Tiny English campsite with its own music festival and cider brewery – just 5 minutes from a perfect sandy beach
AN OVER-18S campsite, just a mile from the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, is a “fun and laid-back” spot to stay if you’re exploring Dorset.
Bredy Farm Campsite in Bridport is not your usual campsite.
There are two places to stay at the farm, separated by the River Bride but connected via a footbridge – The Orchard and Mead Campsites.
The Orchard has trees so is well suited to smaller camper vans and tents, while The Mead is a large meadow, with less trees, so can accommodate larger vehicles and larger groups.
Both sites have plenty of shower and toilet facilities available, and it’s just £16 per adult, per night.
But there are a variety of reasons why campers might want to extend their stay.
Every weekend throughout the summer, the farm hosts live music and DJ events, along with three music festivals.
This year, there was their BeCider Seaside festival, which took place the second May Bank Holiday weekend, Bredy Reunion at the beginning of July, and another BeCider Seaside event during the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The festivals showcase local, national and international touring artists from a wide range of genres, from reggae to alternative rock.
The same three festivals will be taking place again next year. Early bird weekend tickets are £95 and include camping.
For the last eight years, Bredy Farm has also been brewing its own cider, Talbot Harris Cider Co.
It’s sold exclusively from The Shed, a bar which is on site at the farm and open every day of the week and on weekends until 2am.
Their craft IPA ‘UNO!’ is also available, and if you really don’t fancy cider or beer there’s a fully stocked bar to choose from.
There’s also a well-established cafe-restaurant on site, The Parlour, offering Italian-influenced food.
Expect coffees, cakes, pizza and pasta, and on Sunday’s, home cooked Sunday roasts.
Hive Beach is less than a 30 minute walk and 5 minute drive from the campsite – a beach with clear water, good for swimming, paddle boarding, and a cafe and pubs nearby.
Other nearby attractions include Furleigh Estate Wines (about a 20 minute drive away), the National Trust‘s Hardy’s Cottage (just over 30 minutes), Bridport’s Palmer Brewery (9 minutes), and the village of Charmouth ( 25 minutes).
Marcus, from East Sussex, who stayed at the campsite in August this year, told The Sun: “My friends and I did a road trip this summer and stayed at Bredy Farm for a night. The live music in the evening was lots of fun, the cider was delicious, as were the pizzas.
“It had really fun, laid-back vibes and all the facilities you could need. It’s in a great location making it the perfect place to stop if you’re travelling along the Jurassic Coast. Would definitely go back.”
You can book to stay at the campsite by visiting the Bredy Farm website.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.