Keepers Meadow
UK England East Anglia Norfolk North Walsham
Small-scale luxury bell tent glamping in Oxnead, halfway between Norwich and the Norfolk coast
If it weren’t for the detailed instructions, leading you down a narrow private road, across the River Bure and into the woodland beyond, you would never believe that Keepers Meadow even existed. While the grand Oxnead Hall – a 16th-century manor backed by pristine gardens – is unmissable from the road, the glampsite lies secluded amidst the trees.
Such privacy is, of course, the appeal of Keepers Meadow. And with just three bell tents spread across the entire site, it’s clear the owners want to retain that peaceful and secluded ambience. A newly built shower block contains an individual shower room for each of the tents, finished to perfection with full-length mirror, complimentary soap, and wall-mounted hair dryer. You also get your own personal kitchen area, fully equipped with everything you need. The attention to detail really marks the place out; from BBQ utensils down to a cafetière, everything seems to be covered.
The bell tents themselves vary in size. Two sleep up to four people, while the third, larger tent can sleep six. They include a double bed and bunks, with space to add an extra little one by squeezing in a travel cot. The décor is suitably quaint with bunting, scatter cushions and light, wooden furnishings – with plenty of space around them for kids to boot a ball around or fling a Frisbee.
Anglers will be pleased to hear that, if you head back through the trees, it’s possible to fish for trout in the River Bure. The river here is split into two segments, after it was rerouted as a means to work four-storey Oxnead Mill, built in 1851. Even if you’re not coming to fish, it’s worth the stroll simply for the chance to look across at Oxnead Hall, a beautiful redbrick building with sections dating as far back as the 16th century. A stroll in the opposite direction, leads you to the Bure Valley Railway, with Buxton Station just ten minutes away on foot. Hop on a steam train and you can chug all the way into Wroxham, the heart of the Norfolk Broads.
Our Coronavirus Booking Guarantee
Book with complete confidence at Keepers Meadow with the Cool Camping Coronavirus Booking Guarantee. We guarantee the following clear policy for your booking:
- A low deposit of 20% to secure your booking
- Balance due 10 days before your holiday
- Complete flexibility to move bookings for up to 18 months in the event of Coronavirus restrictions
- Due to the flexibility provided we are unable to offer refunds
- This guarantee supersedes any other policies
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Details
Facilities
Bell tents come furnished with beds, bedding, and wood for the woodburner provided. Mains lighting and sockets in tents as well as a selection of fairy lights. Each has its own fully equipped kitchenette, including fridge (with ice box), twin electric hob, cooking equipment, utensils, crockery, cutlery, kettle, toaster and a private shower room. There's also a wood-burning stove, a BBQ and a firepit for your own campfire. There's a communal washing up area, where you'll also find a microwave. Canoe hire, cycle hire and day passes for trout fishing in the river are all available. Camping chairs provided and picnic table under cover of a gazebo. Private woods to explore and deer to find.Suitable For
Glamping only. Groups – yes. Dogs – no.Nearby
Canoes can be hired and delivered to the site to dabble on the River Bure. Or why not take off on one of the local footpaths through the surrounding countryside. It's a 10-minute walk to Buxton Station (01263 733858) – hop aboard a steam train on the Bure Valley Railway and whistle south into the Norfolk Broads. Just outside the pretty village of Horning, Bewilderwood (01692 633033) is a particularly popular family attraction. Based on the series of books by local author Tom Blofeld, it brings the watery environment of the Broads to life – both as a land of make-believe and an overgrown adventure playground full of rope bridges, ladders, zip wires and tree houses. For more 'grown up' Norfolk culture, try a visit to Blickling Hall (01263 738030), probably the finest Jacobean mansion in Norfolk. With craft shops, beauty salons, eateries, mini golf, a petting zoo and fun fair (throughout August), Wroxham Barns (01603 783762) has plenty to offer for both young and old alike. For a day at the seaside Great Yarmouth (about 35 mins away) Cromer (25 mins) are your best bet – the latter is home to a sandy beach and a charming old pier.Food & Drink
The nearest watering hole is around 4 miles away by car in Skeyton. It's called The Goat Inn (01692 538600) and is a beautiful, thatched 16th-century pub, family run and serving great food. Other top picks nearby include The Black Boys (01263 732122) in Aylsham and The Fox (01603 755362) in Hevingham , each a within a 10-minute drive. The Crown (01263 733534) at Banningham is another excellent local (5 miles away). For fish and chips, the Buxton Fried Fish and Chip Shop (01603 278256) takes some beating.Opening Times
March–October .Why book with Cool Camping?
- Coronavirus Booking Guarantee
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
The Owner Says
Just a stones throw from the banks of the River Bure you’ll find our Bell Tents fully equipped with the luxuries of a modern hotel room. Each has its own shower room, kitchenette and dining area for the sole use of its occupants, all under cover. Nestled beside its own piece of woodland and off the beaten track, our peaceful location is known to very few and couldn’t be better placed for a lovely selection of country walks, canoe trails and cycle routes.
Social Distancing Measures
Our separate kitchens and shower rooms offer the maximum social distancing possiblle i.e they are only used by you and your family. The only space that is harder to self distance within is our wash up area. We plan to build a temporary division between the sinks in this space to enable two guests to wash up simultaneously if necessary. We will be displaying advice and guidance for guests on how best to stay safe and minimise risk when using our accommodation and facilities.
Parents of children will be responsible for the social distancing required of their children at all times. We cannot monitor or police this.
This site offers our Coronavirus Booking Guarantee
Accommodation
3 pre-pitched, furnished bell tents.
Rivers Rest
Camping bungalow
Sleeps 2
Cosy one bedroom brick and flint conversion. A perfect hideaway for couples or two people wishing to share a room. Lots of walks and cycle paths right on your doorstep and lots of woodland to explore. We can also arrange bike and canoe hire for the guests and fishing is available within 100 yards on the River Bure.
Location
Contact Keepers Meadow, Keepers Cottage, Oxnead, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 5HP
Getting There
The nearest train station is in Worstead (0845 748 4950).
Reviews
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 24 reviews
AMAZING - Peaceful, relaxing and friendly
A brilliant find and i'd highly recommend! The owners were absolutely lovely and on hand for anything I needed. The facilities were definitely a luxury and very much appreciated. I enjoyed the convenience of being able to keep my toiletries in the private bathroom and having a small private kitchen area. The location was absolutely wonderful with lots of local walks and things to go see and do in the local area. I'll definitely be back
Camping at its best
Just returned from six days at Keepers Meadow. What a fantastic set-up, perfect for the three of us (Ben’s 3) but would be great for bigger families too. The tents themselves are just right - space, storage, lighting (not your standard camping - much more like a canvas hotel room) with a wood burning stove that (once mastered!) warms up the space nicely for bed time. The kitchen and bathroom facilities are perfect, one per tent so in the current situation keeps you confident that you’re safe and distanced. Equally, it was nice to have neighbours to say hi too, without compromising each other’s space. Michelle and Gary look after the site, and the visitors, brilliantly from the welcome to the farewell. Thanks both for a lovely week - just what we needed.
Glamping at its best!
We have just returned from another wonderful weekend at Keepers Meadow. We booked all three tents for the family - what a great way to spend time together! Our hosts, Gary and Michelle have managed the current situation really well. As usual, nothing was too much trouble. The children had a lovely time playing cricket and football and running around the site - so safe for our 18 month old. We did a scavenger hunt through the woods which was great fun. This year, we had a day out to nearby Bewilderwood - fab for the children. Lovely evenings spent around the campfire toasting marshmallows and sharing many laughs. We have already booked for next year! Thank you so much Gary and Michelle.
Wonderful!
This really is a lovely place to stay. The bell tents were very spacious; we stayed as a family of 5 and there was plenty of room, much more than we had anticipated. The kitchens were exceptionally well equipped and the shower rooms were lovely. Gary and Michelle could not do enough for us. The local area is lovely; 30 minutes to the beaches at Mundesley or West Runton; 20 minutes to Wroxham and the Norfolk Broads; and lots of lovely walking or canoeing to be done along the river Bure. A 5 minute walk from the campsite, you reach a millpond, which is a lovely place for the kids to splash about and play in the water. We had a truly wonderful stay.
Fantastic family holiday
We had an absolutely brilliant stay at Keepers Meadow and we will definitely be coming back. Michelle and Gary have really thought of everything to make it an easy and comfortable stay. The tent is spacious, the beds are comfortable. We slept really well on the double bed and the kids loved their bunk beds. Really warm and cosy with the pillows and duvets. There is plenty of storage in the tent. It was too warm for us to need the wood burner but it would obviously be cosy on colder nights too. The kitchen is really well equipped. We bbq'd every night and also used the hob. The fridge freezer is a good size and they have all the kitchen equipment you could need. We made a fire on the fire pit and also hired the hammock which the kids loved. The bathrooms are clean and the shower works well and makes you feel like you are not camping at all. The surrounding area is lovely. We borrowed a kayak and rowed down the river, it's also nice for local walks. Great location for driving to the lovely N.Norfolk beaches. We'll definitely come again.
Fantastic family holiday
We had an absolutely brilliant stay at Keepers Meadow and we will definitely be coming back. Michelle and Gary have really thought of everything to make it an easy and comfortable stay. The tent is spacious, the beds are comfortable. We slept really well on the double bed and the kids loved their bunk beds. Really warm and cosy with the pillows and duvets. There is plenty of storage in the tent. It was too warm for us to need the wood burner but it would obviously be cosy on colder nights too. The kitchen is really well equipped. We bbq'd every night and also used the hob. The fridge freezer is a good size and they have all the kitchen equipment you could need. We made a fire on the fire pit and also hired the hammock which the kids loved. The bathrooms are clean and the shower works well and makes you feel like you are not camping at all. The surrounding area is lovely. We borrowed a kayak and rowed down the river, it's also nice for local walks. Great location for driving to the lovely N.Norfolk beaches. We'll definitely come again.
Glamping First Class!
Wow! What a weekend! We booked the whole site for the third year running and it gets better every year! What a great way to get all the family together! The facilities are amazing – lovely roomy tents with comfy beds, fantastic shower rooms which are always warm and a great kitchen area with benches under wooden gazebos for eating. The site is set in beautiful peaceful surroundings, a lovely place to relax as well as to enjoy more energetic activities! We had great fun over the weekend - playing cricket, visiting the beach, paddling in a stream and catching crayfish, having water fights, canoeing down the river, evenings round the campfire toasting marshmallows and a disco in the tent! Both the children and the adults had a fantastic time and we are so looking forward to our next visit in 2020! Our hosts, Michelle and Gary, supported by son Ethan, were amazing - nothing was too much trouble. They have a wonderful Glamping site, a credit to their hard work and we would highly recommend it for anyone wanting a great holiday!
Wonderful first time glamping experience
We stayed at Keepers Meadow for 4 nights with 4 children had a lovely time. The tent was very comfortable with lots of space and was very nicely decorated. The bathroom was immaculate and the kitchenette had absolutely everything you may need. The whole site is well maintained and the surroundings are beautiful. It is off the beaten track but also close to lots of attractions. We'll definitely go back again.
Such an amazing stay!!
We had wanted to visit Norfolk for a while and came across Keepers Meadow and it looked perfectly situated for all the places we wanted to go (Blakeney, Cromer, Wells Next The Sea, Wroxham & BeWilderwood). The site exceeded all of our expectations! We were met with a warm welcome and shown around and couldn’t have been happier. Everything was spotless and so well maintained. There were so many thoughtful touches to make our stay feel like home. The tents were amazing and so cosy and we loved the bedding and fairy lights. It was also such a bonus to have our own bathroom and kitchen area which had everything you could need and more. We were really lucky to have wonderful families staying in the tents either side with young girls in all three tents who played together beautifully and we spent the evenings toasting marshmallows on the fire pit - so many lovely memories made. We ventured out each day but there is so much to do on the doorstep as the site is situated in the most gorgeous location - wonderful walks, river to canoe, train rides - our daughter has already asked to go back :) If you are looking for a glamping holiday in Norfolk then this place is perfect. Don’t hesitate to book x
WOW!! Wonderful place to stay.
We stayed at Keepers Meadow for the last week in May this year. We could not have been made more welcome.The tents, kitchens and shower rooms were all immaculate.The beds were comfortable and a wood burning stove works really well and warmed the tent up quickly.There are only three tents in a large field so the surroundings feel really spacious. We stayed at Keepers Meadow because we hoped that during half term there would be other families there and perhaps someone for an 8 year old daughter to play with. The moment we arrived she made a friend with a girl of a similar age and they played for ages on the swings and slides. A wonderful quiet safe place to stay for families.
Perfect campsite, whatever the weather!
We camp as a group of three families a couple of times a year. We aim to stay at different campsites each time, but this May (early May bank holiday weekend) we just had to return to Keepers Meadow! We stayed the same weekend last year and enjoyed scorching weather and although this year the weather gods weren't quite as kind, we still had a fantastic stay. Michelle is such a kind host, ensuring that each tent is set up just as you need it, and the cooking / bathroom facilities are first class. Thoughtful touches such as wheat sacks to heat up for the children at bedtime on chilly nights, and umbrellas in each tent are so appreciated. The field itself it huge and safe – perfect for kids to run wild with games and bikes – and this year there was a new play area in one corner, which all our kids enjoyed at some point over the weekend! There are plenty of fun things to do nearby, but we would particularly recommend the little train / canoe trips, which we've now done twice and have been enjoyed by all ages. With only three bell tents available, this is truly a little boutique camping gem in the middle of a beautiful part of Norfolk. Book it – you'll be so glad you did!
Glamping at its best !!
Another great holiday at Keeper’s Meadow! We booked the whole site again - how lovely having all the family together to share the fun! We really love this site, the facilities are amazing and the hosts Gary, Michelle and Ethan are superb - nothing is too much trouble. They rescued us 3 times in the first afternoon! Getting lost, forgotten milk etc! We have already booked for next year - think it will now become an annual holiday! Beautiful tents again this year, the children loved their specially selected bed linen - Michelle thinks of everything. Fab shower rooms and so warm in the cooler early mornings. We had a really great time canoeing down the river on saturday afternoon - we all loved it! Our two 3 years olds sat still for 2 hours enjoying the trip. Barbecue around the campfire in the evening followed by a glass of wine and toasted marshmallows! So relaxing! Very disappointed children when we had to leave! Can’t thank our hosts enough for their amazing glamping site and fantastic hosting! Roll on next year!!
Fantastic stay at Keepers Meadow, fab setting, excellent facilities - what's not to love!
We had a fabulous stay at Keepers Meadow. From the minute we got the unexpected welcome pack in the post I knew it would be a different stay to any of our other glamping experiences. The welcome pack was so useful in helping me pack, which meant we literally packed our clothes, some of the kids buckets and spades and the all important bikes and we were off! As soon as we arrived on site, the kids scattered to the play area they could see as we pulled into the car park, and they pretty much spent the rest of the week there with the other children on site when we were around in the mornings and evenings. Michelle greeted us warmly and showed us round the tent and all the facilities. She also helped us source a bike to hire with a child seat, which was going above and beyond hostess and site manager role in my opinion. The tent was very exciting for us all, I was particularly excited about having a proper bed for the week (as opposed to an air bed in a pod!), the children loved the bunk-beds and I thought it was so thoughtful of Michelle to pick bedding for the children which matched their ages and gender. The fairy lights created a cosy ambience and on the day that rained, we made use of the stove making it even more homely. The kitchenette was fab, everything you could need and more. The bathroom was great and we all loved that it was a proper shower and cubicle. Everything was so clean and nothing was too much trouble - like bringing a fire pit over (which we didn't use in the end). All round - a wonderful week at Keepers Meadow, great location for visiting the area - Cromer is lovely and we had some super lobster tails. Bewilderwood was fantastic for the children - they loved the slides, zips and tree tops adventures. Great day on the steam train to escape the rain. Even if you don't want to visit further-a-field the surrounding countryside and woodland means there's enough to keep you occupied through the day. We loved it all so much we are already booking for next year!
Serene and tranquil in a beautiful location
An amazing glamping trip - thoroughly enjoyed by all. The hosts have literally thought of everything. Real home from home comforts - beautifully done. Loved getting the canoe on the river for early morning paddles. Peaceful location.
Beautiful site
Stayed for 4 nights from 30th July 2018. Such a beautiful site, in the middle of fields and woods, lovely walks all around. The tents, toilet and shower room and kitchen was immaculate and really well equipped. The owners were really helpful and friendly. The children had a magical time and we will be back!
Immaculate Luxury Bell Tents
10 of us stayed from Friday 15th - Sunday 17th June 2018 Set within quiet beautiful surroundings are the 3 immaculately presented bell tents each with their own ensuit and kitchen facilities. The cleanliness of the site is second to none, cutlery, plates, pans, bed linin etc.. are of the highest order. Each Bell tent has a wood burning stove fully supplied with all the fuel you need to keep it going. The lights and decor within the tents put a touch of class that sets it above the competition. The owners Gary and Michelle are so lovely and attentive, we owe them a debt of graditude for all their hard work in making the weekend so special. Book this accommodation I promise you won’t regret it.
Birthday celebrations in style!!
As a non camper....I have to say I’m a convert. Well a convert to Glamping at Keepers Meadow. Amazing location, amazing facilities (comprehensive and extremely clean) and the owners could do enough to make our stay memorable, including the mystical flames for our fire pit, you have to try it. In summary a faultless stay, a total gem for the tourism industry in Norfolk. Keep up the amazing work Gary, Michelle and family. We all hope to be back soon.
Amazing weekend! Already booked to return!
We have just returned from a great weekend at Keeper’s Meadow. As a family, we booked the whole campsite. We had 3 lovely tents decorated to a very high standard – it was especially lovely that our thoughtful host Michelle had tailored the children’s bed linen to suit their ages. Our two toddlers were so excited to sleep in their butterfly and dinosaur beds. Each tent has its own superb shower/toilet room and kitchenette area, all so well stocked that we didn’t want for anything. The daytimes were so enjoyable knowing that the children were safe, with the campsite being fenced on all sides. They had so much space to run around and play, with adjoining woods to explore. Our children very much enjoyed a journey on the nearby steam train, only a short walk away, which can take you to several lovely surrounding locations. An excellent indoor play area just 12 minutes away for our one rainy afternoon. We didn’t need to do any other site seeing as we were more than happy just enjoying Keeper’s Meadow! We spent lovely evenings around the campfire, enjoying the barbeque and then toasting marshmallows under the beautiful evening sky. Our hosts Gary and Michelle were so friendly and always happy to help, providing us with 2 items which we had forgotten to take. Nothing was too much trouble. A wonderful glamping experience and great to spend quality time together as a family. We have already booked the whole site again for next year and can’t wait to go back!
Glamping at its BEST!
Am I surprised that Keepers Meadow has 21 Excellent reviews and nothing less.......absolutely not! I've been meaning to leave a review for sometime but only just got round to it. Apologies. If you're in two minds as to whether to book a break here or not then don't hold back as you won't be disappointed. I booked our first stay here before they had any reviews but due to its location and photos showing it's 'home from home' comforts I thought I'd take a chance. My wife, three young children and I have stayed a couple of times and will be returning asap. From the moment you drive down the winding track leading to the house 'hiding' this tranquil hide away up to the time you need to pack your bags and set off home, you are spoilt by the attention to detail, glamping luxuries and warm welcome from the owners, Michelle and Gary. All I'd suggest you pack are your clothes, a couple of bottles of wine and a phone charger, other than that almost everything else is supplied. The bell tents are warmed (if needed) by a small but sufficient log burner, have electricity points and lovely soft lighting in the means of fairy lights. Our children loved them to the point we're on the look out for a similar set for their bedrooms. Even as a family of five, there's was sufficient room for us all and our belongings. The beds are cosy and of a good size so you won't feel squashed. Each tent also comes with its own separate kitchen and BBQ area as well as a shower block, again housing your own shower, toilet and sink. Hot water was never an issue and they're kept very clean and well maintained. As for space, there's plenty for the children to play including a wooded area which we ventured into to take on our own 'Bear Hunt' :-) The owners, Michelle and Gary are the perfect hosts. Nothing is too much whether it be asking for local attractions, directions or wifi issues - we originally had a problem picking up the wifi but they soon got on to it and got us back online. Overall, Keepers Meadow is a wonderful glamping experience which will leave you with one burning question........when can you next return??? Ged and Family x
Outstanding Glamping!
I stayed here for three nights in early July with my parents and five year old son. From the initial booking to our departure from the tent, the service we received was second to none! The owner Michelle, ensured we received details of everything we would need to know from getting to the site to cooking equipment and local areas of interest before our arrival. Upon our arrival at Keepers Meadow, we were greeted by Michelle and shown to our tent. I use the word tent in the loosest sense as it was more like a boutique hotel room! Sensational is the word I would use to describe it - from the beautiful double bed, cosy bunk bed and twinkly fairy lights to the welcome log burning fire (gorgeous at night to keep you toasty warm) and little touches such as cosy rugs and umbrellas. The kitchen is in a quant summerhouse/she'd decorated with fairy lights with a large gazebo to eat under. Each tent had its own kitchen, equipped with everything you need to cook plus a BBQ and fire pit, which you can hire for the duration of your stay for a small amount. Our hosts, Michelle and Gary, met our every need and were exceptional. The location is perfect - remote enough to feel peaceful but within ten minutes walking distance to the nearest village for provisions, not to mention the lovely Bure Valley Railway. We loved our stay at Keepers Meadow and will definitely be back. The only change we will make is to stay for much longer! A truly magical glamping experience!
True glamping
Stayed at Keepers Meadow last summer, 5 adults and 4 children in 2 tents. We had a fantastic time, everything was fresh, clean and tidy. Lots of thoughtful little touches like tea, coffee etc, well equipped kitchen, picnic table for each tent plus child sized one and loads more. Setting was idyllic, right next to the river and not far from the steam train. If you picture glamping in your mind, Keepers Meadow is it. Will definitely stay again.
Brilliant family break
I stayed at Keepers Meadow last summer with family (we had 2 tents, 4 adults and 4 children), we have booked to return this summer and the children can't wait. We were made very welcome on arrival, our kitchen area, bathroom and tent were spotlessly clean. Would also highly recommend 'Bewilderwood' for a day out with children...
Family holiday
Keepers Meadow is such a wonderful place for a family holiday. The site far exceeded our expectations. It is immaculate and felt like we were the first family to use the facilities. Lots of thought and planning has gone into making sure that everything is there that could possibly be needed. Our hosts for the week were very welcoming. When the children approached them they spent time answering lots of questions and sharing their excitement at their first glamping experience. The surroundings are beautiful, we enjoyed lots of local tourist activities but without a doubt the children's favourite experience was collecting their own wood for their fire pit, and climbing trees in the surrounding woods. Lazy evenings were spent playing with the children of our neighbouring families, making memories that will last a life time. Keepers Meadow offered our children the type of holiday we hoped for. They were close to nature and carefree! Thank you to our hosts, and the other families we shared the site with.
Gorgeous little place!
Loved our weekend break here last year. Such a quaint and peaceful little hideaway. Owners had thought of everything. Shower room was better than home and we didn't need to pack anything but our clothes, towels and toiletries- 'bliss' for the wife! Would definitely pay another visit as so many lovely footpaths to explore- tempted to bring our bikes next time...
Why book with Cool Camping?
- Coronavirus Booking Guarantee
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