Duck's Paddle
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- Adults-only nearly wild Devon site 15 minutes’ drive from South Molton
- Two Moors Way 10 minutes’ drive; Exmoor National Park 20 minutes
- Quiet off-grid pitches with an open-air shower and abundant wildlife
If you’re searching for adults-only, no-frills camping close to South Molton in Devon, Duck’s Paddle might suit you very well. The site sits in a little over two acres of cottage garden and paddocks with high hedges to three sides. The ground is solid in summer, but the grass may be long and the terrain is uneven. Pitches are not designated, so you can put up a tent wherever you please, depending on where the grass is cut.
Simple facilities stretch to a communal firepit, a sink with cold water, a long-drop toilet and an open-air shower – if any hardy soul is brave enough to use it – but there is no electricity. The biggest attraction here, however, is the peaceful setting, with the only sounds being birdsong and the buzz of the bees, and at night you may be lucky enough to see bats and owls swooping around. There are also views across fields to woods in one direction and Exmoor to the north.
There’s gated access with parking for cars on grass, and motorcycles can be parked by the tents. The Tiverton to Barnstaple bus runs through Meshaw (10 minutes’ walk) for anyone who’s relying on public transport. The site is pretty informal, but please be considerate and mindful of your surroundings, other guests and the wildlife also living on the property.
Campground type
10 Open now
Group bookings of 6 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, RV or accommodation hire) traveling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.- No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
- Guests under the age of 16 are not allowed on site.
- No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
- Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
- At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
- This is a quiet park: no music is allowed.
- Guests are advised to bring a good quality flashlight with them as parts of the park are unlit.
- Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
- Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Fri, Apr 18 to
Reviews
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Features
No 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 WatersportsAmenities 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 Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed No pets allowedThemes
Budget/backpacker Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Wildlife havenUtilities
Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) No hot water Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transportation nearbyType
Tiny (1-10 sites)Accessibility
Level campground, no steep slopesLocation
Duck's Paddle
Hillside Cross
Meshaw
South Molton
Devon
England
EX36 4NN
Directions Timezone
Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)
GPS
50.95553°N
-3.77268°W
Route directions
What3words: deeply.handsets.path
Nearest transport
Bus5.1 mi The Square
5.1 mi The Square
13 mi Bus Station
Rail5.9 mi Kings Nympton Rail Station
6.5 mi Eggesford Rail Station
7 mi Lapford Rail Station
Ferry19 mi Instow Ferry Landing
19.3 mi Bideford Ferry Landing
19.4 mi Appledore Ferry Landing
Airport22 mi Exeter International 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
Walkers can access Meshaw Moor Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ stroll) directly from the site, while the Two Moors Way runs through the village of Witheridge (10 minutes’ drive). Another hiking option is The Tarka Trail, which you can join at Eggesford (25 minutes).
You can see Exmoor from the pitches, and be in the national park within 20 minutes by car. To sample what’s on offer around the moor, try crossing the River Barle on the clapper bridge at Tarr Steps (40 minutes), browse the indie galleries and jewellery shops in Dulverton (half an hour), or go walking with birds of prey at North Devon Hawk Walks (35 minutes).
Should you decide to eat out, there’s a good food pub at Kings Nympton (10 minutes), which also has a decent choice of whisky. Witheridge has a pub that serves takeaways, as well as a fish and chip van that rocks up every Friday between 4.30pm and 7pm. When you need to stock up on supplies, South Molton is 15 minutes away by car.
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
| Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynmouth | 19.2 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Porlock Weir | 19.3 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Combe Martin | 20.9 mi | Sea | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Westward Ho! | 21.1 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Minehead Terminus | 21.9 mi | Sea | N/A | Good | Good | Good |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
RHS Garden Rosemoor 15.9 mi
The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 17.8 mi
Castle Drogo 18 mi
Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 19.2 mi
Crealy Great Adventure Park 23.2 mi
National Trust
Knightshayes Court 12.9 mi
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum 16 mi
Finch Foundry 17 mi
Killerton 17.9 mi
Castle Drogo 18 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
KING'S NYMPTON PARK 5.4 mi
Eggesford Station - Eggesford Barton - Nethercott - Eggesford Station 6.4 mi
CASTLE HILL 8.1 mi
Withypool - Tarr Steps - Knaplock 11.7 mi
SHOBROOKE PARK 12.5 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.
Policies
Booking terms and conditions
Payment terms
Offers
Conditions apply - see campsite type section for details
Nearest campgrounds
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.
Want to know more about camping in Devon?
Frequently asked questions
- Does Duck's Paddle have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is Duck's Paddle dog friendly? No View all features
- What attractions are near Duck's Paddle? Walkers can access Meshaw Moor Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ stroll) directly from the site, while the Two Moors Way runs through the village of Witheridge (10 minutes’ drive). Another hiking option is … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of Duck's Paddle?
Read moreRV, travel trailer and tent sites Arrive: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. - How much does it cost to stay at Duck's Paddle? From $18.77 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.