Coastal campsites in Hainault Forest
A super-handy Essex escape for nature-hungry Londoners, with shady trails through ancient woodlands and spring bursts of bluebells.
95% (39 reviews)
- Hainault Forest
95% (39 reviews)
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12 top coastal campsites in Hainault Forest
98%
(25)
Holistic Woods Campsite WILD
24 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Woodbridge, England
We are a WILD campsite with character and history.
Our most popular pitch is our beautiful SSSI woodland.
There are only 25 pitches available. We have a mid wild pitch on the outskirts of the woods, lovely grassed area between trees. Our top field is perfect for motorhomes & caravans.
Plenty of space to breath and relax. Located on the stunning heathlands of the Sutton Heath. We are surrounded by beautiful woodland walks, including the Sandlings walk and just 10 minutes from the river Deben.
We have a bus stop at the top of the track and Melton train station is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive. There are access points onto public footpaths, leading to Rendlesham Forest. A famous site for UFOs! Sutton Hoo is a stone's throw away. Bring your bikes and explore the area on wheels.
There is water access and portaloos. We do not have showers yet. Blue/grey waste must be taken away. LEAVE NO TRACE
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£19
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Chigborough Farm
48 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents130 acres · Essex, East Anglia
Boating, biking and bell tent glamping on a farm near the Blackwater Estuary, where good food and walkable pubs are also on the menu.
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£13
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Lagnersh camping
75 units · Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Bognor Regis, England
Stunning 6 acre site close to Bognor Regis Pagham and Chichester located in the heart of West Sussex countryside. Close to seaside surrounded by stunning views 10 mins from goodwood for all those goodwood revival or festival of speed fans the best voted beach of west wittering is just 15 mins drive bracklesham bay for those keen on surfing is just 10 mins away this is truly a beautiful serviced site with electric water toilets and showers as well as waste disposal point newly installed large kids play park camp fires allowed off the ground a wonderfully laid paid campground to make memories and take photos for the family album.
Bognor regis Town under 10 mins
With amusements crazy golf and the good old bognor beach ⛱️ aswell as many restraunts and bars taxi would be under £10 back to the campsite
You can book any pitch for tent caravan or motorhome
We hope to see you soon
Happy camping to you all 🏕 ⛺️ 🏕
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£30
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The Sunnyfield Campsite
18 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Canterbury, Kent, South East England
Looking for a place where you can camp, glamp and campervan together with friends? The Sunnyfield is the place.
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£38
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Woodfire at Chapel Field
24 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Firle, England
A small off-grid site that celebrates Sussex with camping and campfire cooking in the South Downs National Park
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£21
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Booked 4 times
Capel Battery WW2 Motorhome Site
1 unit · Motorhome2 acres · Folkestone, England
Are you ready for a camping experience unlike any other? Come explore our historic World War II gun battery site with spectacular views of the English Channel. You've never seen a campsite like this before!
Capel Battery is certified Motorhome with 13 acres of land to explore including the gun emplacements, Nissan huts with speculator views of the English Channel.
We have both hardstanding and grass areas with electric hook up and water standpipe.
Dogs very welcome.
Notes About the Site - personal view
Imagine stepping back in time to a former World War II gun battery site, built in 1941 as a defense against a possible German invasion. Purchased by my father John Button in 2009, our family has spent the last 15 years restoring the site to its former glory. We've unearthed the gun battery and Nissan huts bases, gained access to the underground plotting room, dressing station, and ammunition bunker. The journey has been exhilarating, and we've created a museum that's open for visitors most weekends. Come and witness history come to life!
Looking for a hidden gem on the south coast? Look no further than Capel Battery! Perched on top of the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, this spot boasts stunning views and is conveniently located between vibrant Folkestone (just a 5-minute drive away) and historic Dover (only 15 minutes by car). Plus, explore the unique and secluded natural reserve of The Warren or take a stroll along the beautiful Kent Coastal Walkway and beach. And when you need a break, head to the newly renovated Folkestone Harbour with its pop-up cafes, bars, restaurants, and local artists' shops. Don't forget to add a visit to Dover Castle to your itinerary - it's just a short drive away!
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£25
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Pett Camping
50 units · Tents11 acres · Rye, East Sussex, South East England
Open 22 July to 1 September 2024. Private, family friendly camping in a field, surrounded by farmland. Back-to-basics, rustic camping at it's best. Summer pop-up camping by Pett Level beach which is only half a mile away!
Set in 11 acres of fields called the Spring Meadow and the Big Meadow. Situated in the High Weald AONB.
The nearest village pub, the recreation ground and children's playpark are just a five minute walk along a quiet country lane via the north entrance to the site. Village cricket every Saturday and most Sundays, opposite the Royal Oak pub.
The villages of Pett and Pett Level are on your doorstep, so you can walk to local amenities including The Royal Oak pub and The Tic Tocory tea shop. The pizza van stops at the Royal Oak on Mondays 4-8pm. You can watch cricket at the recreation ground every Saturday and most Sundays, and enjoy a take-away pint from the Royal Oak opposite.
The local farm shop at Lunsford Farm next door is a two minute walk and sells the basics such as milk, eggs, lamb burgers and apple juice. The Old Butcher Shop in nearby Guestling is just a 25 monute walk or 5 minute drive away, and sells bread, fresh vegtables and local meat.
The Pett Village Hall has a good programme of activities such as yoga, pilates and childrens holiday activities. Plenty of local walks to other villages, more family friendly pubs, a local vineyard with wine tastings available or the nearby citadel of Rye. There are also plenty of watersports, horseriding and other actitivites available locally.
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£11
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Dogwood Glamping
4 units · Glamping1 acre · Rye, England
The luxury option to one of the Sussex High Weald's loveliest rural retreats
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£95
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Southey Creek Glamping
2 units · Glamping400 acres · Maldon, Essex, East Anglia
Adults-only glamping pods on a 500-acre farm beside the beautiful Blackwater Estuary
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£120
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94%
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Hunstanton Camping & Glamping
14 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · King's Lynn, England
Hunstanton Camping and Glamping with mYminiBreak is located 2 minutes walk from the beach. Heacham is a large but quiet village just on the outskirts of the seaside town of Hunstanton. Providing a range of camping pitches for tents, campervans, caravans and motorhomes; you could also indulge in a ready-made stay in a Glamping Bell Tent or Shepherds Hut for a Glamping break away on the Norfolk coast.
When you stay at Hunstanton Camping and Glamping with mYminiBreak you are conveniently located to explore the beach and its surrounding areas. Between the venue and the beach, you will find the entrance to a public footpath that takes you to Snettisham, a smaller and history-rich village through scenic rural countryside. It is also possible to walk to Hunstanton in the opposite direction along the promenade whilst enjoying the sea air and open views. Our campsite is one of only a handful of campsites located on the west coast of Norfolk and just a 2-minute walk from the beach gives us a prime location for watching the sunset go down in all its spectacular deep orange and red glory. Couple this with having some drinks with friends and family by your campfire or BBQ makes for a wonderful memory to share with your loved ones.
We are campfire and dog friendly, and welcome your four-legged friends to stay with you across our camping and glamping accommodation
Local shops only 5 minutes down the road takes a load off your mind knowing that if you forget any supplies you don't have to go without, making your experience while camping in Hunstanton a relaxed and fun time.
We are a rural former dairy farm by the beach, there are free-ranging chickens and cockerels and they may make farmyard sounds, if you are a light sleeper, be sure to bring earplugs :)
GLAMPERS PLEASE NOTE
The Glamping Kitchenette is suitable for making small quick meals with the use of a microwave, oven & stove for cooking and grilling and a toaster and kettle, there is also a fridge provided.
Showers and toilets are shared with the campsite with the exception of gas powered outside showers that are solely for glampers.
We are a VERY dog-friendly venue, we welcome dogs and muddy boots and host many hikers and explorers of the Norfolk Coast, although every care has been taken to ensure very clean accommodation, it is possible that a dog hair or 2 escapes our conscientious eye, please bear this in mind and let us know should you find anything you are not happy with, we will get our housekeeping team to deal with the issue swiftly!
Please note that the Glamping Bell Tents and Glamping Shepherds Huts are for 2 adults only with the exception of 1 Adult and 1 Child with prior consent from us, they are not suitable for under 2's and do not come with facilities for children or babies. Dogs are charged at £10 per dog per stay with a max of 3 dogs for Glamping and £3 per night per dog for Camping
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Freshwinds Camping
15 units · Tents5 acres · Watermill Lane, England
Think this 'great outdoors' lark is all tangled-up tent and midge-repellant? Then Freshwinds is the spot for you.
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£12
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Small Meadow Farm
3 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Fairlight, England
This low-impact, off-grid campsite is set within a working permaculture fruit and herb farm, with a small flock of sheep that are helping restore a wildflower meadow. There is a strip of woodland at the top of my field where you can escape summer heat under the trees and put up hammocks or hammock tents.
I am offering only two pitches at any one time (up to 6 people per pitch). Each pitch has their own fire pit at the top of the field near the woodland, with camping lower on the slope nearer to shower unit and compost toilet. Each pitch also has its own compost toilet tent in the woodland, near the fire.
Should the weather be uncertain there is the option of renting the group tent in addition to fire and camping areas, the group tent has a yoga deck/ flat outside area and can be used for sleeping or hanging out. Up on the top field we can open the horsebox as a field shelter/ field kitchen at a small extra cost, great for keeping food and camp cookers in when your are off exploring the beaches and surrounds.
There are stunning far-reaching views form the fire pits and even more stunning views of Rye Bay, a short walk away on Mountain Field or at the Balehouse -which is the info centre and cafe of the Hastings Country park.
Nature and the species I'm surrounded by are paramount, such as butterflies, wildflowers and birds. The whole site is full of birdsong, especially up near the woodland by the fire pits. At night you get clear views of the stars and my favourite thing is to wake up in the morning in the summer, seeing the dew on the grass, connecting with natural peacefulness and first rays of sun. In May the woodland and field are covered in bluebells and the blossom in the permaculture orchard is astounding. Do bring a yoga mat at stretch first thing on the yoga deck!
Please Note: This is a working farm so farmer and woofer(s) are sometimes on site, in areas that are not part of the camping facilities.
New option for 2024, exclusive rental of campsite, £250 for up to 10 people, 5 extras at extra £20 a night!
Why not meet friends and family on the field and enjoy the scenery over a fire, BBQ or giant cook out/ picnic.
It's a very peaceful and natural spot, yet only 10 minutes drive away from the Old Town in Hastings with all the music, people and festivals that go on. It really is the best of both worlds and I'm happy to share it!
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Dog-friendly getaways
Under £50
Coastal campsites in Hainault Forest guide
Overview
Once part of the Forest of Essex, this age-old 280-acre expanse sprawling northeast from London has been protected since back in the 12th century. Dive into its horse-riding, cycling and walking routes, keeping an eye out for some of the 130 bird species among the trickling streams, whispering oak trees and wide-open heathland. A ‘monster trail’ keeps kids busy, and the whole area is dog-friendly. Autumn is a delightful season to explore Hainault Forest, with foliage slipping into rust-red clothes, while spring is perfect for vibrant blooms. You’ll want to book nearby campsites well ahead, especially in July and August when things get busy.
Where to go
Lee Valley Country Park
Beyond Hainault Forest itself, campers can explore the nearby Lee Valley, which stretches along the River Lea northeast from London into Buckinghamshire and Essex. Some of it was transformed into London’s Olympic Park for the 2012 games, bringing a welcome green lung to the capital’s east. Its handful of campsites take in tent spots, caravan parks, cosy lodges and pre-pitched safari tents, while adventure activities swing from white-water rafting to rowing along the river to leisurely horse riding.
Epping Forest
Another favourite nature spot on London’s fringes, Epping Forest sits just north of Hainault on the Essex-Hertfordshire border. With endless hiking paths, cycling routes, horseback trails and everything from paintball to windsurfing, you’ll be spoilt for entertainment. And while you can’t pitch up in the forest itself, there are wild-camping and caravanning sites on its edges.
Kent Coast
Kent’s beach-strung northern coastline awaits within a two-hour drive of Hainault Forest, offering up lively, bohemian beach towns such as Whitstable and Margate alongside miles of seaside walks, plenty of watersports and tempting ocean-view camping spots.
Suffolk Coast
Trundle less than two hours east from Hainault Forest to reach the pretty villages, Tudor mansions and pastel-painted resorts dotted around Suffolk’s sleepy littoral, not to mention the unmissable Algo-Saxon burial mounds at Sutton Hoo. Rewarding hikes lead along the 96-km Suffolk Coast Path, with tempting stops including Aldeburgh. There’s also fabulous coastal cycling, along with sunset horse rides along the golden beaches.
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