Stampley Moss Farm

Liked Nothing

Disliked The owner very rude. Booked here for the weekend with a few friends (on seperate bookings) nothing stating no groups allowed. We pitched up and had to move 3 of our tents as too close to a horse box accommodation (which was privately fenced off and no info on where to pitch up) water kept getting turned off. Porta loo was disgusting. Lady sent us all a text the minute we all vacated from the field complaining about how disgraceful we were. We were not too loud, dead quiet by 11pm. Said we left loads of rubbish when every bit of rubbish was put in the bin provided. Would not recommend this site at all

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your review. I do, however, need to correct a number of points because your review does not accurately reflect what happened.

You state that you booked with “a few friends (on separate bookings)” and that there was “nothing stating no groups allowed”. That is actually at the heart of the issue I am now raising with Pitchup. You were not simply a few unrelated individual bookings who happened to arrive at the same time. You were a group of friends who had arranged to stay together across multiple separate bookings.
Seven tents & at least 21 humans ! Multiple fires excessive noise and creating an encampment right next to my glamping pod!
You cannot reasonably expect to effectively privately hire an entire pop-up camping field for your party simply by making separate bookings. Your £120 booking has ultimately cost me considerably more than that in repairs, clean-up and the loss of enjoyment experienced by other guests using the field.

The Horsebox is separate private accommodation, with its own fenced area, and is a significant investment. You were asked to move three of the 7 tents because they had been pitched too close to it. That was not unreasonable, nor was it an attempt to make your stay difficult. The Horsebox is not part of the camping field for guests to occupy or encroach upon. You chose to create an encampment around the tap and other users could not see it this is right on top of a glamping pod when they are in fact 2 acres which should’ve affected seven spread out tent not an encampment of 20 odd people

You say you were “dead quiet by 11pm”. I have received multiple complaints regarding noise worse that I’ve ever had in five years! The issue is the overall impact of a large group occupying the field together, including the use of multiple fires and the condition in which the field was left. We have picked up a whole trailer of greedy amount amounts of wood which we provide free of charge! Children’s shoes packaging empty cans and even two whole fire pits we have in fact picked up an entire trailer and quad bike full of mess this morning!

I also cannot agree with your statement that every bit of rubbish was put in the bin and that there was no problem. I have photographic evidence documenting the condition of the field after your departure, including debris and material associated with the fires and the use of cut timber from the site. The evidence speaks for itself.

You mention the toilet being disgusting. The toilet is a portable facility provided for a small pop-up camping field and is serviced according to its use. When a large group effectively occupies the field together, the level of demand placed on facilities is obviously very different from that created by genuinely independent bookings.

As for the water, this is a temporary camping facility and there can occasionally be interruptions. this was never raised by you and in No way of fault of ours we would never switch off the water as intention as you seem to be suggesting I appreciate that this may have been inconvenient, but it does not justify the suggestion that the entire stay was unacceptable.

Your statement that I texted you “the minute we all vacated” is actually correct. I contacted the group after you had left because that was when I could properly inspect the field and see the extent of the impact. And was approached by other Camper seeing the noise level was ranging from “colourful to absolutely disgusting” . It was not an arbitrary complaint made during your stay.

I am also disappointed by the description of me as “very rude”. I had to deal with the consequences of a large group booking that had presented itself through separate reservations, rather than being identifiable to me as one organised party in advance
Who appear to think they have privately booked my entire Home for their party of 7 tents and 20 odd people. I have a responsibility to protect the site, the Horsebox accommodation, the facilities and the experience of other paying guests. which is why you will not be invited back I look forward to you finding any other establishment that will allow you to commandeer a large encampment of multiple tens multiple adults and multiple children and have several live fires.

I am now raising this with Pitchup because I do not believe this situation is unique to my site. I cannot imagine many small campsite owners intending to accept what effectively becomes a private party booking of a seven-tent group, simply because the group has made multiple separate reservations.

The issue is not that you were friends staying at the same campsite. The issue is that multiple separate bookings can conceal the true size and nature of a group from the owner until they arrive, leaving the owner to deal with the consequences afterwards.

I am sorry you were unhappy with your stay, but I stand by the concerns I raised following your departure and by the evidence I have retained regarding the condition of the field.

Liked It was a quiet place to stand.

Disliked Very hard to find. Too expensive for having just a dirty pit latrine and a place for night.

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From the manager: Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased that you found the site quiet, as this is one of the reasons many guests choose us.

We are, however, surprised by some of your comments. Every guest is sent extensive arrival instructions, including the postcode, detailed directions and a precise What3Words location, specifically to make finding the site as straightforward as possible. We therefore find it difficult to understand the comment that the site was “very hard to find”.

The site is clearly advertised as a simple, wild pop-up camping field, rather than a fully serviced campsite. The listing explains the facilities available, including the portable toilet, before guests book, so there should be no expectation of showers, toilet blocks or other conventional campsite facilities. Several photographs are provided of the hard standing you chose to book

We are also sorry to hear that you found the toilet unsuitable. It is cleaned and maintained regularly as possible and the truck was there that morning I’m sure you saw it.
Our aim is to provide a peaceful, simple and affordable place to stay in a natural setting. We appreciate that this style of camping which is merely a pop up 60 day field and very clearly described as such will not suit everyone, but we do try to make the nature of the site and the facilities available extremely clear before guests arrive.

Liked The area was spacious. Allowed to have fires with plenty of wood. Me and the party who stayed there thoroughly enjoyed the stay and would recommend

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Liked Was lovely and quiet and just what was needed, very basic but that's what we wanted, somewhere to pitch a tent have a fire, and for the price was great will definitely be back, already planning to return with friends and family after recommending the farm to them.

Disliked The only one thing I'd say is that fire's are allowed but the preference of a firepit is preferred due to destroying the grass, which is fine and understandable, as I'm assuming the field is also used for horses, they were remains of fires around the field I used a fire pit, but still managed to scorch the grass even when trying to be mindful not to leave any damage, hopefully the option of having a fire isn't taken away, also maybe an option of an area to dispose of the ashes, maybe a few slabs people could grab to put the pit on and return would help in keeping the grass and ground in better condition for your horses

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From the manager: Thank you very much for the lovely review . Unfortunately you’re right we are seriously considering not continuing next year due to particularly this weekend majority not using their fire pits & in full view burning the ground which isn’t acceptable on any land.
It’s a real shame and prohibited costs of the toilet and commercial bin every few days means with repairs to the land will be not viable sadly

Liked We have just came back from a lovely 2 night stay, very peaceful.

Disliked Nothing

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From the manager: Thank you very much for your kind review we love to hear you had a lovely stay

Liked Really lovely, pretty wild site with a nice woodland for firewood and some pretty walks around. It was pretty quiet when I was there with my two little kids. There's a riding arena that you can see from the site which provided good entertainment for my kids too!

Disliked The portaloo was pretty grim, but was clearly advertised as being just a portaloo, so I wasn't expecting anything less, but I was a little disappointed in the maintenance of it considering it was the only facility provided.

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From the manager: Thank you for your review
Unfortunately the portaloo may make it no longer viable to continue the pop up field it is serviced professionally every 5 days which costs the equivalent of 3 bookings . (Combined with the bin fees exactly the same) and I have no control over it. For example the week you stayed it was serviced on Thursday by Friday someone had broken the privacy flap & shredded loo roll all over the floor and outside. The request for service takes 48hrs so unfortunately other than close the wild camping pop up field there’s nothing further we can do . I’m sure you’d appreciate that if we had a septic waste vehicle we most certainly would . I think we may have not to open next year it will no longer be viable if we get two at £17 per tent

Liked Everything, my partner and daughter went this time as I had work 😢 they loved it even if it was raining, they seen the peacock and sent me pics (not jealous at all) they had a fantastic time, this is a great little campsite, cannot wait to book again

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From the manager: Thank you so much, the peacock loves his visitors anyone who has food he’s a big fan! We have 5 more but they are penned at the moment hopefully you’ll see them out next time

Liked Loved the relaxing site, it is as near to wild camping without hiking to find a nice spot away from it all with the added security of an electric gate.

Disliked Campers making fires on the ground and not leaving the site as they find it , although the site wasn't littered there were signs of disrespectful campers remains which unfortunately is everywhere you camp nowadays

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From the manager: Hi
Thank you for your booking
Yes unfortunately some people are very disrespectful making fires on the bare ground . They are meant to be using their own fire pit. As you say it is not littered as I do clean each day so thank you for noticing but unfortunately some still can’t put away after themselves.

Liked The price was great. Being able to use fire pits was good. Free use of water was ideal. Location was close to our home and will definitely use again

Disliked Only one portaloo which was a little smelly

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From the manager: Thank you very much for the booking and lovely review . The portaloo is professionally serviced every 5 days and due to costs wouldn’t be worth providing the pop up camping field if we had another we would love to!

Liked Great place to chill and relax, perfect experience for wild camping. Lots of space to choose from.
Camp fires allowed and plenty of dry wood if needed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for the review I’m glad you enjoyed the chipped wood it’s all dead or fallen trees we have chopped for our guests so no tree is damaged for fires . Thank you so much