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Mendip Basecamp

95%
·
· Churchill, Somerset, England
50 acres hosted by Mendip B.
40 motorhome/tent pitches
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Family-run, adventure-packed basecamp in the Mendip Hills, half an hour from Bristol

As the name suggests, Mendip Basecamp is the ideal base for adventurous campers looking to explore the Mendip Hills. But, to be honest, it’s also a real attraction in its own right. The campsite is so full of activities that you may never want to leave and when they recently opened their doors to the general public, after years reserved for private scout and school groups, they were overwhelmed by the response. Previously an adventure centre, Basecamp is now also being appreciated for its space, freedom and natural beauty too. And, with over twenty different activities to choose from, it’s guaranteed to be a worthy match for even the most energetic of kids.

Located in the north of the Mendip Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty just south of Bristol, the spacious campsite is surrounded by ancient woodland on almost all four sides. The style is pleasantly relaxed; there are no specified pitches, just choose a place to pop your tent and settle in (the field is massive, so there are loads of options). The open, relatively flat space is wonderfully sociable in the hight of summer, with kids making friends and parents relaxing by their tents, and the high surrounding trees give good shelter from the cool night breezes of summer. Campfires are allowed, too; their hazy smoke adding the essential scent of camping to the scene.

A short walk from camp, through a beautiful illuminated woodland path, you’ll find the main lodge where there’s a pop-up tavern, serving local ales and ciders, cooked breakfasts, pizzas and more. There’s also a small shop onsite for BBQ essentials and ice lollys. Then, of course, there’s the activity centre: A stay at Basecamp gives you access to a huge range of activities, like rock climbing, dry-slope skiing, canoeing and caving, to name but a few. Instructors are friendly and fully trained and cater to all ages and levels, from experienced rock climbers to those who’d struggle to climb the stairs.

The campsite is handy for those that live in Bristol, but also good for ‘outsiders’ who fancy popping into the city for a day trip. 25 minutes in the car will allow you to walk over Clifton Suspension Bridge, followed by drinks at The White Lion, or explore the quirky bars and restaurants of Gloucester Road. The Somerset coast around Weston-Super-Mare, meanwhile, is also eminently reachable from camp. Though it makes the perfect base for campers wishing to explore, however, with all the options the site has to offer, you may never find yourself getting beyond basecamp at all.

Basecamp is a family-run campsite in the heart of the beautiful Mendip Hills, just outside Bristol, five minutes from the M5. Surrounded by ancient woodland, our spacious campsite is perfect for families, small groups and adventurers. We are proud of Basecamp's friendly, community-fuelled atmosphere, that has people coming back year after year! We may be an off-grid, wild campsite - but we still have hot showers, clean flushing toilets, a camp shop and a cosy country lodge which serves great value food and drink. Plus, with a 250 acre activity centre on site you can make your stay a real family adventure camp! Following the overwhelming success of previous years, we will open once again in 2022 and offer families space, freedom, and adventure. Facilities Mendip Lodge: Our licensed country lodge is open until late every day and is just a short walk from camp. Serving the best local ciders and beers, cooked breakfasts, loaded fries and stone-baked pizzas. A cosy retreat with real log fires, comfy lounges and a sunny beer garden. Toilets and showers The site has two toilet and shower blocks. All purpose-built with individual cubicles accessed from the outside. Our facilities are regularly cleaned throughout the day and night. Toilet roll is not supplied, so please bring your own or buy from our pop-up shop. Off-Grid We don't have electric hook ups so we recommend bringing battery powered lanterns or fairy lights for your tent and power packs to recharge phones. Regrettably, due to the topography of our land Basecamp is not accessible for wheelchair users or anyone with severe mobility restrictions. Mendip Activity Centre Our activity and snowsport centre is just a short woodland walk away from camp. With over 20 activities to take part in, there is something here for everyone aged 4 to 94! As a camper, there’ll be exclusive discounts available for you. Fire Pits We have fire pits available for hire. You’re welcome to bring your own off-ground barbecues or fire pits. We have bricks available to rest them on. Firewood and charcoal are available for purchase from our onsite shop. Camp shop Our pop-up shop stocks all the essential food, drinks, snacks and camping essentials! We stock great value, locally sourced bread, bacon, burgers, eggs, and sausages. We also have ice creams, ice cold drinks, sweets and snacks. Water & Washing Up Stations There are plenty of drinking water taps around the site. We’ve also provided a few washing up areas, so if you would like to use these you can. USB Charging & Ice Block Freezer We have a few USB charging points for essentials. We have a freezer for ice packs only. Please do not use this for anything else. Recycling & Bins We are passionate about the environment. We have a recycling station at the main entrance to the camp so you can recycle any rubbish. IMPORTANT NOTE No caravans, trailer tents or motorhomes Due to low bridge, tight bends, and steep tracks, Basecamp is not accessible to towing vehicles or motorhomes over 2.7m high. No electric hookups We're an off-grid site so we don't have any electric hook ups. Bring a torch, a battery pack and a sense of adventure. We do have a few USB chargers if you need to charge your phone. No chemical waste We have plenty of toilets, showers and washing up areas. There's no need for you to bring your own. If you have onboard facilities, please empty them at home.
Activities
Biking
Hiking
Paddling
Climbing
Natural features
Forest
Field
95%
43 Ratings · 24 reviews
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Lucy C.recommends
July 15, 2024
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
So. Much. Fun.
So. Much. Fun! Such a well thought out campsite set in the beautiful Mendip Hills. The facilities are great, the games (ping pong, giant chess, swing football, sandpit to name just a few) are brilliant for both kids and adults alike, the pizzas and breakfast baps are delicious, the band down at the lodge were fab and there are so many great activities for all ages! This was our second year visiting the site and we will definitely be returning next year.
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Tony C.recommends
September 4, 2023
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
Excellent base
Great location, very relaxed, loads to do. Everything you need.
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Esther H.recommends
September 6, 2022
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
Great stay, really wonderful campsite. Defo visit again.
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Fay W.recommends
August 22, 2022
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
Great camp site
I loved this place - great for the kids Views amazing Great staff very friendly Fab activities Lots of lovely things to do places to see with awesome walks Although busy we were not disturbed Lodge with food, bar and live music Check in with small shop, electric charging and freezer for cool bags - as well as benches for just hanging out What more can you ask for Highly recommended
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Mike S.recommends
August 3, 2022
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
We loved it
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Laura M.
July 24, 2022
Basecamp | Family Adventure Camping
Great for kids over eight
This is a great location for us as we live in Bristol and it makes camping for a weekend worthwhile as it takes just 45 minutes. The site has a great feel to it and the Mendip lounge fire pit is a lovely welcome after the short walk through the woods (a steep climb for little ones on the way back though!) We found that our kids were a little too young to enjoy most activities (1, 5, 6 and 7) and apart from tabogganing (which was fantastic, but not cheap) and the sand pit, there was very little to keep them entertained. A children’s play area with things for the kids to climb on would have made a real difference. Beware the site is not at all pushchair friendly.
Location
Churchill, Somerset, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Mendip B.

Joined in March 2021
From the host
Basecamp is a family-run campsite in the heart of the beautiful Mendip Hills, just outside Bristol, five minutes from the M5. Surrounded by ancient woodland, our spacious campsite is perfect for families, small groups and adventurers. We are proud of Basecamp's friendly, community-fuelled atmosphere, that has people coming back year after year! We may be an off-grid, wild campsite - but we still have hot showers, clean flushing toilets, a camp shop and a cosy country lodge which serves great value food and drink. Plus, with a 250 acre activity centre on site you can make your stay a real family adventure camp! Following the overwhelming success of previous years, we Basecamp is open again and offers families space, freedom, and adventure.
Nearby attractions

The real action is on the campsite, with options ranging from archery and axe throwing to rock climbing and rafting. A short walk will take you to the basecamp’s own private limestone rocksports quarry or, if watersports are more your thing, you can take a 15-minute drive to their separate watersports site. A 10-minute journey will let you take a drive through dramatic Cheddar Gorge or, if you fancy a challenge, you could cycle Cliff Road (B3135) through the Gorge – stage six of the 2011 Tour of Britain. For a gentler cycling route, five minutes from the site, Strawberry Line Path is traffic-free and perfect for a family bike ride. 10 minutes away is the medieval town square of Axbridge, great for exploring the local farmer’s market and the history of this quaint little market town that was a Royal hunting square in Saxon times. For a longer day trip, you can take a 45-minute drive and explore the world-famous Glastonbury, heading up Glastonbury Tor for the best views in the area.

Food and drink

The onsite cafe-bar, Mendip Lodge, is a cosy, country lodge overlooking the flood-lit dry ski slope and serving their famous full English breakfasts, loaded fries and stone-baked pizzas. There's a licensed cafe-bar and a beer garden, great for enjoying some local brews including Somerset ales and ciders from Butcombe Brewery and Thatchers Cider. If the idea of drinking Thatchers cider has caught your eye, you can take this to the next level by enjoying some drinks at the legendary Thatchers’ cider farm (01934 822862), just five minutes away from the basecamp. The Swan Inn (01934 852371), a 10-minute drive away) is a 17th-century pub offering fresh local produce and all-too-moreish flatbreads fresh from the pizza oven. If you’re in search of dinner with a view, Salt and Malt restaurant and takeaway (01275333345), set on the bank of the Chew Valley Lake, with views view of the rolling Somerset hills, is worth the slightly longer 20-minute drive.

Video
https://player.vimeo.com/video/512873639
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