Motor camper or caravan space on outskirts of Sidmouth. Updated May 2007.

In August 2004 I provided 'emergency camping' for a couple of families who wished to visit the 50th Sidmouth Festival but who could not gain access to the main festival camp site because the event was booked out. It worked so well I decided to offer space on a year round basis but again only to people with motor campers or caravans that have all their own facilities for washing etc and who, for some reason, prefer to be by themselves rather than on one of the local campsites. However, please read the conditions carefully.  A deposit may be required. If you break the rules, you leave. The principal advantage of the site is that it is easy and safe to cycle into the centre of Sidmouth. It is also a pleasant walk into town and a convenient location for shops and buses. IN 2009 I had two camper vans - I was due to have a third but they cancelled owing to the weather!

Click here for details of a small caravan often for hire during folk week.

NO campfires. NO drugs. NO excessive alcohol. NO broken glass. NO excessive noise. NO upsetting the neighbours (who are quite relaxed people anyway - they need to be living next-door to me), and NO gas cylinders near to the house. Dogs and safe barbeques by arrangement only. With these rules, the site would suit a couple of timid middle-aged librarians and their well behaved children........ It would not suit 'new age travellers'. Basically, you have to behave yourself.  OK, so I know it's boring.

The space available in my front garden is about 6 metres by 13 metres (20 feet by 45 feet). Access for reversing a caravan in from the road is easy and almost flat. If you can't reverse a caravan for toffee, I'll do it for you or give you a lesson. You assume all the risks. A Mercedes motor home 8 metres long was reversed in very easily. The photo below shows a Fiat Ducato based unit 6.6 metres long. Since these photos were taken the access has been improved - I have severely trimmed a few shrubs.......

The land available is flat overall but a little bumpy. Mains power available (at 13 amp) via extension leads, at your own risk (and via a dedicated 32 amp ELCB). If you trip the main ELCB you will have to wait until I get back to switch everything on again.

Public toilets (locked up between 10 pm and 8 am) are available in the village centre two minutes walk away. A disposal point is available on site for your own chemical WC or similar system which would be essential. Two pubs nearby. Cold mains water, recycling bins and landfill waste containers on site. There will be no access to facilities in my house.

24 hour car parking available on quiet road outside my home - there are no yellow lines. All cars must be left on the road, not on the driveway. They must not leak a lot of oil - neighbours would complain..... Village shops a minute away, Waitrose 20 minute walk away. Regular normal bus service into centre of Sidmouth from the village centre.

Easy, mostly level, and safe 2 mile cycle ride into Sidmouth via 'the Byes' cycle path. Ideal for families all using bicycles who do not fancy tackling the hills from the official campsites. It takes about half an hour to walk into Sidmouth.

Children OK at your risk - the river is at the bottom of my rear garden and I have a small pond also. Lots of slowworms and grass snakes (both harmless and the latter quite rare).

Because my garden is next to the A3052 there is considerable traffic noise during a busy day but virtually none at night. Street lamps are on all night so the site is never in total darkness.

The view from my rear garden:

If interested email me full details of yourselves and what you would intend to bring:

(number of people, ages, occupations, size of caravan / tents / motorcamper, preferred dates, BT telephone numbers etc). I will try and reply within a few days.