The Wild Retreat

View prices & book 8.8 48 reviews
Bell tents
Bell tents
The on-site lake
Taking a yoga class from the stage
Yoga class at the woodland stage
Around the site
Yoga space
Around the site
Around the site
1/66
New
The on-site lake
Taking a yoga class from the stage
Yoga class at the woodland stage

  • 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
Overlooking the calm waters of the River Stort in Hertfordshire, The Wild Retreat is a well‑kept, family‑friendly hideaway with more than its fair share of shaded woodland trails – ideal for exercising your four-legged pals – and paddleboarding expeditions along the river. And the ‘get back to nature’ vibe doesn’t end there, as you also have the option of wild swimming in the lake or the inflatable assault course… And always remember to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife whichever adventure you choose. When you’re ready for further action, choose from guided yoga sessions on the lake or at the woodland stage, join in archery lessons and play classic children’s games. Music lover? There are occasional festivals and weekend concerts during the summer months too. The camping field is neatly mown and sheltered by trees; picnic tables are scattered around the pitches so you can eat alfresco in comfort – spark up a barbecue or bring in a takeaway from Sawbridgeworth (10 minutes’ drive). Modern facilities – including a toilet block and heated outdoor showers – make staying this close to nature effortless for one and all, and thanks to quick links to London (40 minutes by train from Sawbridgeworth) and London Stansted Airport (20 minutes’ drive), this spot makes a handy overnight stopover as part of your longer journey.

Site type

Tent sites 20
RV sites 3
Rent a tent 13
Open now
Opens June 13
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • 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

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesTravel trailer sitesRV sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsMobile homes for rentRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
Other options

Reviews

8.8

Overall rating from 48 Pitchup.com customers

  • 50%
    10
  • 27%
    9
  • 10%
    8
  • 2%
    7
  • 0%
    6
  • 4%
    5
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    3
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    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 7
Wild campingLake and/or mountainPeacefulForest

90% would recommend this site to a friend

88% would stay here again

What customers say

This campsite offers a fun, unique style with a beautiful lake. Visitors love the friendly staff, chill-out areas, hammocks, and shows. However, some note a tricky access road for larger vehicles, toilet cleanliness, factory noise, waste disposal issues, inconsistent hot water, and party disruptions.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 5
Arrival date (latest first)

Much improved site, owners, and set-up…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Daniel C.

Bell tent (six person)

Liked Much improved site, owners, and set-up

Disliked Nothing!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really nice place to stay. Helpful…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Ray R.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Really nice place to stay. Helpful and friendly staff

Recommend to friends Visit again

A great experience and one we are definitely going to repeat!

Overall

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

Bell tent (six person)

Liked This was our first ever camping holiday for me and my girls. All the staff were really friendly and accommodating. They made us feel so welcome and we loved every minute of our time there that we can’t wait to come back!

Disliked The factory can be heard at night because the camp site is so quiet. But it’s not off putting and if anything the white noise helps with sleeping.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Open water swimming and the relaxed…

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Open water swimming and the relaxed vibes!

Recommend to friends Visit again

So many activities for everyone to…

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
Anonymous

Bell tent (six person)

Liked So many activities for everyone to enjoy. Calm and relaxing but also exciting and energetic. Couldn’t have wanted more.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Absolutely loved it! I adore everything about…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Jeffrey F.

Power optional grass and earth RV campsite

Liked Absolutely loved it!
I adore everything about this place—the vibe, the people, the location. It’s just far enough from home to feel like a real escape, without the need to drive 100+ miles. Most of that magic comes from the laid-back, chilled atmosphere that hits you the moment you arrive.

This is truly back-to-nature camping with a wonderful, small-festival feel. If you’re into music, laughter, and waving your hands in the air like you just don’t care (bucket hat optional!), you’ll feel right at home. And when the night winds down, you can wake up to yoga and wellbeing sessions in the morning—perfect balance.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

We had a great time. We will come again with our toilet.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Sabrina G.

Power optional grass and earth RV campsite

Liked Chilled atmosphere, music and entertainment all weekend

Disliked Toilets too far away and the water supply wasn’t sufficient enough for so many people.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing relaxed campsite. Great location and…

Overall

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

Power optional grass and earth RV campsite

Liked Amazing relaxed campsite. Great location and lake was amazing. Staff all really friendly and helpful. Very dog friendly... overall one of my favourite campsites ever!!

Recommend to friends Visit again

EPIC weekend at the Wild Retreat

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 1
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 1
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Aiveen E.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked We're just back from an EPIC weekend at the Wild Retreat. It was an impromptu end of summer camping trip, our first with our 4 year old daughter. She had the time of her life and kept referring to her 'big friends', the staff. The vibe was chilled, relaxed and fun. The staff make it so special, and she didn't want to leave the dance floor. Thanks for going the extra mile!

Disliked We loved it all, and will be back!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Gorgeous location. Friendly And informative staff.…

Overall

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

Bell tent (six person)

Liked Gorgeous location. Friendly And informative staff. Really clean. Loved it!

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 swimming

Amenities 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 Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent sites

Themes

Forest Peaceful Wild camping

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) No hot water Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transportation nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 sites)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Water hook-up points for caravans

Location

The Wild Retreat

Redricks Lane

Redricks Lakes

Sawbridgeworth

Hertfordshire

England

CM21 0RL

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

51.79183°N
0.11707°E

Nearest transport

Coach
2.8 km Bus Station
9 km Interchange
12.3 km South Road
Rail
1.1 km Harlow Mill Rail Station
1.9 km Harlow Town Rail Station
3.9 km Sawbridgeworth Rail Station
Ferry
32.7 km East India Pier
32.9 km Woolwich Ferry North Pier
33.1 km North Greenwich Pier
Airport
14.8 km London Stansted Airport
32.3 km London City Airport
35.4 km London Luton 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

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 & Gardens: 20 minutes - Lea Valley Park (riverside walks): 25 minutes - Audley End Miniature Railway: 40 minutes - London: 40 minutes by train - Cambridge: 45 minutes’ drive.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Leigh Bell Wharf 46.4 km Estuary GoodN/APoorN/A
Southend Chalkwell 47.6 km Estuary N/AGoodN/AGood

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

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 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.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Wild Retreat? From $46.43 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.