Camping in Chiddingly

Chiddingly sits within the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of rolling farmland, ancient oak woodland and narrow sunken lanes, and it is exactly the kind of landscape that tempts people to pitch a tent somewhere scenic and unofficial. It is worth being clear that wild camping is illegal in England without the landowner's permission, Sussex included, so any camping here needs to be on a proper site or with explicit consent from whoever owns the land. The good news is that the surrounding Weald and the coast beyond Hailsham and Eastbourne have a healthy spread of campsites and glamping options, many making the most of the same high hedgerows, farm buildings and views that make the area special in the first place.

Golden Cross, just a couple of miles from Chiddingly, has a touring and camping park that makes a genuinely convenient base for exploring the village, Glyndebourne, Michelham Priory and Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum without a long drive each morning. Further afield towards Lewes, Hailsham and the Sussex coast there is a broader choice, ranging from simple grass pitches to glamping pods, safari tents and shepherd's huts aimed at people who want the High Weald experience without the full camping kit list.

The terrain here is gently undulating rather than dramatic, with clay soils that can turn heavy after rain, so most campers find late spring through to early autumn the most comfortable window, roughly May to September, when the ground is firmer and the evenings long enough to enjoy a fire pit or a walk before dark. Midsummer coincides with the Glyndebourne opera season, which brings a distinct flavour to the area, and with the Weald's woodland at its most lush. Whatever time of year, the appeal of camping around Chiddingly is the same: quiet, dark skies, the sound of owls rather than traffic, and some of Sussex's best walking straight from the tent flap.