Wild Canvas Camping - Hipcamp in Bedfordshire, England

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Wild Canvas Camping

86%

12 reviews

· Bedfordshire Mk43 8 Eq, England

1 acre

32 units

2 Glamping

30 Tent

A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe

These days, you don’t have to head to the big music festivals to find a campsite with a family-festival atmosphere. You can find it on the banks of the River Great Ouse instead — specifically on the stretch that meanders through the stately parkland of Bedfordshire’s Turvey House Estate. When late July arrives here, so does Wild Canvas Camping. Their pitches and tipis (the same ones you’d see in Glastonbury’s Tipi Field) arrive in this riverside setting and, thanks to a concoction of local food, family-friendly workshops and small-scale DJ sessions, they manage to create a family festival feel — without the festival crowds. Weekdays on site are quiet and peaceful with a few free activities for kids and chilled out music from The Courtyard Bar. At weekends, things ramp up a notch. There's an ever-changing rota of things to do but typical activities include yoga and qi-gong classes, paddleboarding and arts and crafts sessions with impromptu live acts occasionally turning up to entertain too. Some activities are free, others are paid for and you can keep the family fed thanks to the pop-up cafe on site. But, of course, you don't have to take part in anything if you don't want to. You can simply kick back and enjoy the space of the campsite and, of course, an evening around a campfire, which are happily welcomed here provided they're raised off the grass. The setting itself takes some beating. These riverside meadows have been out of bounds to the public for hundreds of years and wildlife flourishes here. Kingfishers flash past, dragonflies flit across the water and swans glide noiselessly by. The river, which flows languidly along the edge of the campsite, is great for a dip on a hot summer’s day and there are several good footpaths on the doorstep, including the North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail. When the sun's out and the kids are larking around by the river, when it's setting and you're listening to chilled out tunes by the bar or when it's gone to bed and you're enjoying the campfire, you'll be grateful that canvas camping has gone wild in Bedfordshire.

Activities

Biking

Hiking

Paddling

Swimming

Natural features

River, stream, or creek

Field

Available pitches

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Bedfordshire Mk43 8 Eq, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Serkan C.Joined in July 2020

86%

11 Ratings · 12 reviews

Tim M.recommends

September 2, 2021

Grass Tent Pitch for Camping

This is a really interesting idea - mixing up camping with just a hint of festival - adding a touch of spice to the whole thing. Access to the river was a brilliant bonus. Site was clean and well spaced out. Facilities just about enough. I'd definitely go again - hope they come back to the Turvey site next year.

Rachael H.recommends

September 1, 2021

Grass Tent Pitch for Camping

We had a great time at Wild Canvas Camping this summer. We camped with our two children (4 & 7), who loved the open space, the wild swimming and all the activities. There was something for the adults too. Would highly recommend the stand up paddle boarding and pizza at the Luna cafe. Really chilled out atmosphere, very safe and kept tidy and clean throughout our stay.

Hannah G.

August 30, 2021

Arrived on my first ever camping trip with my mum and 6 year old daughter. I LOVED this place. So friendly, clean, best pizza I’ve ever eaten. If they do the same next year, we’re in!!!!

Vicki B.recommends

August 23, 2021

Traditional Tipi (Furnished)

We got back yesterday from 3 nights ‘glamping’ in a tipi at Turvey House. Our friends joined and were able to pitch their tent near us as there are no designated areas. The site is exactly as the website describes; the atmosphere, activities, facilities, surroundings etc. Nothing ‘sounds better than it actually is’ when you get there… everything is as you hoped it would be and more. Same goes for the pictures; they weren’t taken on their ‘best day’ - that’s exactly how it looks when you arrive. We spent most of our time enjoying our own camp fire but when we did venture out everyone we encountered was lovely (staff and campers alike). In the end the only activity we managed to squeeze in was the paddle boarding which was fantastic. Next year (we will definitely go back) we will try to do a few more of the activities on offer as they sounded really fun. *A note to any camping novices like me: tipis are great: spacious, water tight in the rain, beds included etc BUT you can’t ‘seal yourself in’ the way you can with a tent, so be prepared to share your space with a few spiders. That said I would still book a tipi for next time we visit!

Nick M.

August 16, 2021

Just back from our 2nd weekend at Wild Canvas and it was even better than the first. I went will my 2 children aged 7 and 9. We loved the paddle boarding, swimming, arts and crafts, disco..and the delicious food...the smoked meat was soooooo good. We didn't want to leave....so squeezed in a 4th night. Thanks Nick, R & M. (Please do it again next year!)

Stuart G.recommends

August 10, 2021

Grass Tent Pitch for Camping

We camped there Friday 6th August to Monday 9th August and absolutely loved it. Firstly, the location is perfect, loads of open space with a glorious river at the end of the field perfect for jumping and swimming in to cool off. The facilities are pretty basic - a few portaloos, a couple of washing up stands with hot water and a block of good, hot showers. But there's tonnes of space so you can either go for a quiet spot or have loads of room for a large group of friends to camp around a communal space. You'll feel like you're in the remote countryside, even though the local village and pubs are only a 15 minute walk away. The only activity we did was the paddle-boarding which was fantastic - excellent supervisor (Dom) and we loved meandering down the Ouse and navigating the hurdles while trying to stay balanced. The cafe and evening meal pop up was great - delicious pizzas for around a tenner, good breakfast options and coffees though would have been nice if the cafe was open all day, not just until 1pm. Best of all was the courtyard area with the bar, open fire and chilled-out DJs in the evening. We couldn't believe the Mad Professor was playing on the Saturday night - what a treat, an intimate crowd dancing under the stars - but DJ Zaf and DJ Soul Serenade (?) were also great on the Friday and Sunday nights. Amazing vibes and atmosphere. Lastly, big shout out to all the staff. They were never less than kind and generous, so laidback and helpful, and always super-friendly. Think of this as a low-key cross between wild camping and a mini festival - it's definitely not glamping or a commercial campsite. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be back next year if it's on.

From the host

A pop-up camping experience with a family-friendly festive spirit, gorgeous Traditional Furnished Tipis and lovely, generously-spaced, grassy, flat pitches for regular camping. The camping fields are set in the beautiful riverside meadows, bordered by ancient woodland and historic park land. Out of bounds for hundreds of years, the banks along this stretch of the river Ouse have been virtually unvisited by the public, and are still home to vibrant Kingfishers, flashes of dragonflies and a family of swans. Enjoy swimming in the river, kids playing in the long grass, and at night, sitting around camp fires under big open skies. With ample flat and grassy park land, the grounds of Coppey Moor offer comfortable camping along the banks of River Great Ouse, perfect for a cool summer dip. Wild Canvas is a place to experience the freedom of simple living, comfortable yet connected to the elements, a festival spirit, quality local food and drink, on weekends we offer family-friendly workshops, a range of wellness activities and a very gentle summer soundtrack at Wild HQ - our on site bar and court yard. Weekdays are more relaxed, time to really enjoy the camping and location and with a smaller number of activities running. Workshops and activities program can be seen and booked on our own website; and include Yoga, Paddle Boarding, Arts and Crafts and much more.

Nearby attractions

Bring bikes to make the most of the area. The relatively flat Ouse Valley provides extensive opportunities for family cycling. In the nearby village of Olney, Emberton Country Park (nine miles away; 01908 252570) has some family-friendly routes around lakes, glades and meadows with cafes and play equipment too. Box End Park (10 miles away; 01234 846222) offers water-based fun on two purpose-built lakes. There's an aqua park playground (suitable for ages six and up) or, for older kids and adults, the opportunity to water ski, wakeboard or enjoy open-water swimming. Woburn Safari Park and Whipsnade Zoos (0344 2251826) are both possible day trips by car (22 and 40 miles from the campsite respectively).

Food and drink

If Wild Canvas is about offering festival-style camping then, of course, that means a bit of festival food too. In Wild HQ there's a pop-up café serving a selection of camping staples and good quality coffee and pastry offering. Plus, there is a bar, where you can sample the local ales to the mellow sounds of Wild Canvas Radio.

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