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Bush Farm Campsite

99%
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· Saltash, Cornwall, England
200 acres hosted by Scott R.
50 motorhome/tent pitches
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Scott is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
As close to wild camping as you can get on a rewilded 200-acre farm in Cornwall

Most kids have some pretty wild ideas about what they want to do when they grow up – and some of them just can’t wait. Take 12-year-old Sophie and her 13-year-old sister, Rosy, who wanted to start a campsite on the family farm. Instead of fobbing these two entrepreneurial kids off with the standard: “That’s nice dear”, their parents embraced the idea and very soon their wild idea became a sold-out-for-summer wild campsite in Cornwall.

Opened for the first time in August 2020, Bush Farm Wild Camping’s 20 pitches pretty much sold out on their first day of advertising. So high was the demand that they have decided to add more facilities and more pitches for 2021 (watch this space). But don’t worry, whether there are 20 or 40 pitches, this place will never be crowded. Campers are essentially let loose on the 200-acre farm with a map and the sensible advice to leave at least 50 yards between you and the next tent. It’s a far cry from the neat rows of pitches on some of Cornwall’s more traditional campsites and, in fact, the words “campsite” and “pitches” don’t sum up exactly what’s going on here.

So what is going on at this most unusual of farms? Formerly a cattle farm, the Renfree family decided to rewild their land at the beginning of 2020. They have planted 100 acres of wildflower meadows and 20 acres of crops which will be harvested only by the birds they attract. It’s a conservation and biodiversity project that sits well with the low key, off grid camping that’s now on offer. Facilities are simple: a couple of toilets and a couple of showers with a sink for washing up in the less-than-pretty yard area at the entrance of the campsite (don’t let that fool you on arrival). Campfires are allowed in off-ground fire pits and Sophie and Rosy will sell you some recycled wood for your fire – as long as it’s not a school day.

But the facilities are not what wows campers here; it’s perhaps more the lack of them. You can pitch up on the hill, down by the river or in amongst the trees. You could spend your whole holiday here but that would be to ignore the other thing that drove the camping bonanza of 2020; the location. Situated just over the Devon-Cornwall border, Bush Farm is about as easily reachable as Cornish campsites get. It’s less than 15 miles from Plymouth and the same distance from the lovely beach at Whitsand Bay and the harbour town of Looe. For families with kids, the Amazing Cornish Maize Maze pops up just down the road in summer season. If your kids have an ounce of the can-do attitude of the Renfree kids they’ll make short work of the maze but don’t forget there’s a wilder chance to get lost back on Bush Farm.

Woodland walks, strolls through green fields and waterside wanders by rivers and the lake are all on offer here. Our family-friendly spot is a fab site to bring the kids to, especially if they’re avid nature fans. When you roll up at our green and grassy spot, you’ll be given a map and be left to explore and settle down wherever you please. Our most popular spots come with firepits and you are also welcome to bring your own, we sell nets of recycled firewood on site so you can have that perfect camping experience roasting marshmallows as the sun goes down. Well behaved dogs are also allowed to enjoy the space we have to offer, our farm dogs love cooling off in the river after a hot day! The facilities on the main site are also available for wild campers.
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99%
70 Ratings · 60 reviews
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Leonora P.recommends
October 13, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
Plenty of space in a beautiful and varied landscape. Relatively basic amenities, perfect wild camping.
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Dorron O.recommends
September 14, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
Tranquility and peace
What a fantastic site! The area to camp in is huge and there are many different possibilities for pitching. We chose a spot in the apple orchard near the river. We were not in sight of any other campers and the beauty of the spot and the peace and quiet meant that in the two nights we stayed we only left the farm site for a drink in the pub at Pillaton. Our dog was in apple chasing heaven. Thank you Scott and colleagues and we will be back one day ( and for longer)
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Chris R.recommends
August 29, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
Loved the space on offer and the fact that there’s no allocated space you can choose where you want within the site and not crammed in with other campers
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Amy B.recommends
August 24, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
Excellent wild camping site 👌
Super wild camping site. Something for every type of wild camper here: meadow camping, river camping, orchard camping, wild moorland bivouac camping! The owners were amazing and attentive, they have a strict noise curfew which is brilliant to help ensure the wild feel. The facilities are great with a lot of well thought out care and detail. Wish we could have stayed longer, the site is huge and there was so much we didn't explore. Thank you for having us!!
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Chris R.recommends
August 22, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
We loved the peaceful setting and that you can choose where on the site that you wanted to set up camp. The availability of fire pits and wood on site was very helpful. Friendly hosts
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Jeroen Z.recommends
August 16, 2023
Wild Camping Pitch
We had a lovely time camping at Bush Farm! The hosts were great and always ready to help with anything you needed. The campsite is huge and far more beautiful than the pictures made it seem. Would definitely recommend!
Location
Saltash, Cornwall, 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 Scott R.Joined in September 2020
From the host
Located near Saltash, Bush Farm is a friendly and welcoming destination with great access to Plymouth and the rest of Cornwall. We offer Wild Camping which gives you the option to pitch up anywhere on the 200 acre farm, allowing you to get maximum peace and quiet and fully immerse yourself in the camping experience! Woodland walks, strolls through green fields and waterside wanders by rivers and the lake are all on offer here. Our family-friendly spot is a fab site to bring the kids to, especially if they’re avid nature fans. When you roll up at our green and grassy spot, you’ll be given a map and be left to explore and settle down wherever you please.
Nearby attractions

You are free to explore the 200-acre family farm which includes woodland, river and lakes. Off site, the nearest attraction is the Amazing Cornish Maize Maze (01579 351833) just a mile away. For more adventurous activities, try Adrenaline Quarry (01579 308204), 20 miles from site, where there’s a water park, bungee jumping, go karting and even axe throwing. It’s about the same distance (a drive of 20 minutes) to the nearest beach, Whitsand Bay, where there are three miles of golden sands and a little further to Looe where there’s a beach and a harbour with cafes, shops and facilities. Grown ups might like the golf and spa facilities at St Mellion Estate (01579 351351), 15 miles from site, and if you haven’t been before it’s not too far (30 miles) to the inspiring Eden Project (01726 811911). Plymouth is about 12 miles from site.

Food and drink

The Weary Friar (01579 350238) is the closest pub - just a five minute drive or a one-and-a-half-mile walk along country lanes. There’s a dog-friendly pub, The Crooked Inn (01752 848177), a ten-minute drive away. For a Cornish Cream Tea or a proper English fry-up with a view head for the hills and the spectacularly located Louis Tea Rooms (01579 389223), in the Kit Hill Country Park which is eight miles away and nice for a walk. It also has a farm shop with Cornish produce for sale. The ironically-named Foreign Muck (01752 841133) is recommended and serves burgers, burritos and craft beers in Saltash High Street, five miles from site. The Route 38 American Diner (01752 851038) is about the same distance and a good place to stop en route to Whitsand Bay.

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