Hawthorne Trench Campsite

View prices & book 9.7 95 reviews
Visitor image of the campsite
Visitor image of the campsite
Summer at hawthorne
A summer day at hawthorne
Pitches under the hedge
Young horses on the farm
Plenty of space for pitches
Hawthorne sheep
20 acres to pitch up in
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Summer at hawthorne
A summer day at hawthorne
Pitches under the hedge

  • Pick-your-own pitches at a spacious farm site half a mile from Elham
  • Canterbury, Hythe beach and two animal parks within a half-hour drive
  • Simple facilities; tours available of World War I trenches on site
When it comes to rural bases in south-east England, Hawthorne Trench Campsite is a prime pick. Plenty of space and Kent Down views pair up nicely with a handy location half a mile from the village of Elham, where there's a café, playground, village store and a total of three pubs. This is a peaceful site where you can pick your own pitch from the heaps of space around the 20-acre grass field, and with simple facilities stretching just to toilets, showers and a washing-up area. Families and groups of friends are welcome, but dogs aren’t allowed because of the resident sheep and horses. You may well be able to spot wild bats, badgers and owls popping by as well… Intrigued by the site name? That's a reference to the 250-metre World War I trench system, with a British section and a German section separated by a no man’s land in between. Guests can book tours on arrival to take a closer look at this little patch of history. There are plenty of opportunities to get out and about in the countryside here, as public footpaths run right from the site out to local woods and forest. After some quiet time, it's also easy to get out to various day trips and attractions like Leeds Castle, Howletts Wild Animal Park and Canterbury. Some of these are accessible by buses that stop in the village centre.

Site type

Tent pitches 12
Open now
Opens 3 July
Please note

Admission

  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Occupancy

  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.

Vehicles

  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri 3 Jul to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.7

Overall rating from 95 Pitchup.com customers

  • 81%
    10
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    9
  • 7%
    8
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    7
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    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
Peaceful

100% would recommend this site to a friend

100% would stay here again

What customers say

This peaceful, rural campsite offers spacious, pick-your-own pitches in a beautiful setting. Visitors praise the friendly and helpful owner, clean basic facilities including a welcome tea/coffee station and fridge, and the tranquil atmosphere. Some note the facilities are basic but functional, and a few mention the price. The site is well-located for exploring the area.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 18/08/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 10
Arrival date (latest first)

Great campsite Looked after well. Hut to…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Graham N. 1 review

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Great campsite
Looked after well. Hut to sign in on arival with fridge, electric to charge mobiles and a kettle for tea and coffee(also supplied) chap came round offering fire pits to hire too. Plenty of space too pictch

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic as always! Tranquil, beautiful, friendly.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Emma S. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Fantastic as always! Tranquil, beautiful, friendly. All you need available including communal shower, toilets, fridge and device charging tower in the hut. Firepits available to hire for £15 including firewood and firelighters. The pitches are so far apart from eachother so you aren't packed in like sardines like other sites. View of horses to the right, sheep to the front left on the hill. Richards lovely, friendly dogs coming to say hello occasionally. We never want our "camping bubble" to burst when it's time to go home. Back next year for our summer tradition 😊

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything. Quiet, peaceful, clean. Beautiful area.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Marjorie R. 7 reviews

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Everything. Quiet, peaceful, clean. Beautiful area. We come every summer since 2021 and will definitely come again next year.

Disliked Having to leave.

Recommend to friends Visit again

ruimte. vriendelijke campingeigenaar…

Overall

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

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked ruimte. vriendelijke campingeigenaar

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Danny J. 1 review

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Perfect for tent campers! Richard is a lovely host

Disliked Leaving

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent and friendly host.. Felt safe.…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Anshoo D. 1 review

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Excellent and friendly host.. Felt safe. I loved the way how you could pitch up anywhere you liked. Facilities were basic with clean shower and toilets. Also had arrangements to store food in fridge and making tea/ coffee facility.

I like that there was quiet time but access to the pitch was not restricted by barrier gates after checking in.

Disliked -

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing view and host…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Cristian Emanuel M. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Amazing view and host

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent price for what you get in a beautiful slice of countryside!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Robert S. 1 review

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Easy site to find with sauna. Spacious distances between pitches, beautiful surroundings, excellent price point. Very friendly owner.
Was welcomed to the site by a dog (a very good dog called Willow).
Small fridge on sight and a point to charge small electricals.

Disliked Was a nearby duck farm that was partying most the night. Not a problem just I wasn't invited.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Second visit this summer. Get the…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Steve H. 8 reviews

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Second visit this summer. Get the kids out of the house. They loved the space.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Its a very nice, peacefully spot.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
saskia v. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass and earth tent pitch

Liked Its a very nice, peacefully spot. We've been here only for 2 nights but there is so much more to do in the neighbourhood....
Very friendly owner. Toilets & shower are upgraded dixy pods & work perfectly!
We only went to canterbury & to the shuttle in folkstone wich are both really close by car.

And very good value for money!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

No 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 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 Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed No pets allowed

Themes

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

Cycling nearby Golf nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Hawthorne Trench Campsite

Roundhill Farm

Cullens Hill

Elham

Kent

England

CT4 6UJ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.15251°N
1.09954°E

Route directions

The satnav will bring you to within half a mile of Kennel Cottages. Carry on for another half a mile until you reach the sign for Roundhill Farm/Hawthorne Trench. Alternatively, the Google Maps location will bring you to the door. What3words: buzzing.camps.reactions.

Nearest transport

Coach
5.3 mi Swan Lane
5.3 mi Swan Lane
5.4 mi Holiday Extras
Rail
4.5 mi Sandling Rail Station
4.8 mi Westenhanger Rail Station
5.3 mi Folkestone West Rail Station
Ferry
3.9 mi Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal
9.7 mi Dover Western Docks Ferry Terminal
10.1 mi Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal
Airport
15.5 mi Lydd London Ashford Airport
17.5 mi Kent International 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

You're never too far from sand or shingle days here: Hythe beach (20 minutes' drive) and Folkestone's harbour (20 minutes) are popular spots for pottering about by the coast, plus there's easy access to Dover (25 minutes) with its cross-channel ferries and impressive castle. If you're interested in some of modern history that took place around the area's well-known White Cliffs, the Battle of Britain Museum (10 minutes) is also worth a stop. Animal action is available here too, with family-friendly attractions like Howletts Wild Animal Park (20 minutes) and Port Lympne Safari Park (20 minutes) for younger ones who are keen on exotic creatures. The excellent Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway (35 minutes) is another kid-pleasing option that you might want to keep up your sleeve to ensure extra-good behaviour. If grand architecture's your thing, then Canterbury (25 minutes) is pretty sure to satisfy – the gorgeous cathedral is the focal point of the town, but there's also a museum showcasing its Roman heritage and all medieval jollity of the Canterbury Tales exhibit.

Food and drink

  • China China 1.7 mi
  • Garam Mossala 3.8 mi
  • La Gare 4 mi
  • U91 Canteen 4.1 mi
  • Lemonleaf 4.8 mi
  • Mr Theesh Restaurant 4.8 mi
  • The Clay Oven 4.8 mi
  • Lemon Leaf Bar 4.8 mi
  • Wings 'n' Dat 4.8 mi
  • Prince of India 4.9 mi

Parks and play

  • Grebe Close 3.7 mi
  • Winter Drive Play Area 3.8 mi
  • Millfield Play Area 3.8 mi
  • Kidz Planet 4.6 mi
  • Buttermere Close Play Area 5.3 mi
  • Hythe Green Playground 5.8 mi

Public transport

  • Old Road 0.4 mi
  • Old Road 0.4 mi
  • Collards Lane 0.4 mi
  • Collards Lane 0.5 mi
  • The Rose and Crown 0.5 mi
  • The Rose and Crown 0.5 mi
  • War Memorial 0.6 mi
  • War Memorial 0.6 mi
  • Bereforstal Farm 0.7 mi
  • Bereforstal Farm 0.7 mi

Groceries

  • Lidl 3.9 mi
  • Tesco 4.5 mi
  • Sainsbury's 4.9 mi
  • Morrisons 5.4 mi
  • Sainsbury's 5.7 mi
  • Waitrose 5.7 mi
  • Aldi 6 mi
  • Lidl 6 mi
  • Asda 6.1 mi
  • Sainsbury's 6.1 mi

Family days out

  • Grebe Close 3.7 mi
  • Winter Drive Play Area 3.8 mi
  • Millfield Play Area 3.8 mi
  • Kidz Planet 4.6 mi
  • Buttermere Close Play Area 5.3 mi
  • Hythe Green Playground 5.8 mi

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Must see

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 5.7 mi

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park 6.7 mi

Howletts Wild Animal Park 8.2 mi

St Augustine's Abbey 8.7 mi

Canterbury Tales 8.7 mi

National Trust

The White Cliffs of Dover 10.5 mi

South Foreland Lighthouse 11.8 mi

Smallhythe Place 19.1 mi

Lamb House 21.2 mi

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 23 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Cheriton Hill 3.9 mi

BROOME PARK 4.2 mi

SANDLING PARK 5 mi

Hythe - Lympne - Royal Military Canal - Hythe 5.7 mi

HATCH PARK 6.9 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 Kent?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Hawthorne Trench Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hawthorne Trench Campsite dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Hawthorne Trench Campsite? You're never too far from sand or shingle days here: Hythe beach (20 minutes' drive) and Folkestone's harbour (20 minutes) are popular spots for pottering about by the coast, plus there's easy … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hawthorne Trench Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hawthorne Trench Campsite? From £20 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.