Swell Camping at The Orchard

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9.5 11 reviews
Outside view (added by manager 14 Jun 2023)
View from the entrance to the orchard
View looking into the tent set up with twin beds
Evening with lights on

  • Peaceful orchard site with views of Saunton Sands
  • A five-minute drive from Saunton Sands; 10 minutes to Croyde Beach
  • Tea and coffee station; cafés and shops within walking distance
Surf’s up… Swell Camping at The Orchard at Fairlinch, is in a sweet spot for tackling the Devon surf, as well as coasteering, paddleboarding and kayaking. The site is between the village of Braunton and the wild and adventurous coastline, with Saunton Sands 40 minutes’ walk away and schools across the local coast providing all of the former activities. The Orchard’s in a private area of the popular site Fairlinch Camping, so it feels nice and peaceful. It’s a small orchard setting, actually, with views of Saunton Sands, the Taw Estuary and the coastline between Bideford and Hartland Quay. It’s tucked away from the action of the busy surfing beaches, which include Saunton Sands and Croyde Beach (10 minutes’ drive). Stroll to the South West Coast Path, which runs past Saunton Sands, or take in the ocean views from the local Saunton Hill. In Braunton village, 25 minutes’ walk away, there are plenty of cafés and shops, and a museum and art studio. If you’re after pubs, ice creams or a place to soak up the Devon lifestyle, find that around the bay in Croyde village (10 minutes). Facilities on site include a smart toilet block and showers and a tea and coffee station for your essential morning caffeine.

Site type

Rent a tent 8
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Reviews

91%

would recommend this site to a friend

91%

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Excellent setting with spectacular views over the dunes and the sea

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

Bell tent

Liked: We had an amazing time, thank you for that! The location is great, the scenery is to die for, and there is lots of space for kids to explore and have fun in the orchard. The tent was big enough to accommodate everyone, including our dog. The beds are comfy, the facilities clean and the kitchen tent is a bonus. For us, 10 out of 10! ;)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite with fab, clean facilities in a beautiful location.

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

Bell tent

Liked: Loved everything about this campsite. The bell tents are wonderful & spacious, the view over looking the orchard & beyond is beautiful. The kitchen tent is very well appointed & had everything we needed. We enjoyed using the BBQ’s & munching the apples from the orchard! The shower & loos were clean, with plenty of hot water for everyone. The location is perfect, very close to great beaches. From booking to arriving, Elly’s communication was excellent. She went above & beyond for us.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

We had a fabulous time at Swell camping, staying in the bell…

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

Bell tent

Liked: We had a fabulous time at Swell camping, staying in the bell tents.There was ample room for four single beds, plus small tables and lights. It was very comfortable. The kitchen tent was well-stocked and had a fridge, as well as being a nice social area. Showers were hot and facilities good. It is a beautiful and peaceful spot, with incredible views, next to an orchard with both eating and cooking apples. It is just a few minutes drive from the glorious stretch of sand and beach and Saunton, fantastic for bodyboarding and surfing, as well as easy access to Croyde, Woolacombe, Putsborough. Elly was very attentive to all our needs. Would definitely recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely quiet site with great views, clean facilities & friendly owner

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

Bell tent

Liked: Beautiful location & stunning views across to Saunton Sands. Tents were nicely setup & very comfortable. No condensation or feeling of dampness in the mornings, even after one night of torrential rain. It was great to have use of the kettle, toaster & fridge in the communal tent too. The owner Elly is very friendly & helpful. We would certainly book again and also recommend Swell camping to others!

Disliked: The steps to the tent we had could use an additional step towards the bottom of the little grassy bank and/or the hand rail moving closer to the steps. My friend & I are both of an age where we needed the toilet a few times in the night and the morning dew and especially the torrential rain we had one night made the grass very slippy in the early hours.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Okay - thought it was expensive for what we got.

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

Bell tent

Liked: Scenery & location were lovely. Shower was great.

Disliked: Access track is very poor. Advertised access to refrigerated storage, we packed a lot of food which went off as there is one small cooler box in a shared tent, that had no ice. Weather was hot so it spoilt.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful tranquil setting in the orchard. Sea views. Kids ran riot in…

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

Bell tent

Liked: Beautiful tranquil setting in the orchard. Sea views. Kids ran riot in the space playing games. Very famous five! True glamping, just bring food, everything else is provided. Lovely Hot showers, clean loos. It’s bliss (don’t tell anyone!)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant site, clean facilities.

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

Bell tent (basic, small)

Liked: Brilliant campsite, especially the communal area!

Disliked: Track to the site!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will definitely return! Loved it :-)

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

Bell tent (basic, medium)

Liked: Beautiful orchard, loved the bell tent and the facilities. Tea and coffee tent a nice touch. Brilliant location with saunton sands and croyde both a stones throw. Very welcoming and stress free contact. Thank you!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really lovely place to stay. Safe place for children to play.

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

Bell tent (three person)

Liked: Loved the views and the peace and quiet of the orchard.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very relaxing and inspirational

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

Bell tent (three person)

Liked: The setting

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 Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette 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

Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Surf school nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Swell Camping at The Orchard

Saunton Road

Braunton

Devon

England

EX33 1EB

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

51.11737°N
-4.18178°W

Route directions

The site has its own private entrance via a farm track. Please don’t enter through the entrance to Fairlinch Camping. If you are driving from Braunton on the Saunton Road, go past Fairlinch Camping, then turn right onto Broad Lane. At the end of Broad Lane, turn right and look for the sign to Swell Camping at The Orchard on your right. Take a short drive down the farm track into The Orchard.

Nearest transport

Coach
1.8 km Opposite George Hotel
1.8 km George Hotel
4.1 km Camp Gates
Rail
9.6 km Barnstaple Rail Station
15.7 km Chapelton (Devon) Rail Station
19.3 km Umberleigh Rail Station
Ferry
7.1 km Appledore Ferry Landing
7.4 km Instow Ferry Landing
11.1 km Bideford Ferry Landing

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

Attractions and activities nearby include: - Museum of British Surfing: half an hour’s walk - Braunton Burrows (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with sand dunes): five minutes’ drive - Croyde Beach (popular surfing beach): 10 minutes - Putsborough beach (surf hire and lessons): 15 minutes - Woolacombe beach (surf hire and lessons): 20 minutes.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Saunton Sands 2.8 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Putsborough 4.2 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Croyde Bay 4.3 km Sea N/A Good Excellent Good
Woolacombe Village 6.3 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Combesgate Beach, Woolacombe 7.1 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Rosemoor 19.6 km

National Trust

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum 14.2 km

Heddon Valley 20.8 km

Watersmeet 29.1 km

Lundy 34 km

Holnicote Estate 44.2 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

SAUNTON COURT 1.6 km

Saunton - Croyde - Putsborough - Fruit and Nut Trail 2.7 km

Croyde – Saunton Down – Middleborough Hill – Croyde 3.4 km

CHAPEL WOOD (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 21/11/1950) 4 km

ISLEY MARSH (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 05/04/1990) 5.1 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 Devon?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Swell Camping at The Orchard have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Swell Camping at The Orchard dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Swell Camping at The Orchard? Attractions and activities nearby include: - Museum of British Surfing: half an hour’s walk - Braunton Burrows (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with sand dunes): five minutes’ drive - Croyde Beach (popular surfing beach): … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Swell Camping at The Orchard?
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more