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12 acres
5 units
5 Tent
Cosy year-round glamping and seasonal camping in a fenland meadow with views of Ely cathedral
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Wildlife watching
Natural features
Field
Available pitches
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Location
Ely, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Claire M.Joined in September 2019
100%
36 Ratings · 63 reviews
Gemma C.recommends
May 21, 2023
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Had a fantastic weekend camping on a non-electric tent pitch.
Reasonably priced, great location. There were a few other campers and groups of people and you still felt nice and secluded with your own pitch and wildflowers and grasses allowed to grow win between them.
We cycled into Ely on the Saturday and saw a few people from the site walking in, it’s well worth a visit.
Facilities were great too.
Paul N.recommends
May 3, 2023
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
I saw a lesser spotted woodpecker, not one but two , beat that .showers great,people good .I would go back .
Leigh G.recommends
May 1, 2023
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Great campsite, great facilities
Beautiful pitch all to ourselves on a beautifully kept campsite. Great hosts and great facilities. Would definitely come again.
Emily A.recommends
April 11, 2023
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Claire’s campsite was so thoughtful and you can tell it’s really cared for. The staff here were also so kind and helpful and made it easy to feel welcomed. The view of Ely cathedral in the distance was really cool to see from your tent.
Shea H.recommends
April 5, 2023
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
A great little gem!
Really loved this site!
Gorgeous farmland location (we saw little deer!) but eady reach of the little gem that is Ely.
Great facilities- loos, and shower block were pristine and felt very new, fridge and freezer for cool blocks and charging points... All makes for a really easy trip whilst still feeling 'wild'. Highly recommended.
Dan C.recommends
October 5, 2022
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
starry starry night!
nice and quiet. with a real clear night sky.
Alisa S.recommends
August 23, 2022
Timber Tent Caterpillar
It felt like a biodiversity oasis in the middle of an extensive agricultural landscape…. Look forward to seeing the young trees become a little woodland in the near future 🤗
Leah L.recommends
August 7, 2022
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
We stayed for two nights, little bit of a mixed bag. We have stayed on similar sites with a similar design concept (long grass etc) and we’re expecting the pitches to be further apart. In reality we could easily hear the conversations around us. Probably the first camp site shower block I’ve seen with a bath and a variety of shower temperatures, but despite that extra luxury they are still push showers and there are no hair dryers / place to plug one in. We didn’t have kids with us, but there is a small playground - older children were playing on empty pitches around us though so we had a few balls and frisbees land on our plot, and kids running through - I believe there’s a playing field but we didn’t see it. I would probably only recommend this site to those with kids.
John B.recommends
July 26, 2022
Grass pitch (with electric)
Great location and set up.
Catalin Alexandru B.recommends
June 24, 2022
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
One of a kind
This was such a perfect stay, can’t compare with any other camping we’ve been to , it’s unique. Such a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the wild nature but still have all the basic commodities. The facilities were great, the toilets and showers were super clean .The wild camp was so beautiful and peaceful. The entire experience the camp provides has been thought out carefully to give the best stay, protecting the planet and the nature . Thank you, we will definitely be staying again.
Rhoda B.recommends
June 14, 2022
Grass pitch (with electric)
Loved the Alice in Wonderland theme
Sven L.recommends
June 9, 2022
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Great time was had!
We really enjoyed our time at Mad Hatter's. Site, plot and facilities were very clean and in good condition and the staff were very welcoming and friendly. Site felt very safe for my child to run around freely though she felt the playground was a little young and limited for her (9). We had some great walks to Ely and would definitely recommend the site to anyone. Would have been nice to see a little more of the theme utilised beyond images and plot names but certainly interested to see how the site evolves in the future.
Hannah M.recommends
June 1, 2022
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Camping with the wildflowers
Claire's campsite is beautiful, so much sky to see. Great campsite for children they go off, make friends and you can always see them.
Wash facilities are superb and clean. Showers are hot and we didn't ever queue.
Matches and firelighters on site were a bonus.
We got some stunning photos.
Cathy ?.recommends
October 28, 2021
Timber Tent - Mad Hatter
This Glamping site (we stayed in Mad Hatter’s Timber tent) far exceeded my expectations. The only negative thing I can say is that in this exposed area of the fens there is often a lot of wind and the tarpaulin/plasticised roof of the tent made an awful noise at nights when it was windy, if it were possible to taughten it up and/or plant trees/put up more natural wind barriers that would be amazing. The Glamping tent was amazing, Claire has gone out of her way to provide everything you might need with lovely touches. I really liked the brightly coloured matching bedding and lovely bright fleece blankets. The electric blankets on the beds were a godsend in October. Chairs (and beanbags) are provided for both indoors and outdoors. Plenty of cooking equipment, utensils, plates etc etc. Washing up liquid, tea towel and cleaning sponge are provided. There are fairy lights both inside and outside the tent which you can switch on and off as you need. Excellent recycling facilities. I was worried as we’d not been Glamping in over 10yrs &that time had stayed in teepee which allowed dogs inside &the walls were all filthy and muddy. However this was not the case at Mad Hatters, everything was immaculate including whole inside of the timber tent. We were provided with 6 farm laid hens eggs on arrival and bottle of milk, freshly ground coffee &tea bags. The bathrooms were the cleanest and nicest I’ve used at a campsite for years. The bathrooms at the back each had a heated towel rail on a timer. Timber tent also had hot and cold running water so you don’t have to leave your tent to get drinking water. Lively rag rugs covering a lot of the floors so feet don’t get cold. The tent is provided with a small electric oven/grill + 2 hobs and a barbecue outside as well as a fire pit. Loads of unmowed areas for nature, must be full of lovely flowers in the spring and summer. All in all I was hugely impressed by this site.
Hilary H.recommends
October 11, 2021
Timber Tent - King of Hearts
The King of Hearts Timber Tent was great for our weekend break. Cosy beds, all cooking facilities we needed and just the right distance from the toilet block! The campsite is lovely. We were arriving slightly out of hours and in the dark - Claire gave us clear directions of which tent was ours and had left the fairy lights on to welcome us!
Ollie L.recommends
October 6, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
It’s such a nice campsite with heart put into its aesthetic and such amazing open space, great for families couples or groups and has amazingly friendly staff. Claire was so kind and welcoming. Definitely going back to try out the cabins
Lisa W.recommends
September 12, 2021
Grass pitch (with electric)
What a fantastic site. Good size pitch ehu, lovely views, friendly staff. Toilets and showers were the best I have been in so far, very clean,even had a bath for the kids. Lovely walks would recommend, and we will be back again thank you for a lovely weekend.
Anya R.recommends
September 8, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
As the campsite came into view my heart sank a little initially but once you’re onsite it’s a completely different atmosphere. We loved every moment of our carved-out tent space with just enough meadow in between campsites to feel privacy but also like you were in a community. The wildlife kept everyone entertained, every necessity and comfort was available and the on-site help was lovely. I can’t think how it could be improved upon. Ely town provided a fair bit of interest for everyone too. The cathedral is a nice experience. My only complaint is that we couldn’t find camp stove gas anywhere after realizing we would quickly run out.
Andym1300 ?.recommends
August 24, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Exceptionally laid out, the best we have ever stayed at and brilliant showers. This is what camping should be about. Very friendly too. We were made to feel very welcome.
It's a bit of a walk into Ely, but a good walk.
There are no cars on the site itself, so it's very safe and there are great facilities and places for children to explore.
Alex T.recommends
August 20, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Really excellent facilities - amazing toilets and shower block for a campsite.
Very reasonable price, really decent service on arrival.
The grass pitches mowed into the meadow were nice and added some privacy. The fire pit built in was great.
The only downside was nightime noise - quite close to a main road, and the noise from that carried across the fens, and continued through the night.
Samantha B.recommends
August 14, 2021
Grass pitch (with electric)
What a lovely few days stay at this delightful site. Facilities were regularly cleaned, even my teenage daughter was impressed! All staff were really lovely & accommodating, all in all a great vibe.
We walked into Ely which I admit took a while but it was lovely taking in the sunset over the river on the way back.
Ely itself is gorgeous, the cathedral is beautiful and we had a huge piece of cake & tea at the Almonry restaurant and gardens within the grounds.
We also had food & drink at the Minster Tavern which was cheap & cheerful and we had the most helpful waitress ever!
Another great experience was Hannam's Wake Hub, the Aqua Park just outside Ely. It was like total wipeout and it was fantastically organised & so much fun!
We also visited Cambridge & of course went punting. We were in absolute awe of the architecture & history there.
All in all what an amazing few days away, spending quality family time together & making memories. It didn’t cost the earth either!
Catherine G.recommends
August 12, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
We stayed 2 nights on a grass pitch and we were very impressed and glad we had booked Mad Hatters. The whole site is themed with Alice in Wonderland which we love and makes it a bit different. A lot of the pitches have their own clearly designated area with long wild grass dividing them up and giving you a defined space for your set up. The site is quiet and peaceful but within easy reach of Ely with plenty of shops etc. The washing and washing up facilities are all very clean and well provisioned. Little extras were free fire pits, a fridge/freezer free to use for cold blocks, free charging point for devices and wheel barrows to help move equipment from car to pitch. My children aged 14, 12 and 8 enjoyed roaming the small but wild site and flying kites on the grass play area. It felt very safe and friendly.
We loved the eco consciousness as well, with lots of recycling bins and wildlife friendly wild planting.
Overall I’d say we were very impressed and may well visit again.
William F.recommends
August 11, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
We took our grandkids for a few days camping here. The site is child friendly and safe, clean and well organised. Despite the awful weather ( thunderstorms, and heavy downpours) the site didn’t become muddy underfoot as it is particularly well draining, an added bonus when taking refuge in your tent.. 😀. We had a very enjoyable time here, so good in fact that we wanted to extend our stay.... Will definitely be paying a return trip in the future..
Rhiannon A.recommends
August 7, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
We had the the most perfect few days away at the mad hatters campsite. This was our first camping experience and it was wonderful. The site itself is so pretty with lovely wild flowers between each pitch which offers privacy for campers but it is equally a busy place so you are not too isolated. The washrooms were always clean and tidy with modern facilities. There were lots of little touches like communal plugs a communal fridge, dish washing areas and drinking water taps which was great. Also each pitch had its own fire pit and fire wood was available to buy from the reception so we were able to roast marshmallows until our eyes were bigger than our bellies! There was plenty of space for walking and exploring which my little boy absolutely loved. The town isn't too far away and has lots of lovely little shops and cafe's too although we could have quite happily stayed on site the entire time. There is a little play area on site which was lovely too.
The staff were friendly and approachable.
We had such a lovely time and would have stayed a few more days if we could have! We have already started discussing our plans to come back and we really can't wait.
We would highly recommend this camping site.
Thank you for a lovely stay xx
Kelly M.recommends
August 6, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Lovely sized campsite for our first time camping with our two young boys! Campsite itself felt very clean and the toilet/wash facilities were great. Loved that each pitch had its own fire pit and also the pitches were nicely spaced out. Great little play area for the children, only downside was the playing field had tents pitched in it so had to be mindful of the people camping there when playing. Overall I Would recommend!
Emily ?.
August 5, 2021
This campsite was a lovely find - the unusual pitch layout with wildflowers and plants surrounding mown circular pitches made for a wonderful private feel. Add the fire pit for your own campfire and management that clearly care about every detail of your stay and it makes an unbeatable experience. I have been camping for 30+ years, so it take a lot to impress me. Absolutely recommend!
Eleonor S.recommends
August 5, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
Just got back from a 4 night stay at this lovely clean site. The pitches are large and private surrounded by long wild grasses full of wildlife which the kids loved running around. The quirky Alice in wonderland theme was great for the kids. Ely itself is a lovely little city, I highly recommend Oliver Cromwells house and Ely cathedral. The Almory tea rooms at the back of the house is a must with fantastic views and gardens. We will definitely return
Andrew A.recommends
July 31, 2021
Grass pitch (with electric)
We have stayed here 3 times in the last 12 months including storm Francis
The campsite is perfectly set up for the camper all you need is perfectly set out.
Pitch sizes are good for our 8x4m tent plus front extension. EHU of 16 amps had no issues.
Located within easy reach of Ely and numerous tourist attractions such as Hunstanton snd many national trust attractions.
We went to Wimpole estate, Anglesey Abbey and Ickworth house perfect for relaxing walks
I can’t recommend this campsite any more than I have done already.
Victorialatham ?.recommends
July 25, 2021
Grass pitch (No Electric) TENTS ONLY
We had three glorious days at Mad Hatters but even in bad weather it would be a, close to, perfect campsite.
The huge wildflower meadow has round pitches dotted through it with winding paths which you can see children’s heads bobbing along, as they dart from the Mad Hatters ‘party shack’ (as our lot called it), to the play area and back to demand food!
The electric pitches are beyond the meadow, as is the car park, shower/ washing up block and fridge/freezer but nothing is more than two minutes walk and there are wheelbarrows to tote your stuff. People respect the request to keep noise low after 10pm but because the pitches are spaced and the wildflowers block the sound, no one hears anyone else after the children are asleep. And they have fire pits and the best recycling I’ve seen. The shower block is cleaned three times a day and currently has a family of baby hedgehogs underneath, so you do have to watch out you don’t tread on their audience as you step out of the door!
We mentioned two showers felt hotter than the 37C listed and they called the plumber in, and they took a walk around one evening just to check if everything was okay with all the campers. Honestly, the people who run this place are great and you won’t find a better place.
We had a day in Thetford Forest, 30 minutes away, where the children did bungee jumping and ran around a sound trail like lunatics. Another day we forced them to experience some culture in Ely which, despite themselves, they really enjoyed and the icecream shop was delicious and catered for my niece’s multiple allergies. We didn’t make Wicken Fen, as we thought we’d fry in the 30C sun plus the boat trips were booked up but it looked worth a trip. After checking out, we had a tasty lunch at the Swan on the River pub at Littleport and could happily have lingered there all afternoon, if only we didn’t need to go home.
Helen S.
July 18, 2021
We stayed for the weekend with friends and we were welcomed by a girl who gave us the rules and told us how busy it was going to be. It’s a pretty setting with good facilities for camping but appeared to be booked for many hen weekends and birthdays and on the Friday everyone was loud but it wasn’t disruptive. On Saturday night we eventually asked our neighbours to keep it down at 3am as they were having a party. We didn’t want to do it earlier but tried to get hold of owners or managers by text and email but no one was available. The crowd next to us were very close and high on drugs (openly taking) screaming to music and their camp was no more than 5 metres from us - just separated by long grass. I can see how this place would be fun with a large group of friends but our children were scared in the night. We ended going for a walk instead. Another family tried to get hold of owners but they were not onsite.
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