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When I saw National Trust was offering campsites on some of their properties, I'm not ashamed to admit I got a little excited. From a tiny sites on some of their most famous houses to bigger ones like Waterclose Meadows, they offer some fabulous opportunities to gain access to some beautiful historical sites.
Waterclose Meadows in Cambridgeshire is based in the lovely little village of Houghton. It boasts two pubs within walking distance of the campsite and a well-stocked village shop. Set along the River Ouse, it attracts plenty of paddleboarders and kayakers.
The site itself is lovely and flat, not too huge, and had fantastic big plots so you don't feel too cramped. An on site café serves hot drinks and sandwiches too. The toilets and showers were top notch too. The best thing about this site is probably the access to the mill pond. Set right by the mill, it's perfect for a dip or for launching your paddleboard.
Although it's busy in the day due to visitors, there was still plenty of room for all and by the early evening it's empty so we opted for a swim then and made the most of having it to ourselves.
The walks around the area are fantastic too. There's several villages to explore as well as a straight walk to St. Ives which has plenty of cafes and pubs to enjoy. And, of course, you can amble along the riverside and stop for a picnic.
Back at campsite, we visited the Three Jolly Butchers which had two seperate menus and with it being a gorgeous weekend, we opted for their garden menu. I'm not suually a hot dog sort of girl but I couldn't resist and it was well worth it. Plus the staff were wonderful and given how busy the pub was, they did a fantastic job of getting our food out to us as quickly as they could.
I don't tend to like to return to places as I always feel there's so much to explore but this is definitely one we'll be coming back to!
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