Best campsites for the High Weald AONB
Here is our pick of the Alan Rogers Assessors, expert-recommended campsites for the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The rural landscape of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was largely shaped during medieval times and whose character lingers to this day. It’s a terrain of rolling hills, occasionally broken by sandstone outcrops, dotted with relatively small fields, farms and ancient roads and lanes, often sunken with time. Stretching from Tonbridge and East Grinstead down to the coast at Hastings, this is 1,461 square kilometres of unspoilt countryside, despite being in the heart of one of England’s most populous regions, the southeast.
The Weald originally took its name from the dense forest, but this has mostly disappeared, leaving huge swathes of ancient broadleaf woods. In fact, the Weald AONB retains 23% of woodland cover, one of the highest in England. Pigs were once grazed under the trees in clearings known as ‘dens’ – a word that still appears in many village names. The landscape is typified by its hung peg tile roofs, white weatherboarding and distinctive oast houses, once used for drying hops.
Top High Weald AONB Camping Options
Set in 500 acres of the Garden of England, The Hop Farm Touring & Camping Park is the venue for many special events throughout the summer, including music festivals & shows. To one side, overlooking all this activity and the attractive cluster of oasts, is the touring park, which provides 150 pitches, of which 75 are hardstanding on flat, open fields. Electricity (16A) and water are available.
Tanner Farm is a quality park, surrounded by arable farmland and orchards, oast houses, lovely countryside and delightful small villages in the beautiful Weald of Kent. The park extends over 15 acres, most of which is level and part is a gentle slope. The grass meadowland has been semi-landscaped by planting saplings, which units back onto, as the owners do not wish to regiment pitches into rows.
Lordine Court Caravan Park is situated in the Sussex countryside near Hastings, set in its own grounds around a cluster of Wealden Oast Houses, typical of this part of Southern England and which now form the “Four Oasts” Clubhouse. The site is perfect for those who wish to relax in a tranquil setting, which is nevertheless within easy reach of ancient inland rural villages like Robertsbridge, the famous spa town of Tunbridge Wells, bustling seaside Hastings on the Channel coast, quaint Rye, and a number of historic castles and other sites. The touring section of the park has 120 pitches including a few seasonal touring pitches. The lodge park section has 120 privately owned mobile homes and lodges.
A stay at Fairlight Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club site is almost like taking a soothing break in a large and lovely garden. It is a small and intimate site set in flower rich woodland and with many quaint footpaths to wander along. The area is rich in historic value - the nearby seaside town of Hastings was William the Conqueror's base camp in 1066 and it was here he chose to build his famous castle following the historic victory at Battle. The site has 42 mainly hardstanding pitches all with 16 amp electricity.
If you wish to enjoy the lively town of Hastings with its pubs and amusements, then Shear Barn may well be for you. It is situated on top of a hill on the eastern edge of Hastings with attractive views over the bay and a wooded valley as you approach the park. There are two distinct areas and you arrive at the holiday home park first where you will find the reception. Further up the hill and through a barrier (card entry), you come to the touring section. This consists of open grass areas with around 150 pitches marked by stones. Some are reasonably flat, others sloping, and 100 have electrical connections with water points around. There are a number of recently introduced hardstanding pitches. There is a separate, large area for tents at the top of the park where a torch might be useful.
Brakes Coppice Park is a small and secluded site set in woodland just a mile away from historic Battle. Reached by an uneven, winding private track, it is signed to prevent visitors taking a wrong turn to the nearby farm of the same name. Ideal for tents, but welcoming any type of unit, the site has 60 grass pitches, 22 with 6A electricity and TV aerial points, in a gently sloping field. A further area near a small fishing lake provides a few extra pitches. As well as fishing, visitors can enjoy walking in the surrounding woods.
This family run park is situated on a manor estate, perfect for touring East Sussex. The first field now offers level pitches throughout, all with 16A hook-ups and including 20 hardstandings. In total there are 100 spacious pitches, 65 with electricity. A brand new toilet block has underfloor heating, large showers, private washing cubicles and carefully designed facilities for those with reduced mobility. The park is set back from the main road and is a haven of peace and tranquillity, although in high season it becomes busy. For younger visitors there is a play area. On the manor estate, amenities include horse riding, fishing, the Lakeside Café and peaceful walks through the woods.
Crowborough Camping & Caravanning Club site lies in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Ashdown Forest, the setting for A.A.Milne's wonderful Winnie the Pooh books. Woodland walks can be enjoyed directly from the site; the neighbouring park and leisure centre provides entertainment for children. Crowborough town is a ten minute walk from the site and the historic spa town of Tunbridge Wells is seven miles away. For family days out visit Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, Chiddingstone Castle and The Kent and East Sussex Railway. There are many vineyards in the area for a spot of wine tasting. The site is well laid out, with trees and hedges dividing the site providing a more secluded feel in some areas and some sheltered pitches for tent campers.The site accepts caravans, motorhomes, tents and trailer tents. There are 90 grass or hardstanding pitches, most with electric hookup, and 4 safari tents for hire. Some seasonal pitches.