Set on a working cider farm, North Down Orchard offers an idyllic rural retreat, only five minutes from Crewkerne. Tent campers can pitch up in the large hay meadow. For glampers, there are five bell tents with proper beds, soft furnishings, a fire pit/BBQ and more. For the real taste of Somerset, sample some of the site's own cider, and be sure to head to the onsite Cider Barn on Friday for delicious food and drink, with live music most weeks!

Peaceful, rural site on a working cider farm with spacious pitches and luxury bell tents

Just five minutes from Crewkerne, 30-40 minutes from West Bay, Lyme Regis and Charmouth Beaches

Onsite bar open every Friday and Saturday with cider, street food and music throughout the summer

About North Down Orchard

Expect peace and quiet with some Friday fun at this picturesque rural campsite. Located on a Somerset cider farm, the site represents all that this stunning county is about! The site allows a total of 15 tents to set up camp in the spacious camping field with non electric, unallocated pitches. Up to six guests are welcome per tent, with plenty of space for you to enjoy the sun or find shelter under the shade of the ancient tress and hedgerows. If glamping is more your style, the site has eight charming bell tents on offer. Three come unfurnished with just a double air mattress, so bring along all your other camping gear! There are also furnished bell tents that come equipped with a double bed, two air beds, soft floor rugs, a table and chairs, electric lighting, plug sockets and tea-making facilities for your morning brew. The three standard 5m bell tents are pet friendly, so you don't have to holiday without the dog. The two deluxe 6m bell tents are spacious and pet free with a king size bed and luxury furnishings. Outside each of the tents, there is also a table and chairs, along with a fire pit/BBQ for evenings in the open. So, pitch up and be sure to head to The Cider Barn for food and drink on a Friday evening. During the summer months, there are live bands playing most Fridays on the Barn Stage, so you can get up close and have a dance or find a quieter spot in the bar or the yard to enjoy your drink. Campers are also welcome to enjoy a BBQ, just please ensure it is raised from the ground. If you want a campfire, a firepit can be hired and logs are available for sale. Dogs are welcome to join you for your stay in your own tent or in the standard bell tents.

North Down Orchard is open from 09/05 to 22/09.


Facilities and amenities

Site facilities include luxury showers and composting loos, along with a field kitchen with fridge/freezer, microwave, electric hob and kettle as well as washing up facilities. Tables and chairs are also provided or you can use the log seats in the woodland glade.

The onsite Cider Barn is open every Friday evening. The bar serves a full range of drinks including cider and apple juice from the farm, and there is food on offer from a local street food vendor. Live bands perform on the Barn Stage most Fridays in the summer months. Crewkerne is a five minute drive away with pubs and shops, including a Waitrose and Lidl.

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Adult only

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Allow commercial vans

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Allow pets

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Bike hire

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Café / restaurant

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Communal BBQ

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Disabled facilities

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Drinking water

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Electric hookups

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Entertainment

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Family friendly

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Fires allowed

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Fishing

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Games room

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Glamping

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Golf

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Horse riding

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Hot tub

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Internet access

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Kids club

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Kids playground

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Laundry

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Near beach

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Near pub

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Open year round

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Peaceful

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RV pitches

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Shop

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Showers

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Swimming pool

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Toilets

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TV room

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Vineyard

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Water hookups

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Watersports

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W.C. disposal


A note from the site themselves...

North Down Farm is owned and run by father and son team, David and Ross Mangles. David's father, Rob, bought the Farm back in 1966 after retiring from the army. He initially kept pigs and beef cattle, whilst also growing oats and barley.

But, in 1973, he was offered a 30 year contract to grow cider apples for Taunton Cider, so 8000 trees of a dozen varieties were planted in six orchards over the following years.

As well as using the apples to make our own cider for The Cider Barn, we also supply craft cidermakers all over the UK. Our apples have gone into many award winning ciders, from traditional farmhouse to the finest of ciders.

The farm has always tried to work for the benefit of the environment and as well as adopting regenerative agriculture practices. We have been transitioning to energy self-reliance with a biomass boiler fed with our own prunings and hedgings and solar panels supplying most of our electricity.

The site uses solar power for the electricity and hot water, the composting toilets minimise water usage and pollution and the facilities have been constructed using recycled/upcycled materials wherever possible. Hundreds of trees have also been planted around the site, so you can enjoy a relaxing break without worrying about the impact on the environment.


Map and address

Park address

North Down Orchard,

North Down Farm, Haselbury Plucknett, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7PL

Coordinates

50.9086, -2.7536 | ST 47 12

View on Google Maps

North Down Orchard is ideal for...

Couples

Older children (13+)

Peace and quiet

Young children


There are 21 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

13 x Non Electric Grass Pitches

Max 6 people

Unallocated grass pitches without electric, suitable for tents only.


North Down Orchard reviews

4.83 /5

30 reviews

97%

would recommend

Overall
4.83
Location
4.8
Value for money
4.9
Service
4.97
Facilities
4.63
Cleanliness
4.83

"Beautiful place that has it all"

Marieta S - May 2024

"The cider barn was nice and lively on the Friday night with delicious cider on tap"

Toni B - Sep 2023


Beautiful orchard

Rosie B

0

0

Bell Tent - Deluxe Bell Tents (Pet Free)Aug 2024

Fantastic site, beautiful bell tents with everything you need in them. Great location, friendly staff and wonderful cider to stop you from getting thirsty.

A fantastic little site with the bonus of a cider barn onsite

James F

0

0

Large Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2024

An amazing small site with great amenities. Well kept field with plenty of space. We visited as a group of friends with smallish children, 5-9yrs old. Excellent warm showers and a well kept kitchenette, which was great for making coffees in the mornings. Compost toilets got a bit smelly towards the end of the weekend, but that's just camping. A farm trail and the orchards kept the kids entertained, as well as plenty of space for games. The cider barn on site is a huge bonus. We expected a '2 men and their dogs' grungy vibe, this was anything but! Couple of hundred people with an excellent bar and live music. We will definitely be back.

Perfect little campsite

Ruth S

0

0

Medium Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2024

Beautiful setting, great facilities, friendly owners. Had a lovely evening in cider barn on the Friday, sampling the local brew. Food was available and a local band played. Enjoyed exploring the farm and footpaths which cross it.

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FAQ

Yes, four-legged friends are welcome to join you on your stay but must be kept on a lead, there are plenty of dog walks nearby. Please note breed and crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act are not permitted.

Raised BBQs and campfires are welcome, perfect for al fresco dining in the evenings. Electric BBQs are not allowed.

No cars are to be parked by the pitch unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.

Guests are welcome to bring one of each free of charge.

Check-in is available from noon - 8pm for camping and from 3pm -8pm for glamping. Departure is due before noon on your last day of camping, or before 11am for glamping.


The site provides the perfect spot to relax, unwind and enjoy the natural surroundings. There is a nature trail around the farm as well as both local and long distance footpaths crossing the farm, with three pubs within a mile's walk.

The market town of Crewkerne is only a five minute drive away with a range of shops, antiques and charity shops as well as pubs and eateries. There is also a leisure centre with a swimming pool and gym.

Yeovil is 15 minutes away and offers shopping centres as well as cinema, theatres, bowling and lots of great places to eat.

There are many attractions to visit within a 40 minute drive with a selection of excellent beaches along the Jurassic coast including Lyme Regis, West Bay, Charmouth and Burton Bradstock.

Other nearby attractions include:

  • National Trust - Barrington Court (20 minutes)
  • Dinosaurland Fossil Museum (35 minutes)
  • Lyme Regis Beach (40 minutes)
  • Sea Life Centre Weymouth (55 minutes)
  • The Tank Museum (1 hour)
The listing for North Down Orchard was last updated on October 31st, 2024 at 4:06 PM

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