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Gemini Camp

100%
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· Elsenham, Essex, England
4.9421 acres hosted by Gemini C.
1 glamping pitch
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Glamping stays in a bell tent or cabin on a private six-acre nature reserve in Essex

Swaying grass, a camp kitchen with a wood-burning stove and the sight of animals grazing in the distance… On a sunny, summer’s day there’s something of the safari about Gemini Camp. But this sole-occupation site within a six-acre nature reserve, is not too far a journey. In fact, it’s almost unbeatably well-connected. Within an hour of London and Cambridge, it’s located on the Essex-Hertfordshire border where the kind of campsites we like are in relatively short supply. It’s also only three miles from the runway at Stansted Airport. There’s no denying that the sound of aircraft can drift in on the wind but it can’t take away from what you’ll hear from other flying things: the song of the thrush, the hoot of the owl, the cry of the buzzard and the tap tap tapping of woodpeckers in the trees.

Once a neatly-shorn horse pasture, the land at Gemini Camp has been left to re-wild and is now a savannah-like grassland that’s grazed only by visiting roe and muntjac deer. The nature reserve was established five years ago; the brainchild of Olly Clanford whose parents own the land and live on site. When the pasture fell out of use, Olly, who has a background in conservation, saw an opportunity to give something back to nature. It was his idea to share it too – but only with a lucky few.

Wildlife is the priority here so it remains a private place – accessed only by the family, their guests (they also have two holiday cottages) and whoever is staying in the field. It’s no dogs and no kids and, although the accommodation is spacious it’s set up only for two. The accommodation includes a made-up bed, comfy seating, and towels: total comfort for couples. The cabin bedroom is part of the field shelter which, in the summer months, is still the place for cooking, eating, and washing. Warmed by a log burner, it's a great place to hang out on rainy days and cool evenings at camp and doubles up as a wildlife hide.

A weekend right here, surrounded by nature, might be enough of a getaway for some but there are also country walks, country inns and country houses to explore. The magnificent Audley End House and Gardens are 30 minutes’ drive away and the nearest country pub, less than 30-minutes’ walk. While many people fly away from this area on their holidays, thanks to this new off-grid getaway, we think eco-conscious Cool Campers will soon be flocking to it.

- Exclusive-use cabin set in six-acres of land - five-minute drive to London Stansted Airport Immerse yourself in a private nature reserve and enjoy the fresh air and freedom of camping, perhaps as an extension of your holiday before or after a flight out of London Stansted Airport, a five-minute drive away. This secluded off-grid hideaway is made up of a cosy double-bedroomed cabin equipped with solar lighting, a log burner and an open kitchen with cooking facilities. Next door you will find a shower room including washing facilities and an eco-toilet. As you have the space to yourselves, there’s no need for more than the single eco-friendly composting toilet and hot gas-powered shower in the field cabin's little bathroom. The cabin also has a kitchen sink with mains water, a gas stove, a log burner and all the pots, pans, plates, utensils and cutlery you’ll need for campsite cooking.
Activities
Hiking
Natural features
Field
100%
10 Ratings · 10 reviews
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Steve A.recommends
August 4, 2024
Gemini Camp
Gemini Camp is a beautiful retreat. We spent 2 nights there just listening to the wildlife and watching the butterflies. Sleeping with the stable door open and just chilling. Tea, coffee, salt pepper and vinegar the kitchen, and toileteries in the bathroom. A beautiful place.
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Rhiannon M.recommends
June 24, 2024
Gemini Camp
Amazing experience
What a gem! This cabin was perfect - set in beautiful surroundings, easily accessible on foot and with everything we needed, including a hot water bottle for the evening. We had both rain and bright blue skys and in both weathers this was a perfect place to be. The hosts are very helpful and communicative. We’d love to stay again and will be recommending to others!
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Clare B.recommends
August 21, 2021
Gemini Camp
Booked Gemini Camp for a short break with son & daughter. Chose this as I wanted somewhere to go back to nature and chill for a few days, reminisce of when they were younger. The accommodation was extremely comfortable, my son had his own space in the room next to the kitchen, whilst the girls had the glamping space. Everything and more was provided, including games, books & eggs for breakfast. We loved watching the deer come out as we were settling down for dinner, and hearing the animals on the other side of the tent overnight. We stayed 3 nights and only really heard the planes on the last night, for some reason they seemed to be more? There are walks and helpful leaflets provided about the local area but we stayed close to the camp, enjoying its location. I wouldn't hesitate to go back or recommend to all. Thanks Dee and Olly!
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Roger ?.
August 14, 2021
Stayed at Gemini Camp with sister & brother-in-law. We choose this site as we wanted somewhere to just chill for a few days , the accommodation was clean & comfortable everything we needed was provided & the horse box reading room was a good idea, it was great to have a whole field to ourselves , you can hear the buzz of planes drifting across from the airport nearby but we expected that before we went & it wouldn’t discourage us from returning in the future. It was still very peaceful & relaxing. We sat outside in the evening watching the deer as they wandered into the field. There are shops in the village which is within walking distance if needed, there are leaflets in the camp advertising places to visit in the local area we however choose to just enjoy the location. Olly & Dee were both charming , explaining the basics & they obviously care about what they are doing, we throughly enjoyed our stay
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Laura P.recommends
July 5, 2021
Gemini Camp
We booked this site for our 10 year wedding anniversary and it was the perfect break. The site is peaceful and totally private. The tipi is very cosy and comfortable and the kitchen and living hut it great for cooking and watching the world go by.
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Eilish M.recommends
May 17, 2021
Gemini Camp
I booked this visit as a surprise for my husband for a long weekend there. We only live 20minutes from the site but we needed a relaxing weekend away and this seemed perfect! We were met by both Olly and Dee who were very pleasant and happy to help. They talked us through the camp on how things worked and what was local then left us to it! The site is extremely private and we got the entire field to ourselves. You cant see the site from the road and if you didnt know it was there, you wouldnt walk through. We only saw 3 people the whole time we stayed and it was because they were staying in a cottage down the road that is also owned by Dee and Olly. There was an amazing bed in the large tent, a comfy sofa and some drawers as well as a bed in the cabin section. We decided to sleep in the tent both nights for the experience and even though there was no heating in the tent, we were supplied some very heavy blankets that we piled on. They also gave us a hot water bottle which made us roasting throughout the night! The cabin which is separate from the tent, has a lovely little kitchen with all the utensils you'll need, several chairs and a lovely little wood burner which gives off enough heat to keep the entire cabin warm even when we had rain pouring down the first night (which was amazing to sit and watch). Bathroom was clean and large also, toilet so simple to use. We saw a herd of deer the first night, 2 amazingly red foxes and countless ducks and geese! Honestly one of the best experiences we've ever had. It is also a 3 minute walk from Golf World which was perfect for us as my husband went over there for a round. We would 100% recommend it to anyone who would like to camp but is not wanting to go the whole way and sleep on the floor! Thank you so much Dee and Olly for such a memorable stay - we will be in contact soon to book again :D
Location
Elsenham, Essex, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Gemini C.

Joined in July 2019
From the host
Gemini Camp is nestled in a private six-acre field which has been left to revert to nature, so you can have the wildlife-rich surroundings and fresh air all to yourself, perhaps as an extension of a holiday before or after a flight out of London Stansted Airport a five-minute drive away. The off-grid stays at this hideaway are in a cosy cabin with a double bedroom, insulated with sheep's wool. Next door is a living area with a log burner, cooking and washing facilities - including an eco toilet and shower - with views out across the greenery-filled former horse paddock whichever way you turn. Settled in comfortably to watch planes swooping across the skies overhead then realised you’ve left something behind at home? The village of Elsenham with its local shop and pub is a 5-minute drive (or half an hour walk away) and the nine-hole course and gym at Golf World Stansted, a 10-minute walk away, has a bar in the clubhouse serving food and drink if it’s sustenance you’re after. Other villages to visit in this rural area include Stansted Mountfitchet (10 minutes by car), home to historical hotspots like Mountfitchet Castle, a reconstructed Norman settlement and a toy museum, along with pretty Thaxted (15 minutes) and Finchingfield (25 minutes). Back in Elsenham, a mainline railway station means you can also take a trip to the big cities thanks to direct services to Cambridge (half an hour) and London (55 minutes).
Nearby attractions

Gemini Camp is set in a six-acre, private wildlife reserve so wildlife watching accounts for the on-site fun with deer, foxes, badgers and all manner of birds regularly sighted. There are also walks directly from site into the surrounding countryside. Golf World Stansted (01279 812865) is right next door with a nine-hole golf course, a driving range and a themed adventure golf course too. Mountfitchet Castle (01279 813237) is a living museum with a replica of a Norman castle and village, three miles from site. The entry ticket also allows you to visit the House on the Hill Toy Museum (01279 813237) which is just next door. Around five miles from site is the National Trust’s Hatfield Forest (01279 870678), an ancient royal hunting forest and now a popular place for walking, cycling, horseriding and boating on the lake (in the summer months). Audley End House and Gardens (01799 522842) is about 10 miles away and, with extensive grounds, exhibitions, and facilities, makes for a full day out.

Food and drink

You can walk to local pub, The Crown, in Elsenham village in about 30 minutes (or drive there in five). It has a good reputation for food. A little further away is the recommended Cock Inn (01279 850 347) in the little village of Henham, two miles away. For a smarter option try the Linden House Hotel restaurant, four miles away.

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