Little Bitty Farm and Campsite, a pop-up camping business situated between Northop and Flint in Flintshire, Wales, began operations in May 2025.
The site, owned by Kelly and Darren Skillin, offers a mix of pre-pitched “ready tents” and spaces for visitors bringing their own camping equipment.
Under current pop-up campsite rules in the UK, the site can operate for up to 28 days in a year without full planning permission.
The Skillins have applied to the local authority to extend their operating period beyond this limit, with a decision pending. The couple, who both maintain full-time jobs outside the business, currently open the site to guests each Friday and Saturday.
“We have been getting bookings from regional and national visitors, and we’re proving a hit with cyclists, as we’re on a national route,” Kelly said. “And the ready tents have really taken off with people.”
Little Bitty Farm offers four furnished tents and twelve pitches for self-equipped campers. Facilities include toilets, showers, and a camp kitchen. The site also incorporates features such as allotments with sunflowers, a reinstated pond, and space for 88 animals, including 26 rescue hens and alpacas.
Morning animal feeding sessions have become a popular activity among guests, with the owners using the opportunity to share information about poultry and alpaca care.
The idea for the campsite emerged during the first COVID-19 lockdown when the couple’s own camping holiday was cancelled. “Not every wants to or can afford camping, and it all started there, the idea to create a retreat of sorts, a place to relax,” Kelly said.
Inspiration for the business name came from the Alan Jackson song “Little Bitty.” The couple’s travels, including a recent trip to Australia, have also influenced their plans, according to The Leader.
Observing Australia’s public barbecues and community spaces inspired the addition of the camp kitchen, and the Skillins hope to introduce a barbecue area and communal fire pit in the future.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Little Bitty Farm’s journey illustrates the potential of pop-up campsites as low-barrier entry points into the market.
However, it also highlights the need to navigate local planning regulations, invest in guest experience activities, and consider community-style amenities that can differentiate a site.