Horsted Keynes

Horsted Keynes has few hotels of its own, but its position in the Sussex Weald makes it an easy add-on to a stay in nearby Haywards Heath, East Grinstead or one of the market towns dotted around Ashdown Forest. Expect a mix of country inns, period bed and breakfasts and small independent hotels rather than large chains, many set in converted farmhouses or Wealden cottages with gardens backing onto open countryside. Staying nearby also puts you within easy reach of the Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park and Garden, and the wider network of footpaths that cross the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Booking ahead is worth doing over the summer months and around the railway's popular seasonal events, such as its Santa Specials in December, when rooms in the immediate area can fill up quickly. Whichever base you choose, you will rarely be more than twenty minutes' drive from Horsted Keynes itself, making it easy to combine a night away with a full day exploring the village, its historic church and the surrounding Weald.

Despite its size, Horsted Keynes and the countryside around it pack in a surprising amount to see and do.

• Horsted Keynes Station, Bluebell Railway — one of the finest heritage stations in the country, lovingly restored to its 1930s Southern Railway appearance, complete with gas lamps, a working signal box and steam locomotives running through to Sheffield Park and East Grinstead.
• St Giles' Church — a striking cruciform Norman church at the north end of the village, built on a site of worship believed to date back to Saxon times, and the final resting place of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
• Ashdown Forest — a short drive away, this vast expanse of heathland and ancient woodland inspired A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories and offers some of the best open walking country in the South East.
• The High Weald AONB — Horsted Keynes sits within this nationally protected landscape of small fields, ghyll woodlands and scattered farmsteads, ideal for gentle rambles or longer walking routes.
• Bluebell Railway Carriage & Wagon Works — visitors can watch volunteers at work restoring vintage rolling stock, a fascinating glimpse into the railway's ongoing preservation efforts.
• Village pond and green — a peaceful spot to pause, with the Old Mill House and surrounding cottages reflected in the water.
• Sheffield Park and Garden — a National Trust landscape garden a short drive north, with lakes, cascades and colour through every season, reachable directly by Bluebell Railway from Horsted Keynes.

The village green is home to two well-loved pubs. The Green Man, a Greene King house, serves classic pub food and a changing selection of ales in a relaxed, traditional setting. Nearby, The Crown, a sixteenth-century inn with an original inglenook fireplace, is popular for its hearty menu and historic atmosphere. The Bluebell Railway's King George V Buffet at Horsted Keynes Station adds a nostalgic option for tea, coffee and snacks between train departures, while the village store covers everyday essentials.

The countryside around Horsted Keynes, part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a patchwork of small fields, ancient woodland and steep-sided ghylls that makes for genuinely rewarding camping country, though it pays to know the rules before you pitch up. Wild camping without the landowner's explicit permission is illegal in England, Horsted Keynes included, so a proper campsite or a farm offering permitted pitches is the way to go. Fortunately the wider Sussex Weald and the fringes of Ashdown Forest have a good spread of small, well-run sites, from simple grass fields with a tap and a compost loo to larger family-friendly campsites with electric hook-ups and toilet blocks.

The terrain here is gently undulating rather than dramatic, criss-crossed with sunken lanes and footpaths that make it ideal for walkers and cyclists basing themselves at a tent for a few nights. Clay-heavy Wealden soil means pitches can get soft after heavy rain, so late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, is the most reliable window, with September often bringing the added bonus of quieter sites and mellow weather once the school holidays end. April and May reward early risers with bluebells in the surrounding woods, while a fine, cold night in October or November can be a treat for anyone camping with proper cold-weather kit.

For those who would rather skip the tent pegs, glamping options in the area range from canvas bell tents and shepherd's huts to fully kitted-out safari tents with proper beds and wood-burning stoves, several of them on working farms within a short drive of the village. These sites tend to combine easy access to the Bluebell Railway and Ashdown Forest with a genuine sense of escape, making them a good match for anyone who wants the atmosphere of camping in the Weald without compromising on comfort.