Oh no - everywhere booked for next weekend!

[Blu]

In Kent and E Sussex.

Where shall we go?

Noooooo

We are off on Thurs 7th- havent booked, say it isnt so!

Is Forgewood booked up?

A few I've tried and liked in Kent and Sussex are:

Welsummer Camping
Palace Farm
Woodland Farm
Upper Morgay Wood (little near a road but not the end of the world)

My favourite ones are Blackberry Wood, Wowo, Welsummer and Forgewood - in that order. Most likely booked up, but it might be worth calling around to check for cancellations? We stayed at BW last weekend, and there must have been a cancellation, as someone found a last-minute space when we were placing croissant orders.

We liked Manor Farm near Tunbridge Wells in Kent - it allows fires too. Or Stubcroft Farm in East Wittering might be worth a try if it is in the right area - have not been there but heard good things. Also, Wasington Caravan and Camping Park near Storrington used to be nice and had a communal firepit when we used to visit, a few years ago now.

Manor Farm, Palace farm, Forgewood all booked...

Many have no bookings left for July...

re Welsummer - how arduous is the ferrying your gear with a barrow?

Not arduous at all. We parked right next to the tent and unloaded. Then moved the car. It's a very small site.

Forgewood have also opened up a new site in Hampshire I think. Wonder if there's spaces there?

Blu, are you asking about the woodland pitches at Welsummer because yes, I could see that you'd have to ferry your stuff in there.

Have you tried Tanner Farm in Kent?

We've camped in one of the woodland pitches at Welsummer, but it was one very close to field, so probably had to wheel about 10 metres or something. No problem at all.

However, even at Blackberry Wood, where a little further, it's not really an issue - you can pack a lot in one barrow (balancing act required!), and it's kind of part of our routine now. If you can get a woodland pitch, and if you're ok with shade, of course, it's well worth the hassle imo.

Sal, have you got any more recommendations for sites in South East? I think we have swapped some ideas in the past as have similar tastes!

I have to agree, when barrowing at Blackberry Wood, it wasn't much of an issue either. And we were quite far from the car park.

I've done Wowo now and off to Manor Court Farm next.

Really want to try Hidden Spring Vineyard but can't seem to get in when I try and book.

Must allow campfires which narrows things down a bit.

Oooh, places at Clippenham Camping...and a cancellation at Welsummer....which shall I take?

Another thought (though see that Blu is sorted for this weekend) for people looking for South East camping rather than Kent/Sussex specifically is Mellow Farm Camping near Farnham. We went there last weekend and had a lovely weekend. It is a huge farm and there seemed to be plenty of space to pitch (although I imagine the dreadful weather helped). Fires are allowed too which was just as well as it was freezing.

The facilities are not salubrious - where we were there were three portaloos in the field (which had paper, water and soap all weekend) and quite a walk to the showers. We didn't bother with a shower (scummy emoticon) but reports suggested they were fine if you wanted one.

We paid £5 a night for adults - not sure about children as ours is a toddler so she was free. £5 for a bag of wood too. Loads of space for the children to roam although, again, that might have been because of the weather.

Can't speak for Clippenham but Welsummer is very nice ... so long as you like back to basics type camping. It's very small, eco-friendly, shall we say rustic facilities.

I should go to Welsummer, shouldn't I?

We loved Forgewood...

Yes! Do it! And then come back tell us what you think :-)

I've been twice now so it must be good.

Should I try Forgewood? Will it be too big for my liking?

Haha - Metcheck.co.uk showing wind speeds of up to 230 mph on Sunday....
That can't be right, can it?

Says 7mph on BBC weather

Doozle - you might like
Wild Woodland

Forgewood was not v busy when we went - it didn't seem too big because the wood is spread out, and in different bits - several different areas of woodland. The field close to the entrance seems more like a trad old-school campsite, then there are the woodland sites, then another field, quite big, but more of a rustic field. Miles and miles of woodland to explore freely all round the site, directly from the site.

Facilities - a portaloo on the rustic field, taps here and ther, and a fairly ok shower block up by the entrance. Really nice cafe.

Thank heavens for the BBC!

Mellow farm looks great. But is all booked up til end of July.
We're off to Welsummer.
Can't wait.

And I'm gettting one of these delivered...oooh, joy!
I'm getting the Rebel one so that it can also be a BBQ.
DS is beside himself with excitement about the grill.