Pithead Campsite

View prices & book 9.6 67 reviews
Pitches
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Afternoon dappled sunlight on the hut
View from beside the hut
View from the hut
Communal area lit up with solar lights
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  • Small family-run site in the grounds of an old cider apple orchard
  • Jurassic Coast beaches and Exeter city centre within a half-hour drive
  • Pitches mown into a grass meadow; tennis court and games available
If you’re on the lookout for lovely surroundings and equally lovely views for your Devon camping break, take a look at Pithead Campsite, a small family-run site about half an hour’s drive from Exeter. Pitches here are in the grounds of an old cider apple orchard, and they’re mown into the wild grasses of a natural meadow to give you a fabulously private little corner of the countryside all to yourselves. This is a great place for family camping, as there’s plenty of safe space for kids to have a run around – but it’s just as great for a quiet couple’s break, as it’s got distant views over Dartmoor to look out at while you get a barbecue or campfire going for a chilled-out evening. There is a communal firepit or a couple of braziers/fire bowls to borrow which guests can ask to borrow, as well as firewood to buy on site. (Please note that you’ll need to keep all barbecues/fires off the ground to avoid damaging the grass.) Facilities on site include a couple of compost toilets (hand-decorated by the in-house artist, no less…), a splendid hot outdoor shower and a communal firepit and barbecue for those times when you’d like to be a bit more sociable. Alongside the field is a grass tennis court – it’s a little bumpy, so don’t go expecting Wimbledon-style standards, but it’s free to use. You can borrow racquets, balls and a croquet set, and you’re also welcome to use it for other games. There is also a communal solar-lit kitchen, which includes a sink, a small solar fridge, a gas cooker (with honesty box), cooking utensils and two USB power points. Visit the vintage marquee's tables and chairs for a covered communal area. Getting out and about is easy from here too, whether you plan to hike around Dartmoor, head down to the Jurassic Coast or explore the streets of Exeter.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 1
Rent a tent 3
Tent pitches 10
Open now
Opens 31 March
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Units longer than 5 metres are not allowed.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Mon, 31 Mar to

Reviews

9.6

Overall rating from 67 Pitchup.com customers

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Peaceful

96% would recommend this site to a friend

96% would stay here again

What customers say

A lovely, quiet, car-free site with spacious pitches. Great, clean facilities including compost loos & outdoor shower. Communal kitchen/marquee, friendly hosts a hit. Some found A30/aircraft noise and tight access roads, with limited loos/showers at busy times.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 7
Arrival date (latest first)

An absolute find

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
Natalie D.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Amazing site, has everything you need. Great cooking/bar area and marquee. Friendly staff and always on hand to help and suggest places to visit.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing site, great safe space for the kids to play and enjoy.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Pete C.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Amazing site, great safe space for the kids to play and enjoy.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A lovely site, quiet with brilliant kitchen facilities.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 6
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Dom E.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked The kitchen facilities were fantastic. We wanted for nothing and found we didn’t use our own stuff. We enjoyed the communal fire pit and the gazebo with comfy chairs for lovely evening meals under cover. The loos were really clean. Tennis was fab! Very quiet and dog friendly. A great site and would stay again

Disliked The locks on the loos are way too high up. The children couldn’t reach to open the door or close them so even the ten year old couldn’t go to the loo independently. Could be easily solved to make easier for children.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fortunately we were only staying one night

Overall

3 out of 10
Location
 4
Value for money
 2
Accommodation
 4
Facilities / Activities
 1
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 3
Charlotte C.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked That the cars weren’t parked next to the tents and that fires were permitted.

Disliked The access to the site and parking is very tight and you can only access the field when approaching it with it on the right. The main thing I didn’t like is that the long-drop toilets hadn’t been emptied (for what looked like many months) and the pile was within 10cm of the toilet seat. I’m a fan of long-drops usually but they do need to be maintained it’s not acceptable to let it pile so high without emptying it. The smell was also foul! Please also label whether water is drinkable or not as it wasn’t clear where we could fill up bottles. The final issue is that it’s right on the airport flight path and the planes come down very low and loud as they leave/land - not quite conducive with a peaceful holiday.

Recommend to friends Visit again

lovely, community-focused campsite with great facilities

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Myles B.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Lovely campsite with great size pitches and brilliant extras, like a lovely shower and outside kitchen! USB chargers were super helpful.

Disliked The toilets did get a bit smelly over the weekend, but just needed a top up of fragrance powder.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything such a lovely perfect quiet site my kids didn’t want to…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Jade N.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Everything such a lovely perfect quiet site my kids didn’t want to leave wish we stayed longer

Recommend to friends Visit again

This is a lovely, peaceful, car-free site with well-mown pitches and amazing…

Overall

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked This is a lovely, peaceful, car-free site with well-mown pitches and amazing facilities. The compost toilets (Frida and Albert, love the artwork!) and the outdoor shower are spotlessly clean and functional. There is a great communal kitchen with big sink, solar-powered lights, USB chargers and fridge, plus a mighty gas hob with big enough kettle and mugs to make tea for a whole tribe!

Disliked Nothing really, though the very narrow lanes leading to the site might deter some who are unused to driving in the countryside, or not good at reversing! You can hear A30 traffic, but only as a gentle hum in the background. Low-flying planes from Exeter airport were a surprise at first, but it isn’t Heathrow and there aren’t many of them! Also there are only two toilets and one shower, which might be an issue when the site is busy.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely quiet campsite in the countryside. We had an amazing sunset and…

Overall

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Lovely quiet campsite in the countryside. We had an amazing sunset and nice weather. There is a marquee with seating under should it rain.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site, with unexpected kitchen facilities and marquee & fire pit for…

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
 No rating
Robin T.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great site, with unexpected kitchen facilities and marquee & fire pit for socialising.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site but wasps need to be dealt with

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 6
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 4
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Pitches nicely spaced, great gazebo area with dining table for when it rains.

Disliked Wasps all around the toilet area, very unpleasant for toilet and shower experience. They swarm the willow which surrounds the area and you have to walk through the wasps to access the facilities. Toilets were also definitely overdue emptying, I've used compostable before and this was my worst compostable experience.
The location was down a narrow country road and we couldn't find any walkin paths nearby.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

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 Pétanque TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available 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 Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Remote location Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Surf school nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Pithead Campsite

Marsh Green

Exeter

Devon

England

EX5 2HE

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.73831°N
3.35382°W

Route directions

If you reach the Marsh Green village hall, head down towards Marsh Green and the site is the first gate in the left. The parking field is through the opposite gate on the right.

Nearest transport

Coach
8.4 km The Barn Owl
8.4 km Honiton Road Park and Ride
12.1 km Bus Station
Rail
3.3 km Whimple Rail Station
4.9 km Cranbrook Rail Station
7.2 km Feniton Rail Station
Ferry
10.1 km Topsham Ferry Landing
10.1 km Topsham (Turf Lock Ferry) Ferry Landing
10.3 km Topsham Lock Ferry Landing
Airport
4.5 km Exeter International 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

If you’re heading here for a good bit of outdoor activity time, you may like to plot a course to Ottery St Mary (10 minutes’ drive) for a five-mile walk along the banks of the River Otter, or make your way down to the coast for sea swims and paddleboarding in Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton (both 20 minutes). Kids in tow? Try days out taking in all the rides and attractions at Crealy Theme Park & Resort (10 minutes), the animals and adventure activities at Wildwood Escot (10 minutes) or a bit of time cooing over the cute residents of The Donkey Sanctuary (25 minutes). For a bit of urban time, head into Exeter (25 minutes) to visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and tour the city’s underground passages, or try Taunton (40 minutes) for all sorts of heritage and arts attractions.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder 10.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Ladram Bay 10.3 km Sea N/AGoodN/AGood
Sidmouth Town 10.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Budleigh Salterton 12.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sandy Bay 14.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Crealy Great Adventure Park 5.5 km

The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 9.4 km

Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site 9.8 km

Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 12.5 km

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 21.9 km

National Trust

Killerton: Marker's Cottage 6.8 km

Killerton: Clyston Mill 7.1 km

Killerton: Budlake Old Post Office 8.6 km

Killerton 9.2 km

A la Ronde 11.3 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

ROCKBEARE MANOR 1.6 km

AYLESBEARE COMMON (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 15/07/2005) 4.3 km

CADHAY 5 km

Woodbury Common and Woodbury Castle 7.8 km

BICTON 8.2 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.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Devon?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Pithead Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Pithead Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Pithead Campsite? If you’re heading here for a good bit of outdoor activity time, you may like to plot a course to Ottery St Mary (10 minutes’ drive) for a five-mile walk along the … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Pithead Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  noon –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Pithead Campsite? From €23.16 (for 1 night, 3 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.