If you’re looking for a North Devon campsite that puts you in the perfect location for enjoying the beaches at Woolacombe as well as walking and cycling in the countryside Lee Meadow Farm campsite is a great option.
This large family-friendly campsite is in a quiet rural location next to the Tarka Trail and is a short drive from the coast.
We stayed for five nights with our VW camper van in August 2021. This was the second part of our North Devon camping holiday. Read about our stay at Stoke Barton campsite.
Here’s our full review of Lee Meadow and information for families planning holidays here.
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Pitches
All pitches at Lee Meadow are grass and there are a couple of pre-pitched bell tents you can hire.
Pitches are marked out and are a good size. We booked an electric hook up pitch and had lots of room in front of our camper and awning for the kids to play.
Some pitches are on a slope so bring your levelling blocks for caravans, motor homes and camper vans.
Our only slight grumble was that the pitch hadn’t been cleared after the previous campers. We had to pick up rubbish including a used plaster, clothing tags and a broken guy rope before we set up.
Facilities
There are two shower blocks. There were cleaned once a day. Bottles of disinfectant spray were provided in each cubicle.
The showers were a good size, hot and came with a rainfall shower head – very posh!
There’s a washing up area at the main shower block that’s part of the farm shop building.
If you plan on using wet suits at the beach (we’d definitely recommend it) there’s a bath tub outside the main shower block for rinsing them off.
Lee Meadow Farm Shop
Lee Meadow campsite has its own farm shop. This is a great facility for campers. As well as fresh, local produce and groceries you can order breakfast, stone baked pizzas and hot drinks to take away.
We didn’t need to visit another shop to top up during our stay and treated ourselves to pizzas on our last night.
The site reception has basic camping supplies like pegs, wind breaks and wood for fire pits. You can also hire fire pits and picnic benches for £20 a week.
Cycle and water sports hire
If you want to explore the Tarka Trail next to the campsite you can hire bikes here. Ebikes, mountain bikes, children’s bikes and tag alongs can be hired for half or full days.
You can also hire paddle boards, body boards, foam surf boards, kayaks and wet suits.
Dog-friendly campsite
Dogs are welcome to stay with you but must be kept on a lead.
There isn’t a designated dog walk on site but the Tarka Trail is not far from the site entrance.
Handy things to know
- Radios and playing music is not allowed on site.
- There’s a laundrette on site.
- The site rules are for minimal noise between 11pm and 8am.
- There are a couple of pubs within walking distance of the site but we didn’t have time to visit them. They’re apparently very popular.
- The site is affiliated with the Camping and Caravanning Club so can be booked through them. We found the site on PitchUp but you can also book direct.
Location
Signs for Lee Meadow Farm are easy to spot from the B3343. Here’s where to find the campsite:
Things to do close by
We had three days to explore the area around Lee Meadow Farm campsite and tick off some of the North Devon places we’ve wanted to see for a while.
Putsborough Sands
When it came to the beach we headed to Putsborough Sands. It’s a quieter option to Woolacombe which we could see looking very busy in the distance. You still need to get there early to bag a parking spot on a sunny day and it’s important to be aware there’s no life guards.
The beach is a mix of golden sand and craggy rocks backed by rolling hills and dunes. It’s ideal for body boarding, surfing and we even had a go at paddle boarding the waves.
Here’s what you need to know:
- When we visited it was £10 to park all day (we arrived at 9am). You can pay by card at the entrance.
- There’s a beach cafe and shack selling hot and cold food, ice creams, drinks and beach gear.
- There’s a couple of surf schools operating from Putsborough. We spotted Barefoot Surf.
- Dogs are allowed on the beach to the right of the car park. There’s a smaller non-section to the left where dogs are banned from 1 April to 31 October.
- There’s a toilet block at the south end of the car park.
- There are steps down to the beach from the south end of the car park and a slope to the north end.
Here’s some more North Devon beaches to check out.
The Valley of Rocks and Lynton & Lynmouth
We combined the Valley of Rocks and a visit to Lynton and Lynmouth in Exmoor National Park in one day. This was a 40 minute drive from Lee Meadow Farm.
The Valley of Rocks runs parallel to the North Devon coast and is topped by rocks that look like they’ve been dropped there by giants. Now there’s a theory to coax your kids out of the car!
To be fair to our girls, they didn’t need much encouragement to climb to the top and even walked into neighbouring Lynton without a grumble.
Have a read of my full guide to walking the Valley of Rocks.
In Lynton we made a beeline for the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway to take us down to the harbour.
Since being built in 1890 it’s held the title of being the world’s steepest and tallest water-powered funicular.
The ride is a strange sensation – it’s a bit wobbly and the only reason we could think of what because of the water sloshing around in the tank under the carriage as you travel down the cliff.
Read my full guide to Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway.
Here’s some handy things to know:
- When we visited in 2021, rides cost £3 for adults, £2 for children and £1 for dogs.
- You pay for single trips at a time and pre-booking is not possible.
- There’s plenty of cafes in Lynton and Lynmouth, as well as a cafe at the top of the railway.
Find more unique and unusual things to do in Devon.
Borough Farm Sheep Dog and Falconry Display
Every Wednesday during the summer there’s a sheep dog and falconry display at Borough Farm which is within walking distance of Lee Meadow Farm campsite.
We went along during our stay and enjoyed the display despite it being a very wet August evening.
Handy things to know:
- The display is outdoors do come prepared for all weathers.
- You don’t need to book in advance.
- Drinks and snacks are available to buy on site.
- Parking is available in a neighbouring field.
- Dogs are allowed to join you.
Find out more about ticket prices and when the display is on.
Here’s some more ideas for fun things to do in North Devon with kids.
Get a while to stay? Check out my full guide to family holidays in Devon.
Lee Meadow Farm camping review
Lee Meadow Farm is a great campsite for families looking for a base for their North Devon holiday. The location is ideal for exploring. And if you do decide to have a quiet day on site there’s lots of space for kids to play and make new friends.
The farm shop caters for campers needs excellently and the shower blocks are ideal for the size of the site. And who doesn’t love a rainfall shower?!
Looking for more family-friendly campsites? Check out my guide to camping in Devon.
Here’s the perfect companion for your camping holiday in Devon:
