Church Farm

Nice campsite, but some disappointments

Overall, we had a pleasant stay at Church Farm and enjoyed our time there. It's a busy, family-friendly campsite with lots of groups, children and a lively atmosphere. The farm animals are lovely to see and are definitely one of the highlights for younger children. However, there were several aspects of our visit that were disappointing. Our six-year-old grandson had been looking forward to the goat walking experience for weeks. On the morning of the activity, staff measured him and determined he was approximately one inch below the minimum height requirement, so he was unable to take part. We did receive a refund, which was appreciated, but it was still very upsetting for him. While I understand that health and safety rules exist for a reason, it felt disappointing that there couldn't have been a little flexibility given how close he was to the requirement. The facilities for children were also somewhat underwhelming. The playground areas, woodland walk and some of the attractions felt quite worn and tired and were not as impressive as we had expected. In the woodland animal area, there were only two rabbits and a few guinea pigs to see, while several of the fenced enclosures were completely empty. Much of the play provision in the woodland seemed to consist of numerous plastic toy tractors scattered around, rather than a well-designed play area or engaging activities. We didn't come across a particularly good playground either. As a result, the whole area felt rather sparse and lacked the variety and imagination we had anticipated from a family-focused campsite. The toilets near reception were another let-down. They felt outdated, had an unpleasant smell and were not particularly clean during our visit. I was also surprised by the additional £12 charge for a "fire licence". The campsite advertises that campfires are permitted, but it was only upon arrival that we discovered there was an extra charge to have one. For this fee, we were given a red bucket of water and permission to have a fire. As an experienced camper, I already carry appropriate safety equipment and understand how to manage a campfire responsibly. The charge felt more like an unexpected extra fee than a genuine licence, and I think it would be better if this cost were made clearer at the time of booking. Finally, the café experience was poor. We ordered a jacket potato with tuna and a portion of chips and waited around 40 minutes for the food. Although it was lunchtime, the café wasn't exceptionally busy, and the wait felt excessive for such a simple order. Unfortunately, the service was extremely slow, and based on our experience I would recommend bringing your own food rather than relying on the café. Despite these issues, the campsite itself has a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere and plenty of space for children to run around. With some improvements to the facilities, cleanliness, transparency around additional charges and food service, it could be a much better experience.

Fantastic

We have just returned home from staying at Church Farm. We had booked for 3 nights camping, enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed for another night. The farm is absolutely amazing, all the staff are so welcoming and helpful. We didn't want to leave. Thank you to everyone you all do an amazing job. I recommend everyone visit there it's beautiful. So peaceful and relaxing. Gorgeous surroundings. We are definitely coming back soon 🙂

Site's response

Hi, thank you so much for your lovely message. We are absolutely delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay with us at Church Farm — and we take it as the biggest compliment that you enjoyed it so much you decided to stay an extra night! It's wonderful to hear that you found the farm peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful, and that our team helped make your visit so special. We will be sure to pass your kind comments on to all of the staff, who work incredibly hard to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Thank you as well for recommending us to others — that really means so much to our team. We are so pleased you had such a memorable stay, and we very much look forward to welcoming you back again.

Café far too expensive.

Café and shop far too expensive.

Site's response

Thank you for your review, we hope you enjoyed the rest of your camping trip. We try to keep our prices reasonable for the shop and the café even though I am sure you're aware food costs have increased significantly. Staff costs have also increased hugely with the rise in minimum wage, and changes to national insurance. All of this has an impact on a small business such as us. We use local suppliers as much as possible; the meat is free range and the vegetables and fruit organic.