If you've ever wanted to be part of a Bloodhound Gang, then Readyfields Farm might just be the place for you. Don't worry, you won't need to perform a dubious rap song on MTV, but you will get the chance to hop on a bike and ride around the village of Caunton with a healthy pack of hounds in tow. It's a real spectacle and a firm favourite with guests, especially since the evening rounds off with slices of homemade pizza from the wood-fired oven.
The bloodhounds are bred on the farm and provide puppies between April and June. Owners David and Lesley have built a huge playpen so that guests all have a chance to pet the pups.
As this is a working farm, there's quite the extended family. You'll meet Digger the Jack Russell; horse Brian; Snuffles the pig; and Dinky, Dash and Daisy, the donkeys. During the summer months, expect to see sheep shearing and lamb-feeding. Lottie's farm tour is the best way to get a feel for the farm, and a real educational experience. It's a great way for the kids to see first-hand that cheese doesn't just come from the deli counter at Waitrose.
There are five beautiful safari-style tents on site, all of which come fully equipped with the main essentials for any camping trip: flushing loo, wooden floors, double bed. Yes, this isn't an ordinary campsite. This is a Feather Down Farm campsite. Expect all the luxuries of home, with the added bonus of having of 500 acres of Nottinghamshire playground.
Once you've woken up to the gentle sound of woodpeckers, it'll be time to start exploring the surroundings. The farm sits in the middle of Nottinghamshire’s prettiest spot and is set in some of England's most beautiful walking country. An array of walks can be taken from the doorstep of the campsite; pick up a leaflet from the onsite shop for further details. Alternatively, head to nearby Newark; a thriving market town and home to Newark Castle (01636 650000), famed for its role in the English Civil War.
Sherwood Forest is an easy 20-minute drive away. Although the name will always go hand-in-hand with Nottinghamshire's most famous heroic outlaw, Robin Hood, the area offers plenty more besides. Dendrologists will be in their element here – the 450-acre woodland is home to some of the most spectacular trees in Europe, including The Major Oak, which is thought to be around 800 years old.
