Hawthorne Trench Campsite

View prices & book 9.7 87 reviews
Visitor image of the campsite
Visitor image of the campsite
Tents
Lots of space
Huge distances between tents
Green heven
No problem here with too-near neighbours.
Summer at hawthorne
A summer day at hawthorne
1/119
Tents
Lots of space
Huge distances between tents

  • 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.

Campground type

Tent sites 12
Open now
Opens 27 June
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 14 consecutive nights.
  • No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 27 June to

Reviews

9.7

Overall rating from 87 Pitchup.com customers

  • 82%
    10
  • 2%
    9
  • 13%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 1%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 0%
    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 campground to a friend

99% would stay here again

What customers say

This peaceful spot has massive, neat sites in gorgeous scenery, great for nature lovers. Guests rave about the friendly owner, Richard, and the clean, basic facilities. Nearby pubs and walks are a plus. The WWI trench tour is a must-do. Perfect for a quiet, spacious break.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 9
Arrival date (latest first)

A real gem close to the shuttle and ferry’s. The very spacious…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Judith O.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked A real gem close to the shuttle and ferry’s. The very spacious pitches and wide views make you feel all on your own, just what we like so much in (almost) wild camping. It is a very pleasant site to stay a few days to explore Kent, normally for us an area we just pass by on the motorways. We love the small roads, the beautiful small villages and pubs.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful surroundings and extremely well maintained pitches. Richard the owner was friendly…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Andrea D.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Beautiful surroundings and extremely well maintained pitches. Richard the owner was friendly and welcoming, and the area is stunning. Went for walks and bike rides and the village of Elham is lovely. Folkestone and Hythe are nearby - very highly recommended. The loos and shower are basic but clean and there’s even a fridge to keep buts cold which was a bonus.

Disliked That we couldn’t stay longer :(

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful site, friendly owner, clean facilities. What's not to like?

Overall

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

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Peaceful site with loads of space. Very friendly owner who is often around checking all is OK. He goes above and beyond by providing a fridge with tea coffee and milk with a kettle campers can use. Fire pits available to hire. The facilities are basic but that is clearly noted in the description and the reviews so I was fully prepared for it. The toilets being in a portaloo type building (just to note the toilets are NOT portaloos, they're fully plumbed in flushing toilets) sometimes have an "aroma" but I think that was a lot to do with the heat of the weather. Despite this, they were clearly very clean and always fully stocked with loo roll. I would most certainly choose basic loos over a busy site any day. August summer holidays and the place felt empty due to the huge amount of space.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Open space, proximity to the village and a pub (about 1 mile),…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Stuart O.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Open space, proximity to the village and a pub (about 1 mile), and the owner.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Tutto, essenziale nella sua perfezione. Adatto per bimbi piccoli, liberi di correre…

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
Erika V.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Tutto, essenziale nella sua perfezione. Adatto per bimbi piccoli, liberi di correre nel prato immenso. A stretto contatto con la natura, ovunque ci si giri ci sono pecore, cavalli, volatili e soprattutto la meravigliosa campagna!

Disliked Tutto perfetto

Recommend to friends Visit again

Highly reccomended

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 1
Sam A.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Huge campsite with loads of space between pitches. Owner was really nice and helpful.very quiet, very clean.

Disliked Toilets and shower are basic, and a bit of a walk frok the furthest pitches

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great for back to basics camping

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Luke R.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Friendly staff and lots of space

Recommend to friends Visit again

lovely views and great hospitality…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked lovely views and great hospitality

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing view, friendly owner, toilet and shower, everything you need. Richard the…

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
 1
Anonymous

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Amazing view, friendly owner, toilet and shower, everything you need. Richard the owner also showed us the trench and talked through. We had amazing weekend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful campsite with gorgeous views of the Kent countryside. Really liked the…

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
 No rating
Lisa K.

Unpowered grass and earth tent site

Liked Beautiful campsite with gorgeous views of the Kent countryside. Really liked the large pick your own pitches and the limited amount of pitches so everyone had loads of space. Good facilities, clean toilets and a good shower, plus fridge, washing station, tea coffee and a kettle. Very friendly owner who was really helpful. Loved seeing the horses, cows and sheep. A perfect break away from it all to get back to nature and chill out. Lovely village pub as well.

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 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

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby

Type

Farm Small (11-25 sites)

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 +0100 (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
8.6 km Swan Lane
8.6 km Swan Lane
8.7 km Holiday Extras
Rail
7.3 km Sandling Rail Station
7.7 km Westenhanger Rail Station
8.5 km Folkestone West Rail Station
Ferry
6.4 km Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal
15.6 km Dover Western Docks Ferry Terminal
16.2 km Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal
Airport
24.9 km Lydd London Ashford Airport
28.1 km 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.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Sandgate 9.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Hythe 9.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Folkestone 10.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Dymchurch 15.9 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Mary'S Bay (Kent) 17.8 km Sea GoodN/AGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 9.2 km

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park 10.8 km

Howletts Wild Animal Park 13.2 km

St Augustine's Abbey 13.9 km

Canterbury Tales 14 km

National Trust

The White Cliffs of Dover 16.9 km

South Foreland Lighthouse 19 km

Smallhythe Place 30.8 km

Lamb House 34.1 km

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 37 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Cheriton Hill 6.3 km

BROOME PARK 6.8 km

SANDLING PARK 8 km

Hythe - Lympne - Royal Military Canal - Hythe 9.1 km

HATCH PARK 11 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.

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

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 caravan
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hawthorne Trench Campsite? From $41.23 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.