Bowhayes Farm Camping

View prices & book 9.9 37 reviews
Relax at Bowhayes Farm whilst surrounded by beautiful cider orchards (added by manager 07 Jun 2022)
Relax in our bell tents surrounded by beautiful cider orchards
Blue skies
Springtime in the orchard

  • Semi-wild camping by a scenic Devon cider orchard
  • Sidmouth 15 minutes' drive; half an hour from central Exeter
  • Hampers available; small farm shop for teas, coffees and snacks
Settle into your own space, get away from your daily routine and appreciate the serenity of east Devon at Bowhayes Farm Camping, a semi-wild campsite in the scenic grounds of a Devon cider orchard. The site is located on the edge of the leafy hamlet of Venn Ottery in extensive farmland, surrounded by footpaths and a tree nursery. How you spend your time here is up to you – you might like to wander through Venn Ottery, amble on Aylesbeare Common, a nearby RSPB reserve, or head down to the Jurassic Coast at Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton (roughly a quarter of an hour's drive away). Whatever you get up to, aim to get back to the farm in time for sunset, as the sky often puts on a beguiling show just before dusk. This is also when the local wildlife comes out to say hello – you might spot roe deer, badgers, rabbits, foxes, pheasants and more. When there's little cloud coverage, this is generally followed by a spectacular starry sky, as this secluded pocket of Devon has very low levels of light pollution. Facilities at Bowhayes Farm Camping are fairly simple and include a farm toilet, shower and fresh drinking water. There is also a small farm shop where you can head for teas, coffees, cold drinks, snacks and essentials. Special hampers can be made up to order too, provided you give the site enough advance notice. Please note that the adult and family pitching areas are separated from each other by roughly 150 metres to maximise peace and relaxation between groups.

Site type

Tent pitches 8
Rent a tent 3
Open now
Opens 29 March
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Guests under the age of 13 are not allowed on site.
  • No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Reception is unmanned after 4:30 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • 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.

Languages spoken

English

French

Open from Fri, 29 Mar to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

100%

would recommend this site to a friend

100%

would stay here again

  • 94%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 5%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 0%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 0%
    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Peaceful campsite, with all the facilities you needed. Very friendly and…

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

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (large)

Liked: Peaceful campsite, with all the facilities you needed. Very friendly and helpful host :)

Recommend to friends Visit again

An absolute gem all-round! Thank you, Howard!

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
Leila S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Pretty much everything - Howard and his family were wonderful and so accommodating. The surroundings were absolutely beautiful, and so peaceful. The facilities were clean and access to the little kitchen area was a fantastic added bonus when it came to storing some of our food. The shower was quite possibly the highligh / best shower ever! We would definitely camp here again whenever we come to East Devon.

Disliked: Absolutely nothing!!!!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Stunning setting to camp in the orchard. Loads of space between tent…

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Stunning setting to camp in the orchard. Loads of space between tent pitching's and based between separate rows of trees in the orchard gave a very private feel. Outback shower was great to have and producing very hot water so welcome whilst camping!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful well run campsite. Quiet ,secure and excellent facilities. Loved the horsebox…

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Beautiful well run campsite. Quiet ,secure and excellent facilities. Loved the horsebox shower and the kitchen facilities. Very friendly and welcoming owner .

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent!

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Beautiful setting in the orchard; ‘forest bathing’ in its most natural form. Tents very well spaced so that you don’t notice other campers. Cars are parked below the campsite preserving its tranquility. Rabbits in the long grass this morning. Fiona and Howard are excellent hosts - friendly, relaxed and super helpful. Loved the way the tent locations are indicated by paint on the trees - find your row and pick a spot and loved the shower unit in its random row. The coffee deck is also perfectly situated for catching the sun - I was torn this morning between that and just sitting in front of my tent and admiring the setting.

Disliked: Absolutely nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful location, unique, in the middle of the orchard without any tents…

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
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Beautiful location, unique, in the middle of the orchard without any tents visible around you. Perfect hot showers, flushing toilets and fridge and firepit. Very friendly and welcoming host.

Disliked: -

Recommend to friends Visit again

A lovely stay

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Loved the camping in the orchard. Loved the distance between the tents and how peaceful it was. Liked the warm welcome from the hosts and would certainly like to return!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really beautiful site, amazingly quiet. Howard & Fiona were brilliant hosts,…

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Really beautiful site, amazingly quiet. Howard & Fiona were brilliant hosts, super helpful and friendly. Fantastic location for walks and getting to the coast. Loved the outback shower!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful camping in the orchard

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch (small)

Liked: Fantastic, peaceful camping on a working cider apple farm, a restful night amongst the trees after a very warm welcome from Howard the host. Excellent location for exploring the beautiful surrounding area. Highly recommended site for a relaxing stay. We will definitely be back!

Recommend to friends Visit again

A lovely stay. Friendly and welcoming owners. Thank you.

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

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (large)

Liked: Lovely owners, lovely place. Beautiful views, very peaceful and private

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 Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Adults only Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Forest Leave the car at home Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Small (11-25 pitches)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Surf school nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Bowhayes Farm Camping

Venn Ottery

Ottery St Mary

Devon

England

EX11 1RY

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.71352°N
-3.30371°W

Route directions

Drive to Venn Ottery; the brick entranceway is next to the village noticeboard and post box, opposite Barton Mews. Drive into the entrance and park in front of the barns. Please call when you are around 30 minutes away.

Nearest transport

Coach
11.9 km Honiton Road Park and Ride
11.9 km The Barn Owl
14 km Rail Station
Rail
7 km Whimple Rail Station
8.2 km Feniton Rail Station
9.2 km Cranbrook Rail Station
Ferry
12 km Topsham (Turf Lock Ferry) Ferry Landing
12.1 km Topsham Ferry Landing
12.2 km Topsham Lock Ferry Landing
Airport
8.2 km 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

Local attractions and activities include: - Ottery St Mary: 10 minutes’ drive - Bicton College Arboretum: 10 minutes - Crealy Theme Park and Resort: 15 minutes - Budleigh Salterton: 15 minutes - Sidmouth: 15 minutes - A La Ronde (National Trust): 20 minutes - Beer: 25 minutes - Exeter: 30 minutes.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder 5.8 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Sidmouth Town 6 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Ladram Bay 6.3 km Sea N/A Good N/A Good
Budleigh Salterton 9.4 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Sandy Bay 12.4 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site 5.3 km

Crealy Great Adventure Park 7.9 km

The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 13.9 km

Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 16 km

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 23.4 km

National Trust

A la Ronde 10.7 km

Killerton: Marker's Cottage 11.2 km

Killerton: Clyston Mill 11.5 km

Branscombe: the Old Bakery, Manor Mill and Forge 11.9 km

Killerton: Budlake Old Post Office 13.1 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

AYLESBEARE COMMON (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 15/07/2005) 2.4 km

CADHAY 5.1 km

BICTON 5.1 km

ROCKBEARE MANOR 5.7 km

CONNAUGHT GARDENS 6 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 Bowhayes Farm Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Bowhayes Farm Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Bowhayes Farm Camping? Local attractions and activities include: - Ottery St Mary: 10 minutes’ drive - Bicton College Arboretum: 10 minutes - Crealy Theme Park and Resort: 15 minutes - Budleigh Salterton: 15 minutes - … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Bowhayes Farm Camping?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Bowhayes Farm Camping? From R463.23 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.