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Wardley Hill Campsite

99%
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· Bungay, Norfolk, England
6 acres hosted by Joe & Holly P.
2 glamping pitches · 4 motorhome pitches · 12 tent pitches
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Private pitches
100% of recent Hipcampers say pitches are private.
Best campervan spots: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Best in East of England: 3rd place
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Joe & Holly is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite on the Norfolk Suffolk border

The meandering Waveney River carves the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, its glistening waters drifting eastward into The Broads. The wide green flood plains, dotted with pockets of woodland, are home not only to the handsome market towns that have stood for centuries, but also a plethora of wildlife with a far longer reaching history. It is here, amongst the birds and the bees, the bushes and the trees, that Wardley Hill Campsite can be found. A simple rural meadow in the beautiful Waveney valley.

Though we proclaim the rich history of the Norfolk countryside, Wardley Hill is actually a relatively new site, opened back in 2014 by owners Joe and Holly Putman. The lush, six-acre space is a seemingly unmanaged mix of long wild grass, ageing oaks and trickling streams, though in fact the field has been carefully well kept in subtle, ecologically friendly ways. Amongst the meadows, wild flower seeds have been generously scattered, boosting the butterfly numbers, while wider areas of mown grass still provide practical camping space for large tents and a family game of French cricket.

The facilities here are in keeping with the campsite's pared-back, partially wild approach. Wonderfully crafted wooden huts contain three composting loos, and you can borrow solar-powered shower bags if you want to forgo the regular shower facilities on site. The result is a simple, traditional camping experience in a site as populated by wildlife as it is by people. Woodpeckers bounce along the tree line, tucked amongst the shade, while overhead buzzards can be spotted, circling in the thermals. A small stream also runs past the meadow – trickling almost dry in the height of summer – and, jumping across, children can play hide and seek in the shady wooded copse.

Those who appreciate such bucolic surroundings, yet look for more comforts than the wild camping on offer, can take advantage of one of the site's glamping options. These range from the sturdy shepherd’s hut and a cluster of bell tents to more quirky and innovative options. There is, for example, a tree tent, suspended by taught straps among the trees in one corner of the campsite, while the well-named ‘Hammock Hut’ is a warm, wooden Wendy-house-style structure that, inside, has two hammock hanging across its length. Each comes with a fire-pit area for evening campfires, while regular campers can borrow fire-pits too, to get in on the marshmallow action.

When daylight returns, Wardley Hill is poised to enjoy the best of Norfolk and Suffolk. The Waveney River (one mile away) acts as a waterway into The Broads, drifting by canoe, kayak or sailing boat. Holly and Joe have stand-up paddleboards you can hire. You can collect them at the campsite or get dropped off on the riverside behind the ruined medieval castle in Bungay. Two more riverside market towns, Diss and Beccles, offer inland attractions if you’re not heading directly to the coast (it’s a 20-minute drive to Lowestoft). Many here, however, are rarely in a rush to go anywhere. The new, relaxed pace of life amongst the green pastures is enough to slow down any touristy intentions, kicking back instead to enjoy the pleasures close at hand: nature, seclusion and the crackling sparks of a campfire.

Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Field
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99%
94 Ratings · 134 reviews
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Marc C.recommends
July 26, 2023
Grass Tent Pitch
Beautiful site
This was a beautiful site and we had a great time. We loved the trails through the long wild grass, the secluded pitches, the little library and fire pits. It’s beautifully maintained and Joe does a great job on the site. We’re looking forward to visiting again next year.
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Nick G.recommends
July 25, 2023
Grass Tent Pitch
Idyllic campsite for everyone
Not a seasoned camper but really enjoyed the variety of options at the campsite including the winding trails, forest, rec field and viewing the horses. Awesome layout and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, would come again next year
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Sheelagh M.recommends
July 25, 2023
Small Camper Van Pitch
Peaceful
This is a beautiful campsite lots of long grasses with paths cut through them, very pretty. Very quiet too. It was lovely to have the use of a fire pit with logs available to buy on site - we really enjoyed sitting round this watching the stars come out. The compost toilets took a bit of getting used to - felt quite rustic but they were clean. Shower facilities were also ‘rustic’ but clean and water was hot. Joe was very helpful and said we could ring if we had any difficulties. We used the local Hippersons boat yard to hire a boat for the day which was lovely.
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Nicola C.recommends
May 30, 2023
Grass Tent Pitch
Lovely place
Lovely quiet campsite. Clean and well cared for. Friendly. Great that cars not allowed on site. Didn’t love the composting toilets but learned a little bit about why they are good for the environment. Ideally the showers and toilets would have been a little bigger.
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Olivia S.recommends
May 1, 2023
Grass Tent Pitch
Very easy to find and pitch up. Wheelbarrows were perfect for transporting bits to the camp, very spacious! Toilets were cleaned daily and showers were hot.
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Kristina L.recommends
October 5, 2022
Small Camper Van Pitch
Loved our camping trip. Land was awesome lots of places to explore. Easy to find following GPS instructions. Friendly people. Cool animals. Good amenities. Would visit again!
Location
Bungay, Norfolk, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Joe & Holly P.Joined in May 2015
From the host
Wardley Hill Campsite is a family operated off grid ecological campsite in the Waveney Valley. Wild flowers and grass are left to grow to encourage butterflies and bees. The long grass surrounds lush mown unregimented camping spots for you to choose, some secluded and others big enough to fit several families. Our six-acre site has some woodland, a small stream and three seasonal ponds which can be safely explored during the summer. Our car free camping field is exclusively for tents while small campervans are also welcome to stay with us in their own area. For those of you looking for a Norfolk glamping experience we have a locally crafted Shepherds hut, Tinkers Hut, Hammock Hut and even a Tentsile Tree tent suspended in the trees. During high season (until September 5th '22) there is a two night minimum stay.
Nearby attractions
The quiet lanes offer peaceful cycling or horse riding and there are miles of footpaths to discover on foot. The River Waveney passes one mile away, providing the gateway into the Norfolk Broads with boats and canoes available to hire locally. On the river banks, Bungay and Beccles (the latter with particularly good access to the river, a slipway and many boat rental companies) are both market towns with plenty to offer, including supermarkets, art galleries, pubs, restaurants, tourist information and lots of independent shops. Just beyond Bungay, the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum (01986 896644) has an impressive collection of aircraft outside and a wealth of indoor displays, with East Anglia playing a particularly important role over the years given it's relative proximity to Europe. Beyond the Broads, the coast is also near at hand, with the stretching sandy beaches of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth to the east for a smattering of ‘kiss me quick’ seaside. Follow the line south, however, for arguably the best of the Suffolk Coast with Walberswick (the place to go for crabbing at the waters edge), Thorpeness and Aldeburgh all worth a visit.
Food and drink
In the village there is a wonderful Italian restaurant, The Olive Tree (01508 518147) and a small convenience store with post office. To the west in Broome you’ll find the Artichoke (01986 893325), a traditional country pub serving good food, real ales and a huge selection of whiskies. Both of these are within walking distance of the campsite. Looking further afield, Wardley Hill sits between Bungay and Beccles. Both market towns have plenty to of excellent food to offer along with supermarkets for a quicker grocery shop.
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