Camping in Horsted Keynes

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.