Camping in Bodiam

Bodiam sits in the heart of the Rother Valley, a landscape of gentle farmland, water meadows and quiet lanes that makes it a rewarding, if low-key, spot for a camping trip. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's express permission, so plan to stay at one of the established campsites and glamping sites dotted around the villages surrounding Bodiam, several of which are within easy reach of the castle and river on foot or by bike. Many of these sites make the most of the valley's flat, sheltered terrain, offering grassy pitches for tents and tourers alongside safari tents, shepherd's huts or bell tents for those who prefer a glamping stay with a proper bed.

The Rother Valley's mix of farmland and light woodland means conditions are generally mild and sheltered compared with more exposed parts of Sussex, though the ground can turn heavy after wet weather, so a pitch with reasonable drainage is worth seeking out. The best season to camp here runs from late spring to early autumn, when long evenings let you make full use of the river for kayaking or paddleboarding, and when the Kent & East Sussex Railway is running its most frequent steam services from Bodiam station. Early autumn is particularly attractive, with the valley's trees turning and the summer crowds at the castle beginning to thin.

A camping trip here works well as a base for the castle itself, for walking the surrounding footpaths towards Ewhurst Green, or for combining with visits to nearby Rye, Battle and the Kent and Sussex coast. Glamping options in the area tend to lean rustic and family-friendly, often on working farms, and can be a good option for a first camping trip with children thanks to the added comfort of a real bed and, on some sites, on-site facilities. As with any rural Sussex campsite, booking ahead for the summer months is strongly advised given how popular the castle makes this small stretch of the valley.