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Canal Camping

98%
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· North Walsham, Norfolk, England
1 acre hosted by Jo .
3 glamping pitches · 36 tent pitches
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Jo is a Star Host
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Paddle the waterways, read among the reeds and bask beneath the big, blue skies of the Norfolk Broads at this family-friendly, tent-only campsite

No visit to the Norfolk Broads is complete without getting out onto the waterways that make the place so famous. Woven together with meandering rivers and snaking streams, the broads create an interconnected watery wonderland. And it’s campsites like Canal Camping that really make the most of this natural treasure. Why pitch anywhere else when, here, you can pop your tent right down by the riverside and slip your canoe or kayak straight into the water? And speaking of Canoe, Canal Camping gives you the opportunity of hiring a Canoe, and if that isn't enough adventurous, they also have Paddle boards available! (For more information please contact the site.)

Made up of little more than a grassy meadow, with a shower and toilet cabin at one end, a covered washing-up space and drinking water taps dotted about, this simple tent-only campsite offers camping on a casual scale. There are no designated pitches – simply find a nice spot that suits – and campfires are very much permitted, with the scent of wood smoke in the air and the sound of crackling logs backtracking the birds.

On one side of the wash-cabin an OS map is pinned to the wall. It’s a good way to get your bearings before you go out in a boat or take off by bike. You can see the canal running through the local village of Dilham, from Wayford Bridge to Antingham. It was built in the 19th century to help transport agricultural goods and, while today parts are being restored to their former beauty, other stretches have not changed for more than 100 years, retaining a semi-wild charm where nature has taken over. Further south, meanwhile, the waters feed into the large lake at Ant Broads and Marshes National Nature Reserve, where you can explore on boardwalks and signed pathways.

In total, the national park has 125 miles of navigable waterways, so you’re never going to see it all. But Canal Camping certainly offers a very enviable starting point. Between marshmallow toasting, jaunts to the nearby pub and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere of the camping meadow, getting out and about always takes a little more time than you expected. But that’s the pace of life this riverside place can’t help but instil: Slow, relaxed and meandering.

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98%
92 Ratings · 101 reviews
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Helen F.recommends
October 9, 2023
Grass Pitch
Loved this campsite! Great facilities, beautiful surroundings. Lovely walk along the canal and option to hire a canoe or launch your own. I will definitely be back!
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James P.recommends
October 1, 2023
Grass Pitch
My last trip of the year as sadly you appear to be closed As usual a peaceful location with plenty to see and do. Wonderful facilities. I'll be back next year to just sit and chill 😁
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Dan A.recommends
August 31, 2023
Grass Pitch
We ❤️ Hickling Campsite
We had a fantastic time camping at Hickling campsite. Such a relaxing place, spotless facilities including toilets and showers, wood, kindling, firefighters and even marshmallows supplies available and a fantastic little onsite shop with Sam making great coffee. Great site, met some lovely people and even got clear blue skies. A perfect place for a family camping holiday.
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James P.recommends
August 21, 2023
Grass Pitch
Relaxing, clean, safe fun location
The best camp site by a long shot, safe clean and gorgeous showers.
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Lorna W.recommends
August 10, 2023
Grass Pitch
Excellent site. Second year I have come and brilliant both times
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G A.recommends
August 5, 2023
Grass Pitch
We had a great time!,
This is a really nice, quiet and family friendly campsite. Although it was already school holiday time, there were only a few families on our first four days there, and everyone was friendly and respectful of the rules. Facilities were always clean. Access to the canal and to walks straight from the campsite was great. Also very close to the coast, the Deep history trail and to supermarkets - always handy!
Location
North Walsham, 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 Jo .Joined in January 2017
From the host
Located in Dilham, Norfolk, our tucked away campsite is nestled among the water, the reeds and the beautiful skies. Canal Camping caters for those that are looking for a relaxing, natural adventure, with the added bonus of being able to walk out of your tent, launch your canoe and drift along one of the country’s most unique canals. After a long day exploring this beautiful part of Norfolk, come back to your camp for hot showers, clear skies for star-gazing, open campfires for toasting marshmallows, and fantastic pubs within walking distance. What more could you ask for!?
Nearby attractions
Bring bikes along to enjoy the car-free routes, though canoes and kayaks are the best ways to explore this watery wonderland.Canal Camping caters for those that are looking for a relaxing, natural adventure, with the added bonus of being able to walk out of your tent, launch your canoe and drift along one of the country’s most unique canals. We have ten canoes ready for hire direct from the campsite. You can fit three adults, or two adults and two small children in one canoe at any one time. To hire a canoe on your preferred date from the campsite, click on the following link. Canoe hire - Canal Camping  You can rent vessels of all shapes and sizes nearby. How Hill National Nature Reserve (01692 678555) near Ludham, with the River Ant running through it, has reedbeds, grazing marshes, wet woodlands and its very own broad, all full to the brim with wildlife. Entry to the site is free, with free parking and 24-hour moorings. Take a circular walk around How Hill and see Buttle Marsh – home to some of the rarest birds in the broads. The riverside footpath continues to Ludham Bridge and there’s also a 300m access path along the river to Boardman’s Mill and Clayrack Mill. BeWILDerwood (01692 633033), meanwhile, is always a popular choice with families – an award winning forest park, with treehouses, zip wires and more – and Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens (01493 369477), where attractions include snow leopards, tigers, gibbons, deer, otters and crocodiles in a swamp house – is also a good choice (there are several play areas for children and parking is free).
Food and drink
It's just under 2 miles to the local pub – the Cross Keys (01692 536398) – and there is a good walk there via the banks of the river for most of the way. It's a shame, though, that this old haunt, apparently around since 1730, has been given a pretty ugly facelift inside at some point (we'd guess late 90s) and isn't exactly a country classic. When the sun's out, though, it's got a good beer garden and a big lawn with a goal post and games for kids. For something more off the beaten track, try The Butchers Arms (01692 650237) in East Ruston where portions are hearty and there's a wide variety of drinks. The award winning Recruiting Sergeant pub and restaurant (01603 737077) situated in the village of Horstead, near Coltishall, has perhaps the best reputation in the area. The pub is well-known for its food quality, friendliness and attention to detail. The portions are not sparse… so wear your most loose fitting clothes!
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