Camping in Brede

Camping around Brede means making the most of the rolling, wooded High Weald countryside that surrounds the village, rather than the coastline itself, which lies a short drive away at Hastings and Winchelsea. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's permission, so it's worth sticking to licensed campsites and certificated sites in the area, several of which are dotted through the farmland and orchards between Rye, Hastings and the Rother valley.

The terrain here is gently undulating Wealden countryside - sandstone ridges, oak and chestnut woodland, and small fields divided by ancient hedgerows - a landscape quite different from the open downland further west in Sussex. Brede High Woods itself, immediately north of the village, is Woodland Trust land and not available for camping, but it makes for excellent walking straight from a nearby pitch, and campers based in the area can easily combine a stay with days out at Bodiam Castle, Rye and the coast.

The best season for camping around Brede runs from late spring to early autumn, when the woodland trails are driest and the long evenings suit a fire and a late walk. Summer school holidays are the busiest period, particularly on sites within reach of the beaches at Hastings, Camber and Winchelsea, so booking ahead is advisable. Spring brings bluebells to the ancient woodland and generally quieter sites, while autumn offers golden woodland colour and a calmer pace, though nights turn cold and pitches can be damp underfoot.

For those who would rather not pitch a tent, glamping has become well established in this part of East Sussex, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and converted farm buildings available on rural sites within easy reach of Brede, Rye and Battle. These tend to offer proper beds, heating and often a wood-fired hot tub or similar, combining the setting of the Sussex countryside with rather more comfort than a traditional pitch, and are a good option for a shoulder-season trip when a canvas tent might feel a stretch too far.