Just spent a pleasant six nights here. Booking was easy, given the gate code and parked where we liked whichever way round we wanted on arrival. Road outside was busy but high hedges blocked most of the noise. Loved that we were left to enjoy our trip and it was peaceful and relaxing. Pub up the road was extremely welcoming and dog friendly. Food was delicious and reasonable too. Easy driving distance to lots of lovely parks and walks. The area was a bit busy for us but the campsite suited us down to the ground.
An OK site but nothing more. Needed a bit of TLC, grass could have done with a cut, and also some very bare patches where folk had camped, so best way of describing it was all a bit tired. I didn't need to use the facilities as I was only there a couple of nights. Secure site with a padlocked gate. Other reviews have noted the busy road, and traffic noise was noticeable. I was heading off to Wallasea Island by bike, so a bit hairy on some of the roads but generally OK. Seemed plenty of access to local facilities, pubs etc. Remember your ramps if in a van. Price good. Didn't meet owner, had paid in full before arrival. OK for a couple of nights but wouldn't have wanted to stay longer.
NEGATIVE BIT.
Even though we knew the site was 100m past the Lawns, we missed the entrance as the club sign was more visible from the other way. We managed to turn around about half a mile down the road though.
The road is very busy and although a 40 mph speed limit they drive way over the limit.
There is clay shooting at the Lawns on a Wednesday and Saturday. It was very loud and literally bang , bang, bang, from 10am.
POSTIVE BIT.
Just down the road there is the Cock Inn. This can be walked and although not a paved path all the way, there is a pedestrian path that's been created on the grasses area.
The bus to Southend is 0.4 miles, it cost us £4.25 each and had no air con, which on a bit summers day was unbearable. We then found the train was 1.6 miles and cost £3.25 and took 10 minutes.
Southend was beautiful. We spent 2 days exploring on foot and one day on bikes. There are cycle tracks absolutely everywhere, so very safe on bikes.
I would recommend this site, but he prepared to travel to do anything.
My wife and I booked this site as our first Caravan holiday after lockdown in April 21.
We were visiting our son and his partner who live in the area.
First of all a big thanks to Catriona who was immensely helpful to us during the booking process.
We travelled all the way from Newcastle and Catriona gave us detailed advice about precisely where the site was and how to enter it using the gate code etc which made it so easy.
Everything was as she described and we easily accessed a beautiful grassy clearing adjacent to Potash wood.
It was extremely peaceful throughout our stay and we enjoyed seeing the horses in the adjacent paddock and the cycling event on the Sunday.
There is an excellent footpath all the way along the road outside into Hawkwell and Hockley passing the excellent Potash garden centre.
This enabled us to meet up with our family in their garden and we also had some lovely meals and a bbq on-site and walked to the Bull for an outdoor engagement celebration.
Many thanks to Catriona and Mr Keddie. We hope to return very soon!
Paul and Christine Crossling
We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting friends and relatives nearby.
Booking was straightforward, and a deposit was paid by card, but the owner is not always present, so you get a gate code. However, no-one told us about the button at the bottom of the lock which was frustrating, particularly as it was raining at the time, and my outfit was sticking out into the road a little.
Approaching from the Rochford side, it is very easy to miss the entrance, so, once you are past The Lawns, take it gently.
The site has a slight slope which looked (in the rain) as if it might have been a little too steep to get my Bessie 550 GL level, so we parked at the far end and were very happy. There is a main road by the entrance, but right up the far end it was very quiet.
I would probably return again if we are visiting friends in the area.
Loved it didn't want to come home ..it was lovely and peaceful...yes there was clay pigeon shooting but it didn't bother me nor my dogs who at home wouldn't like loud noises normally ..my dogs were so relaxed as well ..didn't experience the paint balling while there ..lovely view to wake up to ..everyone we spoke to on the phone were so friendly and helpful ..cant wait to go back tbh.. It i admit not easy when leaving to get out ..but i put that down to selfish driver's who didn't want to slow down to stop and let us out ..
We stayed at this site in February, and unfortunately it is just a muddy strip of land with electric hook up and water with a combination lock on the gate, we arrived on the Saturday having already booked and paid in full, we were sent an email prior to our arrival with the gate code,finding the site is no problem and there is no problem with access, the pitches are not marked out so basically you can pitch anywhere, we did not see the owners or hear from them until we had been there 4 days, we have been using CL's for the past 20 years and I can honestly say this is the worst we have ever been to,it's so bad that we were prepared to lose our money and tried to find another site on the second day but were unable to so we stuck it out until day 4 of our seven day break and came home.
We had difficulty finding the site as the CC sat nav still gives the Lawn CL and the position is still for the Lawn, when we did find the site it was a different name “Potash CL”! If travailing north there is no sign to CL The sign there is hidden by a large tree and can only be seen when travailing south they gave is the code for the padlock but did not say you have to find a button on the bottom to unlock the lock. The hard standing area is not very Motorhome friendly as is sloping also there is no drive up water tap which is situated by soft grass .
Lots of traffic noise and a very short drive between a busy road and the locked gate.
Over priced for a basic CL
Nice site, but it is right next to a paintballing wood. We had no problems at all with noise as we stayed mid week. Not sure about weekends though.
The site was very difficult to find, but after a couple of calls to the excellent "Terry", we found it, or rather he came and found us at the Lawns manor house next door!
We personally think it is overpriced at £15.00 low season for one night.
We arrived at 5.p.m and had arranged to open the gate which has a combination lock.
If you are going to arrive after 3.30 when the office closes , it would be advisable to ring in long before this so that you get hold of Terry's number and the combination number.
We stayed on this site for 2 weeks. Unfortunately the details given are not quite as it seems. It is anything but 'peaceful'. It sits just off an extremely busy road that has constant traffic with very often emergency services 'screaming by. There is I'm afraid the drone of cars passing at just about all times. It actually is quite difficult to join the road as the site entrance sits on a bend and it isn't always easy to see each way before pulling out - particularly with the caravan on tow, when you need a bit extra time to get across the road.
The paintball in truth wasn't really a problem and took place in the woods just behind where the caravan pitches are. The thing that became a nuisance was when on many days the 'clay pigeon' shooting took place. One the Saturday during our stay it went on for over 4 hours until we just had to go out to get away from the banging sounds.
Another thing that was disappointing was that again during the middle of our stay there were in fact 6 vans on this site. Had we needed or wanted to move on we were unable as we were blocked in by a trailer tent.
The estates manager did confirm later that he had noticed more than 5 vans but didn't do anything about it - so all a bit disappointing really.
The local area though we loved having never been to Essex before -so we would return but sadly not to this particular site.