Blackberry Wood
East Sussex
Private woodland glades and quirky glamping below Ditchling Beacon, north of Brighton
About Blackberry Wood
Blackberry Wood is a family-run site at Streat, at the foot of the escarpment below Ditchling Beacon and roughly nine miles north of Brighton. Its distinguishing feature is the woodland camping: around twenty pitches, each in its own cleared glade among rambling trees, so that neighbours are audible but rarely visible. Wheelbarrows are provided at the gate for hauling gear to the pitch, which gives arrival the feel of a small expedition.
Alongside the woodland and meadow pitches the site has built a reputation for eccentric glamping. A gypsy caravan, a curvy cabin, a converted double-decker bus, a decommissioned fire engine and an actual helicopter have all been fitted out for sleeping in, along with two elaborate handmade treehouses. Facilities are handcrafted rather than corporate: timber-built showers and toilets, an on-site shop selling local produce, essentials and properly seasoned firewood, two play areas and chemical waste disposal for campervans. Every glade has its own campfire and barbecue spot, and fires are actively encouraged.
The site stays open all year, including over Christmas, New Year and Halloween, which few woodland sites manage. Ditchling Beacon and the South Downs Way are a walk up the scarp slope, Lewes is a short drive for Harvey's brewery and the castle, and Brighton is around twenty-five minutes by car. It suits couples, families with small children and anyone who prefers woodsmoke and privacy to a serviced hardstanding, but bring everything you need - this is not a site with an electric hook-up on every pitch.