What make this campsite and its location so important?
Four Oaks Camping is a farm-based campsite located on the outskirts of North Wootton: a well-connected village roughly three miles north of King’s Lynn in West Norfolk. The campsite’s locations, a secluded edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), has been identified as a more robust Tourist Management Zone with few visitor pressures, and scores highly for developing opportunities in order to remove pressure from other Zones.
In order to preserve the sense of space and minimise visitor impact, Four Oaks Camping pitch density is limited and options are restricted to tents and small campervans only (no caravans). Also, hiking and cycling visits have been incentivised through discounted rates.
During the opening season of 2022, the campsite proved to be a popular alternative to high-density camping and caravan parks located within more sensitive and fragile Visitor Management Zones further along the coast. This effectively contributed to spreading tourist demand across the West Norfolk geography, which is in line with the strategic aims of the county’s Tourist Development Plan.
West Norfolk’s appeal is based on the unique natural environmental assets and the built and historic environment that reflects the heritage of its towns.
However, King’s Lynn in particular suffers from a lack of nearby low-impact camping accommodation.
Four Oaks Camping is ideal for visitors seeking a natural camping environment within easy reach of King’s Lynn and other nearby attractions.
The campsite is well positioned for accessibility via National Cycle Route 1 and the frequent-service bus route 3 (to King’s Lynn), which builds on West Norfolk’s intention to become a sustainable tourism destination.
Increased responsible tourism represents an opportunity to positively contribute to the local rural economy.
However, the benefits from the growing popularity of farm-based campsites need to be weighed against the potential for negative environmental impacts.
Four Oaks Camping offers secluded and managed access to a robust area of the Norfolk Coast AONB landscape that is advantageously connected to village services and sustainable transport links.
Most importantly, the campsite is locally disconnected from the West Norfolk’s Ramsar and Site of Special Scientific Interest, The Wash (located 3.3 kilometres to the west and across private farmland), and therefore, in itself and managed properly, will not adversely affect the integrity of this wetland conservation area.
The camping fields form part of a 63-acre holding managed by a family that has farmed and lived in North Wootton village for five generations.
The campsite generates diversified income to support general land management and other small-scale farm activities and adds to local employment opportunities.
