A campsite named among the best farm stays in the UK has said it was “absolutely blown away” after receiving a near-perfect customer rating.
The Little Bitty Farm and Campsite, near Northop, scored 9.9 out of 10 in the 2025 Pitchup.com awards, based on reviews left by visitors during the year.
The working smallholding, run by Kelly and Darren Skillin, was recognised as one of the best farm-based campsites on the outdoor accommodation booking website.
Camping, glamping and caravan sites listed on Pitchup.com are rated across a number of categories including location, value for money, facilities, activities, customer service, child friendliness, cleanliness and Wi-Fi provision.
Little Bitty Farm and Campsite scored 10 out of 10 in seven of the eight categories, only dropping marks for Wi-Fi quality.
Kelly said the recognition meant even more because the site had only been operating under the 28-day pop-up camping rule at the time.
She said: “We were absolutely blown away. We opened for 14 weekends under the 28-day rule and we were full every weekend, so to receive that feedback and then get a 9.9 out of 10 was amazing.
“It made us realise how needed and enjoyed the campsite was.
“The feedback was about the hospitality of me and Darren and my family, the welcome people felt, and the environment we had created.”
Visitors praised the spacious pitches, excellent facilities, friendly owners and animals, which have proved particularly popular with children.
The site is home to chickens, sheep and alpacas, with Kelly saying younger visitors especially enjoy learning about the animals during their stay.
She added: “I think people love the love we have, and the way we share what we’ve created with people.
“It feels like a home from home. People don’t feel like they’re intruding, they feel like they’ve been invited as guests.”
The campsite, located in the countryside between Northop and Flint, opened in 2025 after the idea was sparked during the Covid lockdown.
It offers traditional pitches as well as pre-pitched accommodation, with the owners aiming to create a quiet, welcoming place where visitors can relax and reconnect with nature.
Kelly said: “We’re more than family friendly, we’re human friendly.
“We want people to rest, restore and reconnect. We call it just being, come and sit, turn your phone off, and just be.”
The site has also attracted local visitors, with Kelly saying around 20 per cent of guests have come from within a five to ten-mile radius.
She said many people wanted a change of scenery without the cost or time of a long journey.
Kelly added: “It is lovely when you know you are providing a service to your own community.”
Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said Flintshire’s scenery and hospitality helped make farm-based stays in the area popular with holidaymakers.
He said: “With Flintshire’s spectacular scenery, it’s no surprise enterprising farmers are augmenting their income by diversifying into tourism.
“The Little Bitty Farm and Campsite has taken this to the next level and got their offering just right to score 9.9 out of 10 across the board with customer reviews.
“It is one of just a handful of farm-based campsites on Pitchup.com to do that, and it is a fantastic achievement.”
Mr Yates added that demand for farm-based campsites has continued to grow since the pandemic, with more people seeking affordable breaks and outdoor experiences.
Kelly said the rating had reaffirmed the couple’s belief in the campsite and its future.
The recognition comes as the business prepares for its next phase of development. Following the granting of planning permission earlier this year, the owners are expanding their glamping offering, with the first luxury pod due to arrive in June and a second later in the summer.
She said: “If we got 9.9 when our facilities were only temporary, we feel we can only get better.”
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