Camping and Glamping Holidays

Holycombe is a Healing Retreat Centre, and our camping is by definition in a quiet and peaceful place.If you love to be in beauty, want to experience the quieting of being in a sacred space, and listening to the sounds of nature, we welcome you. If you are happy to respect our ethos of providing a haven for peaceful activities, then come and share it with us and experience it's presence. We respect, honour and nurture this land and we want only those guests who want to do the same. All users share one thing in common - they use Holycombe as a retreat, to get away from all the stresses of everyday life. We respect the villagers who want to enjoy the peace of the countryside. If you are thinking of playing electronic music (day or night) this is not the place for you. We are not a party venue, or a place for social gatherings. We cater for couples only. No groups please. We discourage the use of alcohol. (Groups+ alcohol = noise). In sharing this space, we ask you not to bring the outside world with all its noise and disturbance.

Our campsite, near to the site of Whichford Castle and the Norman Moat has hot showers, and flush and compost loos. It has a fully equipped kitchen cabin. In the summer months (May - September) our bell tents are available for cool camping holidays and for ramblers (we are on the Macmillan Way). Easily accessible across the field is the ancient Whichford Wood (an SSSI) criss-crossed with many footpaths, and the village has a great pub - The Norman Knight - which offers really delicious food. There are some wonderful Cotswold walks and villages to explore in the vicinity, and Whichford Pottery is a wonderful place to visit and buy beautiful presents.

Camping Fees 2012

Camping fees are £10 pppn (this includes pitching your tent or camper van) Caravans not generally welcome although we may make an occasional exception. The local pub takes caravans.
Tents already on site are charged in addition to Camping Fee.

Bell Tent is £25 per night min 2 nights at weekends and school holidays

The Long Barn Yurt is extra to hire.

For more information on camping fees email for our camping notes (sally@holycombe.com)

This is the ancient site of Whichford Castle.
Before the Normans, we know there was a Roman settlement as a Roman conduit leads from the wood to the moat. There was an excavation of the site in 1954 and a plan is in the camp kitchen. Please respect this beautiful place and leave it tidy.

You are camping here at your own risk and we do not take responsibility for you or your belongings. I’m sure you will have a lovely and peaceful  time. On that note – bring ear plugs as the Church bells ring every quarter!!

Equipment on site

The Bell Tents have rugs and cushions two  narrow single futon mattresses that zip together to make a double, small table and a wind up eco torch and lantern.

The Kitchen
 The kitchen has a fridge, sink, electric cooker, pans,  plates and cutlery, glasses,  table and  3 chairs and a whicker sofa and kelim rugs. It has enough plates, cutlery etc for about 8 people.

There are two outdoor picnis tables, and a hammock under the trees.

Hot showers
There are two electric showers in a shed with shower curtain

Loos
There are two compost loos and one flush loo.

What you need to bring:

This is demi-glamping i.e. in our tents we do not provide proper beds, fluffy duvets, the sunday papers and hampers etc and the price reflects this - we think it is the best of both worlds.
You need sheets/bedcovers, pillows, pillowslips,  towel, torch, loo paper, food and drink, washing up  liquid,  kitchen roll, wash things, waterproofs, wellies, water carrier.

Whichford, a picturesque Cotswold village,  has the wonderful Whichford Pottery, well worth a visit,  and also The Norman Knight Pub – excellent food and nice ambience overlooking the village green. Nearby are some lovely  historic  Cotswold villages and towns – such as Chipping Norton, Moreton-in the -Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold,  and Chipping Campden. About 12 miles away are Hidcote Manor Gardens and Kiftsgate,  and many beautiful places to visit such as Batsford Aboretum and Sezincote.  Further afield, Stratford-upon Avon (Shakespeare country)  is 15 miles, Banbury  12 miles  and Oxford 25 miles away.  We are on Macmillan Way walk and right next to the SSI Whichford Wood full of rare and ancient species of flora and fauna.

There is a village stores at Long Compton (2 miles away), and Hook Norton (3 miles) – their shop stays open till 8.00 pm. Farm shops selling good local produce are Wyatts Farm Shop on the way to Stow and Taste of the Country at Long Compton. The nearest supermarkets at Chipping Norton(Sainsbury’s and the Co-op or Shipston-on-Stour  (Somerfields).

You may make a campfire, wood is not supplied but can be bought by the bag unless you are staying a longer time, then we put you in touch with a local wood deliverer.

As you can see from the website and photos we have had alternative weddings here in the past. Due to village dsturbance we are not abel to have them any longer.

sally@holycombe.com or phone 01608 684239.

The camping area from the moat

The camping kitchen log cabin by day and night

Wedding ceremony in stone circle

Moroccan interior from local company

Top hats in the garden supplied locally

Simple interior of top hat

Handfasting marriage ceremony

Baby naming ceremony