Dreamy Hollow
UK England East Anglia Norfolk Hunstanton
Brimming in wartime history, Dreamy Hollow is home to three-and-a-half acres of Word War I training trenches and beautiful woodland pitches
It’s not often you can pitch somewhere steeped in wartime history. Dreamy Hollow is home to three and a half acres of First World War training trenches, with evidence indicating these were dug by The Lovat Scouts back in 1915. “It's got a character about it that just grips you”, describes campsite owner Nigel Day who first believed the tracks were drainage ditches, before aerial photographs taken by the RAF revealed its vast, snaking network. Today, Dreamy Hollow is a wonderfully withdrawn, back-to-basics campsite, perfectly positioned to explore the beautiful North Norfolk Coast.
The eighteen pitches at Dreamy Hollow are as individual as the campers who pitch there. Some are secluded and sheltered, whilst others are elevated with fantastic views across the open Norfolk countryside. ‘Nigel's Nook’ is a firm favourite, so be sure to book well in advance. This peaceful pitch is a real sun trap and, with its own fire bowl and table and chairs, it's ideal for a couple or small family looking for a particularly secluded escape. 'The Glade East' and 'The Glade West' are both superb choices for families and groups (large groups can book both together to accommodate up to 12 people), while 'The Hollow North Facing' and 'The Hollow South Facing' can also be booked as a pair to fit 30 people. If you want to be close to the facilities, 'The Hollow North Facing' is sheltered and near the loos and also has its own fire drum and outdoor pizza oven. For everyone else, the facilities are not quite up to Savoy standards, however the invigorating ‘Jungle Showers’ are fun and always immaculately clean.
There’s an age-old saying that residents of Norfolk have “one foot on the land and one in the sea”, however there’s an interesting spread of sights in between. The picturesque Norfolk Broads beckon for boaters, bird-watchers flock to its marshy nature reserves and the county’s unspoilt coastline is bordered by flint houses and boats hauling in today’s fresh catch. And when civilisation calls, campers can head for the vibrant city of Norwich. In addition to a castle, cathedrals and medieval churches galore, Norwich has a decent selection of lively pubs, cafés and restaurants.
Set in one of the most sparsely populated parts of England, Dreamy Hollow is ‘proper camping’ and an ideal destination to get away from it all. Together with welcoming Nigel, the site is run by a Christian Limited Company with a vision to develop neglected land and turn it into a unique, secluded camping experience. And with beautiful woodland pitches and a dramatic history, we think they’ve succeeded.
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Details
Facilities
A total of 18 pitches on site of which 12 are available at any one time on average. 8 pitches are next to one another and can be merged for larger parties. The individual private pitches all nestled amongst a sleepy woodland with a children’s Den Building area. Very much “Proper Camping”, it’s wild camping with the clean basic comforts of 2 ‘Jungle Showers’, 3 flushing loos (with washbasins) and 1 chemical toilet disposal. Campfires permitted in the Fire Baskets on each pitch if sensible rules are followed (During heatwaves Fire Service advice will determine if fires and BBQ’s are allowed) The site is 7.5 acres in total and 3½ acres of WWI training trenches, are currently undergoing a detailed archaeological survey and reconstruction. A warden's trench tour, WWI Experiences (available for groups) and Archery sessions, booking essential.Suitable For
Tents, small campervans, groups, history lovers and dogs (under control) – yes. Caravans and motorhomes – no. Please note: only book if you have a chemical camping loo. A chemical camping loo for your social bubble is currently required as part of our Corona Virus precautions. Camping “bag a poo” loos are banned from this site. Wardens may ask to see your camping loo on arrival.
Coronavirus Protection: https://dreamyhollowcamping.co.uk/covid-19-how-it-will-affect-your-stay/
Nearby
Queen Elizabeth II opens her country house at Sandringham (01485 545400) to the public when not in residence. Sandringham House, museum, gardens and woods are wonderful to muse through on a hot summers day. Also on the Royal Estate is Anmer Hall, which will be the country residence of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, and wee Prince George. The Victorian seaside resort of Hunstanton offers sea trips on modern boats and a WWII 'duck'. It’s a popular place with windsurfers and jet skiers alike. Blakeney beach is 19 miles away and offers more sedate sailing, and opportunities to paddle canoes up sandy creeks. 'Chelsea-by-the-Sea' as the locals call it, is the charming town of Burnham Market. Enjoy its lovely shops and tearooms. At 6 miles away it’s also the nearest place to get fuel and camping gas. Norwich is only 35 miles away and is one of the fairest cathedral cities in the land. In fact, it has two fine cathedrals, a castle and a picturesque river.Food & Drink
You will find traditional food and ales locally in Docking at the Railway Inn or classic dishes such as burgers, fish & chips and salads at the ever-popular Kings Head(01485 578265) in Bircham Newton. The Duck Inn (01485 518330) is a traditional village pub, proudly serving a variety of local beers supplied by Wisbech-based brewers Elgood & Sons. They have a carefully selected wine list with a choice of old and new world wines. Bircham Windmill (01485 578393) is a popular local attraction and offers freshly-baked bread, a lovely tearoom and trips up the windmill. For something a little upmarket, head to the award-winning Orange Tree (01485 512213) in Thornham – it’s a culinary force to be reckoned with.Open
Easter–end of October. Winter Camping by special arrangement.
Pricing
Adults £7.20–£12.90. Children reduced rate approx 75%. Up to 2 dogs free. 3-person tree tents £30–£50.
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The Owner Says
A unique woodland campsite with secluded pitches. Ideally placed for beaches on North Norfolk's area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tours and experiences of our very rare, possibly unique WW1 Lovat Scout training trenches with warden led tours and WW1 Experiences. New for 2021 is our WW1 Officers Bunker, Sgt Taylor’s, which sleeps 4. All our pitches are all unique and have characters as varied as our campers. As pitches are of different sizes and elevations check your tent size against the pitch size allowing 6m fire safety margin between tents. This mainly vehicle free site is not suitable for caravans. We now have two pitches accessible to camper vans and trailer tents. For fire safety and so that children can safely play, all cars are parked in the car park. Barrows are available to help unload, and for heavy items wardens will assist with our little tractor and trailer. Please check carefully that the pitch you have chosen meets your needs before booking as alternatives may not be available. As a seasonal woodland campsite images of pitches may vary from actual.
Please note ONLY Camper Glade and Jimmy’s are accessible to vehicles and camper vans.
Video Tour
Social Distancing Measures
We are asking campers to bring there own camping loos, toilet rolls and toiletries and use ours loos only for emergencies. Our pitches are low density but we ask campers to Social distance from other campers. Hire of WW1 Bunker, Dining Tent, Gazebos and Tree tent suspended and refunds will be given.
Pitches
18 secluded spaces amongst 3½ acres of low density woodland.
Paul's Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 4
A small (8m x 4m) pitch with its own fire basket. Ideal for small tents of 2 to 4 people. NOT suitable for Camper Vans.
Wills Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 4
A small 12m x 4m pitch with its own fire basket suitable for a small 4 person tent.
Pippin's Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 6
A quaint 11m x 6m elevated pitch with its own fire basket convenient for loos and showers. NOT Accessible to Camper Vans . NOT suitable for small children
Camper Glade (camper vans)
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 7
A grass pitch with a hard standing for heavier medium camper vans, a turf area approx 8m x 8m for awning or tent and an elevated seating area of 8m x 4m
Joe's
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 6
A splendid elevated grass pitch approx 14m x 6m looking northward accessed by steps.NOT suitable for camper vans.
Nelly's Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 8
A 19m x 7m elevated pitch with its own firebasket and hammock point. NOT suitable for Camper Vans.
Taffy's Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 8
A 21m x 11m elevated pitch with its own fire basket overlooking fields.
Jimmy's Camper Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 6
An accessible medium grass pitch approximately 9m x 6m tucked away in the trees at the front of the site with a fire basket. Please note campervan in picture is a Campers and not Dreamy Hollows.
Nigel's Nook
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 7
Our most secluded and popular sheltered pitch set in a 5m x 4m turfed sand cove with its own fire basket.
Abi's Pitch
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 12
Deep in the wood close to WW1 trenches this 23m x 15m pitch has its own fire basket. It will take hammocks and tree tents.
The Glade West End
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 10
The West End of The Glade has a fire basket in an area nestling under a Silver Birch.
The Hollow - North Facing End
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 30
The North Half of The Hollow provides a sheltered 25m x 24m pitching area with a firebasket and wood fired Pizza Oven. For the whole area please also book the South End.
The Hollow - South Facing End
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 10
A 24m x 25m sheltered pitching area in the Southern half of the Hollow with a fire basket. For extra space and seclusion book both ends of the Hollow.
Lovat’s
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 6
A small pitch ideal for hammocks and tree tents with a small fire basket.
Anderson
Woodland Pitch
Sleeps 6
A small pitch in a secluded spot next to the WW1 Trenches with a fire basket. Perfect for small tents. 4.6m wide by 9m long
Sgt Taylor’s Bunker
Camping Bunkhouse
Sleeps 6
A replica WW1 Officers Bunker with 4 Bunks, a table, 4 chairs and a small wood burner with a flat top to boil the copper kettle. Bunks have a basic mattress. Please bring own sleeping bags.
Archery Range
Grass pitch
Sleeps 6
A large area usually used for Archery which can be made available for Camping on certain days
Extras
Camping Loo hire 2021
Hire of a liquid chemical camping loo per night subject to availability
Location
Contact Dreamy Hollow, Fakenham Road, Stanhoe, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 8PX
Getting There
Arriving from Kings Lynn: take the A148 to Fakenham. After Hillington exit left to take the B1153 signposted National Construction Industry Training College. At Great Bircham turn right onto the B1155 to follow the signs through Bircham Tofts and to NCITB. Drive through the NCITB campus to arrive at the crossroads with the B1454. Turn right for Fakenham and the campsite is the first on the right.
Arriving from Fakenham: take the A148 to Kings Lynn. At Sculthorpe former air base, exit right onto the B1454 signposted as a Tourist Route. Drive on passing Syderstone Barmer and Barwick. After the Barwick crossroads watch out for the cranes of the NCITB on your left as you come down the hill from the Barwick crossroads. You will see the woodland on your left and the entrance is around 50m along the frontage of the woodland.
If you get lost, ring 07564 226780 for help. Also it helps to text your ETA to this number. Arrivals are between 12–5pm, after which there is no warden service.
King's Lynn serves as the sites nearest railway station. Go To Town Bus service calls at Monks Close stop at the rear of the site on request. The site is close to cycling routes and designated footpath/bridleway to Barwick.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 56 reviews
Great wild camping site
What a fantastic site for getting back to nature! We pitched on the East Glade and it was spacious and clean. The fire pit was most welcome for the cool autumn nights and the only sounds we heard during most of our stay was the rustling of leaves and bird song (with a little road noise due to our pitch being near the entrance but this was not an issue)! Barrows are provided for unloading camping equipment from the car and Scott was available to help with the motorised trailer too! If you have lots of kit be sure to consider a suitable pitch or be prepared to haul it to your location! Obviously, due to Covid there were some very necessary restrictions in place, but I'd love to return when these are relaxed and take advantage of the hammocks or croquet to hire! After a little explore, Nigel's nook was the spot we'd return to. Beautifully enclosed and a real sun trap! We look forward to visiting again next year!
Sun,wind and torrential rain. Camping as it should be.
We arrived on a drizzly Friday afternoon and pitched the tent in a small break in the rain. With portable camping loo and tent in tow we set ourselves up for a week under the stars in Norfolk. Lovely pitch on Nigels Nook. Quiet and sheltered, which was handy , with some stormy weather on the horizon. This is a great campsite if you are happy and willing to get stuck in and not mind what weather gets thrown at you. Proper camping. We barbecued in torrential rain , caught glimpses of the most amazing starry sky as the clouds rolled by and got sunburnt on the glorious beaches when the sun came out. The kids loved it, we loved it and the camping loo was a success. A great jumping off point for all the sites of North Norfolk and a great place to come back to in the evenings.
We had a lovely time!
We loved the pitch set-up and the overall arrangements of the site. We picked the wettest week-end in a while but it didn't matter. We had fun lightening the fire every evening in our return and used it to grill sausages and marshmallows as well as huddling. We didn't use the showers as we do bucket-wash in camping but they looked very pretty and a welcome addition for a longer stay. Bringing the chemical loo was not an issue and disposal was straight forward on site. The kids found the play area with the tree swings and also enjoyed walking (with care!) through the trenches; they made friend with another camper's dog and with the birds nesting over the tent. Staff were friendly on arrival and when met around the site. We all gave our stay 5 stars and are considering coming back with friends.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
So pleased you enjoyed your stay. Yes the weather scenery was straight out of the storm scene in King Lear ! But sounds like you are expert campers at lighting fires in 72% humidity.
Hopefully by next season this terrible virus will have been beaten and all our faculties will be open, but for now camping loos are by far the best way for our campers to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Remember we are open most of the year now, and if your stay is affected by an adverse weather warning out of main season we will happily move it to less of a blustery day.
Disappointed
We've just come back from a stay in August. I'd read a lot of good reviews about this site and so was perhaps hoping for an amazing experience - I should say first of all that the people working there are very friendly and a credit to the site. Also, some of the smaller pitches looked nice and so my experience is related to one of the four pitches you get when you come straight into the site, (I picked the one I did to use a large 6 man tent). Our pitch was billed as being an individual pitch but we had neighbours all around us and no dividers (hedges, partition fences) which meant it didn't feel very private at all, and the positioning of pitches means your view is limited and basically just looking at other pitches or very high stinging nettles. The site is right by a main road so you get the noise of cars travelling fast. Our pitch was dirty and had some old food on it, meaning there were loads of bugs. The ground seemed not well kept and I was glad I had a groundsheet. The fire put smoked a lot and the matches we bought didn't work as they were all damp. The facilities are very very old and very limited - as the shower and toilet are joined this means standing in the shower is not pleasant as people walk in mud when they use the loo and the ground is dirty. The entrance to the whole site looks like a building site with portacabins and industrial bins. There were a lot of rules - fines for unannounced guests, noise etc... so it seems as though the management want to be seen as conscientious butit would be nice if some more care was taken to keep the site itself well maintained.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
So sorry that this was the experience of your stay. The facilities should not have been in that state and definitely your pitch was your own and other people should not have been camped on it. Your pitch should have been checked as in good condition before you arrived. There is quite a lot to unpack in your comments so please email so we can hold a more personal conversation as at this point we would just be guessing which pitch and which warden was responsible for your stay.
Brilliant, unique campsite
We have just got back from a week at this lovely campsite. So unique in its layout and very peaceful. The warden's we're very friendly and helpful and the facilities, although basic, were very clean. Didn't mind a bit taking our camping loo, as it made us feel safer and doing our bit to keep the staff and others safe. Will definitely be making plans to return in the future. Thanks for a fab week away!
Spent a lovely week in Dreamy Hollows.
Great camping spot with fire pits for the evenings. Lots of birds and wildlife. We saw a monk jack Deer. Tree creepers, Bullfinches, Coal Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, wrens, voles. And a very confused cockerel that needs to work on his time keeping The only downside was the RAF practice in the mornings, but the short time they were flying in no way detracted from the peace of the site. We had Abi Pitch. A good large site near the trenches, everyone on the site are polite and on the whole quiet. The laughter of children can always be forgiven. Plenty to do locally with Hunstanton and Wells in easy reach. The wardens were all very helpful.
Beautiful pitch, easy access
Had a lovely time, the pitch was beautiful and had easy access. Toilets and showers were clean and well kept. We were told on arrival we should have been told to bring a chemical toilet (due to Covid-19 protocol) but unfortunately this site did not inform us that we had to bring one - however they were very accommodating of us using the facilities. Welcome from Andrew was brilliant and very informative and friendly. Only negative was that the site is off a main road and Taffy’s pitch is close to the entrance, which meant we could hear traffic all night. Also, I’m not sure if there is an airport or RAF site near to the campsite but you could hear incredibly loud aircraft and jets throughout the day and early evening. Other than this, it was a beautiful site and would highly recommend.
Lovely!
We have just returned from a 3 night stay at Dreamy Hollow, we stayed on the ‘Camper Glade’ pitch in our campervan. We loved the site, the pitches are generous in size and the whole site is really well laid out and interesting, with the WW1 training trenches etc…very cool. Facilities are basic, but that’s what we wanted, more of a wild camp feel, not too commercial. The staff are all very friendly and helpful, and clearly passionate about the site. Dreamy Hollow is perfectly placed for exploring the Norfolk coast, beaches and villages; we had a lovely lunch in the sun outside the back of Sculthorpe Mill. In short, very happy, and we will return!
Layout is lovely, other things a bit of a letdown
The layout of the pitches was well done. Kevin's Corner pitch was just right for us with not high foot traffic running past it. We'd possibly stay again, unsure. The showers look the eco/rustic part and each one is enclosed with a toilet. My partner had a difficult time fitting into it, though. Impractical size. Water fluctuated wildly between freezing and very hot. Although people were asked not to use the toilets because of Covid-19, they clearly were. No way to police that though, because they were integrated. The trenches had clearly been closed for a long time but this wasn't mentioned on the website. I was looking forward to walking through them. There's no welcome pack information on things to do nearby, even in the email. The ashes in the fire pit hadn't been cleaned out and were very deep, so the fire was having a hard time burning. Being your own logs and kindling. It was £7 for logs that, had the pit had enough air circulating, we'd have easily used in one evening, about 5 or 6 little cuts. I didn't see an option to buy kindling on the website, so thought it must be included with the logs. It isn't. They are £2. There was a grill to use over the fire pit. We were surprised by the traffic noise but its not so persistent as to be a problem. We had 2 little resident voles running in the underbrush right by our site, which was adorable! Lovely and shaded, perfect for the 30C weather we had.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Sorry your experience wasn’t as it should have been Monica. I will discuss this review with the wardens.
Your fire pit should have been emptied by the warden during the pre arrival check.
We do have the option of locking the toilet and shower units and will consider this after your review. At the moment our assessment is that locking all loos (and showers) may create a greater public health risk. The second shower/loo had its diameter reduced because it was thought to be too large. The temperature variation was due to a safety feature. It happens If campers tinker with the settings. The wardens did report some tinkering and we are looking at ways to stop this.
There was a large influx of motor cars to the area because of the weather.
Trench tours are available to book extras page, for £10 a party.
The welcome tour should have included a talk on local attractions and things to do when you get to the large ordnance survey map part of the talk. There is also a page on our website. I will raise this with the warden concerned.
You should certainly have had a bin or sackful of logs not 6 or 7. Again I will raise this with the warden concerned.
There is a list of extras on the online booking form to order kindling, matches and firefighters and a letterbox where you can place orders and messages for wardens. Text messages can also be sent to wardens.
There seems to have been a number of failures during your stay that fall far short of the service we expect for our campers so please email office@dreamyhollowcamping.co.uk as soon as possible so that we can investigate what happened in more detail.
Beautiful Camping Spot
Dreamy Hollow has a mixture of pitches from sunny glades and secluded shady spots. We spent two nights on Nellys Pitch an elevated pitch surrounded by trees. Each pitch comes with a fire pit and some chairs or tree stumps. Dreamy Hollow wardens meet you at the gate and give you a brief tour of the site and it's history, it was has World War training trenches used by the Lovat Scouts who later became the SAS Regiment. There are a couple of showers and chemical toilets and a waste disposal point. Although the toilets were shut due to COVID19. Brilliant site where every pitch is totally different. We would definitely go back. Well done Dreamy Hollow.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you Darren, great that you enjoyed our unique site and it’s history. Sorry that the Covid precautions closed some of our facilities, but we take the risk to campers seriously. Hope to see you again in happier times.
Superb Hideaway
The whole experience was wonderful. The trenches, the views, the secluded pitches, the biodiversity, proximity to the beach... all of it was well worth the visit. We appeared to stay a little bit longer than most of the visitors and thoroughly enjoyed it. The showers, waste disposal and running water is well-managed and the staff were so helpful and friendly. One site we'll definitely be returning to.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Annabel, it’s great when campers enjoy our site. Our two new wardens this year had their training interrupted by lockdown so really pleased that the way they are keeping the site is attracting reviews like yours.
An absolute gem! Can’t recommend highly enough!
We found this campsite by chance and now I don’t know how we lived before it. All the pitches are secluded with your own fire pits made from recycled washing machine drums. There’s no amplified music, so nothing but peace and quiet and friendly campers. We loved the trenches and the sites history, we had a ritual of a glass of wine at the memorial to watch the sunset. The wardens were so welcoming and helpful. We will definitely be back and I can’t recommend this site enough!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you Emily, really pleased that you enjoyed our unique site. There is something quite soothing about leaving behind all the media and technology and just enjoying the wild. I have a habit of turning my phone off, leaving my wristwatch off and not viewing TV or reading newspapers when on holiday, it’s so relaxing. 😎
Lovely place, friendly staff, mixed opinions
Overall, this is a lovely little place and the staff were lovely too- I would definitely come again. However, it does depend on which pitch you book,- whilst they all have tree trunks to sit on around a fire pit, our pitch was so overgrown with trees- not much sunlight got through making the pitch dark and damp, whilst other pitches were quite open and bright. Also, some of the pitches are not as private as others. Some are on high ground and some are in the valleys/dips in between. Obviously, because of COVID, a lot of the facilities were out of use (communal Areas and toilets etc), however, I didn’t see any discount in price. The fire pits were re-purposed washing machine drums which was both novel and eco friendly, but they were quite big and ate a lot of wood! I would bring my own, smaller bin next time. Showers were great - also with hot water! Thanks for the lovely stay!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Helen, glad you enjoyed our unique site. Sorry it was a little more overgrown than usual. During lockdown we couldn’t maintain the woods as we normally do and it’s been a challenge cutting back the tremendous growth over a 7acre site. But our wardens are onto it.
Friendly and quiet camping
We had a wonderful three nights at Dreamy Hollow. The pitch (The Hollow) was quiet, private, spacious and well equiped with a picnic bench and fire basket. The staff were all so friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you to Andrew and Kirstie in particular! We will certainly be back!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you, we try and select staff who make campers holiday relaxed and enjoyable. Kirsty and Andrew have only just joined us so it’s great to get good feedback.
Tranquil retreat
A lovely stay at Dreamy Hollow. This is very much a “back to basics” site with minimal (but clean) facilities and will not suit everyone. Experienced campers, though, will find this place a little slice of heaven. The woodland pitches are well spaced out and characterful. We were delighted to find a small table and chairs set out on our pitch, “Pippins”, as well as a bucket of logs for the fire pit. Bring kindling and firelighters. We enjoyed a peaceful few nights and would urge campers who are not 100% considerate of others to stay away. Sound carries across the site and there can be a little road noise at times. There is plenty to see and do in this picturesque part of Norfolk, with many beaches and small towns within easy reach. A seal spotting trip from Morston Harbour is a must- do. With COVID regulations in place, we were required to bring a camping toilet and found something cheap and suitable on Amazon. Andy, who helps run the site, was very friendly and helpful. We have already recommended the site to others and look forward to coming back.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you Julie, it’s great to get good feedback. Yes our site is really for experienced campers who like a little wildness but with some basics. Sorry about the noise. We did object to the move of the neighbouring track but planners ignored us. We have now asked for planning permission to put more pitches deeper into the woods to escape the problem on pitches near the boundary.
Lovely woodland campsite with spacious private pitches
Directions were spot on, welcome was friendly, the guided tour was informative & the site was lovely - quiet, lots of room, each pitch had individual features & all were spacious & well-maintained. Would definitely recommend & would stay again.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you Lou, great to get good feedback when because of covid circumstances we could not operate to our usual standard. Look forward to seeing you again in happier times.
A chance to reconnect with nature.
It's all about the trees, a peaceful shady glade, wind rustling the branches, campfire illuminating the trees and we were lucky enough to see the stars. Magic!
A peaceful, relaxed get away
Most pitches are secluded and with parking in one place, you don’t get woken up by the annoying family slamming car doors all night. Dogs are free and your first lot of firewood is included - what’s not to like?!?
Close to perfection
We stayed at Taffy's Pitch on a blistering August bank holiday (24-26 August 2019). Headlines: beautiful, wooded site; pitch was very secluded (we couldn't see another tent); yes; there's a road near by, but it really didn't bother us; open fires allowed in the spaces provided; be aware there is no shop and no washing-up/kitchen area, no electric hool-up. This is all good in my opinion, but you do need to plan accordingly: good cooler, a wash bowl; solar lights. We love this site and think the owner has struck just the right balance between wild and organized camping. We're definately planning another trip soon.
Idyllic
A peaceful and quiet site with great pitches that have the added bonus of a fire drum. It was lovely hearing and seeing the birds in the trees. The site is near many lovely places to visit. We went to Thornham which has a beautiful dog friendly beach and a choice of 3 great pubs. Nigel, one of the wardens, gave us a friendly welcome and rescued us when we realised that we had forgotten the tea bags. This site may not be for everyone as the facilities are basic but if you enjoy wild camping then you will love Dreamy Hollow. This was our second visit and we hope to return to this special place.
Idyllic
A peaceful and quiet site with great pitches that have the added bonus of a fire drum. It was lovely hearing and watching the birds in the trees. The site is near many lovely places to visit. We went to Thornham which has a beautiful dog friendly beach and a choice of 3 great pubs. Nigel, one of the wardens, gave us a friendly welcome and came to our rescue when we realised that we had forgotten the tea bags. This special site may not be for everyone as the facilities are basic but for those that appreciate wild camping, Dreamy Hollow offers a wonderful experience. This was our second visit and we hope to return.
beautiful shady woodlands
Lovely secluded shady pitch in the woods of North Norfolk. Great area to explore. Had a lovely tour around the trenches which my son especially enjoyed. Lovely Hosts and a great site all round! would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quiet break away from Cramped packed noisy sites.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Hi Jospeh,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We're so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and you and your son enjoyed your wardens tour around the trenches. The trenches are pretty special and it's great when our campers appreciate their importance and their history.
We look forward to seeing you again soon! : )
All the best,
Naomi
What a cool place 😀😀
We stayed last weekend in our campervan and we loved the whole vibe of Dreamy Hollow. Pitches dotted around in the woods, a campfire (logs supplied), very friendly staff. You really feel like you’re camping in the woods away from it all. The WW1 trenches are a real added bonus, so interesting and must be a real adventure for kids. Thanks you Dreamy Hollow for a very relaxing weekend.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Hi Pam,
We're so happy to hear you loved the vibe of our campsite! The natural and calm vibe we have going away from the buzz of busy life is so important to us.
Thank you for your lovely review and we hope to see you again soon!
All the best,
Naomi
A fabulous spot
We've just had a wonderful couple of nights camping in the Anderson pitch. We loved the trench tour on which we were taken by Nigel, and really appreciated being in our own little woodland dell. The warm showers (especially the jungle shower) and bin full of logs for the burner were also really appreciated - thank you.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Fran, so pleased you enjoyed our site. The new pitch Anderson seems to be becoming popular. Hope to see you again sometime. (Remember our regulars don’t have to arrive between 12 and 5 for a welcome tour and safety briefing as they already know their way around the woods.)
Fantastic Campsite
Just had a lovely 2 night stay on Jimmy's camper pitch. Having your own fire pit and a bit of the forest to yourself is really nice! Our pitch was near the road but it's hardly busy and didn't bother us. The toilets were clean and the jungle shower was a great experience! Thanks to Nigel for giving us a tour of the site on arrival as well as a wealth of information. We will be back again and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a bit of off grid, forest camping!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Loren, so pleased that you had such a great stay on Jimmy’s which is really our short stay camper van pitch. If you return I think you will really enjoy Camper Glade with its “Throne” cut out of a tree stump. Hope to see you again sometime.
One of our favourite campsites
This was our third stay at Dreamy Hollow and our second time on Joe's pitch which is tucked away above the Glade and perfect for a family size tent. We love the setting and the history of this place and the fact that you can cook on a campfire in the woods. The facilities are basic so it is not for those who like glamping but we like the low key nature of this site. It is a great location too - not far to the wonderful North Norfolk beaches.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Helen, it’s good to have your family amongst our growing group of regulars. We originally planned to be a Glamping site but got such a strong response from those who like Dreamy Hollow Just as it is. Our approach to any further development is going to be sensitive, preserving the “Proper Camping” feel. Hope to see you again next season.
Prefect camping
This is the first campsite I have stayed at that I didn’t want to pack up and go home from.... and the same was for my 15 year old son!! We will be back, hopefully at the end of the summer if not sooner. But definitely next year.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
That’s great to hear Maxine. We tried hard not to trip over the things that cause other sites problems. The main approach being a low site designed for those who enjoy “Proper Camping”. Look forward to welcoming you to our group of regulars.
Lovely woodland campsite
I stayed for four nights over Easter on Pippin's Pitch. I really liked the site - the pitches are really well spaced, and on different levels, so you don't feel overlooked. The wardens were friendly, helpful and informative. Facilities were clean and adequate for a fairly busy weekend, even with one of the showers out of order. Some reviews do mention road noise; the B1454 does seem reasonably busy given the remoteness and cars come along apace, but they're by no means constant. I think the further back you go (to the left on the site map) the quieter it'd be - The Hollow is in a sizeable dip (so shielded) and Mark's, Abi's and Anderson yet further back behind more trees. It never stopped me relaxing; it's a peaceful and beautiful place, and properly dark at night, so you can lose yourself amongst the stars. The real noise nuisance was a broken rooster that reliably started crowing two hours before sunrise. For that only, consider earplugs. I would return, and hope to!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks for putting the “road noise” issue into perspective. Over Easter there were several events and diversions going on so even with that extra traffic it’s good to hear that the Rooster was more of a noise pollution issue 😂. We do have plans for more pitches deeper into the woods but will remain mainly a car free site. That will give campers more of a choice. Easily accessible pitches for those who don’t want to carry their kit too far and pitches deeper into the woods for others.
Beautiful Site
Just spent a couple of days at Dreamy Hollow with my two children during the Easter holidays. This campsite ticks all my boxes - it's a small site, the pitches are far apart, the loos are proper toilets and are kept clean (with nice soft loo roll!) and there are no cars allowed on site (wheelbarrows are provided). We stayed in Nigel's Nook - the weather was sunny but quite breezy, our pitch was perfect - it received the south facing sun and was completed sheltered from the wind. Nigel was fantastic; really helpful when I called to ask for a recommendation on which pitch to choose, when we arrived we were shown round by Mike, he was so enthusiastic about the site, I was really taken aback when he helped us take our kit to the pitch, he even offered to help us put up the tent - never had that sort of service before! We were really happy here and are looking forward to returning soon.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Kathryn, Nigel’s Nook is my favourite, I have been on site in the winter when the trees have been swaying in a gale but hardly a breath of wind in the Nook. Hope to welcome you again soon.
cosy woodland camping
My husband and I stayed 2 nights in Paul's pitch. We were met on arrival by Jen who was wardening that day - very helpful and friendly, thank you Jen. The pitch was set back off the path and was surrounded by birch and oak trees, giving us some shelter from the rain, privacy from other pitches, and reduced noise from the road. The washing machine drum fire pits were extremely handy - allowing us to have a controlled fire that still produced heat and light. Toilets and shower block were clean and well kept. We really liked the sculpture monument. Met some lovely fellow campers - one kind lady lent us her wind break to give us a little extra protection. Its lovely to camp in woodland, laying next to a nice warming log fire, and looking up to see the stars twinkling through the branches. Dreamy Hollows is a lovely campsite, well situated for exploring north Norfolk, and we will definitely stay again - might even give the tree tent a go!
Wheel fire bowls for heat and cooking
I just stayed for a few days and was on my own for the first night, something I always enjoy with woodland camping. Lovely staff who obviously really enjoy what they do. The road is quiet at night. Met some nice people and north Norfolk beaches and big skies are beautiful. Thank you Nigel and Jen.
Woodland and camp fires
Visited dreamy hollow on a bank holiday weekend, greeted by a very lovely member of staff. Minimal fuss and left to get cosy. Loved the camp fire. Showers and all the enclosed woodland. It was full moon so beautiful to sleep under the stars. One of the toilets was struggling a little but I believe the site was full so this can happen. All in all a lovely weekend. I have already recommended to friends. Thank you
I really enjoyed the experience at Dreamy Hollow. Sitting relaxing by the fire.
The location was lovely for walks along Brancaster Beach with our two dogs. Im glad this campsite allowed dogs. Our pitch, Wills was fine for our tent but will book a bigger pitch next time. I would stay again perhaps a few changes woulx be another toilet and perhaps cleaned a bit more frequently especially am. Our friends on Jimmys pitch had loud traffic noise. I would change that pitch to a communial area and playground to stop negative traffic comments. The road was busy. All in all a lovely 2 days x
Beautiful but noisy
We stayed in Kevin’s corner last week for four nights. Stunning woodland with wide spread plots. Sadly we were right next to a busy main road. It was very noisy. Also at 7 am each day there was noise next door from lorries unloading scaffold or the like. Great friendly staff. Just a shame it’s not made clearer on website. But then I guess if it was no one would choose the plots near the road.
Loved every minute of it
We stayed for 4 nights, it was perfect for wild campers! toilets showers and drinking water were kept clean and easy to access. Only a short drive to some fantastic beaches, local amenities and some good pubs! The campsite itself was really lovely and quiet even though it was full, as everyone has their own pitch nestled in amongst the trees and on different levels. The kids ran around together making friends playing on the rope swing and exploring in a safe environment. Can’t wait to come back next year! 😊
A relaxed woodland campsite
All the pitches are nestled in different parts of the wood so you often feel you're the only ones around. Beautifully peaceful and natural environment, with pitches placed in natural gaps in the wood. But despite the rustic feel, the showers were lovely and warm, and the toilets were spotlessly clean. The kids loved the tree swings! The WWI trenches tour was a great end to our stay, with plenty of interesting facts, and genuine love of the subject from the warden Andy. A place to return to!
Fab woodland retreat!
We stayed 4 nights at dreamy Hollow and would have happily did more! We were greated by Andrew who was very welcoming and told us everything we needed to know. Site was beautiful and a perfect family setting, dog and child were very happy n didn’t want to leave. Very peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Also we did the on site archery which I would highly recommend for both adults and children, my 4 year old loved it as much as we did! Perfect little get away with great beaches and pretty little villages near by, would definitely return!
Great campsite with secluded natural pitches
I visited Dreamy Hollows in July 2018 in the middle of the heatwave with my 13 year old son and his mate. We were greeted by Nigel who gave us a tour and explained how the site worked. We were on Pippins Pitch which had a secluded elevated position above The Hollow and quite close to the toilets and showers. The pitch came with a fire basket, logs to sit on and a table and 3 chairs. A free bag of firewood was a nice touch. The 2 unisex toilets were immaculate and smell free (!) and the jungle showers were great - they boys loved them. The road noise that others have commented on wasn’t that evident to me - it’s rural Norfolk so hardly the M25! There was some disturbance from the adjacent land where a new campsite is being developed by others, but for this Nigel offered a free tour of the World War I trenches which the boys really enjoyed - quite fascinating. The war memorial statue is one of the best I have seen. We went crabbing at the harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea and also took a trip to Brancaster Beach (take coins for the car park). All in all a lovely secluded back to basics campsite. Would definitely recommend.
Relaxed
My partner and I spent 3 nights on nellys pitch. Had a lovely time, loos etc are basic but perfectly fine when camping in the woods. It's a nice relaxed campsite
Stayed for two nights
A very warm welcome. Unfortunately I believe the web site is not exactly accurate and it certainly gave us an impression that all plots are secluded and quiet. We stayed in "The Glade (fire basket end)" and at times it was something akin to camping on a major roundabout, very open with cars passing close by on the way to the car park and other guests routinely walking closely past. Upon arrival we did ask for an alternative plot but there was none available. Road noise through the night was very evident and first thing on the Monday morning a construction site with heavy machinery next door kicked off around 09:00. I think it should be made very clear on the web site that not all plots are secluded in any sense - so check first. Having said that we took a walk around - and some of the plots we wish we had booked and am sure we would have enjoyed more. It is unlikely we would return but this is only because of the distance we would have to travel to do so when we have comparable, if not better sites much closer to home. We were all impressed with the toilets and showers, lots of hot water and clean, but the lighting has a limited life - so remember to take a torch
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Our pitches all have varied characters, we try and describe them in a way that helps campers choose the right pitch for them. The Glades descriptions refer to open and accessible, additionally the invitation “to book” both ends makes it clear that you can share or book exclusively. To help campers choose Cool Camping have produced this video. The Glade is the large clearing seen from the drone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHmSQreYEQ0&feature=share
One of our favourite campsites - ever!
We love this campsite. It was our second stay and we booked Joe's Pitch which was quiet and shady with lovely views across The Glade to the east and the fields beyond to the west. The pitches are all private and with firepits for cooking (recycled washing machine drums - brilliant idea!) and the site is very well run by friendly and helpful staff who are hands off and leave you to get on with enjoying your stay. The loos and jungle showers are basic but are spotless and just what you need for camping with plenty of hot water. Amplified music is not allowed which is great for those who want peace and quiet. We also love that this site is steeped in history which really makes it special and adds to the overall experience. Cannot recommend it highly enough if you want a peaceful site away from hustle and bustle of big caravan sites and just want to get back to basics and enjoy nature.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Helen, it’s great that you enjoyed our site. Hope to see you back again soon. Remember that around a quarter of our pitches are booked before the season starts so watch out for next seasons pitches being released around November time to get your favourite when you want it and with an Early Bird Discount.
Fantastic Site to get away from it all
We've now stayed twice in a month at Dreamy Hollow and we've not done that anywhere else in years of camping. Secluded pitches, no overcrowding. Facilities basic but spotless. The firepits are a real plus, we rarely consider a site without them now. We have had a warm welcome both times from Nigel and Mark who are very friendly and have a great local knowledge of places to go. There is some noise from the road at the front but staying on Pippin it's not too bad. Most noise is from the sounds of nature, birdsong throughout the day and owl cries at night which is what camping is all about. Well placed for Wells, Kings Lynn, Sandringham and the beautiful beach at Holkham as well as the fantastic Norfolk Lavender centre. Definitely will be back soon. Only comment is a site plan showing the pitches locations would be handy when booking. Thanks guys
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Eleanor, nice to see another camper returning, and so quickly. Also thanks for suggestion about site map. We have now put a copy on our website. Also Cool Camping have done this excellent video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHmSQreYEQ0&feature=share
Thoughtfully maintained and private
Stayed with my partner and 16 month daughter. Greatly enjoyed it - a lot of thought has been put into creating the individual and well separated pitches and the site was well maintained. The only slight downside was the road noise - we stayed Friday to Monday in June. I have to say though that it wasn't as bad as in some of the reviews above - and I tend to notice road noise. My daughter loved exploring the site, and the links to the site history are great - especially the haunting memorial at the back.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thanks Michael, glad that you enjoyed our site. Unfortunately the planners asked us to grub up the established hedge at the front, but a new one was planted last year and is growing up fast. That will help muffle the bit of road noise. But when your in perfectly quiet woodland listening to the birds sing it’s easier to hear motor vehicles even if they are some distance away.
We really enjoy being able to camp amongst the trees
We have been a few times & are still trying to find our perfect spot as there are so many perfect pitches. Myself and husband have tried a smaller pitch 'pippins pitch' with our dog and it was very private & cosy. But we tend to go with my parents (one struggles wiv health problems) and the site warden and Nigel have been very helpful and fair. Very pleasant people & a beautiful site. We always enjoy the chance to come to this site...
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Thank you for your lovely review. It’s great to have campers like you as our regulars. There is quiet a group of regulars now that are really adding to the warm friendly atmosphere.
Unique campsite. Great experience!
This is a unique campsite and a great place to camp if peace and quiet is your kind of thing. We stay at Nigel's Nook as recommended by Nigel on a 4 men tent. We had plenty of room and felt very private and safe for our almost 2 year old girl. The lower pitches, like this one, are quieter but lose the sun earlier and don't get in until mid morning. Mark welcomed us on arrival. He was very friendly and showed us around the site. We had a lovely time. A great place to get away, but close enough to many places to visit during the day. Thank you!
Secluded Pitches
We had a fantastic stay at Dreamy Hollow - there clearly has been a lot of thought put into creating the site with about 12 pitches of varying size which offer a cozy private feel. We couldn't drive to our pitch but there were trollies on hand for moving things and the site isn't that big so it wasn't too much of an issue. Toilets and showers were clean and there was plenty of hot water! We were the only people staying at the site during our stay, however I imagine if the site was full there might be a queue for the showers and loos as there were only 2 of each. Each pitch had a fire pit and a table and chairs which were a great bonus. The site was well located for exploring the local area with the coast only about 15-20 mins drive away. I would definitely recommend Dreamy Hollow if you are looking for a chilled low key trip - we loved it.
Pleasant stay despite a few issues
Pros: Friendly welcome from Adam Large good condition pitch as described Nice woodland setting Good value for money Not much light pollution, so good for stargazing Fire facilities were good Cons: Poor lighting in toilets and only two for the campsite Basic shower facilities - limited privacy Quite loud road noise
Delightful
Me and my girlfriend visited Dreamy Hollows last week and my first impressions were it was a very nice campsite, we were greeted by Nigel the owner and he made us feel very welcome, he gave us a tour and settled us in very easily. Its a very quiet, nice campsite, we had our own pitch and whilst ours was right next to other people we felt quite alone, secluded in our pitch. Other pitches looked fantastic, most on different levels and secluded really well. We visited Wells-next-the-sea and also visited Blakeney Village where we had a tour off the coast and watched seals in their natural environment, as I say its quiet with a few nice pubs nearby so if that's what your looking for it was perfect.
Not quiet or relaxing
While the site is totally beautiful, it is along a road and while we sought relaxation and nature the only noise we heard were cars throughout the day and night. Worse traffic noise than our home in London (not the intention of a camping weekend). When we asked to move, an alternate (quieter) site was not available and the owner refused to refund our money - though we wouldn't have booked if we knew we'd be on the road. Beautiful site, but not a place for quiet relaxation. Business practices are bad. I do not recommend.
Response from Dreamy Hollow
All our pitches are different and that’s reflected in the price. We have made provision for new pitches and will be closing this pitch if other campers also feel noise is unacceptable. We are often fully booked so it’s not possible to offer people a move to another pitch. The pitch was priced at 1/3 less than our most expensive pitch so we feel that was a fair market price.
To help campers choose the right pitch for them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHmSQreYEQ0&feature=share
Amanda and Karl
This campsite is wonderful! Really interesting site with separated little plots that each have their own character and charm. We stayed on Nelly's plot, which feels semi private even though you can people watch quite easily as it's elevated, and came home one afternoon to find someone had strung some fairy lights around the tree above our tent. If you wanted something more private feeling, Joe's or Nigel's pitch would be better, and though we enjoyed Nelly's a lot we might go for one of those pitches next time for that reason. Nigel and Naomi were so friendly and helpful, you can tell they're really passionate about the campsite.
The facilities (2 toilets, 2 showers and a drinking water tap) are very clean and though the showers are outside, they're still nice and warm. If you're someone who wants electricity and fridges etc on your campsite this may not be for you. The only thing we had a tiny issue with was the solar lights in the toilets not always coming on at night, or switching off whilst you were still in there - but this was easily remedied wearing head torches at night.
We're already planning our next trip there :)
Chrissy and Jonathan barber
My husband and I spent a weekend here and really enjoyed it. Initially we were concerned about no electric hook up but it wasn't needed as the camp fire on each pitch is really all you need on a mild sunny evening. When we were there a little cluster of toad tadpoles were being protected on the site by staff and it was great to see. The pitch we were on was secluded and peaceful allowing a slowed pace of life, if only for the weekend.
Family Fun
There is so much to like about this campsite, and we would recommend a visit. But before you go you do need to know that the facilities are basic. The solar lights weren't holding their charge so there were no lights in the toilets after 9pm and the eco outside shower didn't have any hot water on one of the days. There's no washing up facilities either. It was a bit noisy at night with the road so close, as well as owls, monk jack deer and pheasants wondering around! HOWEVER...the site pitches are spacious and interesting and the trenches and woods are a brilliant place for the kids to explore. Ideally located for exploring the coast too. Nigel gave us a a warm welcome and was helpful when he was around. Bit to basic for our 16 year old daughter but if you like adventure this is the place for you!
Response from Dreamy Hollow
Glad you enjoyed our site, sorry the troubles of our eco friendly equipment gave you problems. We try to get campers to turn off our solar battery lights when leaving but sometimes they get left on and have to recharge. The showers cut to cold if turned up too high (elf and safety and all that) sorry this was missed out of the induction tour, turning down and switching off and on again usually resets them.
Perfect!
We have booked here this year for the 3rd time. It's a lovely campsite close to so many wonderful sites and days out.
We have booked Nigel's Nook again this year it's a lovely spot and if the sun is shining it's just perfect!
We take our dogs and our 3 yr old little girl and they all love it, the showers are basic but they do the job and it's such a quiet chilled place. The fact that you can have a fire is great as many sites don't allow them anymore.
I would not recommend this campsite if you like a hairdryer and somewhere to charge your phone and the kids iPads, this campsite is for real campers. We will be returning here for many years to come.
Perfect pitches
An absolute gem of a camp-site, varying size pitches comprising nooks and open spaces. Clean facilities and a charming owner. Next to a main road for exploring the, but hardly any road noise. We loved it so much we cancelled a booking and stayed for the week!
great weekend
Great weekend! With the dogs😊. Perfect location for anybody who wants a quiet stay not too far away from the beach.
Really good layout and the facilities whilst basic are clean.
Definitely returning soon!
Another wonderful stay!
This was our second visit to Dreamy Hollow and the site is looking better than ever this time we took friends and family for a birthday camping weekend celebration the site is a real stunner offering the comfort and safety on a well maintained campsite with the raw and rustic wild feal Nigel and team have created. It's a great family environment and we will definitely be visiting again in the future!
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