Camping in Appledore

Romney Marsh's flat, open landscape and mild, breezy climate make it an appealing spot for a camping trip, though as with the rest of England, wild camping is illegal without the express permission of the landowner, so pitch only at a licensed campsite or with a farmer's agreement. The terrain around Appledore is almost entirely low-lying grazing marsh criss-crossed with drainage dykes, so established sites with proper drainage and facilities are far more practical than any attempt at informal camping on the marsh itself, which can be waterlogged for much of the year. Small, family-run campsites and caravan parks are dotted across the Marsh and the neighbouring Weald, often on working farms, offering simple grass pitches within easy reach of the Royal Military Canal towpath and the Saxon Shore Way.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best season to camp here, when the ground is driest and the long evenings suit walks along the canal or out towards the Isle of Oxney. Even in summer, the Marsh's exposed, treeless character means it can be considerably windier than inland Kent or Sussex, so a sturdy tent or campervan is a sensible choice. Outside the main season, conditions turn cold and wet quickly, and many smaller sites close for the winter altogether.

For a more comfortable alternative, glamping has taken hold across Romney Marsh and the nearby Weald, with shepherd's huts, yurts and safari tents offering a step up from canvas without losing the sense of being out among the reed beds and big skies that make this landscape distinctive. Many glamping sites are set on quiet farms within a few miles of Appledore, giving easy access to the village's pubs and the railway station while still feeling genuinely rural after dark.