Middle Ninfa’s small secluded campsite is rated number three in the UK by the original Tiny Campsite Guide and has also featured in the Guardian newspaper’s ‘Ten best secluded campsites’ and the Daily Telegraph’s ‘Britain’s best small campsites‘.
Nearly all pitches have superb views over the Vale of Usk and the Skirrid Mountain. Just 5 minutes from the Woodland Trust’s scenic Punchbowl lake and woods.
We are NOT a glamping site! Our facilities are basic. There are two compost toilets with sinks. Filtered water is available at one of the toilets for filling water bottles. A short cut leads from here to Stone Circle and Small Leaved Lime pitches.
- Small camp fires are permitted but you must either buy bags of firewood from us or bring your own [preferably already cut up]. Do not gather firewood from hedges or woodland. Use the fire pit that is already there; don’t make a new one please. If the ash needs clearing, do tell us. We use it as fertiliser on the fruit trees and veg. If you bring your own firewood please tell us when you check in.
- Please note- you cannot park your car beside your tent on any of the sites. We cannot accommodate trailer tents or camper vans.
- You are welcome to borrow wheelbarrows to carry your kit to and from your pitch. Please return them asap for others to use.
- We accept dogs only by arrangement, provided they are kept well under control and will not disturb other campers eg by barking at wildlife at night, or chase sheep grazing in the fields. There is a pit for faeces near the compost toilet up the steps but please no plastic bags in the pit. Dogs are not permitted on The Sett or Forest pitches due to the wildlife in the woodland.
- We have a horse called Fly who likes human company and campfires. If you are uncomfortable with horses or allergic then please choose one of the woodland pitches or main site where the horse has no access. Do NOT feed the horse anything other than grass! If she does outstay her welcome, try crumpling a plastic or metal can which may encourage her to leave you alone.[with thanks to the camper who spotted this]. If you want to make Fly and the donkeys very happy just ask to borrow our grooming kit. All are friendly.
Eyeball-to-Eyeball over campfire at Deri Pitch.
D of E Award journeys Our main site is ideal for young people on Duke of Edinburgh Award journeys and we have hosted a number of groups. We are close to a number of trails including the Usk Valley Walk. Thanks to a kind neighbour, we have been able to arrange overnight storage for canoes close to canal bridge no 95 for those canoeing the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.
- New regulations related to Legionnaires disease have required us to remove the hot water system for the shower. Many campers choose to bathe in the Punchbowl lake just 5 minutes up the mountain. Do ask for directions though there is a sign board in the field.
Camping Prices £6 per person per night plus pitch fee. Children aged 3-13 half price. Dogs £3.
Pitch fee: Stone Circle, Deri, The Sett and main site pitches £12 per night. Other [smaller] pitches £6 pn. Minimum stay for advance bookings in high season- two nights. Firewood £4 per bag
Longer stay discount- from the fourth night we reduce the pitch fee by half.
Whole Campsite Bookings We have hosted a number of whole campsite bookings in recent years. We charge £280 per night in the high season and £220 at other times. If you want to hire the old army marquee as well, an additional £80 fee applies and you must erect it and put away yourselves [minimum 6 people] with guidance from us. You can bring as many people as you wish with no extra charge but we recommend no more than 35 due to the limited parking and toilet facilities. We also advise organisers to make a visit before confirming the booking.
Payment We accept payment by cheque, postal order or Paypal made out to Middle Ninfa Farm. A counter cheque from your bank is also an option for those without a cheque book. A 50% deposit is required to confirm a booking. We will normally hold a provisional booking for a week whilst the deposit is arranged.
Office hours Please try to time your arrival, departure [settling up], telephone and other enquiries to normal office hours whenever possible. Note-We are closed to new arrivals on Fridays between 10pm and 8 am, and from 9pm to 8am other nights, except by special arrangement. If your arrival is unavoidably delayed eg by traffic congestion please phone to warn us before 9pm. Lunch time is 1-1.45pm.
Remote sites We have eight small sites away from the main camping area and ablutions, each of which is only ever booked to a single group. All have a reasonably level more-or-less grassy terrace and fireplace.
Don’t be surprised to find Fly waiting for you to come out to play in the morning!
Stone Circle The site occupies a terrace formed behind an ancient stone wall, long since
collapsed. Views over the Usk Valley to the south below the canopy of veteran oaks. It is 120 metres from the ablution block. Space for 3 or 4 tents [ 3-man] in a line.
Dixe’s This pitch where Dixe Wills, author of “Tiny Campsites” guide, stayed is secluded and has room for one tent [up to 5 X 4 meters] in a shallow scoop [or two small tents]. It is the closest to the main site, 70 m. In late April/May it is surrounded by bluebells and other wild flowers.
Deri Deri (which means oak in Welsh) occupies a natural bowl beneath a copse of giant oak & beech trees. Space for a tent or yurt up to 5m diameter plus another smaller tent. It offers a commanding view over the farm and faces north towards the Skirrid Mountain. Well worth the 100 yd hike up the field to it.
Skirrid View This site [5m X 3m] accommodates 1 or 2 small tents [2-man or small 3-man] at the lower edge of the upper southern field. Lovely views but no shade. Easy walk along the fairly level track from main gate, about 100 yards.
Skirrid View pitch
Small Leaved Lime This pitch [between Dixe and Stone Circle] is named after the uncommon tree growing nearby. It accommodates one tent [up to 4m X 3m] and gives great views to the south-east, but well protected from other directions. About 120yd from toilet.
Forest pitch This pitch is in a scoop deep in the woodland under a leafy canopy for just one tent up to 4m×3m. It is close to our badger run – so no dogs. Bring red torches if you wish to badger watch. It is a stiff walk up and can be slippery in wet weather.
The Sett This is a larger pitch [6m X 4 m] so can accommodate 2 tents. It is very close to the badger sett so no dogs. It is freer draining after rain and less steep access than the Forest pitch
Hollow Beech This pitch occupies the site previously used by the Celtic Roundhouse. It has the best view of all the pitches. 120m from the toilet block. Dimensions of pitch 4m X 3m.
Main site There are 3 pitches which take larger tents. These are closest to the toilets and the car park so often preferred by families with babies and those staying just one night. Pitches 1 and 2 share a firepit.
Wild Camping Wild camping is possible either using hammocks or shelters. The best pitches for hammocks are The Sett, Forest and Stone Circle.
Wild camping near Deri
Firewood is available at £4 per bag. Please return these bags the morning after use and do NOT take them home. We have waste bags if you need one to take away your waste. Just ask!
Please do not collect firewood from the woodland, either cut or uncut, nor burn the log seats we have provided for those who don’t bring chairs.
There are two compost toilets. If you wish to go more “rustic” and be independent of the ablution block, please ask.
Stew’s ready
Filtered drinking water is available outside the shower block but not at the other toilet up the steep steps. Lift the little lever. The ordinary water is fine if boiled eg for tea.
Waste We are avid recyclers and composters and there are recycling bins and a wormery near the main site. We ask guests arriving by car & staying for just 2 or 3 days to take home all non-recyclable waste (eg plastic film). We have had a few people hide away bags of rubbish. If you do not accept this policy then please choose another campsite! But if you have travelled here by train, foot or bicycle or stay for a longer period then please bring your sorted waste to the house and do not leave it outside. Thanks for your co-operation.
Left over Food Many people do not wish to take home food that they brought which is excess to requirements. Please do not throw such food, if still good to eat. Bring it to us as we may consume it ourselves or find another outlet. We seem to get more and more perfectly good food thrown in the recycling bin which is not very attractive to consume after it has been mixed with other waste. Better still, take it home- we hate to see so much wasted food in a climate emergency!
Horses, cats, dogs – they are all friendly but are also partial to a salad or juicy steak so beware! Please do not feed them. Otherwise they risk becoming a serious nuisance to other campers. There are stray cats [as well as our own one] and the occasional black dog from a neighbouring farm [please let us know if Emrys is around]. It is ok to feed the ducks, within reason, but they do not like a cuddle [cwtch] so keep your distance.
There are a number of excellent walks direct from the site which is situated within the Brecon Beacons National Park and close to Blaenavon World Heritage Site. Please ask to borrow laminated guides and maps for local walking and cycling routes, but please ensure you return them to the house. If by mistake you take them home, post them back to us.
Buy Your Provisions Locally These are available from us or other local producers and fair trade outlets which are plentiful in the county. We can usually provide salads, fruit and veg. Click here for more information on other local producers. Local shops, pubs and restaurants are 2 – 3 miles away in Abergavenny.
Barrows available to help move kit
Office hours Please try to time your arrival, departure [settling up], telephone and other enquiries to normal office hours whenever possible. Note-We are closed to new arrivals on Fridays between 10pm and 8 am, and from 9pm to 8am other nights, except by special arrangement. Our lunch break is 1-1.45pm. If your arrival is unavoidably delayed eg by traffic congestion please phone to warn us before 9pm. Normally campers settle up when they leave but if you are leaving early morning or lunchtime, please come the previous day.
Do you drive an electric vehicle? We are proud to offer our guests 3.6kWh electric vehicle charging – please bring your own 7 pin cable. We charge £4 for a fill-up
Email is our preferred medium for bookings:
email: bookings@middleninfa.co.uk
See also our Facebook page
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