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Lower Marlpits Farm Campsite

94%

· Honiton, Devon, England

50 acres hosted by Samantha T.

2 glamping pitches

Private sites

100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

Creature comforts

Enjoy the comforts of home—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.

A well-connected family farm, near Honiton and the Jurassic Coast.

A 15-minute walk from Honiton Railway Station, a 15-minute drive from the Jurassic Coast, and somehow this pretty farm campsite is still quiet and secluded. How do they do it? The answer, of course, is that the Tratt family takes a conscientious approach to running a campsite. There are just four pitches over two fields, plus a bulbous bell tent and a shepherd’s hut for glampers. There’s certainly no chance of ever feeling crowded. Instead, it’s the wildlife that rules the roost – think deer, badgers, red kites, and woodpeckers and hedges bursting with primroses.

In the family for over half a century, Lower Marlpits Farm occupies 50-acres of countryside in the East Devon AONB, most of it with west-facing views towards Dartmoor and the summer sunsets (the camping field has particularly good vistas and the tower of St Michael’s Church in the background). Despite its diminutive size, the campsite still has great facilities. There’s a proper flushing loo, a hot shower, a shared kitchen area and washing-up and recycling stations. Glampers enjoy memory-foam mattresses, while campers will find a campfire pit at each pitch.

Lower Marlpits still hums with farm routine. The Tratt’s have two dogs, six cats, and chickens, ducks and geese that scratch around near the yard, plus 100 cattle. And it all results in fresh produce you can buy. It’s a homely affair. Eggs and veg are sold at the farm gate and, at certain times of year, they press apples from the old orchard near the campsite and sell supremely delicious apple juice too. Snag a bottle on your way to the beach and pop it in a coolbox. It’s 15 minutes to Bransombe, 20 minutes to Seaton and 20 minutes to Sidmouth. Cold juice, big sands and a swim in the sea is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Activities

Hiking

Horseback riding

Wildlife watching

Natural features

Field

Farm

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94%

9 Ratings · 4 reviews

Adam B.recommends

February 27, 2024

Lavender lodge a cosy Shepherds hut

Beautiful spot and the hut was really well laid out and equipped. Samantha was a really helpful host - replied to messages really quickly and suppled us with firewood and recommendations in the local area. Would recommend!

Clarice H.recommends

October 24, 2022

Lavender lodge a cosy Shepherds hut

Peaceful and cosy hut!!

My husband and I absolutely loved our stay in Lavender Lodge. The facilities were spotless, the heater worked a charm and the bed was SO cosy!!! This was our final getaway just the two of us before our baby is born and I'm so happy we stayed here. I would recommend it to anyone and we would love to come back. Thoughtfully decorated and a great location.

Emily W.recommends

August 20, 2022

Lavender lodge a cosy Shepherds hut

EXCELLENT

What a wonderful stay we had at Lavender Lodge. Sam’s communication before we arrived was brilliant. The hut was so thoughtfully done- a beautiful view, private decking area, everything we needed to cook simple food inside, wonderfully clean and just a beautiful relaxing place to spend a night. The shower and toilet were immaculate, and the kitchen would have been useful if we were doing more cooking. Sam was a welcoming host and even bought us some fresh eggs for breakfast and lent us a bike lock for riding into town. Cannot recommend a night here enough, brilliantly convenient for bikepacking the East Devon Trail.

Lucy C.recommends

July 20, 2022

Lavender lodge a cosy Shepherds hut

Cosy glamping with a view

Such a lovely spot, with great views over the valley and chickens and ducks wandering past. The hut and facilities were spotlessly clean, very comfortable and very well equipped. Thanks Sam!

Location

Honiton, Devon, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Samantha T.Joined in February 2022

From the host

Welcome to Lower Marlpits farm campsite. Our family has farmed the land at Lower Marlpits for over 50 years but after the sudden loss of our dear dad and husband in late 2020. Myself Sam, my brother Will and Mum Mary have taken on the running of it. As a small farm of 50 acres, we decided we needed to change and diversify in order to survive. We were accepted by The Greener Camping Club and opened up Lower Marlpits for camping in spring 2022. The farm and campsite are a work in progress and we hope to go from strength to strength to help secure the farm's future. Please note: We are a Greener camping club site, your booking includes membership of the club until the end of the year, Booking your stay with us means you agree to us passing your details to The Greener camping club for membership purposes. We share our farm with many furry and feathered friends. We have two dogs, six cats, lots of traditional-breed chickens, ducks, geese and around 100 beef cattle. Unlike most beef farms, our cows are not just a number, they all have names and we know them all for their quirks and personality. Our beef suckler herd can be seen roaming the pasture with their calves. All calves are kept with mum until they wean themselves naturally. They are a beautiful sight to see.

Nearby attractions

The town of Honiton is half a mile from the farm, accessible via footpath near the camping field. Honiton is a quaint town with a Georgian high street and a farmers' market running every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It's also home to the Allhallows Museum (01404 44966), exploring what the town is most famous for – Honiton lace. Popular Jurassic Coast beaches are also within easy driving distance. Monmouth and Budleigh Salterton beach are around 30 minutes by car, the former a one-mile stretch of pebble and rock from the Lyme Regis harbour to East Devon's Pinhay Bay, while the latter is situated next to the titular seaside town (several good beach cafés on the waterfront). Away from the coast, try a local woodland walk – your hosts recommending the Seaton Wetlands, a 20-minute drive from Lower Marlpits Farm, with nearly 3 miles of trails to explore. The walks also take you across marshland alongside the river Axe, promising ample wildlife-spotting opportunities. For family days out, Sidmouth's Donkey Sanctuary (01395 578222), the Seaton Tramway (01297 20375), and Crealy Theme Park and Resort (01395 233200) are a 15–25-minute drive away.

Food and drink

There are plenty of options in Honiton: Toast (01404 598067) is a café and pâtisserie with a fantastic interior and a "secret garden" you can explore, along with outdoor seating. Then there's the Lacemaker's Cafe (01404 44816), serving traditional West-country food using local suppliers in a warm family-run setting. Elsewhere, Hare & Hounds (01404 41760), a traditional country Free House serving pub classics and a Sunday carvery, is roughly 15 minutes away by car – there's a decent children's play area outside along with a large garden for the summer months. The Grazing Cow (01404 831114) is less than a 10-minute drive away – best for coffee and breakfast – and your hosts also strongly recommend Honiton Dairy, which rewards your 20-minute walk from the campsite with some of the best ice cream in Devon.

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