Camping on the River Stour: a review of Rushbanks Farm campsite
Along with three other families, we enjoyed a brilliant three night break at Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site over the August bank holiday weekend. Set right on the banks of the idyllic River Stour, Rushbanks campsite is within walking (and paddling) distance of the pretty Suffolk village of Nayland in Dedham Vale.
This page contains affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.
Table of Contents
Rushbanks Farm Campsite review
People come to Rushbanks for the river. Paddling along the Stour is sublime. Rushbanks is a simple campsite – pitch where you like, groups welcome, campfires encouraged.
It was good to see campers of all ages staying at Rushbanks over the August bank holiday weekend. Such is the lure of the riverfront setting, it’s not just families who come to stay here during the school holidays. Plenty of young adults and older couples were also enjoying this magical spot.
I’ve written an article about other riverfront campsites here. However, read on if you’re looking for a family-friendly campsite in a truly beautiful corner of eastern England, in the heart of Dedham Vale.
Rushbanks Campsite location
Although Rushbanks is less than a two hour drive from London (and slightly less from our base in Hertfordshire), it feels like a proper escape. Once you’ve left the A120 near Coggeshall (a handy National Trust lunch stop, should you need it), you’re soon onto slow winding lanes, passing through pretty hamlets. Incidentally, if you are coming from Coggeshall and you’ve forgotten to pack any booze (red wine is my drink of choice when I’m camping), do pay a visit to Peter Watts Wine on the Colne Road – we picked out some lovely wine during another trip to this part of the world.
Rushbanks is midway between Sudbury and Colchester – a sometimes slow drive of around 10 mile. So it’s a good idea to stock up on essentials before you arrive at the campsite.
Meanwhile, the chocolate box village of Nayland can be accessed by river or on foot from Rushbanks. The walk into Nayland is great fun – there’s a footpath directly from the campsite through varying terrain – tracts of woodland, across fields and of course along the River Stour. The walk passes the interesting Norman church of St Mary the Virgin in Wissington, which features a 15th century fresco of a dragon.
Nayland has colourful houses, a rather lovely café – Mill Street Store and Deli – and the enviably positioned Anchor Inn pub on the banks of the Stour river (more on that later).
What’s the river like at Rushbanks?
There are a couple of entry points into the river at Rushbanks. Although the campsite was packed with campers during our visit, the stretch of river was not overly busy.
It’s hard to put into words just how sublime the River Stour is, my photos certainly don’t do it justice. Despite visiting over a sunny August weekend, I felt like I was gliding through a Constable painting as I paddled along on my board. I know that’s a really cheesy thing to say but it really does sum it up quite well.
Swimming is not permitted in the of river in front of the campsite. Sadly the Stour suffers the same pollution risks as other beautiful British rivers. I thought I would really miss going for a dip but actually paddling along deserted stretches of the river was just as enjoyable.
What’s Rushbanks campsite like?
Rushbanks is a medium sized campsite but even at capacity (as it was during our August visit) it doesn’t feel too busy.
There are several long grassy pitching area, each with a track running down the middle. They are separated by tall, mature hedgerows. There’s also a large field which was popular with groups when we were there.
The campsite permits caravans, campervans and tents but there is no electric hook up. When darkness falls, there’s very little human-made light – there are some fairy lights in the bathrooms and outside the showers. Campers are pretty good at keeping to the curfew on noise after 11pm so despite the many people staying, it’s pretty quiet at night. Bring a torch if you’re likely to make a nocturnal trip to the loo.
Pitches are unmarked. There are pre-erected bell tents along the river plus a few riverfront spaces for independent pitches if you time your arrival right. We camped a couple of rows back from the river as we were a group of four tents. Next time, I’d be keen to get a riverfront pitch.
Campfires are popular at Rushbanks – there are regular deliveries of logs available throughout your stay. You have to use one of their fire pits to avoid scorching the ground.
Facilities at Rushbanks campsite
Rushbanks is located in an AONB. This – and its riverbank setting – limits the range and extent of facilities.
There was a long line of portaloos at the campsite during our August visit, and there’s also three unisex washrooms – individual rooms with a toilet and sink. The porta-showers are unlit so if you opt for a twilight wash you’ll be doing it in the dark. Not a big problem in the summer when it stays light until late.
There’s a separate male bathroom area and a small washing up area (with a view of the river).
There’s a small play area next to the river, handily positioned in front of the washing up area.
On certain days, there are food vans serving pizza or ice cream and there’s sometimes a cocktail bar-van offering a range of tipples.
Paddling to the pub at Nayland
At the far end of the campsite, you’ll find the canoe rental area. Hirers are briefed en masse about how to use the canoes and how to behave on the water.
The campsite runs a slick operation of renting out canoes to campers. Everyone gathers round to hear the briefing – essential information to ensure you have a successful day out and you don’t upset the delicate balance of the river and the local residents.
We were a group of 16 – eight adults and eight children. We had our own paddle board and a couple of kayaks and we hired three canoes. The canoes have three seats – one at the back where you steer, one in the middle and then a front seat for the main paddler. We squeezed four people into each canoe without any problem – one child sitting on the floor.
It takes around an hour to paddle from Rushbanks to the village of Nayland and the riverside Anchor pub. If you’re paddling on a busy weekend, portage can take a bit of time – there were queues of people getting in and out of the water during our trip, despite us hanging back after the initial rush to set off from the campsite.
There are two portage points between the campsite and the pub. The river is fairly shallow in most places and can get narrow at times – there’s a surprising amount of steering, rather than just paddling, to be done.
The canoes are quite heavy and I’d have struggled to drag one out of the water without a much stronger person with me, worth bearing in mind if you’re a single parent with arm muscles as weak as mine. There are plenty of people around though so I’m sure someone would have given me a hand if I’d been on my own.
I’m glad we opted to book an early evening reservation for the Anchor pub in Nayland. There were masses of people who were still enjoying their August bank holiday Sunday lunch when we arrived mid-afternoon. The pub is obviously well versed in dealing with masses of people and still had the energy to look after us after the rush had abated.
There’s a great spot as you enter Nayland where the river widens and there’s plenty of space to have a picnic and let the kids have fun in the water. Apparently this is a popular place for tourists like us and unfortunately some visitors aren’t great at taking their rubbish away with them when they depart.
Our inbound journey was pretty quick as most people had finished their paddling for the day so there were no traffic jams at the portage points.
Pros and Cons of Rushbanks Campsite
The good bits
- There’s no doubting that you stay at Rushbanks for the mesmerising river setting. The campsite has a relaxed atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff.
- We loved the local walks, scenery and tranquility of the area. There’s a long driveway from the main (quiet) country road to the campsite so it feels wonderfully remote.
- Campfires are permitted, groups are welcome and children love it here.
Worth bearing in mind
- There are no shops nearby (except the little deli in the village), so don’t forget the ice!
- The campsite is off grid – which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much you like your creature comforts. There’s no electric hook up.
- The showers are a bit basic but sufficient.
Things to do near Rushbanks
Dedham Vale – aside from pretty Nayland nearby, there are plenty of other lovely villages to visit near Rushbanks.
Flatford village and mill – made famous by John Constable’s The Hay Wain, this village and its historical buildings is now owned by the National Trust.
Colchester – known as Britain’s “first city”, Colchester has an excellent museum where visitors can explore its Roman past. There’s also a natural history museum and a well regarded zoo.
East Anglian Railway Museum – this charming museum offers a hands-on experience of vintage railways. Families can explore historic locomotives, take a ride on a steam train during special events, and enjoy the interactive exhibits.
Final thoughts on Rushbanks campsite
As usual, I paid full price for my stay at Rushbanks so this is an honest and unbiased review of our visit. We loved our stay at Rushbanks and would happily return. It’s great to have found somewhere so close to where we live which feels like a world away.
