Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre

Sandford, Somerset

+ 45 photos

5 /5

5 reviews

Please note that this is a pop-up campsite, open for a limited number of days each year.

Set in the Mendip Hills, Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre offers proper family camping with an outdoor activity centre just five minutes away. There are camping pitches with the freedom to set up where you like and spacious rental tents for those who don't have all the gear. Take part in rock climbing, dry slope skiing, frisbee golf, kayaking, and more! Surrounded by woodland with an onsite shop, walk, pub and cafe.

Why you'll love it at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre

Take part in family activities such as dry slope skiing, kayaking, archery and more!

Family-friendly camping on over 100 acres with freedom to camp where you want

Excellent onsite facilities including a sand pit, campfires, onsite shop, cafes and a bar.

About the site

Creating a friendly and community-fuelled atmosphere, this site is set in an idyllic location within the Mendip Hills, just outside of Bristol. It is a short woodland walk to the onsite activity centre, a great spot for adventurers with rock climbing, kayaking and a dry ski slope. Set on over 100 acres of land with camping across three fields, this family site provides non-electric grass pitches for tents and campervans (under 2.7m tall). Enjoy the freedom of choosing to pitch where you like. No tent? Not a problem! There is a range of unfurnished glamping accommodations to choose from that allow you to stay in the heart of the action without the hassle of pitching a tent, all sleeping up to six. The Nomadic bell tents have roll mats on the floor. The bunk ready tents have metal frame bunk beds and the glamphouse tents have roll mats and a mezzanine level. Do note that you will need sleeping bags, pillows and cooking equipment. All rental tents include mattresses to sleep on. Shared facilities are nearby. You can try your hand at a range of activities like kayaking, orienteering, skiing and treasure hunts! There is even an onsite pop up pub in the heart of the campsite that hosts live music and a well stocked shop and cafe. If you wish to have a break from the action-packed adventure, the site is just 15 minutes from Cheddar putting you within easy reach of Cheddar Gorge and the caves, or there are plenty of walking and cycling trails all around for a family walk. For a day at the seaside, Weston Super Mare Beach is just a 30 minute drive from the site too. Fires and BBQs are allowed so long as they are off the ground. Upcycled firepits and bricks are available for hire from the site as well as firewood and charcoal available to purchase. Dogs are welcome when camping, unfortunately, they are not allowed in rental tents. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times due to livestock in surrounding fields.

The site is open for the weekend of 16th May and the late May bank holiday week, weekends in June and July and is then open from 25th July to 29th August and the first weekend of September.

Site Map

Facilities and amenities

Adult only

Allow commercial vans

Allow pets on site

Café / restaurant

Disabled facilities

Drinking water

Family friendly

Fires allowed

Shop

Showers

Toilets

WiFi

Entertainment

Near pub

Watersports

Site facilities include three toilet and shower blocks with individual cubicles, there are also larger toilet and shower facilities for family and accessible use. There are also washing-up areas and an ice-pack freezer.

Fire pits are available to hire or you are welcome to bring your own BBQs or fire pits as long as they are raised from the ground. The site has bricks to raise them if needed. Charcoal and firewood are available to buy.

The Pavillion houses reception, the camp shop and pip up cafe, open from 8am to 9pm everyday. The shop sells food, drinks, camping essentials and offers USB charging. The cafe serves coffee, breakfast rolls, pastries and cakes.

There is also a pop-up pub called the Mendip Lodge which is a short walk away from Basecamp, serving local beer and cider as well as food from loaded fries to stone-baked pizzas to Pieminister pies.

The nearest pub The Railway Inn is only a five minute drive away. Just over five minutes drive is the village of Winscombe, with a selection of pubs and eateries as well as a small Co-op for essentials.

A note from the site themselves...

Mendip Basecamp was born out of necessity in 2020 during the pandemic. Until then the camping fields and canvas villages had only been used exclusively by school and youth groups. With all income streams taken away overnight, Mendip Activity Centre jumped into action and turned the site into a public campsite for the first time and never looked back.

The site has improved each year since with live music added in year 2, a campsite coffee shop and giant sandpit added in year 3 and more toilet and shower blocks added in year 4! The site is loved by families, many of whom return year on year, visiting Basecamp a key part of their summer!

Map and address

Park address

Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre,

Lyncombe Drive, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5PQ

Coordinates

51.3277, -2.8164 | ST 43 59

View on Google Maps

Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre is ideal for...

Older children (13+)

Young children

There are 115 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

100 x Non Electric Grass Pitches

Max 10 people

Non electric grass pitches, measuring approximately 6m x 6m in a spacious camping field. Suitable for tents and small campervans up to 2.7m high.

Other accommodation

5 x Nomadic Bell Tents

Max 6 people

Unfurnished bell tents with camp mattresses sleeping up to six people with access to shared facilities nearby. You'll need to bring your own, sleeping bags, pillows and outdoor cooking equipment. Sorry no dogs.

8 x Bunk Ready Tents

Max 6 people

Furnished with metal frame bunk beds with mattresses, bring your own sleeping bags, pillows and outdoor cooking equipment. Outside is a communal firepit and shared facilities are nearby. Sorry no dogs.

2 x Glamphouse Ready Tents

Max 6 people

Glamphouse ready tents with six mattresses, a mezzanine area and a picnic bench. Please bring your own sleeping bags pillows and cooking equipment. Shared facilities are nearby. Sorry no dogs.

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Site tariff

FAQ

Is Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre dog friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome here when camping for a small fee. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the bunk tents or bunk rooms.

Are BBQs and campfires allowed at Mendip Activity Centre?

Of course, BBQs and fires are what camping is all about. As long as you keep them off the ground and only use firewood from the site you are welcome to bring fire pits with you.

Is there WiFi access at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

There is high speed internet in the activity centre and the lodge. There is also a great 4G and phone signal at the campsite.

What time is check in and check out at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

Check in for campers is between 2pm and 8pm or 9pm on a Friday. For the bell tents and glamphouses please arrive between 4pm and 8pm or 9pm on a Friday. Please make sure you depart you camping pitch by 5pm on departure day and the bell tents and glamphouses by 10am.

Are groups allowed at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

Yes, family and small friend groups of mixed ages are welcome here. Please note, all adult groups are limited to six people and no groups of all under 25s are allowed.

Does Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre allow awnings, gazebos or pup tents?

Awnings and pup tents are accepted free of charge. There is a charge for gazebos.

Is there a washing up area at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

Yes, there is a basic wash up area. Please bring your own washing up liquid and tea towels.

Where is Mendip Basecamp?

Mendip Basecamp is located within the grounds of Mendip Activity Centre. Follow signs up the drive, keeping to the right rather than entering the main car park on the left. After a hairpin bend, you will go under the ski slope bridge. Continue driving past Mendip Lodge. Continue to follow the signs to Mendip Basecamp, which will take you up the hill up a track to the camping field. Basecamp check in takes place in the huge white marquee in the middle of the field, the Pavilion.

Can I camp near my friends at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

Yes! Campers have the freedom to choose where to pitch. There are various 'zones'. It does not matter if you book at the same time or together. Just find each other on site.

Is there a shop at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre?

Yes, there is a pop-up shop in the camping field. Open every day, the shop stocks all the basic essentials, cold drinks, ice-cream, firewood, charcoal and more. The whole site is cashless, the site only accepts debit/credit cards. Opening times will be displayed on site.

Things to do on site and in the Sandford area

You can be sure to never have a dull day here at Basecamp. Just a short woodland walk takes you through to Mendip Activity Centre. You'll find a whole host of activities suitable for all ages, from archery and water sports to frisbee golf and dry slope skiing.

Head back to the site where the onsite pop up bar hosts weekend acoustic nights to unwind after an adventure-filled day. There is also a giant sandpit for the little ones as well as plenty of outdoor games by the Pavillion.

If you are looking to explore Somerset, Basecamp provides an ideal starting point! Right in the heart of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The campground is surrounded by footpaths and walking trails and just a short cycle away is access to the Strawberry Line, a traffic free cycle path connecting Clevedon and Shepton Mallet.

Almost on the doorstep is the home of Thatcher's Cider, including their very own pub. A couple of miles up the road is the infamous, impressing Cheddar Gorge, the original home of Cheddar cheese!

For a day at the seaside head to Weston-super-Mare is just a 15-minute drive away with a long, sandy beach and Grand Pier. If city centres are more your thing, it is only half an hour to the centre of Bristol. Visit original Banksy artwork and experience the city's culture and many food and drink offerings.

Other nearby attractions include:

Puxton Park (15 minutes)
Cheddar Gorge (15 minutes)
Wookey Hole Caves (30 minutes)
Cabot Tower (30 minutes)
The Bishop's Palace and Gardens (35 minutes)

The listing for Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre was last updated on April 1st, 2025 at 11:41 AM

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Why you'll love it at Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre

About the site

Facilities and amenities

A note from the site themselves...

Map and address

Park address

Coordinates

Basecamp at Mendip Activity Centre is ideal for...

There are 115 accommodation options on-site