Camping in Polegate

Camping around Polegate means making the most of its position between the South Downs and the Pevensey Levels, with the chalk ridgeline offering some of the best short walks and views in East Sussex right from a tent flap. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's explicit permission, so stick to licensed campsites and certified sites in the area, several of which sit within easy striking distance of both the Cuckoo Trail and the coast at Eastbourne.

The terrain here is gentler than Sussex's better-known camping country further west; expect rolling farmland, hedgerows and the open, breezy top of the Downs rather than dense woodland, so pitches tend to be more exposed and worth checking for wind shelter if you're bringing a tent rather than a campervan. The Pevensey Levels side of town is low and can be damp underfoot after wet weather, while sites up towards the Downs drain better but can be a longer walk from the town's shops and station.

Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable window, when the ground is firmer and evenings are long enough to enjoy a walk on the Downs after pitching up; midsummer weekends are the busiest, particularly with Eastbourne's beach crowds spilling inland, so booking ahead is worth doing if you have fixed dates. Spring brings fresh, uncrowded trails and cooler nights, while a shoulder-season stay in early autumn often rewards you with settled weather and quieter sites once the school holidays end.

For those who'd rather skip the tent pegs, glamping options in the wider area range from safari tents and shepherd's huts to converted farm buildings, giving easy access to the same walking and cycling country with rather more comfort. Whichever way you camp, Polegate's flat, well-connected trails and its closeness to the coast make it a practical, low-key base for an outdoor break in East Sussex.