Brightlycott Barton

From £15 For 1 night, 2 adults 9.6 137 reviews
Panoramic view of the site
Looking over the site (added by manager 09 feb 2014)
Camping at brightlycott (added by visitor 24 aug 2018)
Great weather (added by visitor 02 jun 2021)

  • Small family-run park on a regenerative farm near Barnstaple
  • Peaceful atmosphere with spectacular valley views
  • Table tennis room, dog walking lane and clean modern amenities
Fancy yourself as a bright holiday type? Want to keep well away from the madd(en)ing crowds? Make your way to Barnstaple’s Brightlycott Barton, a small family-run park and farm for canny holidaymakers who want the perks of peace and quiet. The farm focuses on regenerative farming, like sowing herbal leys and planting native tree species rather than agriculture. This is a spot to sit and watch the world go by in contented contemplation: with stunning views over the valley and spacious level pitches, all you have to do is pitch up and sit back. If the kids are harshing your valley vibe, pack them off to the table tennis room in the barn, let them reach for the skies on the swing frame, or gently suggest that they take the dog for a walk in the tree-lined lane next to the site. (The kids at least will probably come back covered in muck, but that shouldn’t stress you out either as there’s free use of the washing machine and tumble dryer on site: suggest that the offspring wash their own clothes if you want to max out your amusement factor.) The modern amenities here will keep you bright and smiling too: there’s a modern shower block with washing-up spot, plus a separate area with disabled facilities and a big fridge freezer for everyone’s use.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 20
Tent pitches 10
Touring caravan pitches 20
Open now

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 28 consecutive nights.
  • This is a quiet site: no music is allowed.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Thu, 28 Mar to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

99%

would recommend this site to a friend

99%

would stay here again

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    10
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Great place to stay in Devon

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: I love this site with beautyfull view, and very help full owner.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site,clean facilities and good pitches

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Rachael A. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: The big pitches. The view was wonderful and it was very peaceful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic view, helpful owner, liked layout of campsite. Functional and simple but just…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 6
Wifi No rating
Sarah S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: Fantastic view, helpful owner, liked layout of campsite. Functional and simple but just what we were looking for..small and not busy!

Disliked: The weather…No one’s fault! No other dislikes

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything! Not a bad word to say, Charles was incredibly welcoming and…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Hannah M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: Everything! Not a bad word to say, Charles was incredibly welcoming and kind, the facilities were great and we can’t wait to come back again.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very friendly owner, very clean and tidy facilities

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Adam H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: Love the location the view is spectacular, and fresh drinking water on site, shower block and ammonites

Disliked: Nothing enjoyed my stay

Recommend to friends Visit again

We loved the location with the absolutely stunning views! Charles was…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Rob b. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: We loved the location with the absolutely stunning views! Charles was a very pleasant host, and was able to let us decide where to park our Campervan.

Disliked: Nothing to dislike!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Charles is welcoming and friendly. Toilet and shower facilities clean. Children's play…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Alex W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Charles is welcoming and friendly. Toilet and shower facilities clean. Children's play equipment

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great quiet site with very friendly owner

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Alex T. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: Really enjoyed our stay at Brightlycott Barton. It’s a nice quiet site with a great view. Our pitch with electric hookup was flat and spacious, toilets were clean and showers were good. There was also a fridge freezer which was very useful. The owner was very friendly and helpful. We’d stay there again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fabulous campsite with lovely views of the rolling hills and the sea.…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Fabulous campsite with lovely views of the rolling hills and the sea. Charles the host was so friendly and accommodating. Toilet blocks clean and easy to access. Good washing up facilities and washing machine/ tumble dryer to use. Climbing frame in field for the kids which they loved. Will definitely be returning and would highly recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful view, clean facilities, great communication from Charles and lovely welcome.…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Nicole R. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass pitch

Liked: Beautiful view, clean facilities, great communication from Charles and lovely welcome.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Type

Farm

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Restaurant nearby

Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Tourer storage facilities

Location

Brightlycott Barton

Shirwell

Barnstaple

Devon

England

EX31 4JJ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.1005°N
-4.02944°W

Route directions

Satnav info: please do not turn right off the A39 at the North Devon District Hospital. This road leads to the site but is a very narrow steep lane and is not suitable for motorhomes or caravans. By train The nearest train station is about three miles away in Barnstaple. This has a regular service from Exeter. If cycling from the station, head for the North Devon District hospital. From here you can either carry on along the A39 or take the quieter lane (Roborough Road) behind the hospital which is a more direct route to the campsite (please note this lane is tarmac but is steep and unsuitable for caravans). By bus Stagecoach buses from Holsworthy, Bideford, Ilfracombe, South Molton, Torrington run to the North Devon District Hospital. From here, the campsite is one mile away up the leafy lane (Roborough Road) behind the hospital. First Devon and Cornwall run regular services to the hospital from Barnstaple bus station, via Service 2.

Nearest transport

Coach
1.9 mi Bus Station
3.4 mi Garage
3.4 mi Garage
Rail
2.3 mi Barnstaple Rail Station
5.8 mi Chapelton (Devon) Rail Station
7.5 mi Umberleigh Rail Station
Ferry
7.5 mi Instow Ferry Landing
7.7 mi Appledore Ferry Landing
8.4 mi Ilfracombe Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Barnstaple has been the main market for north Devon since the Saxons were around, so follow in their Saxony footsteps with a trip to the historic Pannier Market along Butchers Row to bag local food, crafts, art and antiques. Culture vultures can stay on in the town into the evening for stage and film at Queen’s Theatre or catch a gig most nights of the week at the local pubs, while skater bois and girls can hurtle about Barnstaple’s Rock Park at the skate park or in the play area. Elsewhere around, make up for suggesting your small fry do their own laundry by giving them a sandtastic time at the local beaches of Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton, taking them to explore Exmoor National Park, or having a roaringly top time at the Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. This area of Devon is probably best known for the Tarka Trail, one of the longest traffic-free walking and cycling paths in the country: join it at Barnstaple for strolls and rides around river valleys, bays, moorland and coastal cliffs. For a more leisurely day out, bloom at National Trust’s Marwood Gardens with its camellias and magnolias, tee off at the golf course three miles from the site, or settle into some nearby fishing or horse riding. A fly fishing and trout lake is a mile away from Brightlycott.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Combe Martin 7.4 mi Sea Poor Poor Poor Poor
Ilfracombe Hele 8.2 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Saunton Sands 8.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach 8.7 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Putsborough 8.9 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Rosemoor 11.8 mi

Castle Drogo 29.5 mi

National Trust

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum 3.7 mi

Heddon Valley 9.1 mi

Watersmeet 13 mi

Holnicote Estate 21.5 mi

Dunster Working Watermill 25.8 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

YOULSTON PARK 1.2 mi

ARLINGTON COURT 3.4 mi

ISLEY MARSH (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 05/04/1990) 5.8 mi

CASTLE HILL 7 mi

CHAPEL WOOD (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 21/11/1950) 7.1 mi

Local events

  • GoldCoast Oceanfest (Friday 21 June 2024 – Friday 21 June 2024)

    Croyde, Devon 9.2 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Devon?

  • Does Brightlycott Barton have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Brightlycott Barton dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Brightlycott Barton? Barnstaple has been the main market for north Devon since the Saxons were around, so follow in their Saxony footsteps with a trip to the historic Pannier Market along Butchers Row to … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Brightlycott Barton?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Brightlycott Barton? From £15 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.