Ling's Meadow

Take an alpaca walk on an exceptionally friendly, family-run farm surrounded by meadow grass and wildflowers.

Low-impact and lovely, Ling's Meadow is a small, relaxed and extremely welcoming farm camping site on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, close to historic Bury St. Edmunds.

The farm has been in the owners' family since the 1930s, and additional residents these days include chickens, a barn owl and a herd of fluffy alpacas! Teeming with wildlife, you can expect to catch sight of deer, foxes, hedgehogs, bees and a wide variety of birds during your stay.

Friendly owners Kath and Neel do all they can to ensure their beautiful surroundings stay that way, and it shows. Campsite facilities are eco-friendly, waste water is recycled on the farm, and there's even a 10% eco discount if you leave the car at home and arrive by public transport.

Choose your down-to-earth accommodation from a wide variety of options - though there will only ever be a maximum of 25 guests on site, leaving you with plenty of wide open space to enjoy.

The canvas-covered handmade StarDome is a stunning cross between a yurt and a geodesic dome, complete with wooden floor, stargazing skylight and solar chandelier. Sleeping up to six people in cosy beds, you can enjoy your own slice of meadowland with outdoor seating and firepit.

Windhover, the Living Van (named after the farm's visiting kestrel), is locally-crafted, and sleeps up to four people in peace and comfort.  She includes a carved bed, beautiful stained-glass window lights and plenty of storage space. Windhover is paired with a restored shepherd's hut, Ranny. Ranny sleeps one in a pull out double, or can be used as an extra living space. Both Windhover and Ranny have their own crackling woodburning stoves and intricate décor.

Tent-wise, you can pitch your own, hire a pre-pitched unfurnished bell tent, or treat yourselves to a wood-floored 5m bell tent with meadow-inspired furnishings.

Communal facilities include an eco kitchen, composting toilets and a solar shower. The on-site rocket stoves and wood-fired pizza oven gives you a wonderful excuse to concoct endless sizzling suppers - with summer communal pizza evenings on Saturdays, too!  Order a local produce parcel if you'd rather not shop or you just fancy a treat, and of course there are plenty of farm-fresh, free range eggs available for breakfast.
 
With accommodation and dining covered, it's time to explore.  There's plenty around for the kids to involve themselves in (the owners' three children have a wealth of new ideas!) - and of course, you'll want to get to know the resident alpacas better by taking a gentle farm walk with them. ‘Meet the Alpacas' experiences are also available for the under-8s, or if you just love meeting alpacas!

For those who love getting out and about, there are many wonderful walks, including the nearby Peddars Way Walk and Thornham Estate's winding way-marked rambles. High Lodge at Thetford Forest is ideal for adventure-seekers, or how about a Go Ape Treetop Adventure?

With so much to see, do and immerse yourselves in all around, you're sure to find you won't miss that phone or laptop. So why not leave them at home for a change, as you reconnect with your loved ones in the very best of the Great Outdoors?

Things to note

Bedding & towels are provided for 7 night stays but for shorter stays please bring these, or you can hire on arrival. Exclusive hire is possible for large groups, enquire for details. No pets permitted. Smoking is in designated areas only. Check in is from 4pm, check out is 10am. 1 night minimum stay camping, 2 nights glamping.