Honeypot Camp & Caravan Park

The other lake is smaller, about ¼ acre and is full of ornamental fish which are so tame they almost eat out of your hand!Respect for other campsite users, old fashioned values and good manners are at the heart of what we are about. No noisy clubhouses or fast food cafe's. Just the sound of the birds singing and the bees buzzing in the sanctuary of the managed wildlife havens and woodland walks on site. If you're a caravanner or camper who just enjoys the simple pleasures of exploring the Suffolk countryside and the 200 acres of common land that surround the villages of Wortham, Mellis and Burgate all within walking distance, then look no further than the Honeypot Caravan and Camping Park. About UsNicholas and Caroline Smith bought Honeypot Farm after they married in 1963. Nick, originally from Bury St Edmunds, had worked in his family’s furniture business but had always loved nature and wanted to be a farmer since he was a boy. That dream was realised when the 20-acre Honeypot Farm was bought for the princely sum of £8,000. And so Nick and Caroline entered the tough world of farming… To start with they grew corn and wheat and by the late 1960’s had diversified into rearing and breeding pigs whilst raising their two children Humphrey and Phillipa.When the UK moved into the EU the writing was on the wall for pig farming and so the Smiths moved into pick-your-own soft fruit and vegetables, opening a farm shop on the premises. On summer days it was always busy selling in-season organic produce from the farm in addition to other local specialities including gallons of delicious Diss-made Bumshies ice cream in the summer months.Never wanting to stand idle, Nick was always looking into how he could best use his land and this is how the caravan site was started in the early 1970s; campers would come and stay on one of the fields at Honeypot and enjoy the peace and quiet. As the years went by, and word got about, more and more visitors came to stay… A shower and toilet block was added as well as electrical hook-ups.The farm shop and the pick-your-own fruit was extremely popular but was very labour intensive and as Nick was always looking to do other things with his land, he decided to dig a lake for his campers to fish in, attract wildlife and provide additional peace and tranquillity. We are not really sure how he came up with the idea, as he was not a great fisherman himself, but Nick had such foresight... And indeed, fishing proved very popular with the campers.In 1995 Nick was now approaching 60 and wanted less physical work. Never resting on his accomplishments, the very week his daughter was to be married, he started to dig a second lake with the view to eventually building a bungalow to overlook it.In 1998 the bungalow was built and Nick and Caroline took great care in planning their new home with a view over the lake and to make it easier for them to run the site in their older years. Since then, Honeypot Caravan Park has not changed much and the Smith’s philosophy remains as it has always been: for their campers to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of their beloved farmland that they have been lucky enough to enjoy for over 50 years.Very sadly Nick passed away suddenly on the 1st November 2013. His hard work and legacy lives on and the remaining family of Caroline, Humphrey, Phillipa and son-in-law Chris are determined that campers coming to Honeypot will continue to enjoy this beautiful and unspoilt environment. Caravanning & CampingWe have 35 pitches all mostly spaced at over 45 feet. As this is the maximum we will take, even at peak times, so it may be necessary to book early to avoid disappointment. Pitches can have electric hook ups and some are overlooking our two lakes which are especially popular. We have a shower block containing five wc's, four washbasins, four showers and two deep sinks for washing pots and clothes all with unlimited free hot water to all outlets, all with free toilet tissue.There is a spin dryer, hair dryer and ironing facilities. There are several water tap stations at various points on site, a small childrens play area, a managed wildlife area and woodland walk which campsite users are welcome to use but please respect the wildlife and keep to the allocated/mown footpaths. There are two very helpful and friendly wardens; Anne & Paul on site permanently to help or answer any queries you may have. Well behaved dogs and their owners are welcome. Owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead and for them to be exercised and walked off the site on the area of 200 acres of common land which is adjacent to the site. The usual 'clean up after your dog' policy is enforced and there are doggy dirt bins in various localities in the village. Fishing in one of the lakes is available to campsite residents on a daily or half daily rate. Full day - £7 or half Day £4. 8.00 a.m. until dusk. Please book at the site office in advance. There is a local village store and Post Office and Tea Room opposite the entrance to the campsite only a two minute stroll away which stock a good variety of bread, pastries and cakes delivered daily from a local bakery, a wonderful array of Suffolk cheeses and the usual stock of groceries, daily papers and sundry supplies. The Tea Shop was voted top in the 2010 EADT Food and Drink Awards. It also has a Wi-Fi connection if you want to check your emails whilst having your cuppa and cake! Carp FishingAt peak times like Bank Holidays & Saturdays according to demand only ½ day tickets will be issued.Maximum 2 persons fishing at any time on each stage.Barbless Hooks Only. No carp sacks or keep nets allowed, no ground bait, hempseed, seed baits or nuts of any kind allowed.No Boilies allowed. No tins, plastic bottles or bags at the waters edge.Baits allowed include: Maggots, Bread, Luncheon Meat, Meat Pastes, Trout Pellets & Sweet Corn. Ask at Reception if you are not sure.Loose feeding of approved baits is allowed. No fish to be taken away or introduced.No Bank Fishing, stages to be used as allocated.No multiple rigs. No rods to be left unattended. All landing nets, weighing slings must be disinfected and rinsed in the bins positioned by the lifebelt, every time you go fishing.Some bait is available from Reception and consists of Sweet Corn and Luncheon Meat. Maggots and other baits are available from Pegg Angling Supplies, Victoria Road, Diss Telephone Number: 01379 640430.Responsible young adults are welcome to fish our private waters. Please try to respect the peace and quiet which most fishermen enjoy.Fishing tickets are issued after 9am therefore we advise you to obtain these either the evening or day before you wish to fish.Try to avoid damaging fish when handling and unhooking. Return fish to the water quickly, have your camera ready and don't leave it behind.Take your litter home, this includes cigarette butts.No matter where you cast you will be assured there will be fish close by. The following fish have been introduced in the last few years: Hundreds of Carp, Silver Bream, Roach, Rudd, Tench.There is no fishing for children under 9 years oldChildren aged 9 - 16 have to be in the company of an adult at all times.No Dogs allowed by the fishing lake.Fishing allowed:8am to Dusk, 7 days a week, from Easter through to End of September.Canada Geese are unwelcome visitors, please move them off and do not feed any Ducks, both pollute the water and put the fish stocks at risk.LocalityWe are situated in the heart of East Anglia on the Suffolk/Norfolk border within an easy drive of the market towns of Diss, Thetford, Wymondham, Norwich, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, Bury St. Edmunds and such Suffolk gems as Lavenham, Southwold, Aldeburgh, Orford, Minsmere (RSPB) Reserve and Woodbridge. DirectionsWe are in the centre of East Anglia, within an easy drive of Norwich, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, Bury St. Edmunds, Lavenham and such gems as Southwold, Aldeburgh, Orford, Minsmere (RSPB) and Woodbridge on the coast. Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens are only 1½ miles away.