Rural Relaxing
UK England East Midlands Leicestershire Market Harborough
Family-friendly camping and glamping on the edge of Medbourne – a charming Leicestershire village with a pub, tea rooms and post office
Looking for a slice of the peace-and-quiet pie? This Leicestershire campsite certainly does what it says on the tin. A rural, grassy, family-run campsite located opposite the local village cricket ground it is, indeed, a place for rural R&R.
So what’s needed to relax? Well, space, for one. And there’s certainly plenty of it. With less than 20 pitches, Rural Relaxing Campsite keeps to a more than manageable size, while a handful of beautifully furnished bell tents offer extra room for those who don't fancy bringing their own camping clobber. After that, good food is always high on the list. Thankfully, here too there is plenty on offer, including the on-site Lavazza coffee they serve, in the coffee hut potting shed and new tipis that can be hired for private dining and on certain times of the year, the tipis will be open providing a licenced bar and for on-site dining in the form of a "set supper".
Yet while a good local real ale pub and a quiet location certainly make Rural Relaxing a fantastic choice of campsite, it’s the more conscientious touches of the owners that really make it stand out.
On the rare occasion you do fancy stretching your legs beyond the village, there are ample local footpaths to follow, including a wonderful one-mile route – starting past bushes thick with blackberries before opening out to fantastic views – to the neighbouring hamlet of Blaston. By car, head to Rutland Water where you can follow family-friendly cycle routes around the reservoir (either on your own bikes or by renting them there) or stop en-route at honey-coloured Uppingham (particularly on market days; Friday). They’re all good excuses for building up your appetite before returning to the campsite (and pub) to kick back, stretch out and, well, relax.
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Details
Facilities
The site has a ladies room containing 2 loos & 2 showers, the gents has 2 loos & one shower & there's an additional loo & shower "gender neutral" to be used by anyone.Fresh water and chemical disposal areas.
Picnic benches and use of BBQ, fire pits are free to use during your stay, and there is lovely social spaces around the site where you can relax and enjoy the surroundings when the Potting Shed Coffee hut is open as well as Pizza Saturdays from May onwards (Saturday evenings).
The furnished bell tents are ideal for those just wanting to "pitch up", they have soft furnishings and beds (bring your own bedding) – each bell tent has its own picnic bench and firepit. The much larger safari tents have sleeping compartments (double bed & 2 singles), much larger space, inside dining table and relaxing space, outside dining area, picnic bench and under cover veranda. They have electric lamps and a mini fridge for those essential bottles!
Cooking for the glamping units is by utilising the fire pit/bbq or you can bring a slow cooker, they are ideal. The village pub caters for all visitors and is ideal for that getaway no cooking approach! Booking is essential.
Suitable For
Those who want a "get away from it all" experience, it's a small site, family friendly it's rural, the sheep are the neighbours. We offer accommodation for tents, small campervans, glampers, and welcome dogs but not in our units. We have a campsite quiet policy from 11pm until 7pm, so if you want to party we're not for you! This is strictly enforced. This is not a site for large groups or those wanting to party, the emphasis is on relaxing.Nearby
Medbourne is one of the UK's prettiest villages & has been quoted as "Cotswolds without the crowds", stone cottages & houses & a brook running through its centre, it has a village shop with post office, a pub with cafe (see Food & Drink), a fine parish church, a village hall and a sports club and a cricket ground and a football pitch (directly opposite the campsite). For a good walk, seek out the Blaston track, a field road from Medbourne to Blaston, perfect for dog walking and also for rough, cross-country cycling. It runs from the Uppingham Road to Blaston. For family fun, the Wistow Maze (07884 403889) is open from July to September, while Rutland Water (12 miles), one of the largest man made reservoirs in Europe, hosts a range of activities, include sailing, fishing, bird-watching and some 26 miles of car-free cycle trails. Pleasure cruises are also available on the Rutland Belle boat (01572 787630). Elsewhere, it's 7 miles to historic Market Harborough, a market town known for its wealth of good quality independent shops and its traditional indoor market. The centre of the town is dominated by the steeple of St. Dionysius Parish Church (01858 469330), constructed in grey stone in 1300 and rising directly from the street – the church itself was built later in 1470. Next to the church stands the Old Grammar School, a small timber building dating from 1614. For another beautiful old spot, enjoy shopping in honey-coloured Uppingham (7 miles) – the town's weekly market is held on a Friday.Food & Drink
The campsite boasts an on site Coffee Hut "The Potting Shed" serving coffee, bacon rolls and pastries at the weekends. There's the village pub, The Nevill Arms for posh nosh, and you can sit and enjoy a drink on the river bank. We also offer Saturday evening Pizzas from May onwards - simply order these on a Saturday morning at the coffee hut before 12 noon. When we can, we also open the tipi for bar service and you can enjoy a leisurely drink!There is also a small village shop that sells all the usual items, as well as a Post Office. Other local places include The Fox Inn at Hallaton (2 miles), The Sun Inn Great Easton, (4 miles), Wheel & Compass Weston By Welland (2 miles).
We are keen to keep our guests safe at all times and as such have a "keep close & keep gate lock" policy - this is to protect families & those with younger children so please keep gates locked. Please note, this is a self administered site so you need to take a note of the code on your booking confirmation so you can access the site (coded access)
Open
All year.Why book with I Love This Campsite?
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
The Owner Says
Rural relaxing is a hidden gem situated in the Welland Valley, the heart of the Leicestershire countryside, benefitting from stunning views and a picture postcard village, often referred to as the "Cotswolds without the crowds". You will experience camping in probably one of Britain’s best kept village secrets, Medbourne is one of the prettiest villages in England, perfect for a rural stay in the rolling countryside and is a place which hasn’t been ruined by modern life. Not much disturbs the peace here apart from the babbling brook or blackbird song.
The site itself is very quaint with some lovely touches. In just under 2 acres, you can see the glamping units & pitches & be safe all in one place.
The POTTING SHED & COFFEE HUT is open on Saturday & Sunday mornings throughout the year and offers Lavazza coffee & rustic bacon & sausage ciabatta rolls, pastries, croissants & other delights.
Pizza Saturday! Ask about what's happening at weekends on site during the main season - we offer "Pizza Saturday" from May onwards - these are bookable at the coffee hut on Saturday mornings so be sure to get your order in, they are served from 5.30pm until 7pm on a pre-order basis.
There's an honesty box system on site, so guests can help themselves and enjoy small items to buy such as soft drinks, ice cream etc., by putting the money in the box. There are fire pits to "borrow and bring back". We offer guests who are in non electric units ipad & phone charging points and we we sell logs & kindling for the fire pits so you can enjoy a camp fire & toast those marshmallows. Well behaved dogs are welcome on site but not in glamping units, (dogs must be on leads when on site and walked off site, check the T&C's for breeds). The village pub, is a 5 minute walk, it's a riverside pub and serves excellent cuisine, fine wines & real ales. The village shop & Post Office sells essential items including home baked bread, milk, eggs, bacon, sausages, newspapers etc. and you are assured of a warm welcome here.
Accommodation
17 camping pitches (7 with electricity), 4 bell tents
GIN & BARE IT SAFARI TENT
Safari tent
Sleeps 4
Sleeping 2 adults 2 children, this is an ideal accommodation unit which has a large open space, separated bed compartments & simple furnishings, including inside dining space & relaxing area. It has a verandah with table and chairs and overlooks the site
PROSECO SAFARI TENT
Safari tent
Sleeps 4
Sleeping 2 adults 2 children, this is an ideal accommodation unit which has a large open space, separated bed compartments & simple furnishings, including inside dining space & relaxing area. It has a verandah with table and chairs and overlooks the site
Electric Grass Pitch 4
Grass pitch with electricity
Sleeps 5
6 Available
Suited to small campervan/tent
Grass Pitch (No EHU) 6
Grass pitch
Sleeps 5
7 Available
Non electric pitch suited to small campervan or tent
Romance Bell Tent - 5 metre.
Bell tent
Sleeps 4
A pretty tent with soft furnishings, this is ideal for those wanting to turn up and not have to pitch a tent. Sleeps 4. 2 adults/2 children in the price, a supplement for extra adults and children are charged.
Stags & Hares Bell Tent - 4 metre.
Bell tent
Sleeps 4
A pretty tent with soft furnishings, this is ideal for those wanting to turn up and not have to pitch a tent. Sleeps 4. 2 adults/2 children in the price, a supplement for extra adults and children are charged.
Wild Birds Bell Tent - 4 metre.
Bell tent
Sleeps 4
A pretty tent with soft furnishings, this is ideal for those wanting to turn up and not have to pitch a tent. Sleeps 4. 2 adults/2 children in the price, a supplement for extra adults and children are charged.
Indian Summer - 5 metre.
Bell tent
Sleeps 4
A pretty tent with soft furnishings, this is ideal for those wanting to turn up and not have to pitch a tent. Sleeps 4. 2 adults/2 children in the price, a supplement for extra adults and children are charged.
Location
Contact Rural Relaxing, Hallaton Road, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8DR
Getting There
Follow the B664 from Market Harborough. Just before you reach Medbourne village, turn left onto Paynes Lane as the road bends around to the right. Continue until the t-junction and then turn left onto Hallaton Road. We are along here on the left (about 50 yards), directly opposite the sports and tennis club, with double farm gates. Look at your confirmation details for the code for the gates, there is no reception here.
The nearest train station is 6 miles away in Market Harborough (0845 748 4950; Midland Mainline).
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Why book with I Love This Campsite?
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
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