If you’re still the Mayfair type, though, and find your pockets are a little too copper plated, then Hertford Campsite still packs a luxury punch. The expert people at Ready Camp have just set up a handful of brand new safari tents with double beds, dining room furniture, a working kitchen and all the utensils you could need. Inside, the canvas lining breaks the tents up into different rooms: two bedrooms and a larger living area. During the day you can roll up the material to create an open airy space, kicking back as a family and enjoying the green surroundings.
The rest of the campsite, run by the Camping and Caravanning Club, has the facilities you would expect from such an established spot. Up to date ablutions include family and disabled facilities and there’s an onsite shop selling camping essentials, newspapers and basic food items. It certainly has a caravan friendly vibe, with a loop of tarmac beyond the entrance, lined with gravelly hard-standings, but venture to the far end of the campsite and tenters can still find a quiet spot to camp in a wide grassy space. Tuck up along the far hedge for maximum privacy and ample room to play games or throw a Frisbee around.
If you’re one of the folk coming here for London, then Hertford North and Hertford East stations will probably be the first things on your radar, but those heading out from the big smoke and looking for more rural attractions will also enjoy this locale. From the rear of the site a footpath leads east around the neighbouring fields and dives into Balls Wood, a big bulk of forest great for breathing in the fresh country air. At the far end you stumble out in Hertford Heath where the College Arms is worth a visit. The pub retains its country charm but with a certain modern edge and the gastro food is excellent.
For something more concrete than a walk in the woods, try a visit to Knebworth House, well known for its rock concerts (recall Oasis at the height of Britpop) but better remembered as a fine stately home with vast grounds and gardens to explore. It’s an excellent spot for families, easily soaking up a whole day as you hunt for heffalumps in the trees or watch the deer as they saunter majestically down the driveway. It puts the Home in Home Counties and only goes to prove how beautiful the doorstep of London really is. What more of an excuse do you need to slowly snap those fingers and grab the next train to Hertford?
The nearest options from the campsite involve a walk into Hertford where there are a few good restaurants and a couple of modern pubs. For a more rural feel, walk across the fields to Hertford Heath, more easily reached by car in 5 minutes. The village has three pubs: the Goat (01992 535788), the Silver Fox (01992 589023) and the College Arms (01992 558856), all of which serve food and have a warm, local atmosphere.
