Campgrounds for backpackers in South East England

Yamp Camp Bluebell

• Sheltered back to basics pitches near the village of Horsted Keynes
• Ashdown Forest and Ouse Valley Viaduct 10 minutes' drive away
• A short walk from the Bluebell Railway station and village pubs

Yamp Camp Firle

• East Sussex meadow camping with South Downs views near Lewes
• A 15-minute drive to Drusillas Park, and 25 minutes to Brighton
• Large flat pitches with an adventure trail for kids; group-friendly

Orchard Camping

• Pop-up campsite in a Kent orchard five minutes’ drive from Higham
• Rochester, Historic Dockyard Chatham and Diggerland 15 minutes’ drive
• Quiet off-grid pitches shaded by trees; pubs within 15 minutes’ drive

High Barn Retreats

• Dog-friendly wild camping site in the South Downs National Park
• A 25-minute drive from Lewes and half an hour’s drive from Brighton
• A five-minute drive to pubs, local shops and the beach in Rottingdean

Park Farm Camping

• Pop-up campsite on a family farm near Calbourne on the Isle of Wight
• A 20-minute drive to The Needles, and 15 minutes to Carisbrooke Castle
• Grass pitches close to walking routes; beaches, pubs and shops nearby

Perching Manor Farm Wild Camping

• Dog-friendly wild camping site on a South Downs working farm
• A 15-minute drive from Shoreham-by-Sea; half an hour from Brighton
• Walking and cycle paths directly accessible from the site

Pop-up Brighton Campsite

Freshwinds Camping

• 'Camping as it used to be' on a 200-acre farm
• Wildlife haven with badgers, foxes, barn owls and more
• Spacious pitches surrounded by stream, woodland and fields

Eastfield Wild Camping

• Large, wild and natural woodland campsite close to London

Bridge Field

• Spacious basic pitches just outside the Essex village of Sandon
• A 10-minute drive from Chelmsford and 15 minutes from Maldon
• Close to the A12; 10 minutes' walk to the nearest pub

4 Acre Farm

• Back-to-basics campsite between Hastings and Battle in East Sussex
• Battle Abbey 10 minutes’ drive; Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea 15 minutes
• Grass pitches on a family smallholding with horses, hens and wildfowl

Sandy Meadow Farm

• Peaceful working farm in the South Downs National Park
• Within 10 minutes’ drive of woodlands, stately homes and vineyards
• Haven for stargazers: in a Dark Sky Reserve

Abbotstone Wood Camping

Grange Farm

• Working farm with alpacas, sheep and goats
• Beach within 100 metres, with good sea fishing
• Free hot showers, launderette, playground and well-stocked shop

Glottenham

• Nearly wild pop-up site in a hay field with a woodland and wetland
• Surrounded by country walks and a 10-minute drive from Battle Abbey
• Quiet and back to basics, with village pubs 20 minutes’ walk away

South Downs Youth Hostel

• Glamping in the grounds of a rural hostel five miles from Lewes
• Just off the South Downs Way; half an hour from Brighton by train
• Café on site for breakfast, supper and all-day snacks