Camping in Ockley

England has no general right to wild camp, so anywhere around Ockley you will need a proper campsite or the landowner's permission rather than pitching up on open ground. The good news is that the Surrey Hills setting suits a low-key countryside stay: Vann Farm Camping, close to the village, offers pitches with footpath access straight out into Ockley Woods and towards Vann Lake, putting tents within easy reach of the Greensand Way and Leith Hill without a long drive each morning.

The Weald's clay soil and greensand ridge mean the ground here holds water, so this is much better camping country in spring, summer and early autumn than in the depths of winter, when tracks and pitches can turn heavy underfoot. May through September is the reliable window, with long evenings for exploring the village green or walking up towards Leith Hill Tower before dark. Glamping options in the wider area — shepherd's huts, pods and yurts — are worth seeking out for anyone who wants the Surrey Hills setting without the full camping kit, particularly useful if the weather turns, since this part of Surrey can be as wet as it is scenic. Whichever option you choose, book ahead for summer weekends: sites near Leith Hill and the Greensand Way are popular with walkers and cyclists working their way along the Surrey Hills ridge, and good pitches near Ockley go quickly once the weather improves.