Haydown Gardens

10 9 reviews

Dog-friendly North Downs site with a vineyard, forest and orchard
On the North Downs Way; a 15-minute drive from St. Andrew's Lakes
Half an hour’s walk to a pub through vineyards; barbecues allowed

Pick a spot in the vineyard, forest or orchard - all are peaceful and in a prime location in a North Downs valley, part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Perhaps the nicest bit about Haydown Gardens is that it’s on the North Downs Way, a 156-mile trail from Surrey to the Kent coast… although, some might argue that the views of the neighbouring vineyard and the peaceful atmosphere are fierce contestants. This dog-friendly getaway is an hour and 40 minutes’ drive from London and it’s certainly a hiking and cycling haven. There are plenty of other walking and cycling trails surrounding the site if you’re not set on tackling the North Downs Way. One local walk, half an hour’s stroll through the vineyards, ends at the local pub in Luddesdown, where there’s a big beer garden. Following the North Downs Way, it’s also under two hours’ walk to St. Andrew's Lakes (also a 15-minute drive) – wild swimming and watersports, anyone? Back at base, the mature garden setting is peaceful and the facilities include toilets and a washing-up area. The latter is very handy to have, considering that barbecues have the green light here (do your food shop in Hook Green, 10 minutes’ drive away).

Campground type

Languages spoken

English

French

Nearby parks that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs 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

Amenities on park

Bath available Car parking by site/unit 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 Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

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

Rules

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

Themes

Budget/backpacker Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Tiny (1-10 sites)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Location

Haydown Gardens

Buckland Road

Great Buckland

Meopham

Kent

England

DA13 0XF

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.35465°N
0.39945°W

Nearest transport

Bus

7.6 mi Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre

7.8 mi King Street

7.9 mi King Street

Rail

2 mi Halling Rail Station

2.2 mi Sole Street Rail Station

2.7 mi Snodland Rail Station

Ferry

6.4 mi Gravesend Pier

6.8 mi Tilbury Ferry Terminal

17.2 mi Woolwich Arsenal Pier

Airport

15.9 mi Biggin Hill Airport

18.3 mi London City Airport

19.8 mi London Southend 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

Attractions and activities nearby include: - Camer Park Country Park (former estate with 40 acres of green space): 10 minutes’ drive - St. Andrew's Lakes (swimming lakes with watersports activities; reservation in advance): 15 minutes - Cobham Wood and Mausoleum (National Trust site): 15 minutes - Diggerland Kent (ride a digger): 15 minutes - Kent Life (open-air museum): 25 minutes - Leeds Castle (moated castle): 25 minutes - Planet Ice Gillingham (ice skating): 25 minutes.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Sheerness	16.7 mi	Estuary	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Leigh Bell Wharf	16.8 mi	Estuary	Good	N/A	Poor	N/A
Southend Chalkwell	17.3 mi	Estuary	N/A	Good	N/A	Good
Southend Westcliff Bay	17.6 mi	Estuary	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Southend Three Shells	18.2 mi	Estuary	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Rochester Castle 5 mi

Rochester Cathedral 5.1 mi

The Historic Dockyard Chatham 6.1 mi

Dickens World 6.6 mi

Ightham Mote 8.8 mi

National Trust

Cobham Wood and Mausoleum 2.4 mi

Owletts 2.6 mi

Old Soar Manor 7.5 mi

St John's Jerusalem 7.9 mi

Ightham Mote 8.8 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Luddesdown Circular 2.2 mi

Golden Luddesdown 2.2 mi

COBHAM HALL 2.9 mi

Hodsell Street - Ash-cum-Ridley - Fairseat - Hodsell Street 2.9 mi

Trosley Country Park - Trottiscliffe - Ryarsh - North Downs 3.2 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.

Reviews

would recommend this campground to a friend

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Beautiful gardens , quite and very unique. Highly recommended

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	6

Francisco D. Sep 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Beautiful gardens , quite and very unique. Highly recommended

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful area, felt very welcomed and was in a very quiet area.…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Pim M. Aug 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Beautiful area, felt very welcomed and was in a very quiet area. No one else was staying there so it was very relaxing. Highly recommend of your looking for an out of the way space!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: So glad to hear that you enjoyed a peaceful few nights with us and you benefited from the quiet surroundings. We would be happy to welcome you back for another stay whenever you like.

Fantastic site, very clean, beautiful setting, friendly hosts

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

Stuart A. Aug 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Outstanding area
Brilliant and friendly Hosts
Very peaceful
Amazing and well kept grounds
Lovely walks
Perfect view point for sunsets
Quiet and secluded pitch

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for such a positive review of our garden campsite. We were delighted to share it with you and glad that you were able to explore around it. We look forward to welcoming you back for a longer visit when you have the time.

Was a pleasure to stay there. The pitch was flat, it was friendly.

Overall	10/10
Location	8
Value for money	8
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	6
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Jul 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Quietness and environment. Also the hosts were great.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We enjoyed hosting you and glad that you had the opportunity to visit the area whilst you were here. Also happy that you found our gardens a quiet and peaceful place to stay. If you are ever in the area again, we would certainly look forward to hosting you again.

Great hosts and garden. Kids loved picking some berries and exploring…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	8
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	2

Anonymous Jul 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Great hosts and garden. Kids loved picking some berries and exploring

Disliked: Bathroom and washing up a bit of a walk from camp area

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We enjoyed hosting you and your family. It was a great to see your children enjoying the garden (especially the red and black currants!).

Our perfect camping escape

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	4
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Maeve B. May 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Beautiful, extensive grounds; quiet and peaceful location; owls at night; birdsong during the day; small number of pitches; walks through nearby vineyards; great fire-pit and BBQ area; meeting owners Jeff and Mark who were great - very friendly and helpful

Disliked: Having to leave

Note: there is no Wi-Fi, but that’s not a problem as you’re busy enjoying the scenery!

Child-friendliness: as this is all about peace and quiet I’d recommend this to child-free couples

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your positive comments. We are so glad that you found your stay peaceful and enjoyed your weekend. Looks like you had a lovely walk in the local vineyard. Thanks for adding your pictures to the review. We look forward to welcoming you back again anytime you like.

Beautiful site, great hosts, lovely and quiet

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

Caroline N. May 2023

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Gorgeous site with very friendly and helpful hosts. Loved that only two pitches made it feel like we were having a proper break away from other people. Also very much liked being able to choose where we wanted to pitch our tent, with grassland, orchards, or wooded areas all available.

Had an idyllic stay and will definitely be returning, hopefully soon.

Thank you very much for the faultless hospitality.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and excited to welcome you back again in the near future.

Really enjoyed the peace and tranquility.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	4

Anonymous Aug 2022

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: Quiet and peaceful. Friendly host. Beautiful place.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful and beautiful

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

Lucy M. Jul 2022

Primitive earth tent campsite

Liked: We had the most wonderful stay! The location is idyllic; incredibly picturesque and peaceful. Jeff and his partner were incredibly gracious and generous. We loved the local walks and pubs. We can't wait to visit again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the solitude and peace of the gardens. We're also happy that your beautiful well-behaved husky also enjoyed it :) We look forward to welcoming you back to Haydown on your next visit.

Frequently asked questions

Does Haydown Gardens have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Haydown Gardens dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near Haydown Gardens? Attractions and activities nearby include: - Camer Park Country Park (former estate with 40 acres of green space): 10 minutes’ drive - St. Andrew's Lakes (swimming lakes with watersports activities; reservation in … Read more