Stanstead Hall, Suffolk

Stanstead Hall, near the village of Hitcham in Suffolk, is a beautifully maintained yet informally arranged site for adults only. As the site’s website explains, there are no rigidly defined pitches; you turn up and pick a spot – and there are a number of electric points scatted around so there is plenty of choice.

A central block houses a toilet, shower, wash up area and chemical toilet disposal point. The latter is eco-friendly and the owners supply a suitable chemical, with a request for a voluntary donation of 20p.

WiFi gets weaker with
distance from the house

There is free WiFi but it’s located in the house, so the further away from the house you are, the weaker the signal. I was about as far away from the house as it was possible to be and got a very weak signal most of the time. Walking nearer the house provided a stronger signal.

There is also a very large pond on the site, populated by ducks and a pair of geese – the latter becoming quite agitated when walking past with a dog.

Poppy 'pops in'

Soon after arrival you are likely to get a visit from the owners’ black Labrador Poppy, who will ‘pop in’ to your van for a sniff around if invited. The advice is not to feed her unless you want her to take up permanent residence.

The site itself is surrounded by agricultural land and there are huge numbers of pheasants in most of the fields (presumably before they’re shot). It’s possible to walk around the edges of most of the fields, though the ground is quite uneven. There are also quite a few footpaths in easy distance for those who prefer to walk on a slightly more even surface.

Self-catering

A large pond accommodates
ducks and geese

If you’re thinking about eating out you’ll need to travel a bit. There used to be a pub in Hitcham but it’s been turned into a house, so other watering holes are some distance. The village of Brettenham is also quite close but that hasn’t got any pubs or restaurants either – at least, not that I could find.

Informal arrangement

That means that unless you’ve brought a second vehicle, eating out will involve either a long walk or stowing everything away so you can drive the van somewhere. Personally, I opted for staying-put and self-catering.

Summary

I really liked the informal layout of this site, rather than being lined up in regimented rows. It was also a very peaceful environment and thoroughly recommended for a relaxing time.