Set on a working cider farm, North Down Orchard offers an idyllic rural retreat, only five minutes from Crewkerne. Tent campers can pitch up in the large hay meadow. For glampers, there are five bell tents with proper beds, soft furnishings, a fire pit/BBQ and more. For the real taste of Somerset, sample some of the site's own cider, and be sure to head to the onsite Cider Barn on Friday for delicious food and drink, with live music most weeks!

Why choose North Down Orchard

Peaceful, rural site on a working cider farm with spacious pitches and luxury bell tents

Just five minutes from Crewkerne, 30-40 minutes from West Bay, Lyme Regis and Charmouth Beaches

Onsite bar open every Friday and Saturday with cider, street food and music throughout the summer

About the site

Expect peace and quiet with some Friday fun at this picturesque rural campsite. Located on a Somerset cider farm, the site represents all that this stunning county is about! The site has a spacious camping field with non electric, unallocated pitches and two with a 16 amp electric hook up that is metered and payable onsite (£5 worth included to get you started). Up to six guests are welcome per tent, with plenty of space for you to enjoy the sun or find shelter under the shade of the ancient tress and hedgerows. If glamping is more your style, the site has eight charming bell tents on offer. Three come unfurnished with a double air mattress and mains power sockets, so bring along all your other camping gear! There are also furnished bell tents that come equipped with a double bed, two air beds, soft floor rugs, a table and chairs, electric lighting, plug sockets and tea-making facilities for your morning brew. The three standard 5m bell tents are pet friendly, so you don't have to holiday without the dog. The two deluxe 6m bell tents are spacious and pet free with a king size bed and luxury furnishings. Outside each of the tents, there is also a table and chairs, along with a fire pit/BBQ for evenings in the open. Or, not opt for the shepherd's hut, perfect for two with a double bed where bedding and towels can be added to your booking. The shepherd's hut allows one dog and shared facilities are nearby. So, pitch up and be sure to head to The Cider Barn for food and drink on a Friday evening. During the summer months, there are live bands playing most Fridays on the Barn Stage, so you can get up close and have a dance or find a quieter spot in the bar or the yard to enjoy your drink. Campers are also welcome to enjoy a BBQ, just please ensure it is raised from the ground. If you want a campfire, a firepit can be hired and logs are available for sale. Dogs are welcome to join you for your stay in your own tent or in the standard bell tents.

North Down Orchard is open from 13/05 to 19/09. Pitches from £18/night for 2 people.

"Perfect. Food, music and proper cider… what more could you ask for?"

Ellie L

"A really lovely campsite in a beautiful location. The place has a great atmosphere"

Harriette D

"Beautiful place that has it all"

Marieta S

"The cider barn was nice and lively on the Friday night with delicious cider on tap"

Toni B

What facilities are at North Down Orchard?

Accessible facilities

Allow commercial vans

Allow pets on site

Café / restaurant / takeaway

Drinking water

Family friendly

Shop

Showers

Toilets

W.C. disposal

WiFi

Electric hookups

Entertainment

EV charging

Fires allowed

Freezer

Fridge

Glamping

Wash up area

Site facilities include luxury showers and composting toilets, along with a field kitchen with fridge/freezer, microwave, electric hob and kettle as well as washing up facilities. Tables and chairs are also provided or you can use the log seats in the woodland glade. EV charging is also available.

The onsite Cider Barn is open on Fridays (Feb-Dec) between 6pm-11pm and Saturdays (May-Sep) between 6pm-11pm. The bar serves a full range of drinks, including cider and apple juice from the farm, and there is food on offer from a local street food vendor. Live bands perform on the Barn Stage most Fridays in the summer months.

Crewkerne is a five minute drive away with pubs and shops, including a Waitrose and Lidl.

Great for everyone

Unwind at the Cider Barn with live music, taste homegrown cider on tap, and then enjoy a tasty bite to eat from the visiting local vendors on Friday evenings.

There are 21 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

10 x Non Electric Grass Pitches

Max 6 people

Unallocated grass pitches without electric, suitable for tents only.

2 x Electric Grass Pitches

Max 6 people

Grass pitches for tents only with 16 amp electric hook ups. Electric is metered and payable on site, with five pounds worth included to get you started.

North Down Orchard reviews

4.79 /5

50 reviews

98%

would recommend

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Showing the most recent reviews from guests

Great location

Recommends site

Ben H

Shepherd's Hut - Shepherd's Hut (Dog Friendly)Aug 2025

Great location and the onsite cider barn makes the stay thoroughly enjoyable. The host David is helpful and friendly. Will definitely visit again.

Beautiful place

Recommends site

Calvin B

Large Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2025

Stayed for 3 nights of the bank holiday weekend. Beautiful setting, all part of a working orchard. On site bar was open on the Friday night with a live band and food vender. Nice beer, great food and an even better atmosphere. But be warned, it is very popular and incredibly busy. Gutted there was a private wedding on the Saturday night so the bar was closed. If not, we would have definitely been in there again. Camping field was spacious with plenty of room to pitch and loads of space for kids to play and explore. Only down side was the showers were cold and the composting toilets a bit smelly. What you'd expect from a bank holiday weekend. Would definitely recommend a weekend here as it's not overly busy compared to other sites we've stayed at. Gives off a festival vibe without all the hustle and bustle. Fire pits for rent and logs to buy. Be warned, there is no shop on site and nothing close enough to walk to. Plenty with in driving distance though.

Excellent

Recommends site

Kevin N

Medium Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2025

We had a fabulous time. It was everything we expected and wanted.

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Need to know

Frequently asked questions about North Down Orchard

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Site rules

Is North Down Orchard dog-friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome to join you on your stay at North Down Orchard but must be kept on a lead, there are plenty of dog walks nearby. Please note that breeds and crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act are not permitted.

Does North Down Orchard allow BBQs and campfires?

Yes, raised BBQs and campfires are welcome at North Down Orchard. Electric BBQs are not allowed.

What time is check-in and check out at North Down Orchard?

Check-in at North Down Orchard is available from noon until 8pm for camping and from 3pm until 8pm for glamping. Departure is due before noon on your last day of camping, or before 11am for glamping.

Pitches

Can I park near my pitch at North Down Orchard?

No. Cars are to be parked by the pitches at North Down Orchard. All cars must be parked in the designated area.

Can I bring an awning, gazebo or pup tent with me to North Down Orchard?

Yes. Guests are welcome to bring one of each free of charge at North Down Orchard.

What amp is the electric hook up at North Down Orchard?

The electric hook ups at North Down Orchard are 16 amp.

Is electric included in the price of my booking at North Down Orchard? Or is it an additional cost?

All of the electric pitches at North Down Orchard have your usage included in the price of your booking.

Facilities

Is there WiFi at North Down Orchard?

No, North Down Orchard does not offer WiFi.

Does North Down Orchard have a shop onsite?

No, there is not a shop at North Down Orchard. For picking up essentials, Crewkerne is a five minute drive away with pubs and shops, including a Waitrose and Lidl.

Is there a restaurant or cafe at North Down Orchard?

No, there is not a restaurant or cafe at North Down Orchard, but there are pop-up vendors that visit the site on Fridays. Food is available from 7pm and is on a first come first served basis. There is a range of cuisines, including Mexican, streetfood, Italian pizza, Indian, and others. For dining out on any other day, Crewkerne is a five minute drive away with pubs.

Does North Down Orchard have electric vehicle charging?

Yes, EV charging is available at North Down Orchard.

Does North Down Orchard have a communal fridge and freezer?

Yes, North Down Orchard offers a communal fridge for food, and a shared freezer for ice packs.

What is phone signal like at North Down Orchard?

Most phone service providers should be able to access a phone and 4G signal at North Down Orchard.

What are the facility opening hours at North Down Orchard?

The Cider Barn at North Down Orchard is open on Fridays (Feb-Dec) between 6pm-11pm and Saturdays (May-Sep) between 6pm-11pm.

Getting there

What is access like for touring at North Down Orchard?

Access may be difficult for tourers at North Down Orchard due to the site being down a single narrow road. You may have to pull over to let oncoming vehicles pass.

Are there any local taxi service companies to North Down Orchard?

Local taxi companies to North Down Orchard include Crewkerne Taxis (01460 75088) and SSC Taxis (01935 507655).

What is the nearest bus stop to North Down Orchard?

The nearest bus stop to North Down Orchard is Barrows Hill, which is a 20 minute walk away and offers services to Yeovil.

What are the nearest public transport links to North Down Orchard?

The nearest train station to North Down Orchard is Crewkerne Station, which is ten minutes away. The closest bus stop is Barrows Hill, which is a 20 minute walk away and offers services to Yeovil.

What's nearby

What are the nearest pubs to North Down Orchard?

The nearest pubs to North Down Orchard are The White Horse, a 25 minute walk away, and The Muddled Man Inn, a five minute drive away.

What is within walking distance of North Down Orchard?

Within a 30 minute walk of North Down Orchard there is a bus stop with services to Yeovil and a local pub, The White Horse.

What walking routes are close to North Down Orchard?

Local walking routes to North Down Orchard include exploring the site's 73-acre farm with 40 acres of cider apple orchards, plus grasslands and woodlands. Further afield, the Monarch's Way and Liberty Trail cross on the farm. The Parrett Trail is a ten minute drive or 50 minute walk away, and you can reach Bincombe Beeches Nature Reserve in ten minutes.

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A note from the site themselves...

North Down Farm is owned and run by father and son team, David and Ross Mangles. David's father, Rob, bought the Farm back in 1966 after retiring from the army. He initially kept pigs and beef cattle, whilst also growing oats and barley.

But, in 1973, he was offered a 30 year contract to grow cider apples for Taunton Cider, so 8000 trees of a dozen varieties were planted in six orchards over the following years.

As well as using the apples to make our own cider for The Cider Barn, we also supply craft cidermakers all over the UK. Our apples have gone into many award winning ciders, from traditional farmhouse to the finest of ciders.

The farm has always tried to work for the benefit of the environment and as well as adopting regenerative agriculture practices. We have been transitioning to energy self-reliance with a biomass boiler fed with our own prunings and hedgings and solar panels supplying most of our electricity.

The site uses solar power for the electricity and hot water, the composting toilets minimise water usage and pollution and the facilities have been constructed using recycled/upcycled materials wherever possible. Hundreds of trees have also been planted around the site, so you can enjoy a relaxing break without worrying about the impact on the environment.

North Down Orchard is ideal for...

Couples

Older children (13+)

Peace and quiet

Young children

Things to do on site and in the Crewkerne area

The site provides the perfect spot to relax, unwind and enjoy the natural surroundings. There is a nature trail around the farm as well as both local and long distance footpaths crossing the farm, with three pubs within a mile's walk.

The market town of Crewkerne is only a five minute drive away with a range of shops, antiques and charity shops as well as pubs and eateries. There is also a leisure centre with a swimming pool and gym.

Yeovil is 15 minutes away and offers shopping centres as well as cinema, theatres, bowling and lots of great places to eat.

There are many attractions to visit within a 40 minute drive with a selection of excellent beaches along the Jurassic coast including Lyme Regis, West Bay, Charmouth and Burton Bradstock.

Other nearby attractions include: