As an avid camper in my mid 20’s, and a former scout, I like to think I know a good UK campsite when I visit one. In my experience, the best spots are often the simplest, a field, a toilet, and nothing else but the great British countryside for company. Big Sky Hideaway was exactly that, and with a whole lot more.
It ticked all our requirements with ease – affordable, peaceful, clean and private. While also offering extras that completely exceeded expectations, like a community barn, shaded hammock forests to cool off in, and extremely hospitable staff.
When it comes to camping with family, you want somewhere that feels relaxed and inclusive, a space that is welcoming, but also somewhere you can be your natural selves uninterrupted. Big Sky Hideaway delivered that balance perfectly. It’s the type of place you can be yourself, as long as you return the favour and treat it with the respect it deserves.
Arriving at Big Sky Hideaway
Big Sky Hideaway Camping and Glamping is tucked away in the Lincolnshire countryside, around 6.3 miles (a 13 minute drive) from Boston, and around 26 miles (45 minutes) from both Lincoln and Skegness.
Without a car or bike, getting to the site can be a little bit tricky, as the journey from Boston by public transport takes over two hours, and walking it would take about the same. If you’re arriving without your own vehicle, a taxi from Boston is your best bet.
We drove down from Leeds, West Yorkshire, and the journey took around 1 hour 50 minutes, with just a few minor traffic jams along the way. We stopped at an Aldi in Sleaford to pick up our shopping, which was a convenient stop off enroute.
Then when we arrived at Big Sky Hideaway (after travelling down a very bumpy road) we were warmly greeted at the gate by Dave, one of the site’s hosts. He showed us around, gave us free rein to choose our pitch, and then let us settle in at our own pace.
You leave your car by the front gate, grab one of the massive wheelbarrows and wheel your gear over to your pitch. All of which means there are no cars in the meadow, just you, your tent and nature all around.
Before we arrived, I’d been given Dave’s number and he was great to chat to – helpful, relaxed, and quick to respond. We asked for some firewood and charcoal in advance, and true to his word, it was delivered straight to our pitch not long after we set up.
TIP: If you want to book this campsite, then Dave recommended booking it directly on their website, as the campsite platforms take quite a large percentage, and it becomes much cheaper doing it directly.
What makes Big Sky Hideaway special?
For us, the biggest pull of Big Sky Hideaway was the privacy. Most field campsites I’ve stayed at are just that – a flat, mown field where you can see (and hear) every other camper, with people using beach shelters or windbreaks for a bit of personal space.
But Big Sky is different. The site is set in a wildflower meadow, with each pitch thoughtfully cut out of the long grass, many with their own firepit. All of which means you get natural privacy without having to build barriers yourself.
You’d be amazed at how peaceful it felt, as you’re sitting on your camping chairs, with this beautiful big sky all around you, birdsong, the hum of bees, and the soft rustle of wildflowers, it was easy to forget anyone else was there. There are also bell tents available to hire on the meadow, but our pitch was big enough to comfortably fit three two man tents, with room to spare.
At night, it felt almost as if we had the place to ourselves. The only sounds were the gentle chatter and laughter of families and friends dotted across the site; a refreshing change from the usual campsite soundtrack of portable speakers and late night playlists.
Of course, when it comes to family trips, everyone has their own idea of what made the place special. So I asked my siblings (and partner) what their highlights were:
“For me, the highlight was definitely the alpacas! There were at least six, and they were so curious. I loved that they’d had their summer shave and were looking very smart. We didn’t do the alpaca feeding this time, just because of our timings, but I’d love to if we go back!”
“I really enjoyed the community barn in the middle of the site. We’d go in the morning, grab a coffee, and just chill out for a bit. On Saturday they made pizzas, which were amazing, the bar was affordable, and we ended up playing Uno until closing time.”
“Because we chose to camp on the hottest day of the year, we were beyond happy that the woodland provided some much needed shade. The cover also came with a huge hammock, where we spent ages cooling off, while the others wandered around the woods. It was so peaceful.”
How does Big Sky Hideaway work?
Big Sky Hideaway is a wonderfully relaxed campsite, with plenty to see and lots of accommodation options to suit different kinds of travellers. We stayed on the camping meadow, but there were also converted American school buses (which sleep six), a double decker bus (sleeps four), bell tents, hammock tents, and even little hobbit holes.
I can’t comment on the other options (yet), but if they’re anything like the camping meadow, I can imagine they offer the same peaceful, relaxed experience.
Sustainability
The entire site is run with sustainability in mind. Compost toilets, eco showers, solar energy for the barns and buses, everything is set up to be as low impact as possible. The toilets might take a bit of getting used to if you’ve never used one before, but honestly, no one in our group had any issues.
As for the eco showers, Dave heats water using the sun (via Jerry cans) and sends over a quick WhatsApp video to explain how to use it. After a long, sweaty day in the heat, I have to say, it was surprisingly relaxing.
Tab system
One of the things we really liked was how easy it was to keep track of what we spent. Anything you order during your stay – from pizzas and drinks at the bar to firewood and charcoal, just gets added to your tab and you settle up when you leave.
We were a bit nervous at first (after a few rounds at the bar the night before), but in the end, our total for two nights – including pizzas, drinks, s’mores ingredients, charcoal and firewood came to just over £100, which we thought was a brilliant value for money.
Say “yes” more
I’ll admit, I’m probably a little biased when it comes to the whole say “yes” more philosophy – I’ve been a follower of the Yes Theory YouTube community for years. (If you’re not familiar, they’re a group of travelling videographers who challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zones and break the norms of everyday life.)
Big Sky Hideaway couldn’t match this ethos more perfectly. From the layout of the site, to the people who run it, it’s a place that encourages you to go with the flow, embrace the unexpected, and make the most of what’s around you.
You’ll spot the say “yes” more tagline dotted around the campsite, especially on the side of the double decker bus they’ve affectionately named the YesBus. And honestly? It just works. The whole atmosphere of Big Sky invites you to lean in, try new things, and enjoy the simple pleasures of a slow, open minded weekend.
It doesn’t matter whether saying yes means using a compost toilet or eco shower for the first time, being brave enough to let your phone run out of battery (they do have charging points, just chose not to use them), or swapping your shotgun travel plan for a lazy afternoon in the hammocks. What’s special about this campsite is that it never forces an agenda on you. It simply gives you the space to be yourself, in the most natural way possible.
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