Halse Farm: Exmoor Camping Review

A rainy Thursday evening at the end of May 2022 marked my first camping trip in my Mazda Bongo. as it was my first time out in the Bongo I decided to stay near home in case there was anything I forgot or thought I might need.

Halse Farm

Just over Winsford Hill from home is Halse Farm, a camp site offering grass pitches as well as hardstanding or grass with electric hook ups along with the usual campsite washroom facilities.

Booking can be made by phone of email and you can find all the details on Halse Farm’s website.

Over Winford Hill on the B3223 and take a right at the Tarr Steps cross roads and head down the hill taking in some great views of Exmoor and you will see the camp site on your left.

Enter the site crossing the cattle grid. You will see the first camping field with basic grass camping pitches. Pass the hedge and the Toilets and Showers the second field has some hardstanding pitches and pitches with Electric hook up. Both fields have some great views of the rolling hills around Winsford.

Being self sufficient I parked up on the first field next to the hedge. the road was behind me but there is next to no traffic on Exmoor most of the time so was not concerned about road noise, just the very occasional vehicle crossing the cattle grid on the road.

Toilets were clean and well maintained and had chemical toilet disposal outside along with plenty of waste and recycling bins.

I cooked dinner in outside and enjoyed the views even in the wet weather because even though I have the van camping food is still best cooked outside in the elements πŸ™‚

Once it was dark I was able to enjoy the comfort of the Bongo out of the wind and rain and watched a movie that I had downloaded to the iPad before arrival. there is no cell phone coverage here on either Vodafone or EE. there is wifi but it was a bit flaky – probably because I was inside.

I only stayed one night, as I said it was mainly to see if I had all I needed in the Bongo (which I mostly did) and the weather was rain all night but I woke up early to blue skies and the sound of birdsong and a few sheep who were no doubt calling for breakfast.

Had I stayed longer I could have enjoyed some fantastic walks on the access land and extensive network of footpaths and bridleways around Exmoor, as previously mentioned the famous Tarr Steps is only a few miles from here.

The village of Winsford is about a mile down the hill where you will find a pub with a small shop and a tea room. A little further away there is a shop and tea room as well as a pub in Withpool and slightly further in Exmord you will find a shop and a couple more pubs. The Exford shop is the best in the area and the staff are excellent. But I may be slightly bias as my better half Sarah works there πŸ™‚

This is a really nice site, the owner was friendly and welcoming and it had all the facilities you could need and although remote enough to enjoy the peace and quiet and some amazing views of Exmoor its close to a few villages for provisions and a meal and a drink if you want it.

Even though its only a couple of miles from home Im sure I will be back for another stay this summer. Its close enough to walk so I may pack my tent into the backpack and hike from home. but not in the rain πŸ˜‰

Hope this is useful to someone, if you want to follow me on my camping trips – I intend camping in the Bongo or the tent at as many Exmoor campsites as I can this year – you can subscribe by email for updates here or you can follow me on instagram https://instagram.com/mark_m0iax or https://instagram.com/viewsofexmoor