About Us
The Campsite
Sunnyside Farm is a 7 acre small holding, with two fields, an orchard, gardens, barns, yard and several outbuildings. It has been our family home for almost 40 years, and in 2020 we were inspired to open a little campsite.
Situated quietly, at the back of the old farm, the 1 acre camping filed is a small, secluded location, with grass pitches and central flower meadow, with plentiful space for communal activities and small wooded areas for children to play.
The camping field has a peaceful atmosphere, with a sunny and pleasant aspect, and dark starry skies at night. Lined with native hedges of hawthorn, hornbeam, field maple, dog rose, hazel and beautiful ash trees, the sheltered site is a little oasis, surrounded by open farmland, with fantastic views across the fields.
We offer nine generously sized, tent/mixed touring pitches. We also have one electric hookup pitch called the 'Sunny Pitch' and a pre erected tent (for 2 people) for those wishing for a 'ready to go' experience.
The adjoining stables conveniently house the washing up area, shower, toilet and stores, where you can make free tea/coffee, access the communal fridge/freezer, charge your electrical items, hire & collect a fire pit and buy essentials from the 'honesty shop'.
Full of rustic charm, Sunnyside Campsite will appeal to gentle folk who love nature and the outdoors. It is a ideal location for those who want to explore the beautiful Suffolk coast and countryside.
We are delighted to offer allocation for 2023/24 - please look out for updates on Instagram (sunnyside.campsite) & Facebook.
Facilities:
Ablutions:
We offer some basic facilities including: a toilet with small sink, family shower room with additional toilet & wash basin.
£1 coins operate the shower for 7 minutes - plentiful time for a decent wash for two people sharing. We strongly recommend that the shower is used at quiet times, as the pressure may drop when water is used elsewhere on site!
A water point with hose; and outside wash-up area (now with hot water!)
Waste disposal & recycling bins:
We provide a box on every pitch and encourage you to separate out/collect recyclable materials from general waste. When your box is full it can be emptied into the recycling bin. We also collect glass in a separate crate and have a compost bin for organic waste.
The Store:
We provide a kettle in the store, with complimentary tea, coffee & squash, and free electric sockets for charging.
There is a communal fridge/freezer and a small honesty shop (in the end stable) stocked with fresh and locally sourced produce including eggs, homemade jams & marmalades, sourdough bread and other camping essentials. We accept cash or bank transfer payments, and hope to have contactless card readers set up soon.
Fire pits:
You can collect a fire pit to hire from the store on arrival - no need to book (£5 per stay) - or bring your own raised off ground BBQ/fire pit.
We also sell sacks of kiln dried, hardwood logs (£9) easy lighting charcoal (£3) kindling bundles (£3) natural firelighters (£1).
Toilet disposal:
Eco friendly chemicals only as we have a sensitive septic tank system - please ask if you require disposal of toilet waste. Eco 'green' fluid is available to buy from the store (£20). If you wish for your own private loo, a flushable 'portaloo' toilet with tent (self sited on your pitch) is available to hire (pre booking advised).
Pre EreCted Tent pitch 10
We are delighted to offer a luxury pre-erected tent, suitable for two persons for a minimum of two nights stay. Perfect for anyone new to camping, walkers & cyclists with minimal equipment, or folk who just want a hassle free get away!
The tent is a medium sized, high quality canvas tent made by Cabernon. It has an integral ground sheet and two cosy living compartments – entrance/living space, and bedroom which can be enclosed with curtains for extra privacy. An additional front porch/side panel provides more space for storage, shelter and cooking area.
We provide x2 deck chairs and kitchen utensils, with plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery. Plus, the essential pots & pans, washing up bowl, kettle, cool box and gas camping stove for all your cooking needs. The tent is equipped with a double bed on a raised frame, and a sprung mattress. You will need to BRING YOUR OWN BEDDING.
Please note that the pitch is non electric.
Parking for Pitch 10 is nearby on the yard, but you can drive a vehicle on to the camping field to load/unload - or borrow the handy wheel barrow if you need.
Prices of hire:
£70 per night (min 2 nights - non peak season
£80 per night (min 2 nights) - July & August - peak season
Visit www.pitchup.com OR www.hipcamp.com to check availability and make a booking for this pitch.
GIft Cards
You can buy a gift card for a camping pitch, or to put towards an extended stay at Sunnyside Campsite, as a special present to friends or family.
Gift Card details:
Gifts can be arranged for any value from £20, for as many nights/pitches as required* subject to availability. Gift cards are sent out as an email or printed vouchers are also available to purchase on site.
Redeeming the gift:
- The receiver of the gift card can contact us at any time to arrange the date of stay and confirm pitch requirements, quoting the # number of the card to redeem their gift.
- Gift cards are valid for 1 year/season from date purchased. No cash exchanges/refunds.
- To arrange the purchase of a gift card and for all gift bookings contact us - use the 'find out more' action button below.
- Gift Card payments via bank transfer: Sunnyside Campsite, Sort: 20-16-12, Account No: 43807126
ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN
History
Context of Sunnyside Farm
Sunnyside Farm ceased to be a working farm in the late 1960's and a significant proportion of the farm to the north was demolished when the surrounding fields, once grazed by a dairy herd, were sold off to make way for more an intensive type of farming of arable crops, such as wheat, peas and oil seed. Much of the remaining farm buildings, such as the big threshing barn, garage, covered yard and milking dairy are now used for storage and workshops.
Sally's parents bought the farm as a seven acre small holding in 1985 (when she was 11yrs old) and began a mission to restore and renovate the dilapidated and near derelict farmhouse.
Sunnyside farmhouse is Grade 2 listed, built in the late1500's, featuring deep chamfered oak beams and large inglenook fireplaces. It was likely that the farm house was originally built as a hall house – much like a barn - open to the roof, with livestock living at one end, and people living amongst their cattle, perhaps sleeping on an upper deck (a solar) above.
Around 1800 the house was encased with brick, and further additions were made including an adjoining dairy and a north facing kitchen with grain store above. An external door, accessed by steps from the yard is now a window. Much later, an adjoining set of stables, coal and cart shed were built - which are now used as the campsite's wash facilities & stores.
Our own home called 'The Shippen' - meaning cowshed (known in Suffolk as a ‘Nettis’) also forms an important part of the farm's curtilage. We converted it into a small family home in 2004 – 06 and are delighted to contribute to the farm's history, helping to maintain the farm for future generations and we love welcoming guests to share in this rural idyll.
There has been a farm here for at least 500 years and probably for a significant time before that too! There is archaeological evidence of Neolithic people inhabiting Westhall, with several finds of worked flint and a hand axe discovered nearby. And we are just a stone's throw away from Stone Street - a roman road known locally as 'the Bungay straight'.
Westhall was formed around several commons, including Mill Common and Cox Common. Although the commons have since been 'enclosed', you can still see where they once were. Sunnyside Farm itself is situated at the back of a four acre ‘front’ field, which is a remnant of the Mill common or the 'Great Common'. In 1856-8 the railway was built dividing the common and creating a boundary between the farm and village.
An ancient grassy meadow, tucked quietly behind the farm with a sunny, south-west facing aspect is now the camping field - seen here on the old black & white aerial photograph dated 1967. This field is named on old maps as 'Hempland' - likely used to have grown hemp crops as the name suggests! The ponds which lie to the west - beside 'the green lane' footpath may have been 'retting ponds' where the tough hemp stalks were left to soak and 'rot', leaving soft inner parts to be stripped out and used for making ropes and canvas.
We hope you appreciate the charm and nostalgic character of the farm within it's historical setting as much as we do. Find out more about the village's history in the fascinating booklet 'Wonders of Westhall' by Peter Warner (from the store's mini library) visit the ancient church of Saint Andrew and local museums. Follow links to websites for more info:
- Westhall church - www.suffolkchurches.co.uk
- Discover the Romano/British 'Westhall hoard'- www.britishmuseum.org
- See artefacts from the area at Halesworth and District Museum - www.halesworthmuseum.org.uk
- WW2 memorabilia at Halesworth Airfield Memorial Museum - www.halesworthairfieldmuseum.co.uk
Sunnyside Farm - a working dairy farm in 1967