The Hare and Hounds

8.8 42 reviews
Level grass campsite
Level grass campsite
View of the pub garden
The pub
Pub
Delicious sunday roast
Cosy bar area for drinks or food
Bar area to enjoy a real local ale or enjoy some locally sourced food
Two of our local fur babies enjoying a pint
1/10
Favourite

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  • Family-centric camping paddock at a country pub near Colchester, Essex
  • Five minutes’ drive to Colchester Zoo; 20 minutes to West Mersea beach
  • Bar and restaurant adjoining the site; shops 10 minutes’ drive
With a two-acre grass paddock overlooking heather and wild flowers on Layer Breton Heath, The Hare and Hounds offers a group-friendly, dog-friendly and family-friendly – in fact just very friendly – rural camping retreat near Colchester, Essex. With the added bonus of your very own local pub thrown in
 Yes, book a stay here and you can spend the night under canvas safe in the knowledge that you’ll have all the amenities of an award-winning pub and restaurant on your doorstep. Although you’ll have to create your own breakfasts and go self-catering on Mondays, the pub is open and serving food for the rest of the week – and takeaways are on the menu too if you’d prefer to eat back at your pitch. Barbecues are permitted on site (pick up bits from supermarkets in Tiptree, 10 minutes’ drive), so you shouldn't starve on days when the pub’s closed. Apart from the siren call of the pub and a decent pint, facilities in the camping field are pretty minimal. Recycling is available, as well as ice-pack freezing to keep your food fresh. Please note there’s no running water on site, but the pub toilets are available for use by campsite guests.

Campground type

Caravan sites 2
RV & Motorhome sites 2
Tent sites 20
Opens

Languages spoken

English

Nearby campgrounds that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Essex?

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 On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups 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 Remote location Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No hot water Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Pub campground Small (11-25 sites)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby

Location

The Hare and Hounds

Crayes Green

Layer Breton

Colchester

Essex

England

CO2 0PN

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.83396°N
0.82212°W

Nearest transport

Coach
8 km Stanwell Street
9.5 km Valley Road
9.5 km Valley Road
Rail
5.9 km Marks Tey Rail Station
8.2 km Colchester Town Rail Station
8.3 km Kelvedon Rail Station
Ferry
14.2 km Point Clear Ferry Landing
14.3 km Brightlingsea Ferry Landing
23.3 km Burnham on Crouch Ferry Landing
Airport
30.6 km London Southend Airport
39.2 km London Stansted 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

Now, resist the urge to stay in the pub all day
 Kids with you? Colchester Zoo (five minutes’ drive) will easily entertain youngsters for the day, thanks to its animal encounters and mini-train rides. Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park (35 minutes) is another corker for families, as it's packed with kids’ activities at the petting farm. Get out and about in the fresh air with a trip to the sand-and-shingle beach at West Mersea (20 minutes’ drive) for paddling and swimming. Up the activity ante with kitesurfing off Clacton beach (40 minutes), or have a giggle on the inflatable floating climbing course at Curve Water Sports (40 minutes). For more sedate days out in nature, take your binoculars to the Essex Wildlife Trust’s Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park (five minutes) to spot all manner of wading birds, or see if you can catch sight of hen harriers or plovers at Blackwater Estuary National Nature Reserve (25 minutes). Head for Dedham (25 minutes) to see equine paintings in The Munnings Art Museum, and abandon the car in Flatford and Constable Country (half an hour) for strolls along the River Stour to Flatford Mill, made famous by John Constable’s painting ‘The Haywain’.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
West Mersea 10.3 km Sea N/AGoodN/AN/A
Brightlingsea 13.3 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Jaywick 21.1 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Clacton Beach Martello Tower 22.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Clacton 24.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Colchester Zoo 3.4 km

Colchester Castle Museum 8.3 km

firstsite 8.3 km

East Anglian Railway Museum 11 km

RHS Garden Hyde Hall 25.2 km

National Trust

Bourne Mill 7.8 km

Coggeshall Grange Barn 10.1 km

Paycocke's 10.6 km

Thorington Hall 17.9 km

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 19.4 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Layer Breton - Layer Marney - Birch - Layer Breton 0.4 km

LAYER MARNEY TOWER 2.1 km

Friday Wood - Abberton - Malting Green - Layer de la Haye - Roman River - Friday Wood 4.5 km

Marks Tey - Copford - Copford Green - Easthorpe - Marks Tey 5.8 km

Marks Tey - Copford - Heckford Bridge - Easthorpe - Marks Tey 5.9 km

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.

Reviews

8.8

Overall rating based on 42 reviews View breakdown

Peaceful

Voted 66% of visitors View breakdown

88%

would recommend this campground to a friend

79%

would stay here again

  • 66%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 19%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 7%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 2%
    4
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    3
  • 4%
    2
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Very well looked after

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

Powered grass caravan site

Liked: What a lovely warm friendly pub, will be coming back 😀😀😀😀

Recommend to friends Visit again

There was ‘room at the inn’ on a chilly winters night

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

Powered grass caravan site

Liked: We arrived in the dark , the grass pitches were wet ( we were concerned we might get stuck as there had been heavy rain the day before ) so we were told we could stay in the car park ( this worked out really well) We had a meal in the pub restaurant, the young waiting staff were brilliant and the food was sublime. The pub had a great “ country inn”busy, cosy and warm vibe .
We would definitely stay again

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very nice no nose land lard very easy to talk to,


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

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Very nice no nose land lard very easy to talk to,

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely country position. Very quiet and peaceful. Landlord helpful. Had a spacious


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

Powered grass caravan site

Liked: Lovely country position. Very quiet and peaceful. Landlord helpful. Had a spacious pitch. Picturesque country pub with good beer and a new refurbished restaurant.

Recommend to friends Visit again

good site to stop off at great food in the pub

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

Powered grass caravan site

Liked: we loved staying at this site very friendly staff and customers and very dog friendly
very good food and service
great for dog walks as woods and fields just over the road
need to update electric but ok My
plenty of room in field behind pub for tents and motorhomes
there are two porta toilets and you can use a shower and toilet in the outside letting room or use the pub so all good

Disliked: nothing - all good

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great time away whether alone or with kids, also dog friendly

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

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Everything was great, location, service, pub very clean toilet/shower also portable loos on field would definitely recommend and will definitely be booking there again, 😀

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly staff, clean basic facilities

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Pat F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Friendly staff in pub

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly staff, loved the chickens and nice location, will certainly book again


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

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Friendly staff, loved the chickens and nice location, will certainly book again

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything, we had a wonderful stay! Will definitely be coming back, we


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

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Everything, we had a wonderful stay! Will definitely be coming back, we also had a lovely meal in the pub. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very friendly and helpful owner and staff. I arrived late and they


Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Andrew M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass caravan site

Liked: Very friendly and helpful owner and staff. I arrived late and they assisted with pitching the tent in the dark (torch and providing light with car headlights). Pitched up in a field behind the pub.Portaloo toilets. Showers being renovated to a good standard. Good value for money. Good array of real ale on tap at the pub. Also offer breakfast. No issues with reception being closed as it is run by the pub.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Hare and Hounds have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Hare and Hounds dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Hare and Hounds? Now, resist the urge to stay in the pub all day
 Kids with you? Colchester Zoo (five minutes’ drive) will easily entertain youngsters for the day, thanks to its animal encounters and 
 Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Hare and Hounds?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  noon –  Anytime
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more