Hidden Valley Camping

“No clubhouse, no caravans, no electric hook-up, no close neighbours”, it reads in bold on the Hidden Valley Campsite website. It’s the truth, too. Set in a sloping field in Worcestershire’s Teme Valley, this is not only an off-grid campsite where traditional tenting is order of the day, but it’s also the sort of landscape where caravans and electricity simply wouldn’t work. From the initial meadow beside the lane, where there’s room for a handful of tents, the land falls suddenly away, sloping down toward aptly named Stony Brook. Natural terraces provide aprons of grassy space, perfect for pitching the tent and having your own personal area, while a trio of pre-pitched bell tents bag some of the best spots above the stream. Caravans wouldn’t stand a chance but old school campers are in heaven.

“We are keen campers ourselves”, manager Simon explains. “There's nothing worse than site owners cramming as many tents into their fields as they can.” It’s certainly shaped the Hidden Valley ethos. There are rarely more than around 25 people on the campsite at any one time and facilities are typically low key and close to nature. Gas-powered showers, composting toilets, a covered washing-up area and a small honest shop is about the grand sum of the facilities, though if you arrive at the right time, you might also benefit from the luxury of a quad-bike ride to your pitch instead of the customary wheelbarrow walk. It’s all part of the laid back vibe here, where campfires are encouraged (raised off the ground) and they won’t charge you through the nose for a fire-pit (you can even bring your own if you like).

In the morning, there’s a dawn chorus that weary urbanites could only dream of and in the evenings you can look out for muntjac deer and foxes slinking away beyond the hedgerows. As for the daytime? Fill it with trips to local attractions like English Heritage-owned Witely Court or the family friendly zip lining at Go Ape! or indulge in the real local highlight… the food. Nearby Ludlow and Leominister are well known for their annual food festivals, while the nearest pub to the campsite is a scenic one-mile walk away. And, since the wildflower-dotted campsite is actually set in what was once an orchard, it would be rude not to try a local cider while you’re there!