Stuarts Wood

View prices & book 9.9 15 reviews
Pitches
Pitches
Newest pitch by oak and pond
View from newest pitch
Tent pitches
Tent pitches
Tent pitches
Forest
Site
1/36
Newest pitch by oak and pond
View from newest pitch
Tent pitches

  • Nearly wild site in an oak woodland on a working country farm
  • Five-minute drive to Stock and 10 minutes to Hanningfield’s bird hide
  • Campfires allowed; 35 minutes from Southend-on-Sea beaches
Flock to the forest for a secluded stay amid the towering oak trees at Stuarts Wood. This pretty much wild site is set on the 800-acre Apps Estate, a working arable farm, and is a top place for a wildlife-watching weekend away as it’s a 10-minute drive from the bird hide at Hanningfield Nature Reserve. The park is also peaceful – guests drop cars 200m away from the pitches, carrying their belongings to and fro in the provided wheelbarrows so vehicle noise doesn’t disturb the ambience. Continuing the laidback vibes, campfires are permitted on base and, when not building blazes, visitors can wander around the woodland trails or on the historical Pilgrims Way route in the surrounding countryside. The coast is also close enough for a day trip – check out the beaches around Southend-on-Sea 35 minutes away. If you’d like to have food prepared by others, walk towards one of the pubs near the park – there are a few within a half an hour’s amble. Alternatively, fill a bag up with local produce at the farm shop in Stock (five minutes’ drive) and cook it alfresco at your pitch. As you’ve probably already realised, Stuarts Wood is a simple sort of site, so expect long-drop loos in the woods and not much else but a warm welcome and running water. The park operates a ‘love the farm, leave no trace policy’, so please take what you bring with you back home at the end of your stay.

Site type

Tent sites 10
Open now
Opens 18 April
Please note
  • This campground/park has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the campground/park are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
  • There is no reception building on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
  • The car park is located about 200m from the pitches. You will be provided with wheelbarrows to transfer your gear to your pitch.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 18 Apr to

Reviews

9.9

Overall rating from 15 Pitchup.com customers View breakdown

  • 93%
    10
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    9
  • 6%
    8
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    7
  • 0%
    6
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    5
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    3
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    2
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    1
PeacefulWild camping

100% would recommend this site to a friend

100% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 2
Arrival date (latest first)

A beautiful, well-run spot. Not always quiet though.

Overall 8/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked The wood itself is beautiful. The pitches are large, flat, and well-spaced out. The admin is super-helpful and friendly. The composting toilets were clean. The water and washing up station were clean and very useful. The location is lovely. Good access and parking.

Disliked The 'vibe' on this occasion was more family-oriented - due to the groups that had booked in - so it was less peaceful than maybe I was expecting. It's great that kids can stay in the woods, but just not what I was looking for personally on this occasion. Apparently it was the busiest weekend they had had all season, so maybe just bad timing on my part!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would definitely stay here again!

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Great atmosphere, Bryony was lovely and helpful. Site has amazing views and is a brilliant way to spend a night or more.

Disliked Nothing. A bit of a shower facility would be good but the site is purposely back to basics so isn’t essential.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Stuart's woods is pure magic. Camping fire people who want to get back to basics, respect the woods and give the kids some freedom. Even with so many people in the woods it is remarkably peaceful

Disliked That it isn't open more days off the year

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site, will visit again…

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Lovely site, will visit again

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic site.

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
Adam H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Everything. Great site and well looked after by the host. Was just what I needed and the pictures don't do it justice. Will be back for sure.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful, peaceful place to stay. Lovely pitch options amongst trees.

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Arriving by public transport is very doable if you don’t mind a walk, but do research paths beforehand.

Recommend to friends Visit again

No showers but washing up area & many toilets provided

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
Rylea A. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Loved the selection & variety of the pitches

The willingness of the woman who runs the site , she made it a very comfortable and the customer service was great ! anything you needed she was there to help.

Disliked Wouldn’t change anything

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful setting, back to nature. Lovely to sit around the campfire of…

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Beautiful setting, back to nature. Lovely to sit around the campfire of an evening and chat. Kids loved having the freedom to explore and play.

Disliked Kids were a bit put off by the composting toilets but they got over it 😂

Recommend to friends Visit again

Warm welcome, great weekend get away

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Closest to wild camping I’ve got without sneaking into the local farmers field! Before I had my boy this was a weekly occurrence, I’ve been looking for somewhere like this to share that experience with my son. Perfect little site. Each pitch is a distance from others. My lad really liked having a walk round and reading the names on each pitch. Communal fire pit in the evening and a personal pit at your pitch. Wood available to buy and the essentials too (marshmallows!)

Booked again before I had left.

Highly recommend.

Disliked Nothing to report

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good camping site.…

Overall 10/10

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Good camping site.

Disliked All good.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

No dogs allowed

Pop-up campground

Campfires 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

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly 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

Bush Peaceful Remote location Wild camping

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No hot water Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground Tiny (1-10 sites)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby

Location

Stuarts Wood

Great Preston Lane

Stock

Essex

England

CM4 9RN

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

51.65913°N
0.4762°E

Route directions

What3words: prance.summit.player.

Nearest transport

Coach
2.2 km War Memorial
2.3 km War Memorial
5.4 km The Chequers
Rail
5.2 km Billericay Rail Station
5.7 km Wickford Rail Station
6.4 km Ingatestone Rail Station
Ferry
22.4 km Wallasea Island Ferry Landing
24 km Burnham on Crouch Ferry Landing
24.4 km Tilbury Ferry Terminal
Airport
18.6 km London Southend Airport
29.7 km London Stansted Airport
34.2 km London City 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

Check out Chelmsford (15 minutes’ drive) from this park – the city’s a historical haven with hotspots including the 18th-century Hylands House’s multiple acres of parkland and the medieval Chelmsford Cathedral. The Essex Regiment Museum, showcasing military bits and bobs including weapons, uniform and medals, is also nearby (15 minutes) to excite folk who find poking around in the past the most satisfying way to spend some time. A little out of the city is the RHS Garden Hyde Hall (20 minutes), just the place for glimpsing views from the hilltop setting or to rove around the rose-filled green areas. For a wilder landscape, head to Hanningfield Nature Reserve (10 minutes), an 870-acre reservoir edging old woodland that’s covered in bluebells during springtime. And for a change of scenery? Set off for the busy beachside resort of Southend-on-Sea for bucket and spade sessions or hours at the machines in the amusement arcades.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Leigh Bell Wharf 18.1 km Estuary GoodN/APoorN/A
Southend Chalkwell 19.2 km Estuary N/AGoodN/AGood
Southend Westcliff Bay 20 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Southend Three Shells 21.5 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentGood
Southend Jubilee 22.5 km Estuary N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Hyde Hall 6.8 km

Dickens World 28.9 km

The Historic Dockyard Chatham 29.7 km

Rochester Castle 30 km

Rochester Cathedral 30.1 km

National Trust

Rainham Hall 25.3 km

Coggeshall Grange Barn 27.1 km

Paycocke's 27.4 km

Eastbury Manor House 29.5 km

Owletts 30.2 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

HYLANDS PARK 6.4 km

DANBURY PARK 8.4 km

RIFFHAMS 9.5 km

Danbury - Great Graces - Little Baddow Hall - Danbury 9.6 km

South Woodham Ferrers Circular Walk 9.9 km

Local events

  • All Points East (Friday, 22 August 2025 – Friday, 22 August 2025)

    London, England 38.4 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.

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Essex?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Stuarts Wood have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Stuarts Wood dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Stuarts Wood? Check out Chelmsford (15 minutes’ drive) from this park – the city’s a historical haven with hotspots including the 18th-century Hylands House’s multiple acres of parkland and the medieval Chelmsford Cathedral. The … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Stuarts Wood?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Stuarts Wood? From $67.56 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.