Willow Hill - Hipcamp in Gloucestershire, England

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Willow Hill

88%

22 reviews

England

4 acres

31 units

6 Glamping

25 Motorhome/tent

Hilltop camping and glamping with good food and views across the Severn Vale to the Cotswolds

Willow Hill farm sits on a small hill five miles from the medieval town of Tewkesbury, taking in stunning views of the Severn Vale, surrounded by ancient apple orchards and pasture, and away from the roads. Camping guests can pick their pitch on the Top Field or, for those wanting a spot of luxury, there's a collection of spacious bell tents, too, kitted out with proper beds, fridges, tables and chairs. Camping pitches are on a flat, well-drained field, enjoying the elevated position that looks across the vale towards the Cotswolds. On misty mornings the distant hills are like a hazy mirage. But they are very much there and the Cotswolds AONB is an easy 20-minute drive away. Nine of the fully furnished glamping bell tents are in an old apple orchard with views over the vale, while two in the top field allows family and friends to gather with their own tents or camper vans. Each tent sleeps four with one double and two singles, and comes with Egyptian cotton bedding and towels, rugs underfoot, as well as outdoor furniture and a fire pit. You'll have your own gazebo and, if you're bringing children, the team will pitch a small tent with bed mats close by for them to enjoy their own camping adventure. More bell tents are also found near the farmhouse, fully furnished with the same level of luxury. Willow Hill is also home to Happerley, a movement founded by farmers working to connect the consumer to the journey of their food and drink. You can enjoy a stay wrapped around delicious food, with options for pre-ordered breakfast, picnic, and barbecue boxes, as well as glamping 'table service' — order drinks, like English Sparkling wine, and snacks delivered straight to your tent. The campsite gives children the chance to play out in nature, taking their pick of games to play on the top field, including farm croquet, and when the weather’s hot, they can take a splash in the new swimming pool (available from June onwards only) and two heated bathing pools. Willow Hill also welcomes well-behaved dogs, who will love exploring their fields and water meadows or following one of the well-marked footpaths nearby, tracing your way down to the Severn Way that follows the course of the famous river. For countryside days, you can explore the fields and water meadows with the self-guided nature trails, call into Coombe Hill nature reserve or follow paths down to a disused stretch of canal and along to a local pub.

Activities

Biking

Fishing

Hiking

Swimming

Natural features

River, stream, or creek

Field

Farm

Available pitches

Dates

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Location

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

Hosted by Matthew R.Joined in April 2021

88%

12 Ratings · 22 reviews

Liam M.recommends

June 20, 2022

Non-electric grass pitch

Swimming pool, hot tub and a bar?!

Matthew has a great set up, interesting conversation and an even better vision for the future - I’ll be back!

Susie H.

September 4, 2021

My family and I had the pleasure of staying at Willow Hill for 5 days recently. I was very impressed with the glamping bell tents, they were spotless, cosy, warm and spacious for a family of four. Each of the tents had tables and chairs outside which was a great base to chill out. Best part of all were the staff, Sarah and team honestly couldn’t do enough to make sure you relax and unwind - the pace of the camp was a very welcomed break from the craziness of living in London and the offerings of stone baked pizzas, English sparkling fine wines and local produce were all exceptional. Like the other reviews there are a few tweaks which could make the place even better but overall it was a fantastic site which we will most definitely be visiting again! Thank you Sarah and team ❤️

Rich E.recommends

September 3, 2021

Non-electric grass pitch

Lovely location - super panoramic view of the floodplain and hills, with a field of horses and cows in the foreground! The local pub really is that fabled '2 minutes walk away' that on some campsites is actually a 45 minute trudge across fields. You can't fault the ambition on the site either - the plethora of pools, balls, football goals etc are an obvious sign that the owners are trying to provide a wealth of on-site activities. Sadly the lack of control and organisation of these means that they end up looking like the detritus from a cheap festival at times... The one (massive) let down is the facilities.3 toilets for something like 30 pitches is unacceptable. The 'open air' shower is a massive fail too - let's not pretend that 'open air' is a feature, it's a fault. Put a roof on, a door with a lock (not a curtain), and make sure there's somewhere to hang the shower head? The washing up facilities (2 sinks) are outdoors too (we're in the UK here folks!), and the hot water didn't make it out of single digits in terms of temperature, so you can't wash your pots properly. Let's not confuse 'quirky' with 'unsanitary' basically. Doubt we'll return - there's so many campsites out there getting things right, that there's no need to put up with places like this.

Iain M.recommends

September 3, 2021

Non-electric grass pitch

We had a great weekend away with our 6 and 2 year old. We camped on the tent side - very happy with the facilities and the kids loved playing with the many games provided - including swing ball, ping pong and in the paddling pool! Well maintained site and lovely location surrounded by apple trees. We had breakfast both days and pizza one of the nights - all lovely. Informal, relaxed campsite with great staff - special shout out to Henry who was particularly nice and super helpful. Thanks Willow Hill for a lovely weekend.

Jatin O.recommends

August 30, 2021

Non-electric grass pitch

Loved our weekend here just now. We had 4 kids (aged 6-11) and 4 adults. Getting there and setting up was easy and the views from the site were excellent. Kids ran around, cycled around, made friends and played games. Ordered pizzas on the first night which were yum. Fire pits and wood available. Went on a fantastic bike ride right from the camp site, along a B road for a bit but then onto super-quiet roads through some small villages. Had lunch at Yew Tree Inn, a waterside pub which was fantastic. All the food was made fresh by the chef and was delicious! By the time we cycled back to camp the kids were ready to splash in one of the pools while we chilled out in the cafe area. All sorts of foods and drinks available on site making this a super-easy camping trip to enjoy with the family. The guys working here were really helpful in all respects and I cannot compliment them enough. Toilets were clean and super-well maintained (even the eco one!). Shower was good. Whatever the teething problems were, they seem to have worked them out. I cannot wait to return next year.

Esilvester ?.recommends

August 28, 2021

Non-electric grass pitch

One of the pleasures of Willow Hill, is the laid back nature of the management. There’s no plethora of instructions or sign posts. Campers are left to chose their own pitches and sort out their own holidays with little interference. The campers we shared the field with were a delight and we were all equally delighted and confused by the hands-off management. It’s all a bit chaotic and haphazard. It’s a strength and also a little opaque when you arrive and try to get organised. The pizza and food on offer for sale is outstanding. Once you’ve been here a few hours, you will soon be as laid back as the owners. Initial frustration turns in to relaxation once you start to unwind. The view from the camping field is fantastic and made the holiday special, for me. I’d like to make some suggestions if management is reading this: turn the shower in the camping field 90 degrees. Have the wall of hay bales form an L and hang the shower curtain so it is parallel with the wall. The lack of privacy didn’t bother me but Im not sure other campers would have enjoyed the view when the wind blew the curtains open. Let the grass grow long and section up the field by mowing paths and sites. It would give a nicer vibe. A welcome sheet that has some information on it and lists your services would have been welcome.

From the host

Willow Hill farm sits on a small hill five miles from the medieval town of Tewkesbury, commanding spectacular views over the Severn Vale and the Cotswolds, with open pastures off the beaten track. We offer quiet camping with limited facilities during June, and open fully from July. We're friendly and informal with a chilled vibe, inviting camping guests to choose where to pitch on the Top Field. For those wanting more comfort there are three beautifully furnished and styled bell tents - Lapwing, Curlew and Woodpecker - on the edge of our old orchard, available from July, each offering something slightly different. Each five-metre bell tent is rugged and made up with a kingsize bed, plenty of throws, bedside furniture, Roberts radio, mini fridge and soft lighting. In the evening, you can dine outside your tent in the glow of a firepit. For a family group, choose Woodpecker, which comes with a retro caravan Fledgling for your teens to enjoy just next door! If you're after a romantic break for two choose Lapwing. And for two to fourteen, choose Curlew, with orchard space for extra tents, own eco toilet and shower. Best of all, Curlew also comes with Swallow Summit, a gazebo with private dining area and BBQ enjoying total privacy and stunning views. For an effortless gathering of friends and family, Skylark Corner offers great value for 16 people on the Top Field. Guests can enjoy a smart six berth caravan with toilet, shower and cooking, plus three bell tents, each simply furnished with fourn single blow up beds. The encampment, tucked to the corner of our large field, circles around a fire pit. The farm is a peaceful family-friendly retreat, with plenty of space for children to play and explore. We welcome dogs too! There are plenty of well-marked footpaths nearby, and you can trace your way down to the Severn Way that follows the course of the famous river. For countryside days, you can explore the fields and water meadows, call into Coombe Hill nature reserve of follow paths down to a disused stretch of canal and along to one of many local pubs. There is a heated 32' x 16' swimming pool, with sun deck and panoramic views, for adults and supervised children. For younger ones there is a small bathing pool, plus outdoor games to pick up and play, as well as Craig our farm collie who loves to play fetch. Serving food with provenance is an absolute passion of ours, and we are thrilled to welcome Mexican chef Noel Morales and family to add a twist to Willow Hill cuisine - google El Refugio Mezcaleria! We have invested in new facilities for 2022 including Mill Terrace, which has relaxed seating and a log burner for the evening dining and entertaining. An extensive range of artisan wines, ciders, lagers, spirits and soft drinks are served from the Cobney bar, all at very reasonable prices. In The Shrubbery, we have scattered dining around the trees, communal fire pits and artistic lighting for a magical evening atmosphere. If you fancy your own cook up, you can pick up eggs, meats, vegetable and fruit produce, soft drinks, snacks, cakes and ice creams from our small farm shop. And you'll know the journey of everything you eat! We welcome enquiries for bespoke parties and celebrations - hiring all or part of the venue, including private dining in the Mill House - to celebrate those joyful milestones in life!

Nearby attractions

Willow Hill’s campsite offers children the freedom to play, explore and get close to nature. Take your pick of games to play on the top field including farm croquet. And when the weather’s hot, the children can take a splash in our swimming pool (available from June 2021). For countryside days, you can explore our fields and water meadows with our self-guided nature trails, pick a path by the River Severn or call in to Coombe Hill nature reserve. For days out further afield, hop in the car to the Forest of Dean, where you can test your nerve at Go Ape, hire bikes to take a trail or take a magical walk through Puzzlewood, film location for scenes in Star Wars, Merlin and Doctor Who! From ancient forests, you can head to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and take an outing to pretty villages and market towns where there’s plenty for all the family to see and do. Gloucester, a 20 minute drive, boasts historic docks and riverside walks, shops and eateries as well as The Quays retail outlet. The spectacular Gloucester Cathedral soars above the city skyline and is well worth a visit. The Regency town of Cheltenham is 23 minutes by car, with its elegant architecture and landscaped parks, racecourse, theatre, restaurants, bars and shops. Closer to home, the medieval town of Teweksbury has plenty to offer, with its spectacular Abbey (do you dare to go to the top of the tower?), John More Countryside Museum, independent shops and restaurants. There's a leisure centre with two swimming pools, gym and pay-as-you-go activities ten minutes by car. July sees the town go back in time with the biggest free Medieval gathering in Europe. Tewkebury Medieval Festival attracts more than 2000 re-enactors from all over the world to play out the Battle of Tewkesbury 1472, one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. It's a virtual event for 2021, but back to battle as usual in 2022. There are pubs aplenty dotted around, the nearest being The Farmers Arms, just a field’s walk away from the campsite and serving a hearty menu, and wide choice of beers, wine and soft drinks. Pubs beside the River Severn include the Red Lion at Wainlode, Lower Lode Inn near Tewkebury and The Boat House, just off Tewkesbury high street, overlooking the weir and moorings.

Food and drink

Aside from farming, Willow Hill is home to Happerley, a movement founded by farmers to connect consumers to the journey of their food and drink. It means we're passionate about food! And it means that we wrap your stay around food, with guests able to pre-order breakfast boxes, picnic lunches, BBQ boxes and delicious evening meals plus local produce from our on-site shop, together with a range of English wines, beers and spirits - all with known provenance. The nearest farm shop is 4 miles away at Coombe Hill, a family run enterprise by farmers Sam & Phillipa, selling home reared free range pork, lamb & eggs and local beef, fruit & veg. The campsite's nearest pub, The Farmers Arms, is family-friendly and just one field's walk away. The pub has a large beer garden, and serves a popular menu with a choice of beers, wines and soft drinks. A 10 minute drive away, Tewkesbury has a choice of restaurants - embracing English, Indian, Italian and Chinese cuisine - as well as various coffee shops and cafes. Willow Hill favourites include Crystal Rivers, The Raj Shahi, Salerno and Gupshill Manor. For local pubs beside the river, guests always enjoy The Boathouse in Tewkesbury town centre, The Lower Lode Inn near Tewkesbury, The Red Lion at Wainlodes, and the Fleet Inn at Twyning.