Housedean Farm Campsite

Slap, bang in the heart of the peaceful, undulating East Sussex Downs lies Housedean Farm, a 900-acre family-run farm. Being right on the doorstep of some of rural England's loveliest scenery, this is a walker's Disneyland, but if you don't come here specifically for a jaunty stroll, Hipcamp advises (especially on a bright blue summers day) you do surrender to the irresistible draw of the South Downs Way, and get walking. You won't regret it.

With 25 or so spacious, well-kept pitches, three wooden camping pods and one shepherd's hut, Housedean campsite caters for well-schooled campers and novices alike. The recently-installed bathroom facilities (5 toilets and 4 showers) are also worth mentioning; a modern yet simple block, always immaculately kept, with the open-air hot shower a real highlight. Campers can lather, rinse and repeat whilst gazing up at the fluffy Sussex clouds.

One of Housedean's plus points has to be its close proximity to the public transport-friendly A27, allowing visitors to easily explore the local and wider area (including bohemian Brighton & the charming hillside town of Lewes) without the prerequisite of a car. There is, in fact, a bus stop right outside the campsite, so car-less campers could make the trip from Brighton train station relatively easily. However, that juxtaposition may also be classed as a disadvantage for those wanting to completely ‘get away from it all.’ The background hum of the road can be heard, and while it's not too intrusive (the camping fields are located at the rear of the farm), it is definitely noticeable. In any case, the campers here don't ever seem bothered by it; there's too much else to be distracted by.

After an exhilarating day exploring the winding trails, river valleys and Saxon churches of the South Downs Way you will not doubt be looking for a serene setting to watch the world go by. And as luck would have it the rolling Down-land vistas at Housedean Farm fit the bill. The sites welcoming owners have stuck to their roots and created a campsite that doesn’t pretend to be anything it's not; it’s a genuine, traditional working farm, and that’s just how we like it.