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Cinderford Camping

East Sussex Bn27 4 Hl, East Sussex, England
1 acre hosted by Jenny H.
Family camping in a sheltered meadow with acres of woodland to explore, 15 minutes from the south coast

Passed down through generations, Cinderford Camping has been lovingly run by the same family for some 50 years, so that each new owner has been born with a real love for the place, for nature, for the the woods and and, of course, for camping. Based on a 140-acre farm in Hellingly, East Sussex, the well-kept camping field offers a classic camping scene – think tents, campfires and the odd campervan – but adventures really come to life in the site's private woodland, starting from the minute you see the entrance to Cinderford, down a winding wooded track.

While the 10-acre camping field itself is regularly mown, carefully avoiding the bluebells and other delicate plants that the seasons bring, the field is surrounded on three sides by woodland, giving you the best of both manicured and wild nature. Having the woodland next door to your tent lets you venture off into the wooded areas with ease, rambling along the walking trail or finding sunny spots on the bench or quiet areas to picnic. There's a fishing pond (arrange your fishing slot in advance), a vast array of wild woodland flowers and a public footpath runs through one section of the wood but, to the south of the camping field, you’ll also find the private woodland, Whitefield Wood, available exclusively for the use of Cinderford campers and soon to be developed to provide a few wilder camping pitches too.

Besides den building in the woods, kids can also enjoy the forest school sessions run on Saturdays, freeing up parents to enjoy a little quiet time too if they wish. Not that adults can sit in a fancy on-site café or marvel in the gift shop; this is very much a rural, traditional camping site. For places to eat, then, you're best off heading in to Hailsham, three miles away, or buying something from Sterling Farm Shop, 10 minutes away, to cook over the campfire. It's a particular treat to feast beneath the stars, which, with the shelter of the surrounding trees seem particularly bright and clear here. Or pick up grub while you're out and about exploring. With the south coast, Herstmonceux Castle, Pevensey Levels and the historic village and abbey of Battle (of 1066 fame) within a 15 minutes' drive, you won't be short of options.

Activities
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Field
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
More camping spots nearby
Location
East Sussex Bn27 4 Hl, East Sussex, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Jenny H.Joined in April 2021
From the host
Based on a 140 acre farm in Hellingly, East Sussex that has been run by the same family for 50 years. The access to our campsite is down a beautiful woodland track, starting the magic of your break as you emerge into the camping field. The campsite is the perfect retreat to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside with the bonus of being only 5 minutes from the market town of Hailsham and 15 minutes from the Seaside of Eastbourne. Our camping field is 10 acres, surrounded on 3 sides by woodland. Whitefield wood, to the south of the camping field, is available as a private area for all campers to access. Whether to follow our woodland walk trail, have a picnic in our woodland clearing or just enjoy being off the beaten track. A public footpath can be accessed through the woods to the west of the campsite with a number of public walks available. We can accommodate tents and campervans, unfortunately we are unable to accept caravans, motorhomes, trailer tents or commercial vehicles. We love our 4 legged friends and who wouldn't want to bring them camping. We charge a small fee for dogs and there is a maximum of 2 per pitch. We have a fishing pond on the farm with stocks of Crucian Carp, Perch, Gold fish, Tench, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Rudd and Roach. Due to the limited number of swims, fishing must be pre-booked, £5 per person.
Nearby attractions

A footpath from the campsite leads north-west to the Cuckmere River and follows its banks for several miles making for a nice local walk or you can just take a much shorter route across to the Merrie Harriers pub (01323 833108) in Cowbeech. If you're here with kids, Knockhatch Farm and Adventure Park is a popular calling point (01323 442051; five miles) as is the slightly more low key, family run Blackberry Farm (01825 872912; eight miles). For history, it's five miles to Herstmonceux Castle (01323 833816) and 10 miles to the village of Battle and all the sights of the 1066, while, for most people, it's Hastings itself that's perhaps the main draw along with the rest of the south coast. The seaside towns of Eastbourne, Hastings and Bexhill are all within a 20 minutes’ drive from Cinderford. Besides strolling along the pier or taking dips in the sea, Hastings Country Park is worth a visit. Home to a variety of landscapes from the cliffs that are a special area of conservation, ancient woodland and lowland meadows to the dramatic cliffs along the coastline that also offer incredible far-reaching views. Similarly, Bexhill has a lot more than just beaches to offer. If you’re wanting to make a day of your seaside visit, then you can visit De La Warr Pavilion (01424 229111), host to live performances, free exhibitions, events and more, their constantly evolving schedule means no two visits here are the same.

Food and drink

The Merrie Harriers (01323 833108) in Cowbeech is a five-minute drive or 25-minute walk away, with its 16th-century setting that adds a twist of classic charm to the large bar and restaurant area. The beer garden and patio area have uninterrupted views of the Sussex countryside making it the perfect sunset spot, but also offering hard to top views at any point of the day. The Kings Head Horsebridge (01323 843712) is just under 10 minutes away, serving hearty portions at decent prices with warm and friendly service from all the staff who work there, if you have a few days to play with try and time your visit for one of their outstanding Sunday roasts. B12 Bar and Kitchen (01323 351898) in Hailsham is also around 10 minutes’ drive away. Host to the biggest gin bar Sussex has to offer as well as a carefully curated cocktail menu and a seasonally changing Mediterranean-inspired menu.

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