Hoad Meadow Camping

View prices & book 8.8 49 reviews
Lovely sunny day
Pitches
Pitches
Pitches

  • Family-run and dog-friendly sustainable retreat in the Kent Downs
  • A 15-minute drive from Folkestone and 25 minutes from Canterbury
  • Hand-feed alpacas, goats and other animals; pub and shop nearby
Time to channel that adventurous side in the Kent Downs – Hoad Meadow Camping is a family-run, sustainable retreat set in a splendid countryside landscape. Adventurers staying here will have the company of an array of animals including alpacas, goats, pigs and chickens, all of which can be met at hand-feeding sessions. Simple, friendly entertainment is this site’s tune. The family – Dan, Stacey and Eva - very much look forward to meeting their guests (dogs included) and making their stay a splendid time from start to finish. When you’re not relaxing on site, you’ll have plenty of choices for adventures elsewhere too, like trying out watersports or witnessing Dover’s white cliffs (25 minutes’ drive away). This rural retreat isn’t without a place to sink your teeth into a tasty dinner either. There’s a village shop 25 minutes’ walk away, so it should be easy to source all the bits for a barbecue of your own. Just along from the shop is a traditional 18th-century pub too. Down the coast from Dover is the seaside town of Folkestone (15 minutes’ drive), part of a North Downs valley with a harbour, creative quarter, beach and mile-long promenade. Inland is historic Canterbury, 25 minutes’ drive away. And if you're planning onward journeys across the Channel, the Eurotunnel and Dover ferry port are a short drive away.

Campground type

Tent sites 20
Open now
Opens 1 May
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 1 May to

No availability here for your search criteria

Site types & availability

Reviews

  • 57%
    10
  • 6%
    9
  • 22%
    8
  • 4%
    7
  • 4%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 2%
    4
  • 2%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 2%
    1
Location
9
Value for money
9
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
8

90% would recommend this campground to a friend

82% would stay here again

What customers say

Friendly, secure site in a beautiful spot with heaps of farm animals kids love. Pitches are decent, safe for little ones. Owners are super welcoming & it's good value. Eco-toilets & basic showers are a bit of a snag for some, owners are aware & waiting on approval for upgrades.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 07/07/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 5
Arrival date (latest first)

Fantastic stay and very welcoming

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Hayley W. 1 review

Powered grass tent site

Liked Such a lovely stay. The owner was so friendly and helpful. The animals were great too. The children loved staying here. Very central to other amenities. Would 100% recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely campsite. Pitch was a really…

Overall

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

Powered grass tent site

Liked Lovely campsite. Pitch was a really good size and located very near to car park so we didn't have far to carry equipment..Gentleman who runs the site was extremely helpful .would thoroughly recommend this site

Recommend to friends Visit again

Whole ambience , presence of animals…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
8
Value for money
8
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
7
Wifi
10
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Whole ambience , presence of animals which kept them busy, very nice and helpful owner

Recommend to friends Visit again

The location was perfect for us.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Grace M. 3 reviews

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked The location was perfect for us. The campsite was really secure with a controlled gate. The animals were great for the children.

Recommend to friends Visit again

This fabulous campsite is worth a visit!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Lisa W. 1 review

Bell tent (four person)

Liked Dan, Stacey and Eva are so friendly and accommodating. It was our first ever glamping trip and we're glad we picked this beautiful, peaceful, rural and fun setting. Our children enjoyed the freedom of biking around, seeing the animals and playing in the park with Eva and other children. It is a safe and secure campsite. We had pizza and cheesy chips on our first night which were delicious! We only booked one night but we loved it so much we stayed a second night. One of our favorites were Derick the snoring pig, so funny! At night you can buy wood for the fire pit, sit and relax till late in the warmth of it.
We have put Apraca retreat on our list for a visit every year.
Thank you so much!

Disliked Nothing to dislike! I have read some comments about the composite toilets and open top showers. The toilets are cleaned regularly, it's only some users that don't follow the instructions to use them and make a mess. Dan is quick to clean up after.
The one star review is not a true representation of this lovely campsie, very unjustified in my opinion.
It is an eco friendly site, the facilities make it even more unique. If you like the outdoors and camping then this is the place for you.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Recommend if don’t mind the condition of toilet and shower.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
7
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
7
Wifi
9
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked My family liked the animals especially the alpacas. Their fur was so soft it was like a stuffed toy.

Disliked The condition of the toilet is not good. My children hesitated to go.
There was no light in the showers. We can’t take the shower after dinner at night.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We’re glad your family enjoyed meeting the animals, especially the alpacas, who are always a highlight for children. We’re sorry you felt the toilets and showers let the experience down. Our compost toilets are emptied and cleaned daily and are part of the eco-friendly, rustic style of our site. We understand they are different from conventional facilities, but most guests find them clean and quirky once familiar.

Lighting is deliberately kept minimal at night to reduce disturbance to wildlife and protect our dark skies. However, we do recommend guests bring a torch for late showers, as part of the off-grid camping experience. We are also reviewing options for subtle solar lighting to make it easier for families in the evenings.

As a small, family-run retreat, we constantly balance sustainability with comfort, and feedback like yours helps us make improvements while staying true to the eco character of Hoad Meadow.

Good sized pitches, child safe as…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
9
Facilities / Activities
4
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
8
Cleanliness
6
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Good sized pitches, child safe as no cars in the camping area & gated in.
Kids loved their time here, & close proximity to the animals.
Friendly owners.

Disliked Toilets- compost toilets which were very very basic & filled up for too quickly, need to be constantly monitored. Showers very basic.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: hank you for your lovely feedback about the pitches, the safe set-up, and the animals – it’s great to hear your kids enjoyed their time here and that you felt welcomed.

We’re sorry the toilets and showers didn’t quite meet your expectations. At the moment, our compost loos and simple showers are part of our eco-friendly, low-impact set-up, but we know they’re very basic. We’re limited in what permanent facilities we can install until our planning situation is finalised, which is why we haven’t yet invested in full toilets and shower blocks.

If our planning is approved, we’ll be able to put in proper loos and improved shower facilities, which will be a big step forward for comfort. In the meantime, we’ll keep on top of monitoring and maintenance as best we can.

Thanks again for staying with us and for taking the time to share your experience – it really helps us to keep improving.

Give this place a miss !

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
6
Value for money
5
Facilities / Activities
1
Customer service
1
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
1
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Picnic tables by pitches ,nearness to Folkestone

Disliked Toilets are awful dirty , way too few for busy bank holiday weekend . Compost toilets can be very clean and not smell these were neither . Floors and walls had not been cleaned . They were housed in an old caravan which was very uncared for .
Showers , wooden fence between the 2 units was very old , no hooks very exposed in poor weather , no clean flooring , gravel !
Only drinking water tap was at Washing up sink .
Whole campsite felt uncared for in need of a refurb .

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We are very disappointed by this 1/10 review, which we feel is unfair and not representative of our site. Our compost toilets are our main facilities, but they are emptied, cleaned and stocked with sawdust daily. Clear instructions are provided to keep them fresh, and many guests praise them as clean, eco-friendly and unique. The caravan you mention houses the units but is maintained and painted — rustic, yes, but far from “uncared for.”

The showers are private wooden cabins, simple but functional, with improvements planned to add more hooks and flooring. Water taps are available and labelled on site, including by the washing area.

Over the same bank holiday weekend, families commented on the friendly welcome, safe space for children, green setting and relaxed atmosphere. We are a small family farm and campsite, investing continuously to improve, and believe your 1/10 rating doesn’t reflect reality or the experience of the majority of our guests.

Beautiful site with very friendly owners but terrible toilets.

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
8
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
3
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
8
Cleanliness
3
Wifi
8
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful location, very friendly owners, lovely to have the animals onsite & great price.

Disliked The toilets are awful! I consider myself a fairly hardy camper & as a festival goer I have experienced some pretty rough toilets in my past. These are housed in an old caravan & are sold as 'Eco toilets' which I was totally up for & have used many times before but unfortunately the design of these aren't great which caused blockages resulting in pools of wee in the bowl making it very awkward to sit down. This was put down to 'user error' but in my opinion this happened way too easily & therefore the design is the problem. The could also be cleaned / emptied more regularly.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for your kind words about our location, animals and welcome – we’re really glad you enjoyed those parts of your stay.

We’re sorry to hear the toilets didn’t meet your expectations. Our current eco-loos are a temporary solution, as we’ve been hesitant to invest heavily in permanent facilities until our planning situation is resolved. We fully understand they’re not perfect, and we do our best to keep them serviced, but we appreciate your honest feedback.

If our planning is approved, we’ll be able to install proper toilet and shower facilities on site, which will make a huge difference for future guests. In the meantime, we’ll take your comments on board and make sure the loos are checked and cleaned more frequently to improve the experience.

Thanks again for your review and for supporting our small family-run retreat.

What a lovely place with lovely…

Overall

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

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked What a lovely place with lovely people. So welcoming. And very peaceful

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 Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table 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

Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground Small (11-25 sites)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby

Location

Hoad Meadow Camping

Hoad Meadow

Hoad Road

Dover

Kent

England

CT15 7HS

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.14511°N
1.16437°E

Nearest transport

Coach
7.4 km Bus Station
8 km War Memorial
8 km War Memorial
Rail
6.7 km Shepherds Well Rail Station
6.8 km Folkestone West Rail Station
6.9 km Folkestone Central Rail Station
Ferry
6.3 km Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal
11 km Dover Western Docks Ferry Terminal
11.6 km Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal
Airport
26.2 km Kent International Airport
26.7 km Lydd London Ashford 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

Creative, historic, attractive… There are many adjectives that can be given to the city of Canterbury (25 minutes’ drive). Its historic highlights include the grand Canterbury Cathedral, Roman walls and timber houses, and its creative side can be tracked down in the theatres and galleries (and you'll pick up attractiveness just by taking a walk…) Dover (20 minutes) isn’t just about the white cliffs and castle. There are World War II tunnels beneath the castle and gorgeous coastal walks at Samphire Hoe. In Hythe (20 minutes), things are just as historical in the way of attractions, with the resort being home to the largest collection of human skulls and bones in the whole of Britain. What a way to split your day, between bone collections and the splendid beachfront. When you’re not busying yourself with all the different watersports that take place in Folkestone (15 minutes), take time to visit Folkestone East Cliff and Warren Country Park (10 minutes). On these easterly cliffs, there are sandy beaches and a nature reserve to investigate.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Folkestone 7.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sandgate 8.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Hythe 10.7 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
St Margaret`S Bay 15.5 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Dymchurch 17.8 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 10.5 km

Roman Painted House 10.5 km

Dover Castle 11 km

White Cliffs of Dover 12.3 km

Howletts Wild Animal Park 13.7 km

National Trust

The White Cliffs of Dover 12.3 km

South Foreland Lighthouse 14.4 km

Smallhythe Place 34.7 km

Lamb House 37.2 km

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 41.4 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Cheriton Hill 5.1 km

BROOME PARK 5.3 km

Kearsney Court 7.2 km

WALDERSHARE PARK 8.7 km

SANDLING PARK 10 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.

Want to know more about camping in Kent?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Hoad Meadow Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hoad Meadow Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Hoad Meadow Camping? Creative, historic, attractive… There are many adjectives that can be given to the city of Canterbury (25 minutes’ drive). Its historic highlights include the grand Canterbury Cathedral, Roman walls and timber houses, … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hoad Meadow Camping?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  noon –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hoad Meadow Camping? From $48.27 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.