Onny Meadow Camping

Our temporary campsite is open from July 19th until September 1st. It provides a tranquil setting in our hay meadows, with the river Onny right alongside the site.

The site is located at and run by the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 9RS, on the edge of the beautiful Shropshire Hills AONB.

We offer a simple, back to basics approach on our site, which is reflected in the price- only £15.00 per unit per night. The experience is close to wild camping, with plenty of space (the site is limited to 15 units) and no marked pitches. The only facilities are a cold tap and basic “Festival Style” toilets- no showers or electric hook-up, although you can use the Centre toilets during opening hours (10.00-17.00 seven days per week). Please note also, that the site is adjacent to the main A49, and there will be some associated traffic noise. If you are after 5* luxury, then this site probably isn’t for you.

What we offer is the opportunity to camp amongst nature- you can fish the river Onny which is only 50 metres away (day permits available from the Centre at £5.00) which is home to trout, salmon and grayling. The meadows themselves cover 12 hectares and are home to a wealth of wildlife including wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies (we are recognised by British Dragonfly Society as a hotspot) and you will always see red kites and buzzards circling overhead. The river is home to kingfishers, dippers and a breeding population of otters.

For walkers and cyclists, this is a fantastic area. The site is located right on the Shropshire Way and from here you can follow it south to the foodie haven of Ludlow (10 miles) or west to Clun (11 miles). We offer a range of walks from the Centre to suit all abilities and there is a huge network of paths leading into the surrounding hills, including the iconic Long Mynd. Craven Arms is located on the National Cycleway Route 44 and there are numerous other cycle routes from here, both on and off-road, taking in some of the fantastic hills, market towns and stunning views of the area. With a bus stop adjacent and a main-line railway station just 5 minutes’ walk away, it’s easy to explore the area without a car.

The Centre is home to a café serving breakfasts, lunches, hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams; a lovely gift shop for all your mementos  and an exhibition ”Shropshire Hills Through Time”, telling the fascinating story of the Shropshire Mammoth and the history of the local area. We also offer a regular package of events aimed at encouraging people to explore the local food, history and landscape.

Craven Arms its-self is a working town and has a butcher’s, baker’s, general store and supermarket, catering for all your basic needs. There is a pub selling bar meals and an Indian restaurant, all within a few minutes’ walk of the site. Ludlow, 10 miles to the south has a wonderful market and some fascinating little shops. Also worth visiting are Clun, Church Stretton and Much Wenlock.

 

During your stay

1. Please register at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and you will be directed to your pitch. You must pay for your pitch in full before you access it. If you are arriving after 5pm, you may go straight to the site. To get here from the Centre, head south along the A49 (direction Ludlow) for 700 metres. Opposite the lay-by on your right is the gateway to the campsite on the left. Turn left here to find the campsite. You may pitch anywhere along the trip of mown grass, or in the field beyond.
2. We welcome families, couples and small groups of friends. Groups of more than six people will not be allowed to use the site.
3. Prices are per unit (tent, campervan or motorhome). Please note that due to access restrictions, caravans and motorhomes over 7.5 metres are not allowed.
4. Please do not run your engine whilst on site. We are here to preserve and protect the environment and do not support the running of engines, whether to charge your battery or for any other reason.
5. In order to comply with fire regulations, please ensure you pitch at least 6 metres from your nearest neighbour.
6. If you have children with you, they are your responsibility at all times. Please be aware that there is running water and a busy road adjacent to the site
7. Pets- you are welcome to bring your pet, but please keep dogs under close control and clean up after them.
8. Fire safety- in the interests of fire safety, open fires are NOT permitted. You may use a BBQ provided it is raised off the ground and does not scorch the grass. Buckets of sand are provided to extinguish fires should they break out.
9. You are welcome to erect an awning or toilet tent.
10. Please respect this precious area- place all your rubbish in the bins provided.
11. Please keep noise to a level that it doesn’t disturb other campers. After 22.00, there should be no noise on site.
12. Please vacate your pitch before 12.00 on your day of departure. If you wish to stay longer, please let us know and if there is space, you may do so.

To book a pitch, please head to Pitch Up.