Rushbanks Campsite is a family friendly campsite located in Suffolk's spectacular Dedham Vale AONB, on the banks of the River Stour. The site is close to the charming village of Nayland and is only a short drive away from historic Colchester. Canoe hire is available on site so you can paddle to the pub nearby.

Family-friendly site located close to Nayland village on a river bank

Lots to do including kayaking, canoeing and hiking, great base for exploring Suffolk

Great facilities including children's playground and free boat launch into the River Stour!

About Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site

Operated by brothers Gareth and James Bates as a family business, Rushbanks Campsite first opened in the 1950s and has been in the Bates family for three generations. It's set in the heart of the beautiful Dedham Vale AONB. This is the region immortalised by the famous paintings of John Constable, now known as Constable Country. It's also close to the charming Suffolk village of Nayland, characterised by its picturesque 15th century buildings. This family friendly site is the only official site on the banks of the River Stour and is perfect for boaters and canoeists. You're free to pitch where you like, so find your favourite spot and set-up near your group or family. Bell tents are also available to hire, complete with a double bed memory foam mattress for ultimate comfort. Rushbanks welcomes families who want to enjoy themselves, but is equally well suited to nature lovers, those who want to explore the great outdoors, and those who just want to relax and wind down around a campfire. Family and friend groups for get togethers, birthdays, stag and hen dos are welcome here. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the campsite. Dogs must stay on leads and be cleaned up after.

Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site is open from 01/05 to 15/09.

Duke of Edinburgh

Facilities and amenities

Facilities on site include toilets, portable toilets, portable hot showers, outdoor sink for washing dishes, fresh water taps, chemical disposal point and recycling. There's a children's swing and play area, plus free boat launch into the River Stour. Fire pits are permitted, with fire pits for hire and logs for sale.

There are two local pubs, The Anchor Inn which is a five minute drive or half hour walk away, but do note they close Mondays (excluding Bank Holidays) and Tuesdays or head to The Hare and Hounds, a 10 minute drive.

adult-only icon

Adult only

allow-commercial-vans icon

Allow commercial vans

allow-pets icon

Allow pets

bike-hire icon

Bike hire

cafe-restaurant icon

Café / restaurant

communal-bbq icon

Communal BBQ

disabled-facilities icon

Disabled facilities

drinking-water icon

Drinking water

electric-hookups icon

Electric hookups

entertainment icon

Entertainment

family-friendly icon

Family friendly

fires-allowed icon

Fires allowed

fishing icon

Fishing

games-room icon

Games room

glamping icon

Glamping

golf icon

Golf

horse-riding icon

Horse riding

hot-tub icon

Hot tub

internet-access icon

Internet access

kids-club icon

Kids club

kids-playground icon

Kids playground

laundry icon

Laundry

near-beach icon

Near beach

near-pub icon

Near pub

open-year-round icon

Open year round

peaceful icon

Peaceful

rv-pitches icon

RV pitches

shop icon

Shop

showers icon

Showers

swimming-pool icon

Swimming pool

toilets icon

Toilets

tv-room icon

TV room

vineyard icon

Vineyard

water-hookups icon

Water hookups

watersports icon

Watersports

wc-disposal icon

W.C. disposal


A note from the site themselves...

Establish back in the '50s Rushbanks has been in our family for three generations, we are so pleased to still be able to maintain that original and family friendly atmosphere that brings campers back year after year through all the colours of spring, summer and autumn.

We are also proud to be the only official campsite on the banks of The River Stour, in the heart of Dedham Vale, enabling us to specialise in catering to boaters and canoers.

So whether you want to wind down under the stars, explore the great outdoors or adventure along the river, we look forward to welcoming you here with us.

Gareth and James (The Bates brothers).


Map and address

Park address

Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site,

Bures Road, Wissington, Nayland, Colchester, Suffolk, CO6 4NA

Coordinates

51.9676, 0.8382 | TL 94 33

View on Google Maps

Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site is ideal for...

Couples

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Large same-sex groups

Older children (13+)

Rallies

Young children


There are 112 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

110 x Non Electric Grass Pitches

Max 7 people

Grass pitches without electric. Pitches are not allocated so you can choose where you'd like to pitch. Suitable for tents, trailer tents, campervans, caravans, motorhomes and RVs.


Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site reviews

4.55 /5

11 reviews

91%

would recommend

Overall
4.55
Location
4.73
Value for money
4.55
Service
4.64
Facilities
4.36
Cleanliness
4.45

Granddaughters introduction to camping

Paul B

0

0

Bell Tent - Bell TentsAug 2024

Great stay and introduction to camping for granddaughter. Having the river Stour on our doorstep and the canoe and SUP hire made the stay even more special. Granddaughter enjoyed playing on the swings as well. Facilities were good and the mobile pizza van on our first night was a great addition. Enjoyed a couple of meals at the nearby pub in Nayland. Our only gripe is that we booked for three, Grandad, Dad and 6 year old and tent only came with one double mattress, which meant my old bones got a bit of a hammering. Alright, I guess if you are seasoned campers and have the appropriate equipment but that is why we booked the permanent tent and I guess for £200 for two nights expected a bit more comfort. Would definitely go again and recommend to others - thanks.

Laid back, friendly

Steven s

0

0

Large Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2024

First time coming to this site. It was everything that the listing said it would be. We stayed for 2 nights and had the must relaxing time, site was very clean, facilities were clean. They have an amazing site that we will return to. Paddled down to Nayland and back. We will return next year. A couple of nights was enough to explore the river.

Fantastic break

Kara-Leigh D

0

0

Large Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2024

We extended our break for an extra night and were really grateful for this as we had a wonderful time. The riverside location was wonderful, waking up to sit at the jetty with Ken and Barbara (swans) waiting there for you. Although serene and quiet at the campsite, it was only a 20 minute drive to Colchester if you wanted to explore a town or need extra supplies. Locally, we enjoyed woodland walks and hired a canoe and paddleboard to be able to explore the river too. The site was good at sticking to the curfew rules making it perfect for the kids, and was never too loud. Providing the fire pits for a fee was handy for us as one less thing to pack but still providing the means for the kids to have their smores. The facilities are basic but all that is required. There is someone always pottering around to help with anything that may be required. The kids are already asking to go back!

Share your feedback

Did you stay at Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site? Tell us what you thought!

Create a review


FAQ

Check-in is available from 2pm-8pm and check out is by noon latest.

Up to two dogs are welcome to join you for your stay. Please keep your dogs on a lead whilst onsite.

Campfires are only permitted in the fire pits provided onsite. Please keep them raised off the grass. Barbecues must also be raised off the ground.

A maximum of one each is allowed per grass pitch. Awnings and gazebos are free of charge but pup tents can be bought for a small fee.

Yes you can park your car alongside your pitch.


The river is wide and deep, with a mile and a half of unobstructed water. There are several landing stages, and launching over the bank is easy. Downstream there are two-step weir portages leading to the famed Anchor Inn Pub at Nayland, and upstream two more portages can be navigated to reach the village of Bures St Mary.

Canoe hire is available on-site daily. Due to the limited availability of canoes, pre-booking is strongly recommended. Canoe hire is from 10am-6pm and includes children's buoyancy aids (if required). The famous paddle to the pub takes around 1.5 hours.

A public footpath also crosses the farm, with several walking trails to choose from, including a 1.5 hour cross-country walk to the pub.

Other nearby activities:

  • Tours of Dedham Vale Vineyard
  • Gainsborough House
  • Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale Nature Reserve
  • Jump Street Trampoline Centre
  • Colchester Castle
  • Colchester Zoo
  • Lavenham medieval village
The listing for Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site was last updated on June 9th, 2024 at 11:04 AM

Similar sites

Church View Campsite

Church View Campsite

Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, Barrow (22.6 miles)

Small, family-run, campsite ideally located in Suffolk, with an onsite cafe/bar, archery and escape room.

Sutton Hoo Holidays Campsite

Sutton Hoo Holidays Campsite

Sutton, Woodbridge, Sutton (23.7 miles)

Small, family friendly campsite in the Suffolk Coast AONB, just minutes from the Sutton Hoo site. Dogs welcome!

Shottisham Campsite

Shottisham Campsite

Shottisham, Woodbridge, Shottisham (24.3 miles)

Peaceful family-friendly campsite with onsite animals on the beautiful Suffolk Coast, near Sutton Hoo.

The Pretty Thing

The Pretty Thing

St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, St Osyth (15.2 miles)

Family friendly camping, touring and glamping with a coffee shop. Ten minutes from Clacton-on-Sea and the beach.

Osea Meadows

Osea Meadows

Maldon, (16.7 miles)

Family park on the banks of the Blackwater Estuary. Onsite entertainment, a snack hut, a cafe and restaurant!