There’s a lovely old-school camping vibe at Three Hares Campsite in Dartmoor National Park. It offers grassy pitches for tents and campervans only, facilities are housed in a barn and entertainment comes in the form of a tree swing, a couple of hammocks and hedgerows that groan with blackberries in late summer. There’s also a goose called Gander who helps keep the grass nibbled short. Off site, it’s less than three miles to Castle Drogo, the Teign Gorge and some lovely wild swimming spots.
The campsite occupies a one-acre field that’s surrounded by mature trees and part of a 25-acre smallholding on a former farm. There are just 15 pitches almost equally split between those with electric hook up and those without. If you opt for off grid, you can just choose your spot in the field. If you choose one with electric, you’ll find a board in reception that details where you should pitch or park up. It’s also here that you’ll find a handy fridge/freezer for campers to share, logs to buy, off-ground fire pits to rent and info on the local area.
There are leaflets for that – but the best bits are the handwritten notes on a blackboard that hosts Chinnie and Henry leave for their guests. They detail their favourite wild swimming spots, walks and list a few good local pubs. All are places they like to visit with their own kids and places you and your kids are probably going to love too. But, in truth, topping that list is probably Three Hares Campsite itself. It’s small and friendly: somewhere kids can run about and make friends while adults sit back and relax all surrounded by the wilds of Dartmoor and Devon.
