Wild Boar Wood Campsite

Wild Boar campsite is a real hidden gem. So hidden in fact, you might have trouble finding it, so follow the directions carefully. Once in the know, you will arrive to find the most beautifully secluded campsite, tucked into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the rolling East Sussex countryside; a very private site, nestled in five-acres woodland, adorned with bluebells in the Spring and surrounded by 35 acres of fields. Alongside the fields runs the Bluebell Railway line, where you can wave at the passing heritage steam trains. It is here, in this magical woods, that you will find nine pretty Bell Tents, set up and ready to go. Your wild camping adventure can begin.

The Bell Tents are burrowed in and among the trees and each is 5 metres wide, comfortably sleeping a family of 6. Inside, there are comfy beds, a table, cooking equipment, a kettle and crockery. There are drinking water taps on the site and each tent is supplied with a 25 litre container so you don’t have to keep running backwards and forwards to the tap everytime you want a drink. It is simple, authentic camping….in style. The site is kept car free, so you’ll be wheelbarrowing your stuff across the fields from the car park to unpack at your Bell Tent, but having pre-pitched glamping tents means you shouldn’t have to bring too much from home. Wild Boar campsite is off-grid, so the only illumination here comes from solar lights, wind-up lanterns, low energy led battery units and the moon, meaning little light pollution and gorgeous starry nights.

Also in the woodland camp, you will find eco flushing toilets - built by a carpenter from local larch - a covered communal area with a large fire pit, perfect for getting together for meals around the fire. Wild Boar campsite also has a garden shed crammed with allsorts: local information, maps, walking routes, books to borrow, a hob to boil your kettle and treats to buy like handpicked herbal tea and marshmallows. You are actively encouraged to make a campfire from scratch and cook on it - none of this matches nonsense (although actually they are provided) - and in fact you are actively encouraged to take part in a whole raft of Swallows and Amazons type adventures here. In this environment, you probably won’t have to think too hard about it; your body will just take over and you’ll start whittling sticks and spotting birds on autopilot as you enter the woodland. Go bug hunting, build a den, explore the woods and look out for all sorts of wildlife - deer, badgers, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, bats, stoats, weasels - East Sussex is home to a rich array of flora and fauna. The showers are an experience in themselves; traditional bucket showers. There are not many opportunities to shower while listening to birdsong or looking at the treetops and it will be the one time your kids have no qualms about getting a wash! Not only are bucket showers brilliantly authentic, they are very eco friendly, conserving a huge amount of water compared to a regular shower.

It’s hard to believe this slice of paradise is situated close to London, with the colourful streets of Brighton only 30 minutes away. For anyone wanting to explore the south coast of England, Wild Boar glamping is certainly an excellent place to stay, but for others, simply the experience of exploring the woodland campsite itself and having the time to reconnect with nature, take life slowly and adventure around the great outdoors will make for a wonderful and memorable camping holiday.