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Chigborough Farm

94%
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· Heybridge, Essex, England
130 acres hosted by Samantha T.
7 glamping pitches · 14 motorhome/tent pitches
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Private sites
100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Boating, biking and bell tent glamping on a farm near the Blackwater Estuary, where good food and walkable pubs are also on the menu.

A few hundred metres from the sailing-boat-dotted salt waters of the Blackwater Estuary in Essex there’s a farm that can do no wrong. It’s home to some of the best fly-fishing in England, has a Michelin-recommended restaurant and an award-winning fine salmon smokehouse – plus a tea room and deli in an old barn space that will charm your socks off. The latest addition to this prime waterside spot? A camping and glamping site, of course.

Set among Chigborough Farm’s 130 acres, the campsite is actually divided into a collection of different areas. There’s a small tent and caravan meadow, a trio of beautiful pre-pitched bell tents and an individual safari tent in a clearing, reached (with a wheelbarrow full of your belongings) on foot. Separately, there’s also a floating cabin, out on one of the farm’s many sparkling lakes (accessed by row boat) and, for all guests, the likes of a games room, a playground and a dining and kitchen space to use.

Nudging the camping meadow, the pre-pitched bell tents have access to all the same facilities – including modern, wet-room-style showers – and are furnished inside with a proper double bed, soft furnishing and all the bedding and towels you need. In summer you can roll straight from your mattress, peel back the creamy canvas of the tent and step out onto the farm, sheltered by hedges on three sites, with views of open farmland and The Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve to the north.

It’s an easy wander to the seaside – part river, part coast really, but very much with a nautical feel – where maritime images adorn the local pub, 400 metres down the road. Walk along the sea wall to find other watering holes or drive the five minutes to the likes of Heybridge and the old market town of Maldon just beyond. Not that you need travel far for fun. By day, pedalos and boats can be hired for tom-foolery on the farm’s lakes and bikes are also available for off-site exploring. Then there’s the deli, the gift shop and that award-winning fishing to try. Why leave to visit anywhere else?

Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Wildlife watching
Natural features
Lake
Coastal
Field
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94%
76 Ratings · 72 reviews
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Melissa F.recommends
October 16, 2023
W13 Non Members Grass Pitch
Lovely campsite close to lakes filled with birdlife. Just one point to raise. The entrance gate into Willow field has an extremely heavy metal arm which needs to be lifted to open the gate. For those who are not tall or strong (!) it would be easy to lose control of it when lifting and does present quite a hazard if it were to fall suddenly. I nearly lost control the first time of opening! A warning on the gate to be careful would be useful.
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Katie B.recommends
October 16, 2023
W14 Non Members Grass Pitch
Great campsite for families! Lovely flat site with good facilities including a playground and a maze to keep the kids entertained. Lovely walks from the campsite to the lake and the sea wall.
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Richard E.recommends
September 10, 2023
W2 Non Members Grass Pitch - Non Members Grass Pitches
Perfect
We loved our weekend camping trip, had everything we needed and hoping to return again soon
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Bryony D.recommends
September 7, 2023
W14 Non Members Grass Pitch
Very easy to book. Lovely location . Me and my daughter enjoyed it very much. Had toilets, washing up stations, games room, play park, a maze and drinking water available. The only thing that let us down was that the cafe was shut during the time we was there. So we had to cross the very dangerous road to find somewhere to eat. Overall would definitely come again.
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Anna M.recommends
September 5, 2023
W2 Non Members Grass Pitch - Non Members Grass Pitches
We had a great time at this lovely campsite. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get away to peace and nature. The campsite with lakes was beautiful. We kayaked on the lake, the Maze gave our children a lot of fun and they enjoyed a pottery session. Thank you Sam for ensuring that our Pottery was ready to take away with us the next day! Well run, lovely campsite and friendly host.
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Oksana P.recommends
September 4, 2023
W1 Non Members Grass Pitch
Lovely campsite, the maze and the lake were super fun for kids and adults alike.
Location
Heybridge, Essex, 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 Samantha T.Joined in May 2018
From the host
Just under an hour from London, but feeling like a million miles away, Chigborough Farm is a tranquil and picturesque rural oasis on the North of the River Blackwater estuary near Maldon in Essex. The camping and glamping area is nestled in amongst 130 acres of arable land and fishing lakes, there are permissive footpaths throughout. It is just a short walk from the sea wall and the local coastal village of Heybridge Basin where there are pubs and a Wilkins and Sons tearoom. On site we have toilets, showers, games room, communal dining area with brick pizza oven, log cabin style fishing lodge over looking the lake, The Black Pig Farm Cafe, Lambton and Jackson Smokehouse, a fresh fish shop, yoga and complimentary therapies. We offer accommodation in The Raft (floating log cabin), Birdsong Safari tent, Grebes Nest and Woodpecker Pods, Carpers Cabin, Bell Tents and Hobbit Cottages and we also have a seasonal Camping and Caravanning Club Members site and a non members camping area.
Nearby attractions
The farm itself is a treasure trove. Along with the food and drink options, there's fly fishing for trout, carp fishing in the main coarse lakes (please use the red ‘book now’ Button) and a Pottery and Painting Studio  There's also a converted space called ‘Yogiswari’ where you can try pilates, yoga and complimentary therapies. There's easy access on foot or bike to the sea wall by the beautiful Blackwater Estuary. Elsewhere, it's a 10-minute drive to the supermarkets and pubs at Maldon, where Maldon Promenade Park has a 'splash park' (watery fun for kids in summer) and crazy golf, rollerskating, bowling and soft play. Colchester Zoo is 25 minutes away. Tiptree Jam Factory (01621 815407) and Museum is about 15 minutes away. Pedallo’s, rowing boats and kayaks can be used on site on Home Water Lake from 1st July to 14th September. Either hire from us or bring your own. 
Food and drink
Michelin-recommended Rubino's Restaurant (01621 855579) is located on the farm and also The Black Pig Farm Cafe. A short walk down the lane and along the sea wall to Heybridge Basin, there’s a choice of two pubs The Jolly Sailor and Old Ship,  and The Lock Tearooms. 
Video
https://www.youtube.com/embed/nrYKmTZiHvg
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