The Go Wild Go West blog

Cool Camping: Stowford Manor Farm, Wiltshire

Author: Georgie 19th July 2022
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River camping? Good for families? Happy with groups? Check check check. This is simply a fantastic campsite on the Somerset/Wiltshire border.

We visited Stowford Manor Farm on a balmy July weekend with a group of 4 families. We paddled, swam, played rounders and football, and enjoyed the onsite pizzas, coffee and cider made from Stowford’s own orchard. Well known to locals in nearby Bath and Bristol, this was a new, and very welcome, find for us!

morning coffee

Stowford vs our Family Camping Checklist:

  • Family and dog friendly campsite (dogs on leads)
  • Campfires allowed. Fire pits and logs for rent/sale
  • Generous pitches and plenty of space to run around
  • Something for the kids? The river! Paddling, swimming, rope swings and big trees to jump from for the more adventurous
  • At weekends there are wood-fired pizzas for sale in the evening and coffee/ice cream in the morning.
  • They also serve an amazing cream tea

The Campsite

Situated next to the UK’s oldest River Swimming Club, Farleigh Hungerford, you’d predict that there might be a chance for a quick dip… But it was even better. The campsite curves around the river Frome with many great places for paddling with smaller tots, or a good stretch to swim along. We swam all the way to the weir at Farleigh, accompanied by a few sploshing fish and the occasional dart of a kingfisher.

Stowford is a large campsite which I’d normally find off-putting, but in fact you barely notice. It’s divided across a number of fields, and though the campsite was full when we visited, it didn’t feel busy.

The Campsite

Riverside camping

Instead, there was plenty of space for the children (and there were lots of them!) to charge around having water fights, playing football or enjoying a game of rounders plus occasionally dipping into the river to cool down. This left time and freedom for the adults to chat, read, swim, relax or join in an energetic game of man hunt.

We thought it only polite to try the wood-fired pizzas made onsite and taste the home-brewed cider. Both delicious.

The owners are very friendly and laid back and the entire campsite had a very friendly feel.

Need to know list

  • Cider, pizza, coffee, ice cream, cream teas plus some local meats all available to buy onsite (pizza and coffee weekends only)
  • Showers cost 50p so take some change with you
  • Good facilities throughout the campsite
  • Electric hook-ups available
swimming farleigh hungerford
taking the plunge, river Frome

Camping in Farleigh, Wiltshire

Stowford campsite is located in the beautiful, rolling hills of West Wiltshire, just South of Bath. It’s a lovely area to explore with a local castle, Farleigh Swimming Club, and pretty villages such as Norton St Philip.

Nearby is Mells, one of our favourite villages. Read more about Mells here and be sure to visit the Walled Garden.

Also nearby is one of our favourite pubs, the Tuckers Grave Inn. A fantastically quirky Somerset pub (and also campsite) which is well worth stopping in at for a pint of local cider.

GWGW’s Campsite Rating: 10/10 – we’ll be back!

Fantastic campsite that’s especially good for groups of families camping together. You can’t beat the location, right next to the river Frome.

wild swimming with kids
paddling in the stream

Going camping?

Make sure you pack your Go Wild Go West Outdoor Adventure Guides: filled with awesome outdoor activities for all the family, perfect for any camping holiday adventures!

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