To call Hidden Meadows small is perhaps slightly misleading. The site is, in fact, a whopping 25 acres of private wildflower meadows peppered with ponds and reed beds. Only starting out this year, the brand new site has just two pre-pitched safari tents, so camping here is a pretty low key and exclusive experience. Ian and Lynne Bond (the friendly owners) welcome you upon arrival and help as you leave the car for a short walk through the meadows to a secluded spot bordered by hedgerows. For the rest of your stay, this pocket of rural England is the quiet and cosy space that you can call home, where dragon-flies hum, buzzards soar and barn owls hoot in the night.
The safari tents have a raised wooden floor and is divided by bamboo screens into separate spaces: two bedrooms and a living area centred around a toasty log-burning stove. Victorian style iron beds are already made up, while leather sofas, a dining table with chairs and a kitchen area with a gas cooker and coolbox, make it a thoroughly well-equipped lodging. Outside, there’s a BBQ, though it’s far more fun to kindle yourself a little campfire and sit around, roasting marshmallows from Ian and Lynne’s welcome pack (a nice touch when you first arrive). Adjacent to the tent is a smaller wooden hut that houses a private shower and toilet.
With so much space in which to play, the best way to enjoy it all is by slipping on a pair of wellies and taking a walk through the meadows. Past the wandering free range chickens and through the wildflowers, you’ll find a bubbling stream which weaves through the site and along to the river Waveney, one of many accessible rivers in The Broads National Park. Following the stream is certainly a pleasant stroll, but those who really want to maximise the network of good paths in the area can hire bikes from the campsite’s neighbour, Martha’s Cottage Cycle Hire, and peddle around the flat countryside. The nearby settlement of Barnby hosts some of the best pubs and restaurants in the area, while Beccles is a picturesque town with an alluring Georgian centre, the site of a charming twice-monthly farmers' market.
Further afield, North Cove Wetlands Reserve and Oulton Marshes cater for anyone who's been captivated by the wildlife onsite. Nearby Somerleyton Hall and Gardens is the quintessential Tudor-Jacobean mansion, ideal for those interested in the history of Suffolk. Drive east for the endless, sandy Blue Flag beaches of Suffolk and Norfolk. Lowestoft and Dunwhich beach ate two of the most propular – the latter with its heath and gorse speckled dues, lies a few miles further south. Whether these beaches draw you in for a family holiday by the sea, or you simply want a countryside retreat that makes the most of Suffolk’s fertile and bountiful wetlands, Hidden Meadows is a site that does what it says on the tin: a glampsite tucked amid the flora and fauna of the Waveney valley with a safari tent that offers seclusion, space and comfort.
Well-heeled streets of Southwold beckon just 25 mins drive away. Head to the charming pier or the famous white Southwold Lighthouse (01502 724729). Beccles and Bungay offer cracking pubs and indy shops. For birdwatching, there's the nature reserve of North Cove (01502 564250). Dunwich Heath and Beach (01728 648501) is also a diverse spot with fertile dunes merging into the expansive sandy beach – a great place for walks. Broadland Leisure Centre (01502 573033) has an indoor pool, while Beccles has an outdoor pool (01502 714911), though if the weather's good enough you're better off heading to a beach. Lowestoft has two Blue Flag beaches, while Kessingland Beach and The Denes Beach in Southwold are also excellent but don't have lifeguards. Outdoor enthusiasts who want more than the pleasant walks of The Broads and beaches should head to Fritton Lake (01493 484008) where an activity centre offers canoeing, fishing, mountain biking and more. Bikes can also be hired from Maratha's Cottage Cycle Hire (01502 476789) which is next door to the campsite. Meanwhile, culture vultures will enjoy Somerleyton Hall and Gardens (01502 734901) or Framlingham and its famous castle (01728 724922), though the latter is slightly further away.
Cooking utensils, salt, pepper and cooking oil are all supplied onsite and for an extra cost, home cooked meals can be ordered and online shopping delivered to your tent. The Swan Inn (01502 476646), is a 5 minute walk away in Barnby and, while it serves plenty of local ales, it's more renowned as a top fish restaurant with a broad seafood menu. It's unpretentious, well-priced and popular – on weekends you should book in advance. The Three Horse Shoes (01502 476601) is also a characterful old establishment, built in 1497 it offers good food at a reasonable price. The nearby market town of Beccles has plenty of other eateries and all the shops you'll need to buy food. On the first and third Saturday of each month there's a great Farmer's Market (01502 476240), where you can buy fresh local produce.
