Hoad Meadow Alpaca Retreat

A aimé : What a lovely campsite! Generous-sized flat pitches so no trouble pitching our tent. Compost toilets were clean and loo paper was provided. The washing-up area was very clean with hot running water, a welcome facility especially when camping. Owners live on site (Dan and Stacey) and are very approachable so any problems someone is available to help, we had issues with our guide ropes in the heavy rain and wind and Dan helped us to secure the tent. We felt very safe and secure, with a card entry and exit system so no one able to wander onto the site, we felt comfortable leaving our belongings when we went out for the day. You park in the carpark rather than next to your pitch, but Dan helped to get our belongings to the pitch with a wheelbarrow so not a problem. The recycling area is the best I've ever seen on a campsite, with an area for hot ash if you've had a BBQ. There is a lovely children's play area too, great for younger guests. Free Wifi available, great when you have an internet-obsessed teenager. Absolutely loved the animals as did my teenage daughter! Very well kept and obviously very happy animals. There are Goats, Pigs, Alpacas, Geese, Ducks and Lambs. We got to feed the lambs, a highlight of the Holiday! A spacious pond in the middle of the site with secure fencing around it so no issues with little ones falling in. Lovely to see the ducks having a swim. The site is subtly lit at night so you can find your way to the loos! Local Shop is only a few miles away with everything you need for your stay and close to major routes to Canterbury or Folkstone. Overall, a very well-maintained working farm. We are now looking at when we can next get time off to return. Would thoroughly recommend!

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A aimé : Good value, nice to see the animals, friendly staff

N'a pas aimé: Bit small for the amount of tents, fire pit set is a bit chaotic

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A aimé : The pitch was nice and flat making for a comfortable sleep. The owners were friendly and helpful. A great place for families where the kids can securely play and run around (as the whole area is fenced in and there is an electronic gate to let cars in and out).

N'a pas aimé: Unfortunately we didn't realise how many children there would be there... (This is obviously great for families and I would recommend for family camping trips) Perhaps we just came on the wrong weekend...but It was a little chaotic for us though. The camping field itself is quite small for the amount of tents that were pitched there. The only space available was right next to the children's play area and then another three people set up about four feet from our tent so there wasn't much personal space. I love animals and felt a little uncomfortable to see how happy parents were to allow their children to torment the goats and pigs...with one man even getting into the goat pen and having the children shake the fence and shout at the goats to make them chase him. This is not the fault of the owners I suppose but it made me feel pretty sad that they didn't do anything to put a stop to this, as I think it's their responsibility to make sure the animals aren't mistreated by guests. The toilet and shower facilities weren't great, with the water working intermittently and the toilets being very high up, which meant that children were making quite a bit of mess whenever they used the toilets.

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Réponse du gestionnaire : Thank you for taking the time to leave your detailed review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the flat pitch, comfortable sleep, and the friendliness of our staff. We're also glad that you found our site to be a secure and enjoyable place for families. We appreciate your feedback regarding the number of children present during your stay. We aim to create a family-friendly environment, and it seems that you visited us during a particularly busy weekend. We understand that this may not have been ideal for guests seeking a quieter experience, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this caused. Regarding the proximity of tents and personal space, we currently do not have a fixed pitch plan, allowing guests the freedom to choose their own spots. This flexibility is generally appreciated by our visitors, but we understand it can sometimes lead to crowded conditions. We are considering ways to better manage this to ensure a more comfortable experience for everyone. We would like to address your concerns about the behavior towards our goats. Our goats are quite playful and do enjoy running around, which can sometimes be encouraged by the presence of visitors. However, it is important that this interaction remains respectful and gentle. We apologize if the situation you witnessed was distressing. We also regret to hear about the issues with the shower and toilet facilities and are taking steps to improve water consistency and maintain cleanliness. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. It helps us to improve and provide a better experience for all our guests. We hope to welcome you back in the future under more favorable conditions. Best regards, Dan

A aimé : Lovely place very well run good facilities

N'a pas aimé: Non

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A aimé : We liked the owners. The site was very pretty with lights and a pond . The animals were great. Overall nice feel, great for families, great for dogs. Everyone very friendly. Very secure with cameras and electronic gate making you feel very safe on site.

N'a pas aimé: Toilets were v grim by the end of the day, no fault of the owners, but guests using them incorrectly. However, the kids have said they will miss the toilets as found it all funny!

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Réponse du gestionnaire : Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay and appreciated the friendliness of our staff, the beauty of the site, and the presence of the animals. We're glad you found our site secure and welcoming for both families and dogs. We also appreciate your understanding regarding the state of the toilets by the end of the day. While it is indeed a challenge to maintain them due to misuse by some guests, we are actively working on solutions to keep them clean and pleasant throughout the day. It's great to hear that your kids found some humor in the situation! Your feedback is invaluable to us as it helps us improve our facilities and services. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back for another enjoyable stay. Best regards, Dan

A aimé : I like that Is a small place with lovely animals

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A aimé : Dan and Stacy were fabulous hosts making sure we were happy and if anything needed to give them a shout Dan has made an amazing place loved all the recycling the hot water shower was fabulous the glamping kitchen had everything and more that one needed The animals were so cute and well looked after paradise for small children

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A aimé : Animals, friendly hosts, beautiful location

N'a pas aimé: Lack of showers

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A aimé : Beautiful farm, was lovely camping around animals. Very nice family run

N'a pas aimé: Wasn’t impressed with amenities. Only 3 unisex toilets for the whole campsite, wouldn’t consider it as a toilet block. Only 1 sink to wash hands and 1 sink to wash dishes. Wouldn’t be adequate for more than 5 tents

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A aimé : Clean Location, close to the city.

N'a pas aimé: We can’t feed or touch the animals. Geese are sometimes noisy at night.

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