Camping in Petworth

Camping around Petworth means pitching within the South Downs National Park itself, on farmland and estates that have been managing this landscape for generations. Sites here tend to be small and understated rather than large holiday parks, reflecting both the character of the area and the planning constraints of a protected landscape. Expect grass pitches, good walking straight from the tent, and in several cases a strong emphasis on food cooked over fire rather than a shop selling sliced white bread and disposable barbecues.

Options range from simple, back-to-basics tent camping on working farms along the South Downs Way, through to a well-equipped club site with full facilities for tents, caravans and motorhomes, to a more polished 'gastro-camping' experience built around communal dining. What they share is genuine countryside, generally free from road noise, and easy access to walking and cycling routes across the Downs and the wider Petworth countryside.

Because several of the smaller sites deliberately keep things simple, don't expect electric hookups, swimming pools or full shops everywhere; check individual site facilities before booking, particularly if you're travelling with a caravan or motorhome, or bringing a dog, since policies vary between sites. Booking ahead is strongly advised for summer weekends, when the combination of good walking country and proximity to London makes the best pitches scarce.