The Meadow at Waples Mill

View prices & book 8.3 50 reviews
Stunning lake full of big carp
Stunning lake full of big carp
Visitor image of the spacious pitches
Meadow view
Large open pitches
Lots of open space
Grass pitches
Pitches in a grass field
Fishing moat
1/51
Visitor image of the spacious pitches
Meadow view
Large open pitches

  • Spacious grass pitches in the green Essex countryside
  • A 15-minute drive to Chelmsford; 40 minutes to Audley End
  • Tractor rides on site; firepits provided for campfires
What do you fancy putting on the schedule for your countryside break? Rural walks, for sure… and maybe an evening by the campfire? How about proper farm activities like tractor rides (ask site staff for details)? The place to find all this is The Meadow at Waples Mill, an Essex farm site between Chelmsford and Dunmow (and about 15 minutes’ drive from both). This family-friendly site is handy for walks on the Essex Way and other local footpaths, and tractor and trailer rides around the farm are organised on alternate days to give guests a glimpse into agricultural life. Activities complete for the day, it's time to chill out, and that should be easy here – all pitches have access to toilets and hot showers in a long trailer close by, and firepits are provided so you can have a safe campfire (with wood available to buy on site and a great farm shop 10 minutes’ drive away for fireside snacks). Pitches themselves are large, well kept and well spaced within a meadow that backs onto the River Roding. Dogs are welcome, and there are plenty of places to take them for a walk nearby. London folk looking for a quick escape to the countryside, this is a place to bear in mind – it’s only about an hour and quarter by road from the city.

Campground type

Tent sites 15
RV & Motorhome sites 3
Open now
Opens 17 April
Please note
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • There is no reception building on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Thu, 17 Apr to

No availability here for your search criteria

Site types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesRV & Motorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

8.3

Overall rating from 50 Pitchup.com customers

  • 47%
    10
  • 7%
    9
  • 15%
    8
  • 3%
    7
  • 13%
    6
  • 1%
    5
  • 3%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 3%
    2
  • 1%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 4
Peaceful

82% would recommend this campground to a friend

78% would stay here again

What customers say

Spacious, level sites in a peaceful rural spot with great country views. Enjoy the quiet, ample spacing and free fire pits with logs. Perfect for walks and city escapes. Facilities are basic and could use a refresh, with some noting cleanliness issues. Friendly owners and good value, many keen to return.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 6
Arrival date (latest first)

Great stay .. happy

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 5
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 1
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful peaceful campsite, everyone was silent by 10pm (apart from the badgers 😉).
I traveled with my sister as two single females in our 30s, we were dropped off and left with no car. We both felt very safe throughout our stay. There is plenty of fields and footpaths to walk and a shed with 2 showers and 2 toilets only.

The owner of the land/campsite was lovely, he came and had a friendly chat when we arrived, to make sure we were happy, he lent us some wooden chairs as we forgot to pack ours and kept us in wood all evening for our fire pit. The firepit was beautiful and burnt gently (remember you're own kinderling and firelighters to get it going)

Will come again

Disliked A small essentials farm shop on site would be a lovely touch as the closest convenience store was an 8 mile walk away (not a problem if you drive)

Toilets were abit grubby but not awful, bring you're own loo roll

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely, quiet site. Great to have fire pits for all spaces. Easy…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Emma T.

Unpowered grass and earth motorhome site

Liked Lovely, quiet site. Great to have fire pits for all spaces. Easy access to Chelmsford and Hylands Park.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Can't say as we couldn't make it…

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 1
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Adam H.

Unpowered grass and earth motorhome site

Liked Can't say as we couldn't make it

Disliked Not a negative review but hard to review properly as we couldn't stay
Our motorhome broke down on the way. I did email advising them and asked if it would be possible to rearrange the dates. I haven't heard anything back, I realise they are perfectly within their rights under the t and C's but I don't think a courtesy email back is asking that much.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet and lovely place :-)…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Denisa B.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Quiet and lovely place :-)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely peaceful place to relax and owner was very welcoming, friendly and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Leonie H.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely peaceful place to relax and owner was very welcoming, friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Definitely recommend!

Recommend to friends Visit again

We liked the situation, large pitches, walking from the site, provision of…

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 5
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Unpowered grass and earth motorhome site

Liked We liked the situation, large pitches, walking from the site, provision of raised fires.

Disliked Drinking water was not mains fed and was just from a tank which was open to the elements and you could only fill from toilet basin tap.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly people, welcoming, clean facilities.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Madara G.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful and quiet rural area not far from Chelmsford.plenty of space for tents and more. Great for Sunset watchers.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect for tranquility and back to nature

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 4
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 1
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
Kelly W.

Unpowered grass and earth motorhome site

Liked Tranquil location and perfect for a night and for our needs. The fire pit and free logs was a nice touch.

Disliked Very basic facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

an amazing place however wasn’t prepared for the rain, we left early

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 4
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked The atmosphere, location and price

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful surroundings and great view.so much room to pitch and even when…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 4
Wifi
 No rating
Jason W.

Unpowered grass and earth motorhome site

Liked Beautiful surroundings and great view.so much room to pitch and even when busy the pitches are huge. Very peaceful stay. Very friendly owner who is welcoming and offered tips for our onward journey.

Disliked Toilet and shower facilities were basic (which we are good with) but could also do with an upgrade and a little better servicing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campground

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

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Small (11-25 sites)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby

Location

The Meadow at Waples Mill

Ongar Road

Margaret Roding

Dunmow

Essex

England

CM6 1QS

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.77736°N
0.3172°E

Route directions

Please use the postcode CM6 1QS for navigation purposes.

Nearest transport

Coach
11.3 km Bus Station
13 km Coach Station
13 km Coach Station
Rail
11.4 km Chelmsford Rail Station
11.6 km Sawbridgeworth Rail Station
12.8 km Harlow Mill Rail Station
Ferry
35.7 km Woolwich Arsenal Pier
35.8 km Woolwich Ferry North Pier
36 km Woolwich Ferry South Pier
Airport
13.2 km London Stansted Airport
35.4 km London Southend Airport
35.6 km London City 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

These rural surroundings have plenty of natural landscapes to explore, and plenty of paths to follow to see some of them. The 82-mile Essex Way is the area’s major route, but there are lots of shorter trails around too if that sounds like too much. Or for a much more relaxing day out you could try a ride on the Epping Ongar Railway (15 minutes’ drive away). Scattered around the area are also several lovely houses and gardens to visit, including Audley End (40 minutes), RHS Garden Hyde Hall (40 minutes) and the Gardens of Easton Lodge (25 minutes). If you time your trip well you could also book ahead for a tour of ‘Britain’s Most Extraordinary Home’ Talliston House & Gardens (15 minutes). It’s worth making a trip into Chelmsford (15 minutes) too – it's home to the gorgeous gardens of Hylands Park, a cathedral with Gothic remnants, and a couple of top-notch museums including the Essex Police Museum. Kids need to let off a bit of energy? Try Jump Street trampoline park, just outside the city (25 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Leigh Bell Wharf 35.2 km Estuary GoodN/APoorN/A
Southend Chalkwell 36.2 km Estuary N/AGoodN/AGood
Southend Westcliff Bay 37.1 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Southend Three Shells 38.5 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentGood
Southend Jubilee 39.4 km Estuary N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Hyde Hall 21.6 km

Lee Valley Regional Park 23.8 km

Audley End House and Gardens 27.9 km

East Anglian Railway Museum 34.3 km

Discover 34.3 km

National Trust

Paycocke's 27 km

Coggeshall Grange Barn 27.1 km

Rainham Hall 30.2 km

Eastbury Manor House 30.9 km

Sutton House 36 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Hatfield Broad Oak - Hatfield Forest 7.5 km

DOWN HALL 8 km

BLAKE HALL 8.6 km

Ford End - Hartford End - Leez Priory - Ford End 9.5 km

LANGLEYS 10.4 km

Local events

  • All Points East (Friday 22 August 2025 – Friday 22 August 2025)

    London, England 36.8 km

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.

Want to know more about camping in Essex?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Meadow at Waples Mill have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Meadow at Waples Mill dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Meadow at Waples Mill? These rural surroundings have plenty of natural landscapes to explore, and plenty of paths to follow to see some of them. The 82-mile Essex Way is the area’s major route, but there … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Meadow at Waples Mill?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  10:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Meadow at Waples Mill? From $49.95 (for 1 night, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.