The Chicken House

From £25 For 1 night, 2 adults 8.7 6 reviews
View to the South (added by manager 01 Jun 2023)
The walking track around the area left for nature (added by manager 01 jun 2023)
The beautiful chicken house building with a stone peg tile roof (added by manager 01 jun 2023)
A carpet of flowers during may (added by manager 01 jun 2023)

  • Peaceful off-grid camping 15 minutes’ drive from Caerphilly, Glamorgan
  • National Museum Cardiff half an hour’s drive; Splott Beach 40 minutes
  • Pitches on wildflower meadows; firepits on request; walks from site
The quiet and peaceful wildflower meadow pitches at The Chicken House in Glamorgan are tucked among trees, giving guests plenty of privacy and a remote, back-to-nature vibe. This off-grid pop-up campsite has basic facilities and its countryside location seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of life, but it’s also surprisingly easy to access, being 15 minutes’ drive from Caerphilly and Junction 28 of the M4, as well as 35 minutes from the museums and shops of Cardiff. Mountain-biking and walking tracks (handy for walking any dogs that might be with you) surround the pitches, while there’s also fishing, golf and horse riding for active types within 15 minutes’ drive. You can spark up a barbecue (firepits are provided on request) and snap up goodies to grill from the convenience store in Machen (five minutes); there are also a couple of pubs and cafés in the village too, if alfresco cooking is not for you. Those concerned with safety will also be pleased that the entrance and exit to The Chicken House are covered by CCTV from 7:30pm to 7:30am every night.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 1
Tent pitches 10
Open now
Please note
  • This site has no on-site toilet and shower facilities.
  • 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).
  • Guests under the age of 18 are not allowed on site.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • If reception is closed on arrival: please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
  • The maximum vehicle dimensions allowed are 5m length x 2.3m width x 2.4m height.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Thu, 1 Feb to

Open from Thu, 27 Jun to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

83%

would recommend this site to a friend

83%

would stay here again

  • 83%
    10
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    9
  • 0%
    8
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    7
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    6
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    5
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    4
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    3
  • 16%
    2
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Very expensive for what is really just a carpark.

Overall 2/10
Location 6
Value for money 2
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 6
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness No rating
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric hardstanding and grass campervan pitch

Liked: Friendly owner

Disliked: Difficult access for large vehicle, hard standing very sloppy, no services at all

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi both, Thank you for staying at the Chicken House and I do appreciate your comments. Vehicle size was reduced at the end of 2023 to a maximum of 5 metres. This is stated in the terms and conditions area of the listing. Free high-speed outdoor wifi is available. My apologies for forgetting to give you the password. No other services are listed. Sorry, you may have missed this and the maximum vehicle size. Best wishes, Matt Matt Rogers

Great location, host and was everything it said on the listing. 👍…

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

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Great location, host and was everything it said on the listing. 👍

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thanks very much for staying and really appreciate the comments. You're welcome anytime. I did forget though to give you the wifi password! All the besg, Matt

Lovely place to camp, very quiet with lots of places to explore.…

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

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Lovely place to camp, very quiet with lots of places to explore.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Katie, both, Thanks very much for this. Really glad you enjoyed the place, welcome anytime, my best, Matt

Just perfect

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

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Simple safe and magical. I had the most amazing view and slept with the moon pouring into my tent. Thank you Matt. 😃

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Luisa, Thanks so much for your lovely review. You're very welcome here anytime. All the best, Matt - CH

Lovely place to stay stunning views and matt the owner couldn't do…

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

Non-electric grass and earth tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Lovely place to stay stunning views and matt the owner couldn't do enough for you a lovely guy.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Katrina, both, all! 😁 Very kind, thank you. It was a pleasure to have you here and you're all welcome back anytime. My best, Matt - CH

Everything was perfect... a unique special place with an incredible host. …

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

Non-electric hardstanding and grass campervan pitch

Liked: Everything was perfect... a unique special place with an incredible host. So lucky to find it... cycle trail very close by... it was my perfect campsite and the highlight of my few days away... Will definitely return when I go to Bike Park Wales next time... Can't say enough how special it was. Small, quiet and simple..

Disliked: None.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Ahh, much appreciated sir! It was great to have you here and welcome back anytime. Thanks again, Matt - CH


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

Adults only

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent pitches

Themes

Forest

Lake and/or mountain

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

No drinkable water point

No hot water

No running water

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Public transport nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Pop-up campsite

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Restaurant nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches

Location

The Chicken House

Ysgubor Fach Stables

Ysgubor Fach Lane

Machen

Caerphilly

Glamorgan

Wales

CF83 8QE

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.59841°N
-3.14519°W

Route directions

There is a low bridge (of seven feet and three inches) on the main satnav route. For vehicles above this height, visit via Lewis Street and then Sunnybank Terrace, or the streets above, as they all lead to the same place. Please note that the entrance is only 20 metres north of the low bridges; the satnav suggests going further up the mountain. Turn right into the drive 'Ysgubor Fach Lane'.

Nearest transport

Coach
6.3 mi Queensway Q1
6.8 mi Trussel Road
8 mi Kingsway
Rail
1.8 mi Crosskeys Rail Station
2.3 mi Risca & Pontymister Rail Station
3.4 mi Rogerstone Rail Station
Ferry
7.6 mi Newport (S Wales) Ferry Terminal
8.2 mi Cardiff Castle Waterbus Stop
8.7 mi Taffs Mead Waterbus Stop
Airport
16.2 mi Cardiff International Airport
23.8 mi Bristol International Airport

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

Local attractions and activities include: - Fourteen Locks Canal Centre: 15 minutes’ drive - Caerphilly shops: 15 minutes - Walnut Tree Farm Park: 20 minutes - National Museum Cardiff: half an hour - A Welsh Coal Mining Experience: 35 minutes - St Fagans National Museum of History: 35 minutes - Splott Beach: 40 minutes - South Wales Aviation Museum: 45 minutes.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Jackson'S Bay Barry Island 15.2 mi Sea N/A Good N/A Good
Whitmore Bay Barry Island 15.5 mi Sea Good Excellent Good Excellent
Cold Knap Barry 15.8 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Clevedon Beach 16.4 mi Estuary N/A Good Good Good
Weston-Super-Mare Sand Bay 17.9 mi Estuary N/A N/A Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Caerphilly Castle 3.6 mi

Castell Coch 6.2 mi

National Museum Cardiff 7.9 mi

Cardiff Castle 8.2 mi

Caerleon Roman Fortress & Baths 8.2 mi

National Trust

Clevedon Court 17.4 mi

Tyntesfield 21.3 mi

Blaise Hamlet 22.7 mi

Westbury College Gatehouse 23.8 mi

The Kymin 24.4 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Machen - Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Footpath - Machen 0.3 mi

Draethen - Ruperra Castle 1.5 mi

Rhyd-y-gwern Woods 1.8 mi

Cardiff Ridgeways 2.4 mi

Cwmcarn Visitor Centre - Mynydd Maen - Nant Gwyddon - Cwmcarn 2.9 mi

Local events

  • Green Man Festival (Thursday 15 August 2024 – Thursday 15 August 2024)

    Crickhowell, Powys 18.6 mi

  • Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (Thursday 8 August 2024 – Thursday 8 August 2024)

    Bristol, Greater Bristol 23.1 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 Glamorgan?

  • Does The Chicken House have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Chicken House dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Chicken House? Local attractions and activities include: - Fourteen Locks Canal Centre: 15 minutes’ drive - Caerphilly shops: 15 minutes - Walnut Tree Farm Park: 20 minutes - National Museum Cardiff: half an hour … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Chicken House?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  Anytime –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  Anytime –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Chicken House? From £25 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.