Hill Farm Camping
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- Well-equipped Essex farm site with excellent accessible facilities
- A 25-minute drive to Audley End; Colchester Zoo 40 minutes
- Archery, frisbee golf and trailer rides on site, plus animals to meet
Site type
- Single-sex bookings of 5 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
- No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
- Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
- At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
- There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Thu, 1 May to
Pitch types & availability
Reviews
100% would recommend this site to a friend
100% would stay here again
What customers say
This campsite receives overwhelmingly positive reviews for its stunning location, friendly and hospitable owners, and abundant activities for all ages. Visitors consistently praise the clean facilities, the presence of various animals (especially alpacas), and the welcoming atmosphere. The site is described as spacious, well-maintained, and ideal for family breaks, with many guests expressing a strong desire to return. No significant dislikes were reported, with minor comments focusing on practicalities like toilet distance or wind exposure.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews




















Would recommend to friends and family kids & we had the best time
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked Loved every bit we stayed two nights with our 6 and 2 year old was our first ever time camping and had the best time. Alan’s quad bike made my 2 year olds trip giggling away on the back. My 6 year old had so much fun made so many friends and enjoyed collecting woods going down to the river riding her bike on the hills it was brilliant! Thank u we will definitely be returning again!
Recommend to friends Visit again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another fantastic stay at Hill Farm…
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another fantastic stay at Hill Farm Camping! Thank you so much to Alan and Ruth for always going above and beyond to make our time here so enjoyable. From the warm welcome to the little touches that make such a big difference, nothing is ever too much trouble.
The site is spotless, beautifully kept, and perfect for families. Our kids love having the freedom to explore and play safely, while we get to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It really feels like a home away from home thanks to the care and effort that Alan and Ruth put in.
We couldn’t recommend Hill Farm Camping enough – every stay is memorable, and we’re already looking forward to our next visit! 🌿⛺👨👩👧👦
Recommend to friends Visit again
Very clean facilities, very child friendly.
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked Wonderful campsite with so much to do with the kids. Archery, golf, disk golf, play equipment, zip wire, paddling pool.
Loads of space to run around.
The animals were brilliant & our children were taken into the emu enclosure. The roaming alpacas were just wonderful. Lincoln the new puppy was adorable.
The amazing sunsets.
Very clean toilets & showers, very spacious.
Just under a mile away there was a Co-op to stock up if needed.
Disliked Nothing, it was a brilliant site & we cannot wait to return.
Recommend to friends Visit again
What a fantastic weekend! The location…
Non-electric grass pitch
Liked What a fantastic weekend! The location is stunning...we watched the amazing sunset go down every evening and then was star gazing at night. There was so much to do on the site, Alan arranged for us to go on a trailer ride and even took my son grass-boarding. Ruth introduced us to their lovely animals and spent time talking to us about their backgrounds. Additionally, there was archery, zip wire and much much more. The site itself was spotless.
Thank you so much Ruth and Alan for making our camping experience so enjoyable. We will be back!
Recommend to friends Visit again
The owners The grounds The games Washrooms we're clean Animals…
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked The owners
The grounds
The games
Washrooms we're clean
Animals
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site with even better owners.
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked This is the second time this summer we have stayed at Hill Farm. It was excellent the first time and has got even better with more games for the children dotted around. The addition of Lincoln the puppy is great as well. We will certainly try and fit another trip in this season.
Disliked Nothing to dislike
Recommend to friends Visit again
Family-friendly, clean campsite with great views—highly recommend!
Non-electric grass pitch
Liked We had a fantastic camping trip to Hill Farm with our two boys (8 and 14), staying in a pitched tent. From the moment we arrived, the friendliness of the staff stood out, with a really thorough welcome brief that included an escorted walk around the site where we could ask plenty of questions. The whole place was spotless, and the activities available kept both boys entertained from start to finish grass sledges and quad bike surfing were the absolute highlights and will definitely be lasting memories for them. The views were stunning, and with very little light pollution, we had some brilliant star spotting sessions. It was also reassuring to see a well stocked first aid kit available, which is a thoughtful touch for families with adventurous kids. Add in powerful hot showers, and a site that really caters to all ages, and it made for an excellent stay.
Disliked That said, there were a few minor downsides worth mentioning. The access road is single track for about a mile, which might be tricky for those with larger vehicles or trailers. The site itself is quite undulating, so finding a completely flat pitch during peak times could be a challenge. We honestly wished we could have stayed longer, but next time we’ll come more prepared. A small notice board with local takeaway options, shops, and firewood would be useful, although we’re sure the staff would have helped if we’d asked. The nearest large town with shops is about a 20-minute drive away, but now that we know there’s a fridge and freezer on site, we’ll definitely plan ahead and stock up before arriving.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site, staff were fantastic great fun all round!
Electric optional grass pitch
Liked Everything! really well catered for the younger ones with plenty of space and amenities
Disliked Nothing
Recommend to friends Visit again
We can't wait to return!
Non-electric grass pitch
Liked For us, this was a perfect stay. Loads of space to camp, lovely sunsets and fabulous people. A campsite that is natural, safe, but wild enough for an element of risky play and a place where children could create their own outdoor adventures and make new friends. Alan was not only running a well maintained campsite but was the most fabulous host and all the kids loved his sense of fun. A beautiful place for children to have the space to explore and and have fun along with sports equipment to use and a variety of interesting animals to engage with. My daughter wanted to live on the site and I was miserable when we had to leave. This is our new favourite camping location and I'm thrilled that it is just down the road for us. My daughter spent her days making friends, playing in the stream and having rides on the quad trailer and will not forget the time she spent at Hill Farm.
Disliked For us, there was absolutely nothing to dislike. I wish more campsites were like this.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great facilities and good range of activities. We had a great time!
Non-electric grass pitch
Liked We pitched on a non electric pitch down by the stream. Family of 4, 2 x 10 year olds, it was very quiet on our pitch.
The showers and toilets were clean and well maintained. The kids activities were amazing, my children loved the quad bike trailer rides, paddling in the stream, the paddling pool and all the other sports activities.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Features
No dogs allowed
Campfires 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 WatersportsAmenities on site
Baby-changing facilities Bath available 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 Tents for hire Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed No pets allowedCamping 2.0
Jumbo tent pitchesThemes
Peaceful Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife havenUtilities
Charging facilities Chemical disposal Communal freezer Communal fridge Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearbyType
Farm Small (11-25 pitches)Accessibility
Accessible parking at pitch Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Step-free access Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet Bathrooms: Wide doorways (over 30 inches/75cm) Dedicated quiet space Pitch close to accessible bathrooms Step-free or level accessNearby leisure
Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Restaurant nearbyLocation
Hill Farm Camping
Mill Road
Great Bardfield
Braintree
Essex
England
CM7 4QQ
Timezone
Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)
GPS
51.94878°N
0.45766°E
Nearest transport
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 quality at nearby bathing waters
Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Mersea | 23.6 mi | Sea | N/A | Good | N/A | N/A |
Brightlingsea | 25.6 mi | Estuary | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Leigh Bell Wharf | 29.5 mi | Estuary | Good | N/A | Poor | N/A |
Southend Chalkwell | 29.9 mi | Estuary | N/A | Good | N/A | Good |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Audley End House and Gardens 11.2 mi
East Anglian Railway Museum 12.8 mi
Colchester Zoo 17.1 mi
Imperial War Museum Duxford 17.3 mi
Colchester Castle Museum 19.3 mi
National Trust
Paycocke's 10.9 mi
Coggeshall Grange Barn 11.2 mi
Melford Hall 14.5 mi
Lavenham Guildhall 18.2 mi
Bourne Mill 20 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
Finchingfield - Howe Woods - Little London - Howe Street 1.4 mi
SPAINS HALL 2 mi
SALING HALL 3.1 mi
SALING GROVE 3.5 mi
Thaxted - Great Easton - Tilty - River Chelmer - Thaxted 4.8 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 Essex?
Frequently asked questions
- Does Hill Farm Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is Hill Farm Camping dog friendly? No View all features
- What attractions are near Hill Farm Camping? Anyone who hasn’t had their fill of wildlife on site can meet rhinos and tigers at Colchester Zoo (40 minutes’ drive). Your younger offspring will likely enjoy an hour clambering around the … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of Hill Farm Camping?
Camping and touring Arrive: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. On-site accommodation Arrive: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Depart by: Anytime - How much does it cost to stay at Hill Farm Camping? From £50 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.