Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre
Sandford, Somerset
Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre
Please note that this is a pop-up campsite, open for a limited number of days each year.
Set in the Mendip Hills, Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre offers proper family camping with an outdoor activity centre just five minutes away. There are camping pitches with the freedom to set up where you like and spacious rental tents for those who don't have all the gear. Take part in rock climbing, dry slope skiing, frisbee golf, kayaking, and more! Surrounded by woodland with an onsite shop, walk, pub and cafe.
Take part in family activities such as dry slope skiing, kayaking, archery and more!
Family-friendly camping on over 100 acres with freedom to camp where you want
Excellent onsite facilities including a sand pit, campfires, onsite shop and restaurant
About Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre
Creating a friendly and community-fuelled atmosphere, this site is set in an idyllic location within the Mendip Hills, just outside of Bristol. It is a short woodland walk to the onsite activity centre, a great spot for adventurers with rock climbing, kayaking and a dry ski slope. Set on over 100 acres of land with camping across three fields, this family site provides non-electric grass pitches for tents and campervans (under 2.7m tall). Enjoy the freedom of choosing to pitch where you like. No tent? Not a problem! There is a range of unfurnished glamping accommodations to choose from that allow you to stay in the heart of the action without the hassle of pitching a tent, all sleeping up to six. The Nomadic bell tents have roll mats on the floor. The bunk ready tents have metal frame bunk beds and the glamphouse tents have roll mats and a mezzanine level. Do note that you will need sleeping bags, pillows and cooking equipment. All rental tents include mattresses to sleep on. Shared facilities are nearby. There is also an onsite lodge complete with bunkrooms and ensuite facilities. You can try your hand at a range of activities like kayaking, orienteering, skiing and treasure hunts! There is even an onsite pub that hosts live music and a well stocked shop and cafe. If you wish to have a break from the action-packed adventure, the site is just 15 minutes from Cheddar putting you within easy reach of Cheddar Gorge and the caves, or there are plenty of walking and cycling trails all around for a family walk. For a day at the seaside, Weston Super Mare Beach is just a 30 minute drive from the site too. Fires and BBQs are allowed so long as they are off the ground. Upcycled firepits and bricks are available for hire from the site as well as firewood and charcoal available to purchase. Dogs are welcome when camping, unfortunately, they are not allowed in rental tents. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times due to livestock in surrounding fields. Dogs are welcome to join you in any of the activity sessions apart from frisbee golf.
The site is open for the weekend of 16th May and the late May bank holiday week, weekends in June and July and is then open from 25th July to 29th August and the first weekend of September.
Site facilities include three toilet and shower blocks with individual cubicles, there are also larger toilet and shower facilities for family and accessible use. There are also washing-up areas and an ice-pack freezer.
Fire pits are available to hire or you are welcome to bring your own BBQs or fire pits as long as they are raised from the ground. The site has bricks to raise them if needed. Charcoal and firewood are available to buy.
The Pavillion houses reception, the camp shop and pip up cafe, open from 8am to 9pm everyday. The shop sells food, drinks, camping essentials and offers USB charging. The cafe serves coffee, breakfast rolls, pastries and cakes.
There is also a pop-up pub called the Mendip Lodge which is a short walk away from Basecamp, serving local beer and cider as well as food from loaded fries to stone-baked pizzas to Pieminister pies.
The nearest pub The Railway Inn is only a five minute drive away. Just over five minutes drive is the village of Winscombe, with a selection of pubs and eateries as well as a small Co-op for essentials.
Adult only
Allow commercial vans
Allow pets on site
Bike hire
Café / restaurant
Communal BBQ
Disabled facilities
Drinking water
Electric hookups
Entertainment
Family friendly
Fires allowed
Fishing
Games room
Glamping
Golf
Horse riding
Hot tub
Kids club
Kids playground
Laundry
Near beach
Near pub
Open year round
Peaceful
RV pitches
Shop
Showers
Swimming pool
Toilet
TV room
Vineyard
Water hookups
Watersports
W.C. disposal
WiFi
There are 115 accommodation options on-site
Bookable pitches and accommodation options
100 x Non Electric Grass Pitches
Max 10 people
Non electric grass pitches, measuring approximately 6m x 6m in a spacious camping field. Suitable for tents and small campervans up to 2.7m high.
Other accommodation
5 x Nomadic Bell Tents
Max 6 people
Unfurnished bell tents with camp mattresses sleeping up to six people with access to shared facilities nearby. You'll need to bring your own, sleeping bags, pillows and outdoor cooking equipment. Sorry no dogs.
8 x Bunk Ready Tents
Max 6 people
Furnished with metal frame bunk beds with mattresses, bring your own sleeping bags, pillows and outdoor cooking equipment. Outside is a communal firepit and shared facilities are nearby. Sorry no dogs.
2 x Glamphouse Ready Tents
Max 6 people
Glamphouse ready tents with six mattresses, a mezzanine area and a picnic bench. Please bring your own sleeping bags pillows and cooking equipment. Shared facilities are nearby. Sorry no dogs.
Site tariff
Things to do on site and in the Sandford area
You can be sure to never have a dull day here at Basecamp. Just a short woodland walk takes you through to Mendip Activity Centre. You'll find a whole host of activities suitable for all ages, from archery and water sports to frisbee golf and dry slope skiing.
Head back to the site where the onsite lodge hosts weekend acoustic nights to unwind after an adventure-filled day. There is also a giant sandpit for the little ones as well as plenty of outdoor games by the Pavillion.
If you are looking to explore Somerset, Basecamp provides an ideal starting point! Right in the heart of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The campground is surrounded by footpaths and walking trails and just a short cycle away is access to the Strawberry Line, a traffic free cycle path connecting Clevedon and Shepton Mallet.
Almost on the doorstep is the home of Thatcher's Cider, including their very own pub. A couple of miles up the road is the infamous, impressing Cheddar Gorge, the original home of Cheddar cheese!
For a day at the seaside head to Weston-super-Mare is just a 15-minute drive away with a long, sandy beach and Grand Pier. If city centres are more your thing, it is only half an hour to the centre of Bristol. Visit original Banksy artwork and experience the city's culture and many food and drink offerings.
Other nearby attractions include:
- Puxton Park (15 minutes)
- Cheddar Gorge (15 minutes)
- Wookey Hole Caves (30 minutes)
- Cabot Tower (30 minutes)
- The Bishop's Palace and Gardens (35 minutes)
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