Finchingfield village is undoubtedly one of the loveliest in all of England. With its village green, duck pond, windmill, and mix of medieval and Georgian chocolate box houses, all presided over by the distinctive cupola of the village church, this Essex outpost is the very definition of idyllic. At just an hour-and-a-bit up the M11, it’s eminently reachable for tranquility-starved Londoners seeking a healthy dose of fresh air and star-studded night skies. And now with the opening of a nine acre field for a handful of lucky campers, the dream of the good life beyond the big city is within reach (if only for the weekend).
Set on a working lavender farm, Finchingfield Camping is the creation of Julia Dimmock who – setting aside nine wildflower-filled acres – welcomes space for just eight individual camping pitches. The setting couldn’t be any more captivating, with fields of fragrant purple lavender enlivening the horizon. Deer are frequent visitors, while rabbits emerge at dawn and the hooting of owls signals dusk. It’s all very Instagramable (if that’s your thing) but something tells us the phone will remain firmly in pocket as you fully embrace the digital detox here.
Facilities-wise, each pitch is provided with a picnic bench and firepit. Charcoal can be purchased for your barbie from the onsite honesty shop, where you’ll also find a fridge with your own dedicated compartment. There are a couple of eco-friendly gas-powered showers and several loos (also the eco variety) and ample recycling facilities. Best of all, because the camping field is a vehicle-free zone (that includes campervans and caravans), there’s space aplenty for little ones to explore safely.
Offsite, there’s lots to do in the local area. Julia can advise you on all the best walking trails, such as the peaceful 15 mile Flitch Way or West Wood at Little Sampford – an ancient 24 hectare woodland, now a SSSI that buzzes with birds and butterflies. Cycling fans can follow in the tyre tracks of the world’s finest who passed through Finchingfield village itself during the peloton of the 2014 Tour de France. Then again, you may just content yourself with a cream tea or a lazy pint in one of Finchingfield’s various tea rooms and pubs – like any village worth its salt, there’s three of each to choose from here.
