Battle Pods & Bells

Battle Pods and Bells sits on the leafy edge of the East Sussex town of Battle offering a kind of back-to-basics glamping. The area is known as 1066 country as it was here that the Battle of Hastings took place in… well—1066, of course. Today it’s an altogether more peaceful place of little independent shops and eateries, where an English Heritage card comes in handy if you want to see the sights. All this, and the fact that it’s just seven miles from the beach at Hastings and about 90 minutes outside London, make it a great place for a weekend away. 

There are six bell tents, each sleeping four, and four pods, each sleeping two. But what do we mean by back-to-basics glamping? Is that really possible? Well, on the one hand, visitors here are glamping as there’s no need to set up a tent—or even to bring your own bedding. But on the other hand, there aren't many mod cons and there’s little to distract you from the natural surroundings. That means the whole woodland meadow is off grid and the facilities are simple: a couple of compost loos, a couple of shower cubicles, and little else besides. This place offers a simple way of life. Campfires are allowed (in hired off-ground fire pits) and you can order in logs. What’s not provided is cooking kit. As a result, if you want more than a jacket spud from the fire, make sure to bring your own gear.

The alternative to campfire cooking, of course, is to head out for a meal and, here, that’s not hard to do. Host, Philippa, counts six pubs within walking distance, though in the evening we’d suggest jumping in the car. The battlefield and abbey commemorating 1066 are the must-see sight in the area but there are lesser shouted-about pleasures too. The glamping site neighbours the 450-acre Battle Great Woods which is perfect for woodland walks, there’s a little museum in town, and it’s a short drive to plenty of other Sussex sights; not least of which is the South Coast, a 20-minute drive away.