Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping

8.8 17 reviews
Visitor image of the view from yellow pitch
Visitor image of the view from yellow pitch
Visitor image of the view from yellow pitch
By the treeline
Countryside views over kent
Pastoral views
Looking towards the site
Parking next to pitch, weather permitting
Parking next to pitch, weather permitting
1/40

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  • Secluded and peaceful wild camping in the scenic North Downs
  • A 30-minute drive from Canterbury and from beaches in Whitstable
  • Within 10 minutes’ walk of a 16th-century inn serving food daily
Longing for the simple days of yore, when camping wasn’t all about the bells and whistles? Stake your claim on a spot at Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping, a family-friendly wild camping site five minutes’ drive from the village of Charing in Kent. This is wild camping at its most basic, with no running water or toilets on site (bringing both is a necessity, though public loos in Charing can be used in an emergency), so being comfortable without the comforts of home living is a must. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then this site will have everyone sleeping soundly. High on a hilltop in the North Downs, there are stunning views across Kent and south into East Sussex from the pitches, and the fact that it’s a tiny spot (with restricted numbers of guests) means it’s peaceful in the extreme. Days and nights can be spent next to the campfire and food is easily handled with barbecues or with a 10-minute stroll to the nearby 16th-century inn. When a change of scenery is needed, the site’s well placed for wanders through Kent: the long-distance Pilgrims Way walking trail linking Winchester and Canterbury is accessible less than 10 minutes’ easy stroll from the site, as is the North Downs Way, which follows the Pilgrims Way here for a stretch.

Campground type

Tent sites 4
Opens 23 July

Languages spoken

English

Open from Wed, 23 July to

Nearby campgrounds that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Kent?

Features

No dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

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 site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed

Themes

Peaceful Remote location Wild camping

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Farm Tiny (1-10 sites)

Nearby leisure

Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping

Sonestile Farm Road

Hart Hill

Charing

Kent

England

TN27 0HW

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.22578°N
0.78009°E

Nearest transport

Coach
10.8 km Park Street
13.7 km Tesco Crooksfoot
13.7 km Tesco Crooksfoot
Rail
2.1 km Charing (Kent) Rail Station
5.1 km Lenham Rail Station
7.8 km Harrietsham Rail Station
Ferry
27.7 km Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal
37.7 km Gravesend Pier
38.2 km Tilbury Ferry Terminal
Airport
32.1 km Lydd London Ashford Airport
38.6 km London Southend Airport
42.5 km Kent International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

The absolute first thing guests at Hillcrest must do is make the 15-minute drive to Leeds Castle. The historical pile should keep all ages entertained, with a maze to get lost in, falconry shows, a dog collar museum, punting, Segway tours and, of course, a spectacular 12th-century castle to explore. Once that’s crossed off the list, there’s plenty else hereabouts to warrant visits. On days when a sense of calm is needed, it’s 15 minutes to Doddington Place Gardens and half an hour to Sissinghurst Castle Garden for peaceful and fragrant strolls, 25 minutes to tours and tastings at Biddenden Vineyards, and 45 minutes to shaded walks, family cycling and mountain biking trails at Bedgebury National Pinetum. Beachy days are a cinch too: it’s about half an hour from base to Whitstable, where there are sandy stretches to wander or lay about on, swims to be had, yachting and waterskiing to try hands at, and a castle to gawp at while traipsing through gardens. Cash burning holes in pockets? Travel into Canterbury (30 minutes away) to trip around gardens, explore museums and galleries, experience the famed Canterbury Tales and, of course, shop. If that’s not enough retail therapy, Ashford Designer Outlet is 20 minutes' drive from base.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
West Beach, Whitstable 21.5 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Leysdown 21.8 km Sea N/AExcellentGoodExcellent
Minster Leas 23.1 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Tankerton 24.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sheerness 24.2 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Ashford Designer Outlet 10.5 km

Leeds Castle 10.7 km

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 18.4 km

Kent & East Sussex Railway 18.6 km

West Gate Towers Museum 21.5 km

National Trust

Stoneacre 14.5 km

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 19.4 km

Smallhythe Place 21.6 km

Sprivers Garden 27.3 km

Bodiam Castle 29.9 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

CHILSTON PARK 4.7 km

DODDINGTON PLACE 6.4 km

BELMONT PARK 6.9 km

GODINTON PARK 8.5 km

LEES COURT 9.5 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Reviews

8.8

Overall rating from 17 Pitchup.com customers

  • 76%
    10
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    9
  • 11%
    8
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    7
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    6
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    5
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    4
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    3
  • 11%
    2
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    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
Wild campingPeaceful

88% would recommend this campground to a friend

88% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 2
Arrival date (latest first)

Site locked and owner didn't answer calls or emails.

Overall 2/10

Location
 2
Value for money
 2
Accommodation
 2
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Blue unpowered grass caravan site

Liked Nothing.

Disliked I arrived at 9pm and there was a field with a locked gate and no signage. I called the owner and got no response and was forced to spend the night in a layby. I have since written an email to the owner to ask for a refund and have not received a reply.

5* lovely area for camping Dave was very helpful and friendly…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Charlie D.

Blue unpowered grass caravan site

Liked 5* lovely area for camping Dave was very helpful and friendly

Quiet, simple, and secluded, this campsite offers stunning views from the top…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Newton P.

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Quiet, simple, and secluded, this campsite offers stunning views from the top of the North Downs. On a clear day, you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets and sunrises. Perfect.

Dålig information o kommunikation

Overall 2/10

Location
 8
Value for money
 2
Accommodation
 2
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 2
Cleanliness
 2
Wifi
 2
Anna C.

Blue unpowered grass caravan site

Liked Vet ej, då grinden var stängd när jag kom till plasten och ingen svarade i telefonen. Så jag fick resa vidare. Trots att jag redan betalat.

Disliked Att meddelandet med informationen om kod till hänglåset inte kom i samband med bokningsmeddelandet utan en och en halvtimme senare.

Wild camping at its best

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Sarah B.

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Everything

Disliked Nothing

Stunning scenery

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Sarah B.

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful views. Friendly host. Lovely birdsong. Privacy. Peace.

Disliked Nothing

Great spot, tucked out the way from everything.…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Great spot, tucked out the way from everything.

Campsite is great, like wild camping but the grass it cut, chosen…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 2
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 2
Matt R.

Green unpowered grass tent site

Liked Campsite is great, like wild camping but the grass it cut, chosen locations for the pitch we stayed on in the field was a beautiful spot. As what others have said we offered fire wood and fire lighters but we didn’t make use of them. Would stay here again definitely.

Disliked Is it fair to say the cost? £25 for a pitch just feels expensive if you’re just one tent.

Wild camping at its best - quiet, remote and a restful break

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Caroline N.

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful location for an authentic wild camp. Very helpful and friendly host who was able to sell us a wheelbarrow of wood for a campfire. Very much enjoyed our stay, especially the peace and watching birds of prey.

Plan to return soon.

Basic and beautiful

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Sarah B.

Blue unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely views, close to pub, quiet and peaceful. No frills back to nature camping experience. Had a lovely stay thank you. We will be back.

Disliked Entry gate was a bit heavy to negotiate but we managed.

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping? The absolute first thing guests at Hillcrest must do is make the 15-minute drive to Leeds Castle. The historical pile should keep all ages entertained, with a maze to get lost in, … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hillcrest Farm Wild Camping?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  11:30 a.m.
    Read more