Goren Farm

At Goren Farm, they sell wildflower seeds, bake cakes, grow vegetables, press apples, make their own cider – and offer nearly-wild camping too. This is a 70-acre farm on the edge of the Blackdown Hills in Devon with just eight camping pitches. Those are mown at far flung intervals around the edges of 30 acres of meadows, where native wildflowers grow all summer long. It’s idyllic, bucolic, and it’s basic; somewhere to watch bees and butterflies, listen to birds and perhaps chew a bit of hay from the field while you boil a kettle on the campfire.

Each pitch has a fire pit and plenty of its own charm. Little Smokey Hole, for example, has shade from an old oak and great views of the setting sun but is a bit of a walk from where you park the car. Primrose, meanwhile, is not too far off the road and, therefore, suitable for campervans. What they all share is access to the same simple facilities. These are a couple of compost loos, hot showers in horseboxes, and an open-air washing up sink. But over in the farmyard there’s more: Cafe Goren. There, you can enjoy a homemade cream tea, a cake, or buy some of the farm’s own apple juice, cider, or jam.

The cafe and the wildflowers make Goren Farm a bit of a destination and there’s a play area, nature trail, and adventure trail for visitors too. You’re welcome to explore it all on your stay here and, if you want to go further afield, host Julian has made you a map detailing local walks. Some head for local pubs which serve food—there are three within an hour’s walk. The campsite is within the Blackdown Hills, which is a great place to enjoy the countryside but it’s not too far from the coast on the Dorset-Devon border either. Lyme Regis, Beer, and Seaton all offer chances to dip your toes in the sea and are all about 20 minutes’ drive away.