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Tomkins Farm

95%

· North Chailey, England

15 acres hosted by Philip O.

1 glamping pitch · 40 motorhome/tent pitches

Best tent sites: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Relaxed camping beside a lake on an East Sussex farm, with alpacas, llamas, and camels

Tomkins Farm is the sort of place you can pitch up with your friends, family and dog in tow for a weekend of good old-fashioned camping. Campfires are allowed, groups are welcome and you can park up next to your pitch. Kids can roam the little on-site woodland to climb trees, build dens, get muddy and generally have a good time. This is the epitome of laid-back camping in the Sussex countryside – with the added bonus of some rather unusual farm animals in the surrounding fields. Tomkins Farm is home to alpacas, llamas and camels, alongside its flock of sheep.

This 40-pitch campsite (formerly known as Alpaca Camp) is spread over two neighbouring fields with generously-sized grass pitches for tents and small campervans only. Situated centre-stage at each pitch is an off-ground fire pit made from an old washing machine drum. And as the sun starts to set, owner Philip does the rounds to see if you’d like some logs for a campfire under the stars. This is your chance to ask him for tips on the local area too.

If you’re after a walk, he’ll likely point you in the direction of The Anchor Inn. It’s a walk of four miles through lovely countryside which culminates at a pub with a riverside setting and boats for hire to add to the appeal. Or he might suggest you drive in that direction instead, to launch into the water for a swim or paddleboard at nearby Barcombe Mills. There’s plenty more to do within easy reach (Lewes, Brighton, the steam trains of the Bluebell Railway and so on) but this is the kind of campsite where kicking back by the campfire and letting the kids run wild is the best adventure of all.

Activities

Biking

Boating

Hiking

Paddling

Natural features

Field

Farm

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95%

115 Ratings · 69 reviews

Roshni R.

September 25, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

Refreshing and relaxing short trip

Overall is okay . Pitch were quite closer to each other. Beautiful night sky view. And the animals were so cute. Just upset with the host because I find him quite rude to us. It’s okay but not prefer for long stay. Good for short refreshing and relaxing.

Patrick L.recommends

September 18, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

Great camp site

Peaceful camp site. Friendly host, great walking trails around the area. Love seeing the alpacas and camels too!

Xavi G.recommends

September 13, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

One of the best spots to camp!

A really amazing spot to camp and wake up to the sun on the lake as you unzip the tent. Having the fire pit with us overlooking the lake in the evening was a real treat. Also seeing the Llamas, Alpacas and camels it’s amazing to be so close to the animals. Facilities really good (for a campsite!) and the outdoor showers is definitely not something to be put off by… had a shower in the morning in the rain but with the hot shower on, it was the most relaxed I’ve felt in years!

Sukhjit S.recommends

September 11, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

S G

It was lovely campsite, toilets and showers basic but clean. Good location for walks and see animals. Enjoyed the pizzas cooked on site on Saturday.

Mark ?.recommends

September 10, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

Friendly site

Friendly people running the site, large pitches, basic (as the description says) but clean facilities. I especially liked that they prepared their own fire cooked pizza (very tasty) and that they sold coffee and snacks in the morning - these may only be weekend things (I stayed over the weekend) but it’s a nice touch

Kat O.recommends

September 3, 2023

Camping at Tomkins Farm

Wide pitches; lovely hosts, great pizza on Saturday and lamas too. Thanks. X

Location

North Chailey, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Philip O.Joined in May 2022

From the host

This family friendly site is a peaceful rural retreat that welcomes families, groups and couples. Only 15 minutes from Barcombe Mills, you'll be able to relax whilst still having plenty to do nearby. There are grass pitches, none of which have electric hook up. These spacious pitches allow tents, trailer tents and small camper vans to set up at this lovely spot. If you want electric hook up, wifi and 5 star facilities we are not for you! The site is basic but functional. We specialise is family gathering as we are, due to size of our pitches, able to offer the ability for you as a group to pitch in a large circle around a fire pit! If this is off interest give me a call. 07801109243 With Brighton just half an hour down the road and home to stunning pebble beaches, this is a great choice to explore both the countryside and coast. Dogs are allowed but please keep them on the lead at all times as there are resident farm animals, including sheep, alpacas and camels! Fire pits can be provided and are perfect for toasting marshmallows after a busy day exploring or just relaxing around under the stars. We recommend that you take out holiday insurance to cover any eventuality where you may not be able to stay with us as we are only able to offer a full refund up to 30 days prior to your arrival.

Nearby attractions

You can walk out into the Sussex countryside on footpaths straight from site with the most popular route cross country to the River Ouse and The riverside Anchor Inn (see below) where you can hire rowing boats. Nearby Barcombe Mills is a popular spot for wild swimming, paddleboarding or pleasant waterside walks. The town of Lewes with its castle, high street of independent shops and lido, Pells Pool, is seven miles away and sits on the edge of the South Downs National Park. There, you’ll find more scenic walking, mountain biking and horse riding on the South Downs Way National Trail. The south coast is just the other side of the Downs with Brighton the big and busy attraction. Its pier, beach, seafront and quirky shops are 14 miles from site.

Food and drink

There’s an on-site bar, The Camel’s Hump, which opens when demand is there (most weekends in summer) and food vans visit on busier Saturday and Sunday mornings serving coffee and breakfasts. There are occasionally other visiting food trucks too, check with owner Philip if any are planned for your stay. The closest off-site pub is The Five Bells in Chailey (01825 722259), 10 minutes’ walk away. Book if you want to eat. Another good option is The Anchor Inn (01273 400414) which has a riverside setting and boats available for hire. The closest shop is a small convenience store and off licence in Chailey, a 30-minute walk or five-minute drive away, with more shops and pubs in Newick, a 10-minute drive from site. There are plenty of good places to eat and drink in Lewes (seven miles from site) and there’s a farmer’s market there on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

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