Camping in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

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On the southern borders of the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is one of the region’s most visited attractions. Explore 130 hectares of ancient woodlands, where the giant Yew trees and twisted branches create a fairy-tale backdrop. Look out for birds and butterflies as you follow the nature trails—the reserve is home to woodpeckers, buzzards, and many rare butterflies. North of the forest, climb up to the lookout point at Bow Hill for views across the Sussex countryside, and discover the Bronze age barrows (burial mounds) known as the Devil’s Humps.

97% (2.4K) 2,908 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

The Barn KT9

1. The Barn KT9

98%
(323)
Chessington, England · 16 units · Tents, Glamping
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
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Oak Valley Lodges & Camping

2. Oak Valley Lodges & Camping

92%
(70)
England · 32 units
At Oak Valley Campsite, simplicity and space are part of the charm. Tucked among ancient oaks in the gentle countryside of Pett, East Sussex, this peaceful spot is all about traditional camping. Pitches are generous, grassy, and flat – ideal for tents and campers who like room to breathe. There are hot showers, proper loos, and fresh water on tap. At night, toast marshmallows around a hired fire pit, watch the stars, and enjoy the quiet. Explore local walks, pop down to Winchelsea Beach, or lose a few hours in the pretty streets of Rye, just 15 minutes away. Need to know: - No electric hook-up - Family-friendly & dog-friendly - Fire pits and logs available - Check-in from 2 pm
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Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

3. Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

97%
(130)
Pulborough, England · 56 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Friendly camping and glamping on a Sussex farm, with animals to meet, a pond to swim in, and the South Downs nearby.
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Pett Coastal Camping

4. Pett Coastal Camping

100%
(11)
Hastings, England · 25 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Simple pop-up pitches in 11 acres of farm fields on the East Sussex coast Drinking water taps Compostable toilet in field Small shop on farm site, (milk, eggs, apple juice, yoghurt) Back to nature star-gazing opportunities Open field camping Very low light pollution Large meadow, pick your own pitch on the grass Pett Level beach 10 mins walk Hastings and Rye only a 15 minute drive away Camber sands 25 mins away Families welcome Sorry no dogs please as on a working sheep farm Perfect for tents and campervans, off grid camping No electricity or grey waste facilities here Nestled within the green rolling hills of Pett, Lunsford Farm opens its flowery meadows for the month of August once more. This is an unique opportunity to enjoy the East Sussex coast overlooking the expansive seashore of Pett Level under the stars on ancient meadow farmland. If you enjoy the proper simple camping experience, you will be in your element! The pebbly and sandy beach of Pett (10 mins walk down the hill) offers a refreshing dip and during low tide an array of rock pools are waiting to be explored in the 6500 year old sunken forest. There are ample places to feed hungry tummies, either at the beachfront cafe, weekend food truck, or up in the village at one of the two pubs that serve great food. The simple shop in the farmyard stocks fresh eggs from the farm’s own chickens, local milk, yogurt, and apple juice from the farm’s orchard. There are also logs to purchase for your campfire. Campfires are permitted as long as they are raised off the ground so as not to burn the ancient grassland which does not repair. We are happy to be able to offer a small number of firepits to hire for a returnable deposit, or bring your own to avoid missing out. With no nearby lights, light pollution is low which makes for a stunning starry nights sky when cloud conditions allow. You will be utterly amazed how many stars you can see, and perhaps discover new ones. A five minute walk (you will need torches for night walking) brings you to the village of Pett. Here you can enjoy a relaxing pint or a good meal at the Royal Oak pub, visit the Tic Tokory tea shop or hang out in the play park in the cricket/recreational field. There is also the Two Sawyers pub 5 mins further on that serves excellent food. As the campsite is situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it can function as a great base for a multitude of walks or bike rides, vineyard tours, or just a general ramble around the towns of Rye, Winchelsea, Old Town Hastings or further afield.
Potable water
Chalky Downs

5. Chalky Downs

96%
(620)
Brighton, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Traditional tent camping in a stunningly-located South Downs farm, just down the road from buzzing Brighton
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Setts Wood Camping and Glamping

6. Setts Wood Camping and Glamping

100%
(6)
England · 14 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
We look forward to welcoming you to Setts Wood Farm and will provide you with all you need for a relaxing and rewarding visit to Tenterden and The Weald. We offer a selection of bell tents or you can bring your own tent. The camping is set across 2 fields and extends to 12 acres. We have a maximum of 30 tents so it is never crowded. Come and meet the alpacas, sheep, pigs, goats and horses! We also have a small fishing lake which guests are welcome to use for a small donation. We restocked last year and there are carp and several species of smaller silver fish. It is ideal for beginners and children. Any children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Setts Wood Farm is perfectly positioned to explore Tenterden and the surrounding villages, and is less than a 20 minute drive to the historic town of Rye, with the beaches of Camber, Dymchurch and Littlestone just a few minutes further.
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Camping at Tomkins Farm

7. Camping at Tomkins Farm

96%
(182)
North Chailey, England · 41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Relaxed camping beside a lake on an East Sussex farm, with alpacas, llamas, and camels
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Littleton Farm Campsite

8. Littleton Farm Campsite

95%
(38)
Upwaltham, England · 20 units
Nestled in a valley on the South Downs Way, Littleton Farm Campsite offers a secluded spot for enjoying the countryside. Welcoming tent campers only, the site offers non electric pitches with plenty of space for everyone to have some peace and quiet. Grab breakfast from the onsite Cadence Cafe, spend days exploring picturesque walking routes and evenings by the campfire. Arundel and Chichester are within 20 minutes drive. A great base for exploring the South Downs and all that West Sussex has to offer. For events at Goodwood or for walkers and cyclists on the South Downs Way, the site is also an ideal spot for escaping the crowds. There are 20 non electric grass pitches onsite, each welcoming tents only. Each pitch allows up to six guests, with plenty of space for tents and gazebos with no extra charges other than on a per-person basis. Unloading is allowed by the pitches with parking in the designated car park. Wake up to fantastic rural views and grab a bite to eat from the onsite cafe, which also serves a delicious cup of coffee. Days can be spent enjoying long walks in beautiful open countryside, exploring the charming nearby towns and villages, or down by the coast, only 25 minutes away. In the evenings, guests can cook up a BBQ or relax by the campfire. Please note, the site is dog free.
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Plum Camping in May Tree Orchard

9. Plum Camping in May Tree Orchard

100%
(32)
Cranbrook · 8 units · Tents, Glamping
Simple camping and comfortable glamping amongst organic fruit trees, wild flowers and woodland, bordering an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with some of the darkest night skies in Europe. In the beautiful High Weald of Kent, Tash and Nick have been running May Tree Orchard's low-impact, nature-friendly, seasonal campsite, Plum Camping, for the last 5 years. The Soil Association certified organic land is full of wild flowers and surrounded by woodland and other orchards. Electricity and hot water for showers and washing up is solar generated. So you can charge your phone if necessary, but we'd recommend stargazing and enjoying the quiet warmth of friends and family around an evening fire instead. Bring your own tent, stay in the delightful hand-made shepherd’s hut or stylish caravan, or hire the whole May Tree Orchard space. Numbers are kept low here so that there is always plenty of room for everyone, as well as peace and quiet. The campsite is an hour and a half drive from London and a 20 min walk to the sleepy and pretty village of Goudhurst, with pubs selling great food and two local shops for self-catering. There are also two excellent farm shops within walking distance. Close to May Tree Orchard, there are walks via Sissinghurst, Scotney and Bodiam Castle, and water activities on the River Rother and at Bewl Water. Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest is a ten-minute drive from the campsite and the coast around Hastings and Rye is just over 30 minutes. An amazing independent food business, Growing Communities, sells pears, apples and plums grown at the orchard in their box scheme serving North and South London, and you can also buy them from the Pear Necessities stall at Stoke Newington Farmers Market. Delicious apple juice and tasty chutney made from the organic apples grown in the orchard are available to purchase on site, as well as plum preserve and orchard plums.
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Lordington Park Camping

10. Lordington Park Camping

99%
(56)
Chichester · 16 units
Set on glorious parkland in the middle of the South Downs National Park, Lordington Park really is a wonderful countryside escape. A 15 minutes’ drive from Chichester, our rustic camping field has views over rolling countryside. Spectacular sunsets and sunrises can be expected on cloudless days. Escape the hustle and bustle of every day life in our peaceful rural campsite, with spacious grass pitches big enough for you to have lots of private space. Each pitch has a firepit for barbecues, and there is access to composting toilets, a shower block with warm water, and fresh drinking water. Please note there is no electricity on this simple site. Vehicles are not allowed to park on the camping field, but parking is provided a stone’s throw away. Wheelbarrows are provided to help you get your kit from car to tent. Countryside walks and cycle paths lead directly from your pitch. There are several pubs in the local area – the nearest being 10 minutes’ stroll away. We have a tea room on site, open Thursday - Sunday 10am-3pm. Near by local attractions: Goodwood Weald and downland museum West wittering beach Hayling island Portsmouth historic dockyard Chichester festival theatre Arundel castle Cowdray park Various national trust property’s And many more…
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Far and Away Camping

11. Far and Away Camping

100%
(52)
England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Nestled within the heart of the Kent countryside, Far and Away allows you to escape into a rural, peaceful and wild campsite. The skies are full of song birds and birds of prey, hot air balloons dominate the still summer evenings and there is always a spitfire or biplane circling from the local aerodrome. With close to zero light pollution, the night skies are a stunning way to end the day not to mention Far and Away sunrise and sunsets are also worth staying up for! Immerse yourself in the heart of the beautiful Kent countryside and take advantage of the many public footpaths around the campsite. Far and Away is 1.2 miles away from Headcorn village where you can find a host of local amenities, shops, pubs and restaurants. There is also a host of National Trust sites within a short drive including Sissinghurst Castle and many wonderful villages to visit including medieval Biddenden and the magical market town of Tenterden. Next to junction 8 of the M20 there is also Leeds Castle, only a 20 minute drive from Far and Away and the Big Cat Sanctuary is only a few fields away. At night you can hear the roar of the wild cats really making it feel like you are Far and Away!
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Hook Farm Campsite

12. Hook Farm Campsite

98%
(216)
East Grinstead, England · 13 units
Blissfully back-to-basics camping in the heart of the West Sussex High Weald
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Field and Fallow Pop-Up Campsite

13. Field and Fallow Pop-Up Campsite

100%
(3)
Haywards Heath, England · 5 units
Child free campsite- please note before booking :) Come and stay in the beautiful West Sussex countryside, less than an hour from London. Nestled amongst rolling fields and ancient woodland, Field & Fallow offers the perfect escape. ​Our peaceful adults only campsite is surrounded by nature, with a lovely woodland, abundant wildlife and space to relax and reconnect. Created for Glastonbury Festival's fallow year, this new pop-up campsite is designed to bring people together in a friendly setting, welcoming friends, couples and solo travellers alike. We have a woodland sauna, a communal campfire (acoustic music is encouraged), badminton and table tennis. Please note the sauna is an additional cost. Nearby there are lots of beautiful walks and the Ardingly reservoir offers a range of water sports (8 minute drive). The famous bluebell railway is also within walking distance. Please be aware there is no mobile service at the campsite, which we see as a good opportunity to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. There is limited Wifi onsite if necessary. Please come and help us create somewhere special!
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Star Field Camping

14. Star Field Camping

97%
(62)
Cranbrook, England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Off-grid camping and glamping in the High Weald of Kent with campfires, acres of space and a farm shop on site
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Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

15. Sindles Farm Glamping and Camping

100%
(18)
Emsworth · 9 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
We are a small, friendly site on a working farm in the beautiful South Downs National Park. We have shepherds huts, bell tents and a land pod in an old sheep paddock, all with private fire pits. We’re surrounded by footpaths and bridleways that can be explored all day, and 10 minutes drive from the sea. We also have a small grass-pitch campsite that opens in the summer for tents and camper vans.
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Showers
Potable water
Glassenbury Camping

16. Glassenbury Camping

99%
(81)
Cranbrook, England · 33 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country
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Ditchling Boutique Camping

17. Ditchling Boutique Camping

86%
(29)
Ditchling, England · 100 units
Hunker down in a historic village, surrounded by vineyards, hilly countryside and some rather spectacular views. With Ditchling Camping as your base, you’ll be on track for rural bike rides or visiting Brighton and its busy coast 25 minutes’ drive away. That’s because this dog-friendly site is in Ditchling – a village in the splendid South Downs National Park and a rather excellent location for all sorts of days out. Good news if the whole family is tagging along: there’s plenty to play with around the site, including an adventure trail through the woodlands, a swing tree and places for kids to fashion their own little dens. The site is only a five-minute drive (or a 30-minute walk) from the traditional Jack and Jill windmills and the neighbouring family-run pub, which serves both grub and good ales. A vineyard is 15 minutes’ walk away from the site if you'd like to include a wine-tasting tour on your break. Otherwise, simply pedal along country lanes on the surrounding cycling routes (it’s easy enough to hire a bike locally). On your route, you might want to stop by in characterful Ditchling, home to local craftspeople and winemakers. There’s a nice selection of independent shops here, plus cosy cafés and pubs that will serve you a good spread of Sussex food, all within a 5-minute walk. Back on site, end the day with a cosy evening beside the fire-pits. The site facilities are nicely straightforward otherwise and include warm showers and a separate dishwashing area and of course our newly installed Composting Toilets.
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Housedean Farm Campsite

18. Housedean Farm Campsite

98%
(111)
Lewes, England · 4 units
Epic views of the South Downs, and a walker’s paradise, hidden sweetly on the South Downs Way
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Lagnersh camping

19. Lagnersh camping

77%
(108)
Bognor Regis, England · 45 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Dog-friendly camping near Chichester and the West Sussex coast
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Hill Top Farm Wild Camping

20. Hill Top Farm Wild Camping

96%
(23)
England · 2 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Hill Top Farm Wild Camping has just a few tiny pitches but the folk here keep the grass trimmed for easy pitching and you can park right next to the pitch. It's a tiny Wild Camping site with no running water, toilets or showers. What Noakes Meadow does have is plenty of space for you to enjoy and camp fires are definitely allowed. A wheelbarrow of fire wood can be purchased for £10 Cash/Paypal/Bank Transfer on arrival. This site is far away from the madding crowds though close to the M20 and A20 for easy access. A mere 10-minute stroll along the road is a fab 16th-century country inn for food and pints. On the other hand you could always fire up a barbie and sizzle some sausages or grab a take away from the chippie 7 minutes away in the nearby village of Lenham. This wild camping site operates a leave no trace policy so be prepared to bag up and take everything with you when you leave.
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Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve camping guide

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. South Downs campsites can book up quickly, especially in July and August, so reservations are always advised. Plan three to six months in advance for popular sites.
  2. If you do arrive without a reservation, it’s a good idea to secure a pitch first thing in the morning or call ahead, as available spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  3. You will need to pay a deposit to secure your campsite reservation, and many sites ask for the full payment prior to arrival. 
  4. Hiking and camping season in the South Downs runs from mid-March through early October, and many campsites close out of season. However, campsites open year-round often offer lower rates in low season.

When to go

Kingley Vale is magnificent in autumn, when fall foliage transforms the forest into a kaleidoscope of colour, while summer visitors flock to see the butterflies. Crowds descend on the reserve in July and August, so get there early to secure a parking spot or choose a quiet weekday out of season if you want the forest to yourself. Allergy sufferers might want to avoid visiting in spring—Yew pollen is notoriously allergenic.

Know before you go

  • Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is located within the South Downs National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Chichester. Direct trains run to Chichester from London Waterloo and take 1.5 hours.
  • Free parking is available at the West Stoke car park, at the south end of Kingley Vale.
  • Getting around the nature reserve is only possible on foot and uneven terrain means access for wheelchairs is very limited.
  • All land within the national reserve is privately owned and wild camping is not permitted anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time to visit Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is in autumn, when fall foliage transforms the forest into a kaleidoscope of colour. Summer visitors also flock to see the butterflies. Crowds descend on the reserve in July and August, so it's advisable to get there early to secure a parking spot or choose a quiet weekday out of season if you want the forest to yourself. Allergy sufferers might want to avoid visiting in spring—Yew pollen is notoriously allergenic. The reserve is located within the South Downs National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Chichester.

At Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve, you can expect to explore 130 hectares of ancient woodlands, where the giant Yew trees and twisted branches create a fairy-tale backdrop. Look out for birds and butterflies as you follow the nature trails—the reserve is home to woodpeckers, buzzards, and many rare butterflies. North of the forest, climb up to the lookout point at Bow Hill for views across the Sussex countryside, and discover the Bronze age barrows (burial mounds) known as the Devil’s Humps. The reserve is one of the region’s most visited attractions.

South Downs campsites can book up quickly, especially in July and August, so reservations are always advised. Plan three to six months in advance for popular sites. If you do arrive without a reservation, it’s a good idea to secure a pitch first thing in the morning or call ahead, as available spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need to pay a deposit to secure your campsite reservation, and many sites ask for the full payment prior to arrival. Hiking and camping season in the South Downs runs from mid-March through early October, and many campsites close out of season. However, campsites open year-round often offer lower rates in low season. You can also explore different options for camping near Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve on Hipcamp.

All land within the national reserve is privately owned and wild camping is not permitted anywhere. The reserve is located within the South Downs National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Chichester.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Popular Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve holidays