"My name is Colin and my interests include nature rambles and thermos flasks..." (BurrowHayes Farm Camping & Caravan Site)

Member Name: Wease

Product:	BurrowHayes Farm Camping & Caravan Site
Date:	23/07/02 (1850 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of nature, Quiet, cheap, Riding stables

Disadvantages: Not much to do

and for two weeks a year I visit my idea of paradise... commonly known as Burrowhayes Camping & Caravan site!

I stumbled across Burrowhayes whilst on a cheap jaunt around the West Country a few weeks ago. The site is situated just to the south of the A39 (which runs along the North coast of Somerset) about 5 miles to the West of Minehead. It was very easy to find (simply take a small left turn off the main road and you can't miss it!) yet still suitably hidden in the woods to remain peaceful.

We hadn't booked... but with it being a rainy day in early June we weren't really expecting the site to be crowded. We stopped at the small gift shop cum reception (right next to the entrance) and my brother went off to find a member of the Dascombe family (who live on and run the site) to see if there was a pitch available. He bumped straight into Mr Julian Dascombe - a friendly and amiable chap - who booked us in (we paid the £7 for the night up front) and offered to help us set-up our tent but once he saw the size of our chamber of temporary accommodation (which is absolutely puny) he soon realised we'd manage on our own. 2 minutes later the tent was up and we set off for a small exploratory stroll around the site.

The site is not particularly big and everything is pretty much set out before you. The site is in the heart of Exmoor and as a result is set onto a slope... at the bottom by the entrance you will find the Dascombe family home, a small riding stable, the shower/loo/washing facility, a small amount of pitches (dominated by motor homes) and some static caravans. A bit further up the slope is the rest of the pitching area. To the left of the entrance are the rest of the static caravans and a small children's play area.

~ ~ Pitches ~ ~
The camping field stretches from behind the stables to the boundary with Horner woods. There are no definite pitches and you can camp more or less wherever you want in the fiel
d. That's a nice aspect but what is not so nice is the hill the site is situated on. Although it's not particularly steep I was often aware of the fact my feet were much lower than my head whilst I was sleeping... to combat this we moved our tent so it angled diagonally across the slope and I then became much less aware of the problem!

A smaller area specifically reserved for touring caravans lies on the flatter area by the gift shop and offers 10 amp electrical hook-ups.

There is a capacity for 66 tents and 54 motor homes/caravans.

Camping costs £6 a night in low season, £7 mid-season and £8.50 a night in high season. This price allows two people to camp with one car. An additional person costs a further £2-£3 (depending on the season). Children (3-15) cost a further £1-£1.50 once again depending on the season. Other costs include and extra £1 for an awning, £2 for an electric hook-up, £1 for an additional car, £1 for an additional tent. If only one person is camping with a small tent they can pay a subsidised fee of £4-£5 (depending on the season) which is rather cool!

~ ~ Static Caravans ~ ~
The site also boasts 20 static caravans, which can be rented by the week. The vans come in various sizes and shape ranging from a one-bedroom 4 berth to a two-bedroom 6 berth . All have mains water and drainage and their own W.C. and shower. Heating and cooking is by gas, lighting and a fridge is on mains electricity. The caravans are nicely spaced out and there is plenty of room to park your car or play croquet etc. The only things missing are linen and towels.

Prices range from about £135 per week (add about £20 more for a larger van) in low season (end of September or mid-March) right up to £240 per week (once again add a bit more for a larger van) at the end of July... their website has a more accurate price list for specific weeks. This is actually a wee bit below the going rate in my opinion.

~ ~ Seasons
~ ~
The site is open between mid-March and the end of October but it operates on three different season plans; low; mid; high. The exact dates vary from year to year but basically low season covers mid-March, April and October, mid-season covers the Easter, May, June and September and high-season covers Summer schools half term, July and August. Prices vary according to the season (as highlighted above).

~ ~ Reservations ~ ~
These cost £10 for tents/caravans/motor homes or £40 for static caravans. The main balance is then due upon arrival.

~ ~ Short Stay ~ ~
Special rates can be given for mid-week or weekend only stays... contact the site for more info.

~ ~ Dogs ~ ~
Dogs are welcome to Burrowhayes (free in tents... £15 extra if staying in a hired caravan) but there are a few rules to bare in mind...
v They must be kept under control at all times
v They may not be exercised on site
v Only one dog per hired caravan
v Do not let your dog on the van's blankets or furnishings
v They must not be left on their own in a van
v You must bring your own bedding/basket for your pooch


~ ~ Facilities ~ ~
A timber clad building, which is not more than a few 100 metres from anywhere in the site, plays host to most of the facilities. These include toilets, washbasins and hot showers - all free of charge and seemingly well cleaned. Next to this bathroom area there is a laundry room which features coin operated (I believe the sum was fifty pence) washing machines as well as tumble and spin dryers. There is also a room set aside for washing pots and pans, once again with free hot water.

Outside the building is a payphone booth and a chemical disposal point.


~ ~ Gift Shop ~ ~
Here you can buy local produce (jam seems popular) and souvenirs (postcards etc) as well as basic groceries (tinned goods and biscuits mainly). Fresh milk is available and there seemed to be a good s
election of newspapers on hand. Price wise it all appeared pretty reasonable.

Open daily.

~ ~ Riding ~ ~
One of the sites main attractions is of course the riding stable. Escorted rides in the Horner Valley and onto the moors can be arranged for everyone from a complete novice to an experienced rider (a facility open to both residents and non-residents of the campsite). Small children's ponies are also available for parents to walk and lead.

Hats are provided and all rides are escorted, though experienced riders can arrange special permission to go alone

The cost varies from £5 for a half hour ride right up to £34.50 for a 4 hour trek (experienced riders only).

The stables are open 6 days a week (closed Saturday) from Easter to the end of October.

~ ~ Other Attractions ~ ~
Porlock is one mile (or a pleasant 20 minute walk away), and has three public houses, a range of pleasant shops, cafes & restaurants. There are also tennis courts and a putting green, Plus sailing and sea-fishing from Porlock Weir.

A little further afield in Minehead one can find most sporting facilities, an indoor swimming pool, cinema and the nearest sandy beach. This too is the home of the West Somerset Steam Railway.

~ ~ Why you would want to visit! ~ ~
v If nature is your thing and you wish to explore Exmoor then Burrowhayes is ideally situated plus there are wooded valleys, idyllic streams and breath-taking coastal scenery all within a few minutes walk! Yes indeedy this walker's paradise will allow you to forget all about your car!
v The site was the quietest that I have yet to find (although I expect there are a lot of families around during the school holidays so it could get noisier).
v Quiet but not completely remote... only a stone's throw from Minehead.
v If you like ponies.
v Very cheap
v Close proximity to historical villages and churches... not to mention cream teas!

v Near Minehead (well my best friends boyfriend is a red coat at Butlins there and she now plans to save a few bob and stay at Burrowhayes next time she pops over to visit him!).

~ ~ Why you might want to give this one a miss! ~ ~
v Exmoor isn't particularly spectacular... and within Dartmoor literally down the road you might be better off down that way.
v If action is your thing then the quaintness of the whole area may not really suit you.
v Not much to do on site after dark... or if it's a miserable day.
v If you're a rowdy group looking for a laugh and a good old sing song (e.g. what I would be like if camping with a large group of friends) you might get raised eyebrows from other campers.

~ ~ Getting There ~ ~
For those without a car, there are local bus services and taxis that operate from Taunton (nearest train apparently), Bridgwater, Minehead and Porlock.

West Luccombe, Porlock, Minehead, Somerset. TA24 8HT
Tel: (01643) 862463
www.burrowhayes.co.uk

BRITISH TOURIST BOARD **** CAMPING & CARAVAN PARK

Summary: