Mere Farm (Bobby Bees), nr hunmanby, nr Filey

[dadsbeaniemad]

WE visited first week in August 2008

What a wonderful find.

Once you've found Burton Flemming you'll be ok - would go a different way next time.

Site entrance is via single track at the side of the farmhouse (must be looking for it because you 'come across' it all of a sudden - opposite the pond) but soon opens out to a wonderful site. It's def a proper farm (not a livestock farm) so don't go expecting it all neat and tidy and everything in it's place. Take it as you find it - neat freaks and hygiene freaks do not book.

4 Fields in all. The first has the electric hook up (electricians just don't look as cables run up side of hedges) and takes vans and tents and motorhomes. The next was full of vans when we were there then there's a huge tent / non ehu field and another huge (non ehu) field after that.

The owner, Rob, has put many features in the fields but they don't get in the way - mainly little crops of standing stones and trees and plants - very effective, very nice.

Recycling is a big part of the site and instructions are clearly given by Rob on arrival. Costs you nothing to do it so please do - there are plenty of specific bins all around the site.

There are plenty of free range chickens and ducks wandering about and Frank the Turkey (pic on my profile). Frank will chase you if you chase him but they all get put away for the night.

Owner has a lovely dog called Lucy. She is getting on a bit and is loosing her sight.

Please don't let you children get too close as she does bit - she gave my daughter a really nasty bite on her hand requiring hospital attention - but she DOES NOT roam about the site and is usually at the house or in the car.

Owner sells free range eggs and honey from the house.

You can hire fires and firewood for about £4.50 a night but may have to pay a deposit as people have started to steal the fire baskets (Why??!) Not an awful lotof fire wood though so don't light the fire too early in the evening.

Every weekend morning 9am - 10am - or if the site is busy - Rob does his chef bit and sells cooked breakfasts of varying sorts. Also does juice, coffee and other stuff. There is a nice little area - sort of under cover - to sit and eat it in. I think it also doubles as a bar at night time on bank holiday weekends.

There is a swing in a tree for the children to play on but a regular camper told us Rob is going to do a play area but is not sure what to put in it yet. Children had loads of fun and there was loads and loads of space for them to run about and play. I believe there is also quite a good dog walk.

By 10.30 at night all was just about quiet, human wise. Think the cockerels had a problem with their watches though and the doves!

Solar lights are put out in various places around the site to help when it gets dark

This is a Farm site so don't expect all singing and dancing facilities.

Ladies:

All facilities are in two old grain silos. 3 cubicles in one silo, each with toilet, wash basin, little table and plenty of room, coat hooks, cotton wool. There's a big mirror and table and place to plug in the hairdryer too.

The second silo has a shower room with shower(doh! of course),basin, toilet, mirrors, table, chair and plenty of room. The other half is a wash room with toilet, etc but loads of room to get the whole family in. Showers are 20p for 2 mins of hot water.

Only the one shower and you do get queues at busy times. I managed to get showered on 40p and also the children both in at once for 40p.

Everything is very clean but basic - no heated floors or anything but everything you need.

Both have lights that work on motion sensors.

Gents 'Tinkle Cottage'

OH says they are more basic than the ladies. Again only one shower that works with 20p's and I think he said 2 toilet cubicles and one that is both a gents and ladies toilet.

There are wash up points at both toilet sites.

Chemical waste point is set well away.

The village of Burton Flemming has a shop/post office traveling van (with a v friendly post mistress) and you can get papers and provisions in the shop - fresh milk, cakes and pies and sandwiches, nappies etc etc etc in the shop. Ithink there is a butchers shop too (?)
The village pub has reopened since we visited . It does serve food but not on Monday and Tuesday (I think)

Hunmanby is about 3 miles away and has everything you could want. I recommend the Fruit and veg shop, the deli type shop next door is excellent for pies, cakes,bread, cheeses, olives and stuff like that, and the chemist. There is a very good Dr's surgery too should you need it (we did). A Co-op open till 10pm, Chippy, Chinese takeaway which will deliver to the camp site for a bit extra and quite a few pubs to choose from. (other shops too).

Scarborough is about 20-30 mins drive away - there are roadworks along the road at time of this review which hold up traffic at busy times and look like they are very much on going - looks like some sort of by-pass road or duel carriage way to better handle all the traffic.

Road works are now complete and I would very much advise using the park and ride (Filey Road) as it's a great time saver and at £3.60 return for a family it's good - saves having to find and pay for parking in Scarborough and get stuck in the traffic jams.

Bridlington is about 10 miles the other way - good beaches and cheaper for ice-creams than Scarborough!

Filey (our favorite) about 10 mins away - good garage just out of Hunmanby on way to Filey (good priced petrol).

Hunmanby Gap beach is our favorite - steep slope down and even steeper on the way back to the car but a great beach.

All have good beaches and good beach fronts to walk along - really well kept and interesting - good beach access.

Parking is one of the things that'll cost you though.

Just a note - the hospital at Brid is minor injuries only and only open 9am-9pm. Nearest A&E is Scarborough.

Sorry to waffle on but hope this is helpful to you.

Enjoy your stay!!