can hire boats.

Disliked: Boat hire a little pricey

Recommend to friends Visit again

The wildlife was pretty…

Overall 4/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service No rating
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: The wildlife was pretty

Disliked: Very loud screaming from children until very late so barely slept and no access to swimming in the river.

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

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Rallies welcome

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

Themes

Budget/backpacker

Forest

Lake and/or mountain

Leave the car at home

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

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

Nearby farmers' market

Public transport nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Farm

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Outdoor pool nearby

Restaurant nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Tourer storage facilities

Location

Rushbanks Farm Campsite

Bures Road

Wissington

Sudbury

Suffolk

England

CO6 4NA

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.96781°N
0.8381°W

Route directions

The farm is on the Suffolk side of the River Stour, between Bures and Nayland on Bures Road. From Colchester Take the A134 to Nayland. At Nayland turn left, signposted Bures and follow the road for about 2km, past a left hand lane signposted Wissington Church. There is a group of cottages on the left and shortly after a sign to the site. Turn left through a gate, adhering to the 10mph speed limit, and follow the farm track down to the waterside. From Bures Take the B1508 to Bures. In the village centre, turn right by the church into Nayland Road and continue for approximately 3km. Rushbanks Farm is on the left. After approximately 100m turn right through a gate, adhering to the 10mph speed limit, and follow the farm track down to the waterside.

Nearest transport

Coach
6.2 mi Stanwell Street
7.7 mi Valley Road
7.8 mi Valley Road
Rail
3 mi Bures Rail Station
4.5 mi Chappel & Wakes Colne Rail Station
5.2 mi Colchester Rail Station
Ferry
13.8 mi Brightlingsea Ferry Landing
13.8 mi Point Clear Ferry Landing
17.8 mi Harwich International Ferry Terminal
Airport
25.3 mi London Stansted Airport
28.2 mi London Southend 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

Water, land, town, countryside and even coast (the Essex shoreline is less than 20 miles away) are all eminently suitable options for activities and days out from Rushbanks Farm Campsite – and if you should tire of all that, Colchester is just six miles away for trips to its castle and zoo. Stay local at first with an afternoon or evening at nearby Nayland and a meal in its acclaimed Anchor Inn, followed by a roam around the lauded 15th-century buildings of its Tudor and Stuart streets. There are a couple of old churches worth wandering to in the area: the Norman church at neighbouring village Wissington/Wiston, and the village church of Nayland where a Constable painting hangs. If you've come to the area to follow Constable's trail, you'll also probably want to get to Flatford Mill and the hamlet of Flatford, depicted by Constable in his painting The Hay Wain (which was painted in London – naughty). The mill's now managed by the National Trust which has added a Constable exhibition in Bridge Cottage nearby, and exhibitions of paintings by contemporary artists in the Boat House Gallery. More history can be discovered at Lavenham, the medieval village that also styles itself 'the food capital of Suffolk', and at Kentwell Hall in Long Melford, where those interested in Tudor times can take themselves along to the acclaimed re-enactments held for three weeks a year in June and July.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Brightlingsea 13.4 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
West Mersea 14.2 mi Sea N/A Good N/A N/A
Jaywick 17.9 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Clacton Beach Martello Tower 18.3 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Clacton 18.6 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

East Anglian Railway Museum 4.6 mi

Colchester Castle Museum 6 mi

firstsite 6.1 mi

Colchester Zoo 7.2 mi

Christchurch Mansion 15.1 mi

National Trust

Thorington Hall 4 mi

Bourne Mill 7 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 7.8 mi

Melford Hall 9.3 mi

Paycocke's 9.5 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Manningtree - Nayland - Wormingford - Bures: Part 2 1.6 mi

Bures Hamlet - Stour Valley Way - Wiston - Bures Hamlet 2.6 mi

Stoke-by-Nayland - Thorington Street and Hall - Tendring Hall Park and Farm - Temple - Stoke-by-Nayland 2.7 mi

Stoke by Nayland - Withermarsh Green - Polstead - Stoke by Nayland 2.7 mi

TENDRING HALL PARK 2.9 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?

  • Does Rushbanks Farm Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Rushbanks Farm Campsite dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Rushbanks Farm Campsite? Water, land, town, countryside and even coast (the Essex shoreline is less than 20 miles away) are all eminently suitable options for activities and days out from Rushbanks Farm Campsite – and … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Rushbanks Farm Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more