At Ruby’s Orchard Camp we provide you with a peaceful, relaxing camping experience, close to nature, where most of the hard work is done for you. We have a low-environmental-impact ethos, so use upcycled and recycled materials as much as possible. There’s no mains electricity on site so we use solar /rechargeable lighting, which gives you the chance to see the stars in all their glory – with very little local light-pollution (cloud-cover permitting!)
We also compost everything it’s possible to compost and try to recycle most of what it’s not. Ruby’s Orchard is in an area reclaimed from commercial spruce-planting, with mixed woodland attached.
What is meant by exclusive use?
We mean that when you book to stay, you get the place to yourselves; only your one small camping group will be here at any time. No one lives on-site, but Lynne the owner will welcome you and show you around, and on some days visit to do some gardening in the poly tunnel next to the camp. You will be given a mobile contact number in case of any problems.
Is Ruby’s Orchard a “Glamping” site?
Well, we prefer to call it Comfortable Camping. We are more about easy camping in surroundings managed for the benefit of wildlife and biodiversity than Glamour of any sort. Our aim is to provide you with private semi-wild camping, and grow some fruit and vegetables here, whilst keeping the orchard and woodland in a wild enough state to maintain the area as a habitat and larder for the wildlife that lives here. So, for example, areas of bramble are kept for cover, nesting and food, for the birds and small mammals that are here. Not all the grass is mown regularly, which allows butterflies and other insects to breed, but paths are mown for you to move around the site. We have gradually felled spruce trees to provide more possibilities for biodiversity – but there is still an area of spruce adjacent to the camp area, as birds such as the goldcrests appreciate the insects and cover they provide. (It’s also great for making dens)
How do you make it easy for me and my fellow campers?
We provide and erect the accommodation! These are our lovely Yurt, sleeping up to 4 people in a king-sized bed and 2 futon-chair beds. If you’d like to bring up to a few extra people ( up to 4),you can bring your own extra tent to erect just a little way from the yurt ( please ask about tent sizes). There is a;separate kitchen- tent kitted out with table, chairs and cooking equipment.
Bedding is provided for the yurt; duvets, sheets and pillows, as well as extra throws/blankets and hot-water bottles for extra warmth if the nights are chilly. If you add the extra tent, you will need to bring your own sleeping bags or other bedding, but futon floor mattresses or similar can be provided.
Solar and battery powered lights are provided in the tents and mark the main camping area, but we recommend you bring headtorches, which make it easier to get about after dark, and to read.
The yurt also has a cute little wood burner to keep you toasty and a wheelbarrow full of wood is provided for use in this and the outdoor fire-bowl.
There is a compost loo, a gas shower, as well as a bucket barbecue ( bring your own charcoal),
fire-bowl and seating.