When can I check in and check out of Orchard Wild Camping?

Camping and touring Arrive: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. Read more

Orchard Wild Camping

9.6 52 reviews

Visitor image of their pitch with the perfect amount of shade

Back-to-basics wild camping in scenic Suffolk countryside
A 20-minute drive from Southwold and 35 minutes from Ipswich
Africa Alive, Oasis Camel Park and Sutton Hoo within a 25-minute drive

Looking for a back to basics getaway without all the unnecessary extras? Keep it simple at Orchard Wild Camping, a particularly well-named family-friendly site five minutes’ drive from the small Suffolk town of Saxmundham and around 15 minutes from Aldeburgh and Southwold. The clue is in the name here: this is proudly wild camping where everything's off grid and as nature intended, giving guests lots of space and scope for no-frills stays. There’s a bowser full of water for cooking and washing (drinking water must be bought, but the first bottle will be provided), and a firepit is at each pitch for toasty times and chatty evenings. There is a shower but it's worth noting that it's solar powered and therefore at the mercy of the elements (on some days it may only be for the brave…) Nature-filled hols can extend beyond the limits of the site if so desired: it's about five minutes from here to the edge of Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), putting guests in a prime location for lengthy coastal walks, quiet cycles down country lanes and wildlife spotting. The site is also 20 minutes from RSPB Minsmere (which falls within the AONB) for an afternoon of birdwatching; more animals can be spotted at Africa Alive, 25 minutes from base, and the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary about half an hour away. Getting out and about should be easy as the site is handily located just off the A12.

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Features

No dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed

Themes

Budget/backpacker Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby

Location

Orchard Wild Camping

A12

Kelsale-cum-Carlton

Saxmundham

Suffolk

England

IP17 2QZ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.23855°N
1.48748°W

Route directions

Travelling along the A12 towards Lowestoft, pass Saxmundham on the right hand side, pass a turning for Rendham on the left and look out for a white sign with red writing saying 'concealed entrance'. Slow down and show caution as this is the entrance to the campsite from a busy main road.

Nearest transport

Coach

13.8 mi Broad Street

13.9 mi School Lane

15.2 mi Chaucer Street

Rail

1.6 mi Saxmundham Rail Station

2.8 mi Darsham Rail Station

7.1 mi Wickham Market Rail Station

Ferry

9.3 mi Walberswick Ferry Landing

9.4 mi Southwold Ferry Landing

17.6 mi Bawdsey Ferry Landing

Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

To make beach days part of your stay, it’s just 15 minutes' drive from the site to the seafront stretch of Aldeburgh, 20 minutes to Southwold and a little under 40 to Lowestoft. Early birds and adrenaline junkies might want to flap along to the latter – Lowestoft is the first place in the UK to see the sun rise every morning, and it’s also home to the rides and games of Pleasurewood Hills. Meanwhile, fans of traditional British seaside towns with candy-coloured beachfronts and restored Victorian piers might wish to opt for the first two instead. There’s history hereabouts too: the spectacularly sprawling Somerleyton Hall is just outside Lowestoft (and 45 minutes from base), and jousts at Framlingham Castle, clambers around the tower keep of Orford Castle, seeing the unusual 'House in the Clouds' water tower and visits to the famed Anglo-Saxon royal burial site of Sutton Hoo are between 15 and 25 minutes away. When rural rambles, seaside strolls and historical haunts are finally exhausted, there are museums, mansions and shops to explore 35 minutes from the site in Ipswich, and even busier city days within relatively easy reach an hour away in Norwich.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Southwold The Denes	9.8 mi	Sea	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southwold The Pier	10.6 mi	Sea	N/A	Good	Good	Excellent
Lowestoft (South Of Claremont Pier)	19 mi	Sea	N/A	Good	Good	Good
Lowestoft (North Of Claremont Pier)	19.3 mi	Sea	N/A	Good	Good	Good
Felixstowe North	20 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Framlingham Castle 6.1 mi

Orford Castle 10.2 mi

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 10.3 mi

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Burial Mounds 11.8 mi

Christchurch Mansion 18.6 mi

National Trust

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 10.4 mi

Sutton Hoo 11.9 mi

Elizabethan House Museum 27.2 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 27.7 mi

Thorington Hall 29.6 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Leiston - Eastbridge - Middleton - Theberton - Leiston 4 mi

GLEMHAM HALL 4.6 mi

SNAPE (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 01/01/2007 5 mi

HEVENINGHAM HALL 5.1 mi

MINSMERE (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 11/01/2006) 5.1 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Payment terms

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

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1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

One of the pitches. quite private and secluded

Sunset clouds. a fire pit is provided at each pitch, and furniture can be moved around as necessary.

Vegetation offers some seclusion from other campers.

Walking from our pitch to the main grounds.

Really nice pitches. BBQ, fire pit, toilets and that's all we really…

Overall	10/10
Location	8
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	6

David W. Sept 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Really nice pitches. BBQ, fire pit, toilets and that's all we really needed. The owner was very nice and really helpful.

Even though there had been torrential rain for many days preceding our trip, the ground was perfect and didn't affect our stay at all.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice neat little site. Very friendly and helpful. Very close to the…

Overall	8/10
Location	8
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Sept 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Nice neat little site. Very friendly and helpful. Very close to the A12 so ideal for a stopover.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Back to basics camping with private pitches and a warm welcome

Overall	8/10
Location	8
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	2

Anonymous Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: I wish more sites were like this! Orchard setting with mown out paths and pitches was great, gives the pitches a lot of privacy and space and a sense of adventure. Facilities are obviously basic as expected for a 'wild' site, it isn't for everyone but the toilets were clean and the shower was warm and having no WiFi or phone reception was great!! Simon was really friendly and relaxed. Also a bonus of apples straight from the tree!

Disliked: Road noise, though we knew to expect this from the location and other reviews. Earplugs helped at night!

Recommend to friends Visit again

The campsite is a well carved out space with lots of blackberry…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: The campsite is a well carved out space with lots of blackberry bushes and apple trees making each pitch rather private, we were given the most tucked away spot in the site which gave the children the chance to roam a little without worry.
The shower was perfect.
Toilets were kept very clean and stocked up.
I thought I’d be worried that the children would get bored without a play area. But with the setting as it is, the fruit picking, and the few activities we brought with us there was very little boredom.

A great wild site and very well looked after by Simon.

Disliked: Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site with friendly owner and private pitches

Overall	10/10
Location	8
Value for money	8
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	2

Chloe B. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Loved the individual firepits on each pitch - perfect to sit around stargazing in the evening

Recommend to friends Visit again

The site is exactly how it is described, fantastic wild camping sites…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Aaron B. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: The site is exactly how it is described, fantastic wild camping sites with private pitches.

Recommend this to anyone looking to get back to the basics whilst enjoying a fantastic fire.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely campsite, friendly owner, lots of apples and blackberries.…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Simon K. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Lovely campsite, friendly owner, lots of apples and blackberries.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Simon was so friendly and helpful. The whole site was clean, excellently…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	8

Emma M. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Simon was so friendly and helpful. The whole site was clean, excellently planned. lovely clean loo and hot shower. Beautiful surroundings and private sites.
We will be back. Thanks so much Simon.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Camping in the wilderness is always a 5 star experience. The site…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	2

Anonymous Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Camping in the wilderness is always a 5 star experience. The site is well kept, inclusive and yet private, and overseen by the wonderful Simon. Local villages are Dark Skies so there is no light pollution, and there are many of activities and day trips in the local area. Always we'll be back every summer.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site in a good position

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch (wild)

Liked: Nice private off grid pitches, simple facilities (toilet, shower). Helpful, friendly owner.

Disliked: N/A

Recommend to friends Visit again

Frequently asked questions

Does Orchard Wild Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Orchard Wild Camping dog friendly? No View all features
What attractions are near Orchard Wild Camping? To make beach days part of your stay, it’s just 15 minutes' drive from the site to the seafront stretch of Aldeburgh, 20 minutes to Southwold and a little under 40 to … Read more
When can I check in and check out of Orchard Wild Camping?

Camping and touring

Arrive: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Depart by: 11 a.m.

Read more