Camping in Henfield

Henfield sits right on the fringe of the South Downs National Park, with the Adur valley on one side and open downland walking within a few miles on the other, which makes the surrounding area a popular one for camping despite the village itself having no large campsite of its own. As with everywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the explicit permission of the landowner, so anyone hoping to pitch a tent for the night needs to book into one of the established sites scattered through the wider Adur valley and the northern edge of the Downs, rather than simply finding a quiet field.

The terrain around Henfield is gentle and pastoral rather than dramatic, all hedgerowed fields, water meadows and orchard country, giving way a few miles south to the steeper chalk grassland of the Downs themselves, so sites in the area suit a mix of easy family camping and a base for more serious downland walking. Facilities tend towards small, well-run touring and tent sites rather than large holiday parks, in keeping with the low-key character of the villages around here. Glamping has also taken hold locally, with shepherd's huts, bell tents and the odd yurt appearing on farms in the valley, offering a step up in comfort for anyone who wants the setting without the full camping kit.

Late spring to early autumn is by far the best window for camping around Henfield, when the water meadows are dry underfoot, the Downs Link is at its most pleasant for cycling in and out of a site, and long evenings make the most of a rural pitch. The Adur valley can be prone to flooding after wet weather, so it is worth checking ground conditions with a site directly if booking outside the summer months, and packing for changeable weather is sensible at any time of year this close to open downland.