Wild Canvas Camping
UK England South East England Bedfordshire
The big music festivals may have been cancelled again this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find a campsite with a family festival atmosphere. On the banks of the River Great Ouse, Wild Canvas have set about offering exactly that, with tipis from the organisers of the Tipi Field at Glastonbury Festival and a concoction of local food, family-friendly workshops and small-scale DJ sessions that can’t help but meet the appetite of starved festival goers. Think boutique festival camping but without drunken teenagers tripping over your guy ropes in the middle of the night and background beats keeping you awake at 4am. ‘Good vibes only’, as the kids would say.
Popping up for just one month in the stately parkland of Bedfordshire's Turvey House Estate, Wild Canvas has a festival feel without the festival crowds. Camping pitches are more than 15 metres apart, there’s a limit to the number of campers on the site and workshops are all organised in a socially distanced manner where possible. Most take place around the wellbeing yurt or the main canvas hub, where there are pop-up food offerings and a bar, with groovy summer tunes mixed by Wild Canvas' favourite DJs. Not that you have to take part in anything. You can simply kick back and enjoy the space of the campsite and, of course, an evening around a campfire, which are happily welcomed here provided they're raised off the grass.
The setting itself also takes some beating. People are more accustomed to hearing about the Lake District and the South West Coast when it comes to camping, rather than rural Bedfordshire. But the ancient oaks and historic parkland of the Turvey House Estate is the very picture of English beauty too. The river, which flows languidly along the edge of the campsite, is great for a dip on a hot summers day and there are several good footpaths on the doorstep, including the North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail. When the sun's out and the kids are larking around by the river you'd happily claim Bedfordshire is the most beautiful county of them all.
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Details
Facilities
This is a pop-up campsite, as such facilities are festival style and not permanent buildings. Our site has hot showers, dish washing block and compost style loos.
Cars are not allowed into the camping fields but there is free car parking on site.
Fires and BBQs are allowed but only on raised fire dishes so as to protect the grass.
Suitable For
Suited for families, small groups of friends and individuals who enjoy camping with a mild festival ambience. Large motor homes and caravans are not allowed but we are able to accommodate a limited number of camper vans. Dogs are not permitted on site.
Nearby
There are several market towns and historic villages in the area that offer good options for food and general shopping and also for exploration. These nearest, Bedford (8 miles), has a Tesco Superstore and a Morrisons. Slightly further afield, the village of Ampthill (15 miles) has a Waitrose. Further afield, Dunstable (28 miles) is another historic market town. Local attractions include Woburn Safari Park, Whipsnade Zoo and Dunstable Downs within the Chilterns (AONB), the highest point in Bedfordshire. There are also numerous market towns and charming villages in the region where visitors can combine shopping with local history.
Open
Late July and August only.
Pricing
Camping starts from £26 per person for adults and £12 for children aged between 3-16. Infants 0-3 years are free of charge. Traditional tipis are £160 per night for 2 people, minimum 3 nights. Additional occupants after this are charged as per camping.The Owner Says
A pop-up camping experience with a family-friendly festive spirit, gorgeous, traditional Tipis, modern Tipi Tents, and generously-spaced pitches for regular campers.
We are very excited to announce a brand new, river side location for 2021 and can’t wait to welcome guests, old and new, for another wonderful few weeks of summer camping joy.
Wild Canvas is a place to experience the freedom of simple living, comfortable yet connected to the elements, a festival spirit, quality local food and drink, family-friendly workshops, a range of wellness activities and a very gentle summer soundtrack at Wild HQ. Our workshops and activities program will be revealed in due course.
Location
Getting There
The nearest, main line train station is Bedford (Thameslink) with regular trains from Kings Cross. From there you will be able to take busses (number 41) to the village of Turvey (direction Northampton). The campsite is just under a mile from the village.
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