Family Camp FAQs
We have tried to think of all the questions you might have, and tried our best to answer below. If you still need more information, please email us at hello@trillonthehill.co.uk
How much does it cost?
The May camp is four nights long, and are cheaper than the 5 night July and August Camps. Adult places are £250/£295 each, children aged 5-15 years are £150/£175 each, and children between 2-4 are £50/£60. Under 2s are free. We offer a Family Ticket intended for 2 adults and 2 children aged 5-15 years for £750/£875. In addition, bookings made before the end of January using the discount code EARLYBIRD will receive an additional 10% off.
What do I need to bring?
Everything you'd usually pack for a camping trip, so a tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags and blankets, clothes for five days of unpredictable British weather (waterproofs, sun hat and sun cream, warm clothes for early morning and cool evenings), food, cool box and freezer packs, camping stove (although you are also welcome to cook over the communal campfire), pans and utensils, plates and cutlery, a washing up bowl and sponge, refillable water bottles, towels and toiletries (tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, a flannel or sponge are helpful if you're having a bucket wash), a torch, any medication you usually take or might need (e.g. inhalers, antihistamines or epipens). Please don't bring unnecessary electronic devices - you won't be able to charge them (unless you bring a portable battery charger) and we promise you won't miss them.
Can I hire a tent?
Yes! We have a few bell tents and tentipis available to hire. They cost £100 and we put them up before you arrive and take them down when you leave. They are unfurnished (i.e. empty) so you'll still need to bring the rest of your camping gear, including sleeping mats and bags. To find out more or reserve one, please email hello@trillonthehill.co.uk
Is food included?
Meals are not provided as part of family camp, so you will need to bring your food for five days of camping and prepare it yourselves. We will, however, be offering hampers for pre-order with produce from our local farmers and suppliers, including Trill Farm Garden and Haye Farm. We will email everyone signed up to camp with details and how to order a couple of weeks in advance.
Do you have drinking water?
Yes, so please don't bring bottled water, just a refillable bottle for each person in your group. (We don’t have a borehole yet, so we are getting water tanks brought in. Legally, we have to tell you that you should boil it before drinking after a couple of days at camp, but we’ll be drinking it without boiling it, and the lovely chaps who are delivering it for us say they drink it for 6 weeks).
Are dogs allowed?
We love dogs, but our small flock of sheep (and some children and adults) do not. We want our camp to be safe, welcoming and inclusive to everyone, so we respectfully ask that you leave your dogs (cats, goldfish, hamsters and any other pets) with friends or a trusted pet sitter.
Do I have to join in with all the activities?
No, of course not! If you'd rather lie in the sun with a book, relax in a hammock or head off to the beach for the day, you're very welcome to.
Can I leave my children unattended?
As long as you are always on site, there is no need for you and your child/ren to be attached at the hip. We'll never be that far away, and all our staff are DBS checked and first aid trained. We'll let you know if there's anything we particularly need you to stick around for, especially if your child is under 7.
Do I have to camp or can I come just for the day times?
We strongly recommend that you camp with us to get the full experience and to be able to totally relax and slow down. Local accommodation is very limited this year due to the popularity of holidays in the southwest, and we cannot offer discounts if you are not staying overnight.
Can I go to the beach?
Yes! Our nearest beaches are the busy and popular Lyme Regis, and the much quieter (and bigger!) beach at Seaton, both of which are a 10-15 minute drive away. There are plenty more beaches in the area if you fancy travelling further afield.
Where are the nearest shops?
There are supermarkets in Axminster and Seaton, a market in Axminster on Thursday mornings, and Millers Farm Shop is just over 5 minutes up the road.
How do I get there?
Trill on the Hill is a five minute drive out of Axminster, a small market town in East Devon. To keep our location wild and peaceful, we'll share the exact location and directions with campers once you've booked. You'll be able to drive to us, and can park your cars off road inside the entrance to the site, or get a train to Axminster (on the London Waterloo - Exeter line) then a taxi to us. Taxis must be booked in advance, and should cost around £10.
Can I arrive early or stay later?
We need to set up and pack down camp efficiently, so we request that everyone arrives together between 12-3pm on the first day, and leaves after the closing circle at 1pm on the final day. If you'd like to extend your holiday in the area, there are plenty of other small campsites you could try (but do book as soon as possible!)
What about ticks..?
Trill on the Hill is a wild place. It has been organically managed for many years, we allow the grass to grow long, and plenty of wildlife resides there. Unfortunately, with the deer, badgers and rabbits come ticks. If you haven't come across them before, they are very small creatures that live in the grass and feed by attaching themselves to mammals' skin and filling themselves up with blood before dropping off again. Some ticks find their way on to humans. The bites are usually pain-free, so you might not notice them. Most bites are harmless, but some ticks (including those in the southwest of England) carry Lyme Disease, which is easy to treat with antibiotics if caught early, but can have long-term effects if left unnoticed.
To reduce the risk of tick bites and Lyme Disease, we recommend:
Bringing insect repellant with you (look for ones that repel ticks as well as mosquitoes),
Wearing long trousers when walking through long grass (and tucking your trousers into your socks if you want to be extra safe!),
Checking yourselves and your children for ticks each day when you wash (particularly in warm places like behind the knee, armpits, along waistbands etc)
Removing any ticks as soon as you can - we'll have pairs of tweezers and 'tick-lassos' available to borrow if you need them
Monitoring the skin for signs of Lyme Disease (most commonly a 'bull's eye' style rash developing around the bite mark)
What is your refund policy?
We can offer full refunds if you are cancelling your place at camp due to covid-19 up to the day before camp begins - we do not want anyone coming when they feel unwell because they are worried about losing money. We can offer 50% refunds up to two weeks before camp begins, but after that, only if we are able to fill your place.
Sounds great! How do I book?
You can book your places here. We can't wait to see you!