Woodfire at Westerlands
West Sussex
Foodie tent camping on the Westerlands Estate just south of Petworth
About Woodfire at Westerlands
Woodfire operates its Westerlands site on a private estate just south of Petworth, one of a small handful of 'gastro-camping' sites the company runs across the South Downs. The pitch is built around spacious tent camping combined with communal meals cooked over open fire, and the site has picked up national press coverage for the quality and setting of its food as much as for the camping itself.
Pitches are generously spaced across parkland-style grounds with views typical of this part of the Downs, and hot showers are provided on site. The emphasis throughout is on a slower, more sociable style of camping: seasonal menus using local ingredients, communal fire-cooked dinners, and a programme of guest-chef feast nights through the summer that guests can book alongside their stay. This is not a site geared towards independent self-catering; it suits those who want the atmosphere of camping without doing all the cooking themselves.
As a small, low-key site, it does not offer electric hookups or a shop, and there is no swimming pool or playground; it is a tents-only pitch rather than one set up for caravans or motorhomes. Wi-fi is not a feature of the stay. Its appeal lies instead in the combination of genuine countryside just outside Petworth and a dining experience well above what most campsites attempt, making it a good match for couples and small groups after something a little different from standard camping.