Camping in Flimwell

Flimwell sits in classic High Weald countryside, a landscape of small fields, ancient woodland, sunken lanes and sandstone outcrops straddling the Kent and Sussex border, and it is well placed for campers and glampers wanting a quiet, wooded base. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's explicit permission, so pitching up in the forest or a farmer's field on spec is not an option; instead, look to the area's established campsites, certificated sites and glamping operators, several of which are set within or on the fringe of woodland close to Bedgebury Forest and the wider Weald.

The terrain here is gently undulating rather than dramatic, but the dense tree cover, narrow lanes and scattered oast houses give camping trips a proper woodland feel, and sites tucked into the forest edge make the most of the shade and shelter that surrounding trees provide. Bedgebury Forest itself, a couple of miles over the county line, is a working conifer forest with waymarked walking and cycling trails, so a pitch within easy reach of it suits families and cyclists particularly well.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping around Flimwell, when the woodland is at its greenest and evenings are long enough for a fire outside the tent, though many sites in this part of the Weald stay open into autumn to catch the conifers and deciduous trees turning colour. Glamping has become well established across the wider High Weald, with options ranging from simple bell tents and shepherd's huts to more fully equipped safari tents and pods, giving campers a warmer, drier alternative to canvas without losing the woodland setting that makes this corner of Sussex worth visiting.