Hill Farm Camping in Great Bardfield, Essex, has been named runner-up for Best Family Campsite in the East of England in the 2025 Camping and Glamping Awards, an annual program that highlights notable camping, glamping, and touring destinations across the United Kingdom.
The recognition places the relatively new site—open for only a year and a half and operating seasonally from May through September—among the region’s family-oriented outdoor accommodation providers.
The 18-acre property operates on a working farm where guests can take part in scheduled farm tours that introduce a range of animals, including chickens, wallabies, alpacas, emus, sheep, and horses.
The site features nature ponds and designated recreation areas, with amenities designed to appeal to a broad age range. Younger visitors have access to swings, sand pits, and a zipwire, while older children and adults can take part in pitch-and-putt activities or try archery.
Owners Alan and Ruth Jackman, who have run the farm together for 26 years, began their operations after taking in a small group of emus. The animal collection expanded over time and eventually led to the development of the campsite.
Reflecting on the recognition, Alan told Braintree & Witham Times: “I think people love our campsite because of the animals. We have an emu that was born in our front room. She loves everyone, and everyone loves her. The wallabies sleep next to people’s tents. We try to offer quite a lot more than the average campsite. We love having people, and they love being here. This recognition is super, it’s very nice.”
Hill Farm also emphasizes accessibility, having incorporated features that enable less-abled guests to participate in both daily activities and recreational experiences.
The site includes wheelchair-safe paths, disabled toilets, a mobility wet room with a shower, and an electric height-adjustable changing table with a power outlet for a personal hoist. Many of the paddocks are fully accessible, and the farm also offers countryside rides on specially designed wheelchair-friendly trailers.
For visitors looking to explore the surrounding area, e-bikes are available for hire. The campsite currently holds a 4.91-star rating on its travel listing, with all reviewers indicating they would recommend the site.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Hill Farm’s recognition highlights an increasing industry emphasis on experience-driven stays that combine accommodation with interactive activities.
The site’s commitment to accessibility may also serve as a reference point for operators seeking to broaden guest inclusivity, a factor that continues to shape consumer expectations across the camping and glamping sectors.