The Wild Retreat
View prices & book











- Well-kept and family-friendly Hertfordshire site on the River Stort
- London Stanstead Airport 20 minutes’ drive; Lea Valley Park 25 minutes
- On-site archery lessons, inflatable assault course and dog walks
Site type
- Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
- No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
- Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Fri, Jun 13 to
Pitch types & availability
Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite
4 people maximum
Ground type: Grass and earth
Pitch size: Min 5m width × 9m depth
Calculated area: 45m²
Arrival daysFrom £34.50 (£34.50)
View prices & bookBell tent (six person)
6 people maximum
Dimensions: 16.4ft width × 16.4ft length
Arrival daysFrom £149.50 (£149.50)
View prices & bookBell tent (eight person)
8 people maximum
Dimensions: 19.7ft width × 19.7ft length
Arrival daysFrom £195.50 (£195.50)
View prices & book
Reviews
84% would recommend this site to a friend
79% would stay here again
What customers say
Beautiful grounds with a popular swimming lake and chill-out areas. Staff are friendly, atmosphere is relaxed. Some issues with toilets, showers, hot water, and extra charges. Factory noise and rubbish disposal were minor drawbacks.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

















De camping is in een leuke en vrolijke stijl opgezet. Heel vriendelijke…
Power optional grass and earth RV campsite
Liked De camping is in een leuke en vrolijke stijl opgezet. Heel vriendelijke mensen!
Disliked Om te beginnen waren we niet blij met het pad naar de camping toe. Dat is bijna niet te doen met een wat zwaardere camper. Onze tip is om wat extra grind of zand te storten in de vele kuilen en je hebt al een eenvoudige oplossing. Goed egaliseren zou natuurlijk nog beter zijn.
Het toiletgebouw was ronduit smerig. Ik was blij dat wij alles zelf aan boord hebben want hier wilde ik niet zijn. Er lag overal water (hoop ik), toiletpapier en er waren toiletten en een buitendouche verstopt.
Vanaf de camping is er geen paadje gemaakt naar het nabijgelegen fiets/wandelpad waardoor je echt moet zoeken waar je naartoe moet. Dit lijkt ons een kleine moeite en echt een groot plezier voor iedereen die naar het station wil om bv naar Londen te gaan.
Verder is er veel geluidshinder van de nabijgelegen glasfabriek. Daar kunnen de camping eigenaren niets aan doen, maar weegt wel mee met de beoordeling.
Maar als grootste punt waar we niet blij mee waren: de afvalverwerking. Die is er niet. Je kunt nergens je afval kwijt, wat vervelend is maar oké wij kunnen het meenemen met onze camper. Dat zal moeilijker zijn voor mensen met tentjes. Zorgwekkender is dat er op en rond het terrein resten afval liggen en we zagen matrasspiralen naast een vuurput liggen wat de indruk geeft dat het afval wordt verbrand. Naast dat dat heel schadelijk en milieuverontreinigend is, strookt het niet met de vibe die de camping wil uitstralen (zen, 1 met de natuur).
Kortom: een plek met potentie maar waar echt nog het nodige aan moet gebeuren om de hoge prijs te kunnen rechtvaardigen!
Recommend to friends Visit again
the worst camping experience I have ever had. DO NOT BE RIPPED OFF!
Bell tent (six person)
Liked Nothing
Disliked This was the worst camping experience I have ever had. DO NOT BE RIPPED OFF BY THIS PLACE.
We had to leave for a hotel at 4 in the morning due to a free party rave starting up on site. The tent was shaking due to the volume of the techno music. The site stewards were nowhere to be found and did not answer the 24 hour help phone. I think they were at the rave! The site is also on the flight path from Stansted’s with noisy aircraft flying over all night. We will be asking for a full refund.
Imagine a festival after it has finished. All the rubbish and debris is left, as well as the travellers and crusties who will not move on. We did not sleep a wink due to the noise.
This site, with dogs and hazards, was not safe for a young child. We paid £150 for glamping and all we got was an empty bell tent, which had not been cleaned, with a futon. Luckily we had our own sleeping bags and bedding.
Recommend to friends Visit again
From the manager: We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, though we must address several inaccuracies and misleading claims made in your review.
Firstly, the noise disturbance you refer to did not originate from our site. The music came from an unconnected event across the River Stort, entirely outside our boundaries and control. We share your frustration at the disruption, which unfortunately affected not only us but others in the area. This was not a party “on site,” and implying our team was involved is a baseless and serious accusation.
Secondly, the claim about “rubbish and debris” is a blatant fabrication. Our site operates under a strict Leave No Trace and Zero Waste policy, something we take great pride in and which is consistently upheld by our team and guests alike. We have numerous testimonials to support this and work extremely hard to maintain a clean, nature-rich, and respectful environment. There is not a single scrap of litter on site, and suggesting otherwise is completely false.
In terms of accommodation, our bell tents are clearly advertised as comfortable camping, not “glamping.” Nowhere in our listings do we describe luxury or high-end furnishings. We provide clean z beds, which are fold-out seats/beds as described, and this is fully outlined in our descriptions. If there was any uncertainty, we are always available to provide further information if contacted prior to booking.
Regarding your comment about a 24-hour helpline, we do not advertise such a service. We provide a site mobile number, clearly displayed, and our office is manned until 11:30pm. To claim otherwise is inaccurate.
Lastly, your comments about safety are extremely concerning and again, misleading. We are a family-friendly site with clear guidance around dogs and site use, and we do not tolerate irresponsible behaviour. If there was a specific safety concern, it should have been raised with our team on site or via the proper channels.
We always welcome feedback and aim to address genuine concerns constructively. However, when complaints are riddled with false claims, it undermines the hard work our team puts in daily to offer a unique, eco-conscious camping experience.
great place, really nice vibe, beautiful countryside.…
Power optional grass and earth RV campsite
Liked great place, really nice vibe, beautiful countryside.
Recommend to friends Visit again
We absolutely had the best glamping night at Redricks Lake, Herts. The…
Bell tent (six person)
Liked We absolutely had the best glamping night at Redricks Lake, Herts. The kids enjoyed playing together and using the sites facilities, toasting marshmallows, and the aqua water park on site. We look forward to returning soon.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Everything!! Thank you so much to Sammie and the whole team for…
Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite
Liked Everything!! Thank you so much to Sammie and the whole team for making the wild retreat such a beautiful place to visit! Amazing showers , beautiful lake and grounds people on hand to help with anything you could possibly need!
Disliked Nothing
Recommend to friends Visit again
Luxury prices but budget facilities
Power optional grass and earth RV campsite
Liked The lake was great for the kids.
Disliked Only 2 women's toilets working for the whole site and 1 handwashing sink with no hot water or soap.
1 open air washing up station with no hot water.
Outdoor showers were a nice idea but no locks on doors. Also hot water ran out after a minute.
Extra charges like £5 a night for a firepit and £10a night for a dog felt a bit steep.
Lots of the electric hook ups didn't work.
Visitors were told to put dogs on leads while live in workers didn't appear to follow this rule. 1 had a very reactive dog.
Taking rubbish home wouldn't be too much of a problem if the camping field wasn't crawling with ants. By the end of our stay, so was our van.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Love this place. So booked again for 2 weeks time
Power optional grass and earth RV campsite
Liked Wild swimming
Chill out areas
Hammocks everywhere!!
Lively people
Recommend to friends Visit again
Loved the lake and the chill out area…
Power optional grass and earth RV campsite
Liked Loved the lake and the chill out area
Disliked £10 charge for our tiny dog
Recommend to friends Visit again
We'll definitely go back again!
Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite
Liked The private lake, the clean facilities, the open showers, the zen Moroccan tent area, the hammocks, and the quirky seating scattered around, everything was perfect. The vibe and atmosphere were amazing, especially the DJ at night and the fire show. All the members of staff were lovely!
Disliked One thing I didn’t love was having to take your rubbish with you. I completely understand it, it fits with the camping philosophy, but it could be inconvenient for people who are continuing their travels afterward.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great experience. Loved it! Water is perfect for swimming
Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite
Liked The lake is excellent for swimming, staff very friendly and accomodating. Great surroundings.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Features
Dogs allowed
Campfires allowed
Leisure on park
Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports Wild swimmingAmenities on park
Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearCamping 2.0
Jumbo tent sitesThemes
Forest Peaceful Wild campingUtilities
Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) No hot water Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transportation nearbyType
Medium (26-50 sites)Nearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearbyTouring and motorhomes
Water hook-up points for caravansLocation
The Wild Retreat
Redricks Lane
Redricks Lakes
Sawbridgeworth
Hertfordshire
England
CM21 0RL
Timezone
Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)
GPS
51.79183°N
0.11707°E
Nearest transport
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
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leigh Bell Wharf | 46.4 km | Estuary | Good | N/A | Poor | N/A |
Southend Chalkwell | 47.6 km | Estuary | N/A | Good | N/A | Good |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Lee Valley Regional Park 14.1 km
Hatfield House 22.7 km
Knebworth House 24.5 km
Audley End House and Gardens 26.4 km
Discover 29.2 km
National Trust
Shaw's Corner 26.9 km
Eastbury Manor House 28.7 km
Sutton House 29.5 km
Rainham Hall 30.9 km
2 Willow Road 32.8 km
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
PISHIOBURY 2.2 km
THE HOUSE, MARSH LANE 2.4 km
STANSTEAD BURY 5.8 km
DOWN HALL 6 km
RYE MEADS (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 19/12/2001) 7.7 km
Local events
- All Points East (Friday, August 22, 2025 – Friday, August 22, 2025)
London, England 30.8 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 sites
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.
Want to know more about camping in Hertfordshire?
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Wild Retreat have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is The Wild Retreat dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Wild Retreat? Local attractions and activities include: - Golf course: 10 minutes’ drive - The Gibberd Garden (sculpture trail and follies): 10 minutes - TeamSport Go Karting Harlow: 10 minutes - Henry Moore Studios … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Wild Retreat?
RV, travel trailer and tent sites Arrive: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. On-park accommodation Arrive: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. - How much does it cost to stay at The Wild Retreat? From $63.19 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.