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Deepdale Backpackers and Campers

Burnham Deepdale, Norfolk PE31 8DD

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Teaser text:

Deepdale Farm is well equipped with a range of events to keep you warm, active and exhilarated in the colder months and with breathtaking surrounds, it’s worth braving the chill for.

Deepdale Backpackers and Campers Cool Camping

This is based on a review from:

Cool Camping England Find out more

Cool Camping campsite review:

Come mid-September, most people of sound mind put any thoughts of camping to rest. It's not just because the days start to turn colder but because there aren't that many campsites that stay open once the leaves begin to curl and drop. Nudging the north Norfolk coastline, Deepdale Farm in Burnham Deepdale is a rare exception.

Alister and Jason Borthwick, the father-and son team behind this beautiful campsite, insist that there is no better time to visit Norfolk than in autumn and winter. The hedgerows are pregnant with blackberries and poppies cheer from the country roadsides to make Norfolk a resplendent vision of russet-coloured forests and blush-coloured clouds. As autumn creeps into winter, says Alister, it only gets better. This philosophy goes some way to explaining the enthusiastic programme of events at the farm, with everything from organised stargazing and bird-watching through conservation walks and cycling to chilly winter dips and cookery classes with local produce.

This farmer and his son's love of the locality, a designated Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has not only encouraged an active social calendar but also created a campsite mindful of the environment; they encourage guests to do the same. With over 80 pitches accommodating tents and small camper vans, it's measured, considered and an air of responsible living pervades.

If you hire one of the few tipis available, you will find it well-maintained and orderly, equipped with a cast-iron chimenea for heat including paper, kindling and fuel for the fire, fold-away chairs, a BBQ and a lantern. These are not tipis awash with Indian silks and ethnic blankets, but they don't need to be. Sleeping in the round with the wind whispering softly above you, through the top of your tipi, is enchantment enough.

There are plenty of diversions in and around Burnham Deepdale to keep you busy during the day. Kick-start the morning with a proper, frothy coffee at the café next door to the farm and stock up on necessities at the nearby supermarket or on-site camping shop before hiring a bike or stomping on your walking boots. You are so near to the coastline here, that a stroll down to the water's edge is a must.

Indian summer, late summer, the Season of Mellow Fruitfulness. Whatever you want to call this time of year when the pale sun is shining and the air is fresher than ever, it is a season to be savoured. A wholly different experience to lazy summer camping, this is vigorous, refreshing and invigorating.

The upside:

A winter wonderland. (Also open in the summer).

The downside:

A strict 10pm noise curfew means drunken tomfoolery is not tolerated – a good thing if you need your sleep, a bad thing if the local ale (Old Les) and good company puts you in the mood for a party.

The facilities:

The site is equipped with eco-friendly hot showers, toilets and washing-up facilities. The water is heated by solar panels, with an oil burner back-up. Along with an on-site camping shop, the excellent Deepdale Café next door serves everything from quality English breakfasts to chunky home-made soup.

Nearest decent pub:

The White Horse (01485 210262) is about a 5-minute walk along the road. This buzzy, homely gastropub’s dining room overlooks the dramatic marshland of Brancaster Staithe. Local fish and shellfish, when in season, include cockles, mussels and oysters from the ‘beds’ at the bottom of the garden.

Food & drink:

The Brancaster Brewery in the little fishing village of Brancaster Staithe produces a couple of fine ales, which you can buy at the Jolly Sailors (01485 210314) next door.

If it rains:

Grab your mac and wellies and revel in it. Or escape to the posh boutiques of Burnham Market. It’s not called Chelsea-on-Sea for nothing.

The damage:

Tent camping is charged per person per night: adults £4.50–9 and children £2.50–5, depending on the season. Tipis come in at a very reasonable £40–114 per night, depending on the time of year and the number of people and Yurts from £50-145 on the same basis.

Open:

All year.

If this campsite is full:

Galley Hill Farm (01263 741201) in Blakeney is a peaceful, little campsite with easy access to the seal colony at Blakeney Point.

You say

Reviews:

Deepdale Backpackers and Campers

meballantyne@tiscali.co.uk

- Visited on: 09/11

4

Stayed September 2011 for four nights.
We found this a delightful campsite. The staff were friendly and helpful and the site was clean and well equipped. We were lucky that we had the best weather of the whole summer which helped. Staying the last week in September the site was not busy so we had no problem with access to the showers, loos or sinks at any time. We had our dog with us so we were very happy to discover that the cafe next door to the campsite is dog friendly as are the two closest pubs. Access to the coastal path is just across the road which was also great for walking the dog.

Stayed in: tent pitch

Review submitted on: 27/01/12
Deepdale Backpackers and Campers

Emster

- Visited on: 09/11

2

I stayed at the Deepdale Campsite last weekend and found the facilities very good, there was always loo roll, they were clean etc etc, and there were enough toilets/showers, ie no queueing....which is always important! The campsite is an eco friendly one, which is great too.

The evening curfew seemed to work very well, most people were quiet and in their tents by 10pm which was great, more about the morning curfew later....

Maybe the first weekend in September was too late in the season because, there was virtually no grass left on our plot. This isn't neccasarily a major problem because we have good quality thermarests, but had it rained we would have been camping in mud, as it was it was very windy, so all the grit blew into our tent and food, not pleasant.

The size of the plot was another issue, 'small' would be an understatement. Yes there was space for our 3 man tent and medium sized car, but it meant that we were VERY close to our neighbours, both sides. The campsite in general was very busy, and I suspect the plots were intentionally small so as to pack more people onto the site.

Unfortunately this means that this supposedly quiet campsite was in fact quite a noisy campsite....especially in the morning (even before the 8am curfew) there were car doors slamming, dogs barking and children screaming and running past our sleepy heads.

I was in truth very disappointed with this site, it had been recommended to us from some good friends who also camp regularly so we thought we were onto a winner.

The final blow was dealt when I returned home and found I had a voicemail on my mobile from the campsite, left at 12.41pm, we were supposed to be off the campsite by 12 noon, but since we had been rudely awoken early in the morning, we had taken it easy, had a nice breakfast, washed up, showered, and packed up the tent, finally leaving around 1.30. The message said it had gone 12pm and our tent was still there, please could we return to the tent take it down and leave. Bearing in mind the campsite was all but deserted by this time some flexibility would have been nice. In short, we won't be revisiting, neither will we be recommending.

Stayed in: tent pitch

Review submitted on: 05/09/11
Deepdale Backpackers and Campers

ULTRAVIOLETS

- Visited on: 07/11

5

I loved this place! I, my partner and 4 year old daughter stayed in a tipi in April.

The setting is beautiful, really spacious with fields of wildflowers, poppies behind.

The showers/ facilities are really good, close by and clean., with an environmentally conscious ethos. The staff were really friendly and helpful. We used the café for breakfast each day as the food was very good and does a lot more than egg and chips. Also opens for evening meals with a BYO I think.

Loads to do around the area. We cycled a lot.

The tipi was really comfortable, and this is despite the fact that we had torrential rain and gale force winds. We were dry and the fire worked really well although we kept the tent flaps open. Our daughter loved it. I'll nevre stay in a nylon tent again. I want a bell tent now!

This place had a nice hippie/relaxed vibe bit with great facilities which can't be said of a place I stayed somewher in Kent!

Stayed in: luxury tented accommodation

Review submitted on: 06/07/11
Deepdale Backpackers and Campers

Barney

- Visited on: 10/10

4

Burnham Deepdale is a great place. It's not really in walking distance of the beech but a short drive gets you to some great places including Holkham Beech which was the reason for the visit (and worth it). I stayed with 6 friends over 3 nights - the final night in the hostel which had great facilities and a nice atmosphere, the other two nights in a tipi. To me the tipi is overpriced. It ended up costing us as much per night as the hostel (which had beds, toilets etc etc) and really there's not much to it. It was fun but pretty smokey and cold (as went in October) so better value to camp in your own tent or stay in the hostel.

Not that I didn't enjoy the stay and would recommend it to anyone.

Stayed in: other

Review submitted on: 02/07/11

Photos

Getting there

From the M11, take the A11, turning off to Swaffham. Then, head northwest on the A1065 towards Fakenham. Take the first exit at the roundabout onto Creake Road, then right onto the B1355, continuing to Burnham Market. Here there is a sharp left onto North Street before you need to turn right again, back onto the B1355 (Bellamy’s Lane). A mile or so along the road, turn left onto the A149, and the farm is in front of you.

Public transport:

The nearest station is King’s Lynn. From here, cycle or catch a CoastHopper bus 25 miles north east to Burnham Deepdale. Call 01553 776980 for bus times.