The Wild Retreat

View prices & book 8.7 35 reviews
Bell tents
Bell tents
The on-site lake
Taking a yoga class from the stage
Yoga class at the woodland stage
Bell tents come with picnic tables
Bell tents
Bell tents on their pitches
Well-maintained grass pitches
1/60
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.

Campground 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

Campsite types & availability

Accommodation

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

Reviews

8.7

Overall rating from 35 Pitchup.com customers

  • 45%
    10
  • 31%
    9
  • 11%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 0%
    6
  • 2%
    5
  • 2%
    4
  • 2%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 2%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 7
Lake and/or mountain

89% would recommend this campground to a friend

86% would stay here again

What customers say

Fun, quirky campsite with a great swimming lake. Staff are praised, as are chill-out spots & fire shows. However, access is tricky for large vehicles, some toilets weren't clean, & a factory caused noise. Some reported waste issues, no hot water, & party disruptions.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 4
Arrival date (latest first)

The lake is really close and…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Matt O.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked The lake is really close and great fun for the kids.

Staff there are extremely welcoming and friendly

Disliked Nothing! Will definitely be back.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great spot, lovely team, lots to do

Overall

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

Power optional grass and earth RV campsite

Liked Funky vibe, lots of shade, access to the lake

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant for everyone, any age....

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
 10
Chris S.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Loved the lake, archery, bar & DJ.

Great team on site, very helpful.

Disliked Nothing, thought it was all great !!

Recommend to friends Visit again

The helpful and friendly staff. The…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 5
Brian M.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked The helpful and friendly staff. The relaxed vibe and beautiful setting.
Loved the wooded area, was a welcome respite from the heatwave and great place to chill. The food options, whilst quite small, was sensibly priced and tasty.
Lots of activities and, again, reasonably priced.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Exceptional stay

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
Anonymous

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked The atmosphere
The utilities
The staff were super friendly
The lake
Communal football and football goal

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great stay, clean, friendly & such positive vibes.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Bex L.

Bell tent (six person)

Liked The grounds were clean but yet still keeping the wild vibe. It was filled with families & good energy!
The hammocks, cushions and all the little touches made it so inviting. Lots to do & inclusive for everyone.
Our tent was immaculate, with two double sofa beds that were so comfortable. We were extremely happy with our stay and will be coming again

Disliked Not a dislike just felt the sign to the office could be bigger and more obvious but we are a bit scatty

Recommend to friends Visit again

The site is really nice during…

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
 3
Value for money
 5
Accommodation
 3
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 6
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 No rating
Rick K.

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked The site is really nice during the day and the people are friendly.

Disliked There is a huge cement factory really near the campsite, so there's a lot of heavy industrial noise all night.

Despite being a kind of folksy/hippy vibe there was a weird choice of loud music until 23:00.... like old skool UK garage hits and Kevin Little.

The toilet block is also pretty ropey.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A gorgeous campsite and a lovely…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Bell tent (six person)

Liked A gorgeous campsite and a lovely team! We had everything we needed, and they were keen to help us out wherever they could. The activities were lovely, super chilled vibes. Really helps you get away from the city life for a while! We’d recommend morning yoga followed by a dip in the lake!

Disliked Bring your own plates for food you buy from them! Maybe common for others, but we weren’t aware. Just a tip for upcoming visits.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Bloody lovely spot!

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Feels like you're in the middle of nowhere but amenities all within walking distance! Great staff l, great vibes and loved the wooded area!

Disliked Access to the towpath from campsite would be nice..

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely surroundings and tent. Enjoyed the…

Overall

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

Bell tent (six person)

Liked Lovely surroundings and tent. Enjoyed the lake which is beautiful.

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

Bus
1.7 mi Bus Station
5.6 mi Interchange
7.6 mi South Road
Rail
0.7 mi Harlow Mill Rail Station
1.2 mi Harlow Town Rail Station
2.4 mi Sawbridgeworth Rail Station
Ferry
20.3 mi East India Pier
20.5 mi Woolwich Ferry North Pier
20.6 mi North Greenwich Pier
Airport
9.2 mi London Stansted Airport
20.1 mi London City Airport
22 mi 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 28.8 mi Estuary GoodN/APoorN/A
Southend Chalkwell 29.6 mi Estuary N/AGoodN/AGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Lee Valley Regional Park 8.7 mi

Hatfield House 14.1 mi

Knebworth House 15.2 mi

Audley End House and Gardens 16.4 mi

Discover 18.2 mi

National Trust

Shaw's Corner 16.7 mi

Eastbury Manor House 17.8 mi

Sutton House 18.4 mi

Rainham Hall 19.2 mi

2 Willow Road 20.4 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

PISHIOBURY 1.4 mi

THE HOUSE, MARSH LANE 1.5 mi

STANSTEAD BURY 3.6 mi

DOWN HALL 3.7 mi

RYE MEADS (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 19/12/2001) 4.8 mi

Local events

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

    London, England 19.1 mi

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 $36.38 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.