Dernwood Farm Wild Camping

Dernwood Farm offers wild camping and rustic off-grid glamping among the ancient trees of a Sussex woodland. You arrive here down leafy lanes then check in with your lovely hosts at the farm shop and cafe which doubles as campsite reception. The car and all the stress of the journey are abandoned as you make your way to your home for a night or two. Whether it’s a bell tent, a cabin, or simply a patch of grass in the field, the walk through woodland with wheelbarrows sets the tone for your stay. You slow down, take in your surroundings, enjoy a bit of nature’s magic… and breathe.

As you make your way through the trees, the glampers are signposted off to their private clearings in the woods. The site’s wagon, shepherd’s hut, cabin, and safari tent each have their own personality, quirks, and space but do have some similarities. They are all furnished with made-up beds, their own loo, the means to cook, and a fire pit outside. The wagon and the cabin both have a hot tub too. There are also three bell tents which come well equipped – but without bedding included.

If you’ve come with your own tent, you finally emerge into the main camping field to find a car-free, sheltered idyll that you can access only on foot. It’s a lovely spot where you choose your own pitch. It’s the kind of place that once you’re in, you’re in. With tree swings, dens, and footpaths through the surrounding 70 acres of trees, why would you go anywhere else? Okay, so you might want a shower at some point. If so, just toddle back up to the main facilities (there are loos in the field, but no showers). Those are close to where you parked your car and, while you’re there, perhaps pop into the cafe and shop. It’s stocked with everything you need for a weekend of camping including farm-fresh burgers, bacon, and eggs. If you want more than that, how about a long walk to the local pub? Or a trip out to some of the nearby Sussex attractions: Drusilla’s Zoo Park, the Bluebell Railway or even the beach at Pevensey Bay.