Dernwood Farm Wild Camping
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Does your other half accuse you of communicating only in grunts? Do the stresses of modern life make you hanker for a return to hunter-gathering? Find your inner Neolithic (wo)man with some wild camping at Dernwood Farm Wild Camping, where the woods have been a popular spot with campers for 4,500 years.
Luckily, there’s no need to follow the Caveman Diet. Get your campfire blazing and bag yourself some succulent steak, bangers and bacon from the farm shop (rated among the Top 5 in the country by the 2010 Rough Guide to Camping). Even better, the meat comes from Sussex cattle and Saddleback/Large White pigs raised happily in these very fields, i.e. zero food miles. Given its quality, Dernwood Farm's produce is understandably popular, so it’s worth ordering your meat in advance to be sure of getting exactly what you want.
The large wild camping field is tucked away in the midst of 70 acres of ancient woodland, and no cars are allowed, so you’ll need to trundle your gear down a leafy lane using the barrows and trolleys supplied. Once you’ve settled in, you can get to back to nature with some tree climbing, camp building and wildlife spotting: badgers, bunnies, buzzards and fallow deer are all found in these woods.
The family that runs Dernwood Farm keep a strict limit on numbers so you definitely won’t be tripping over other campers, and the only music you’ll hear will be the homemade kind...
While the emphasis is on a tranquil, rustic and eco-friendly experience, there are a few nods to modernity: two loos, a covered washing-up area and a stand pipe, and you can borrow a solar shower. Logs and tripods for the campfires are also available on site. Dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on the lead.
With the addition of three lovely bell tents and the ultimate in camping luxury, the safari tent, which is enough to entice even the most reluctant of campers out into the woods, you’ll definitely be feeling more civilised after a few nights under the stars here...
Nearby attractions and activities
Guests can hire one of the site’s bikes and head off down the Cuckoo Trail, 11 miles of former railway track that’s been converted into a wildlife-friendly green corridor from Heathfield to Eastbourne Park. The surfaced path is great for ramblers and horse riders, too.
The moated splendour of Herstmonceux (bless you!) Castle will blow you away; take a tour of the interiors and the Elizabethan walled gardens before hitting the tea shop. Adjacent to the castle are the domes, telescopes and hands-on fun of the Observatory Science Centre (combined tickets are available).
Eight miles away from Dernwood is “Bateman’s”, the beautiful Jacobean home of Rudyard Kipling, preserved in its original splendour by the National Trust.
Attractions near Dernwood Farm Wild Camping
Must see
- Drusillas Park (8.0 miles)
- Batemans (8.2 miles)
- Alfriston Clergy House (9.1 miles)
National Trust
- Bateman's (8.1 miles)
- Alfriston Clergy House (9.2 miles)
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Activities near Dernwood Farm Wild Camping
Mayfield - Batt's Wood - Wadhurst Deer-Park - Mayfield (6.3 miles) Walking
Mayfield - Renhurst Farm - Bassetts - Mayfield (6.3 miles) Walking
Berwick - Alciston - Firle - Glynde - Lewes (6.8 miles) Walking
Overall rating based
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Excellent for wild campers! Pontydoo (With friends, 1 review, 0 photos)
Liked: The walk through the ancient forest to get to the site was great. Disliked: facilities very basic but fine. |
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Just lovely JayneMc (With friends, 1 review, 0 photos)
Liked: The surrounding woodland; the amazing produce available from the farm; being allowed campfires; quiet, but not too quiet; close to London! Disliked: Nothing. |
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Leisure on site
Bar or club house
Cycle hire
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Fitness centre
Games room
Indoor swimming pool
Kids' club
On-site restaurant/cafe
Outdoor swimming pool
Play area
TV room
Take away
Tennis
Watersports
Amenities on site
Bath available
Car parking by pitch
Disabled facilities
Drying room
Food shop
Free wifi
Ice pack freezing
Internet access
Launderette
Local produce
Parent & baby washroom
Pick-up from public transport
Public telephone
Shower available
Tents for hire
Toilet block
Washing-up area
Wifi
Utilities
Charging facilities
Chemical disposal
Gas cylinders available
Recycling available
Renewable energy
Rules
Campfires allowed
Commercial vehicles allowed
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed all year
Themes
Forest
Gastronomic delight
Gay friendly
Luxury
Peaceful
Wild camping
Wildlife haven
Nearby leisure
Climbing nearby
Cycle hire nearby
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Golf nearby
Horse riding nearby
Indoor pool nearby
Outdoor pool nearby
Restaurant nearby
Sailing nearby
Tennis nearby
Groups welcome
Family friendly
Motorcycle friendly
Single-sex groups welcome
Student groups welcome
Nearby amenities
Bar nearby
Nearby farmers' market
Public transport nearby
Shop nearby
Type
Farm
Small (11-25 pitches)
Camping 2.0
Bell tents
Pre-erected tents
Tipis, yurts, or wigwams
Ordnance Survey maps (GB and Northern Ireland only) are available at lower levels via the drop-down menu.
Nearest transport
- Coach stations
-
Golden Cross (East Sussex): Coach Stop — 3.2mi
Hailsham Coach Stop — 5.2mi
Uckfield Bus Terminal — 5.7mi
- Train stations
-
Buxted Rail Station — 5.3mi
Uckfield Rail Station — 5.6mi
Berwick (Sussex) Rail Station — 6.8mi
- Ferry ports
-
Newhaven Harbour Ferry Terminal — 12.1mi
- Airports
-
London Gatwick Airport — 22.5mi
London Gatwick Airport South Terminal — 22.5mi
Shoreham Brighton City Airport — 23.1mi
Directions
By car:
From Brighton: estimated 40 min journey
From London: estimated 2hr journey
**Note to Sat Nav users: our postcode covers a number of different farms and some sat navs end at Summersbrook Farm to the north and Stream Farm to the south. Please just keep going and you will find us!**
Directions from Golden Cross:
Find Golden Cross on the A22, heading to Eastbourne from East Grinstead
Turn to the left towards Chiddingly, just after the BP garage and opposite the Golden Cross pub
You are now off the main road and on the lanes
After 1 mile, you'll reach a T-junction where you need to turn left to Chiddingly and pass through Chiddingly village (the Six Bells pub is on your left, on a sharp left hand bend)
300 yards after the pub, take the first right hand turn into Parsonage lane on the way back the other end of this road is called Honeywick, just to confuse you more!
At the end of this lane there is a T-junction - go left
A further 400 yards along this road, the road splits into a Y junction - left to Stalkers Lane, and right to Dern Lane - take the right hand fork down the hill to Dern Lane.
Continue for 1 mile - you will pass a farm called Longshaw Farm on the left and Dernwood is the next farm on the left.
The carpark is located at the top of the drive through the wooden gate, please park up and come to the house or farm office by the house
Directions from Horam:
Head thorough the village on the A267 heading north west towards Cross in Hand.
After passing a small service station on the right hand side turn left onto the lanes at Furnance Lane.
After 1 mile take the first left turn signposted to Chiddingly.
Little Dernwood Farm is 1 mile down this road on the right at the top of the hill, opposite Copford Farm.
By train:
London Victoria to Lewes
London Bridge to Uckfield or Berwick
Local Taxis:
Heathfield Cars 01435 867222
Jayline 01323 442233
To & Fro 01435 866668
Reliable Taxis 01825 764 546
Permitted arrival time
2 pm
Cancellation policy
Please contact us in advance in the event of a cancellation.
Please note that your deposit paid to Pitchup.com is non-refundable.
Payment of balance
Cash or cheque payment on arrival please. Cards not accepted.
Cards accepted on the park
None.
Terms and conditions
Site booking terms and conditionsPlease note
Large group bookings not allowed. No unaccompanied under-18s.
The camping field is a ten-minute walk through the woods from the car park. If it has been raining, this track is likely to be muddy in places. We do provide wheel barrows to help you get your gear to the field, but remember whatever you bring you will have to carry.
Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com:
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Owlsbury Park
Crowborough, East Sussex Show on map |
| Non-electric hardstanding pitch | 4 x | From £13 per night | |
| Non-electric grass pitch | 4 x | From £13 per night |
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The Bull's Head
Herstmonceux, East Sussex Show on map |
| Non-electric grass tent pitch | 4 x | From £15 per night | |
| Non-electric pitch for tourers and motorhomes | 4 x | From £20 per night |
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Housedean Farm Campsite
Lewes, East Sussex Show on map |
| Non-electric tent pitch | 10 x | From £18 per night | |
| Bell tent | 6 x | From £60 per night |
