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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Campsite near Rye

32 replies

lavendersun · 14/04/2015 07:48

Can anyone recommend a small quiet site near Rye, basic facilities are fine, fires a bonus.

I have found the Hare and Hounds and Dogwood Cottage so far that I like the look of - anyone stayed there?

Thanks.

OP posts:
FrozenAteMyDaughter · 14/04/2015 10:34

I am afraid I can't help with small quiet sites in that area. We stayed at the Park Resorts at Camber Sands beach which was great for kids and you can camp there (though it was March so we had a mobile home). But that is pretty much Butlins-lite so nothing like what you are looking for.

The sites you have found look great and I am tempted to try out both of them myself. I am afraid I haven't been to either though so can't help.

The nearest we have camped to Rye is Park Farm at Bodiam. It is in a lovely place with a great walk to Bodiam Castle/the pub, but it is massive so probably not what you want as it can get quite noisy with fairly large groups (although they have clamped down quite hard on rowdy behaviour in recent years). It does allow ground fires though, which is nice.

Original poster
lavendersun · 14/04/2015 10:42

Thank you, I think that the Hare and Hounds looks favourite at the minute - looks like there is plenty of room for 30 tents ... I like plenty of room!

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FrozenAteMyDaughter · 14/04/2015 11:36

The Hare and Hounds does look lovely from the website, doesn't it? And maybe a bit nearer to Rye than the other one?

It is a funny part of the world, the South East. It has loads of back to basics campsites which allow fires etc but they all tend to be inland. Round the coastline, there seem to be far more large caravan park type places. We have looked round Whitstable in the past and not had much luck, similarly for Rye. The Witterings are another area severely lacking in that sort of site - they have the big ones with loads of rules but only Stubcroft Farm (itself pretty rule-heavy) that allows fires.

Looking at the two you found near Rye though, maybe things are set to change. I do hope so.

fatbottomgirl67 · 14/04/2015 12:09

The Hare and hounds is just a field behind a pub on the side of the road into Rye . Not sure if pub is still open as was for sale for a whole. Looks ok just bit exposed. Dog wood is quieter bit further from Rye .is there not a camp site in Winchelsea?

Original poster
lavendersun · 14/04/2015 12:37

I am happy with just a field - is it a busy road? As in would we be bothered by road noise. No, the pub isn't open, it is now a B & B I think. We would prefer to be nearer to Rye I think, but not on a noisy road.

I don't know the area, I last went to Rye when I was 21 which is nearly 30 years ago and can't find much on UK campsite I like the look of which is why I am looking for recommendations.

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Callmecordelia · 14/04/2015 12:37

Bodiam boat station has a campsite now. Probably more what you are looking for, although I haven't stayed myself. It's on my list. It's a drive to Rye, but not far. This link won't work, as I'm on my phone, and can't remember how to do them. www.bodiamboatingstation.co.uk/camping/4561709057

Original poster
lavendersun · 14/04/2015 15:24

That looks lovely Callme, thanks, the link did work.

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Callmecordelia · 14/04/2015 16:25

Yay! I really didn't think it would. FWIW, I wouldn't want to be right down on the coast near Rye, particularly on the Marsh side. The wind is never ending.

fatbottomgirl67 · 15/04/2015 10:11

Sorry wifi went down. The road is reasonably busy for round here as it's the main one into Rye, but busy depends on what you're used to. The boating station looks really nice . Building only just finished . Good pub on the door step, boats to Bodium and the steam railway 2min walk away but it is 6 miles from Rye.

Original poster
lavendersun · 15/04/2015 15:59

Thanks, we need to decide re the road. I think I could cope with it if it was quiet at night. DH will probably veto it, I am waiting for him to contact me - he is away.

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mybabywakesupsinging · 23/04/2015 21:09

Romney farm is not too far from Rye and is quiet. look on ukcampsite

Blu · 26/04/2015 08:05

Have a look at Freshwinds Caming, near Hastings but not far from Rye.

Suttonmum1 · 26/04/2015 08:15

Brakes Coppice Park near Crowhurst. 3 smallish camping areas, surrounded by woodland, very quiet. Small fishing lake too. Google aerial view gives a good impression of it.

Original poster
lavendersun · 28/04/2015 07:24

Thanks all - we are going to Dogwood Cottage, I left the choice to DH and he has booked it. Didn't like the fact that we couldn't cycle/walk from the H&H which is a shame because it looks great otherwise and the owners were really helpful in answering questions. Just a shame about the road.

I will look at the others so thanks for the recommendations.

It will be our first camp in our big tent of the year - DD wasn't at school last year and we had been for three weeks by then .... feeling very hemmed in by the school hols this year.

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chocolatelife · 28/04/2015 08:00

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/townlisting.asp?town=Winchelsea%20Beach

winchelsea is lovely

Original poster
lavendersun · 28/04/2015 13:12

Thank you chocolate, sorry I didn't say but we are tent campers, both of those are caravans only.

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chocolatelife · 28/04/2015 14:33

there arent a lot on the coast, as mentioned upthread, sadly

chocolatelife · 28/04/2015 14:36

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=9635

this looks nice, I think it might have already been mentioned

RandomHouseRules · 04/05/2015 18:23

We have been to Dogwood twice now and really enjoyed both trips. Friendly people (owners and fellow campers) and good facilities. Lots to do locally too.

DreadfulSpiller · 27/05/2015 20:09

Off to bodium boating station at the end of June hopefully so will report back ... Have just been to rye by the marshes, lovely day, but, the wind ... Never stops!

Original poster
lavendersun · 30/05/2015 15:55

We had a cup of tea at the cafe at Bodium Dreadful, it is just a field next to the road and little steam railway. I reckon it could be quite exposed as it was really flat.

We were quite underwhelmed by Dogwood Random, lovely lovely fellow campers but just too many people for the size of the field and two loos, one shower and one washing up sink. There were loads of us there - at least 60 people and it just felt really penned in. It would have been fine with half the number of campers. When we pitched we were almost on top of a little walking tent, we couldn't fit our vario canopy on the pitch (had booked and paid for a big one).

We had to be really careful driving through one of the gaps as there was only just a car's width between the guy lines of two tents pitched either side.

We still had a lovely week but the campsite definitely wasn't what we expected.

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RandomHouseRules · 30/05/2015 21:46

What a shame - better off peak I suspect. I can't imagine 60 people in that space!

Original poster
lavendersun · 31/05/2015 06:48

Yes, such a shame Random. The last time we felt like that was about six years ago at Stiffkey on the Norfolk coast - packed in like sardines, we actually went to a camping shop and bought a windbreak on the Stiffkey trip Shock, unused ever since, but cars were driving within a foot of the front of our tent and we had a two year old.

I know it is a much more densely populated part of the country than where we usually go (Peak District and north), but still.

We have plans to create our own campsite when we are less busy with life - six pitches in an acre of land with three loos, three showers and washing up sinks with a permanent fire pit outside each pitch - just room and simplicity.

I just don't get the pack them in thing at all and having a bit of room at home makes it seem worse.

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Blu · 31/05/2015 16:19

lavendersun, I think you would like Freshwinds if you are in that area again.

No question of being hemmed in, very loosely defined pitches and you can go where you like, they only take 15 in a big field, you can take your car into the field but are asked to park it in the corner once you have unloaded and not keep it by your tent or drive across the field. 2 compost toilets (and a compos urinal) 2 hot showers, one washing up hut with hot and cold water, fires allowed in firepits supplied (not hired!! another creeping add-on) by them, and massive sacks of wood available on an honesty basis.

Original poster
lavendersun · 31/05/2015 16:47

Thanks Blu, that looks lovely. Yep, add ons for everything. We have got our own firebox that collapses that we take in our canoe so didn't subscribe at all.

We found a new place near home (in Norfolk), that is really lovely and simple without add ons (or many facilities mind you).

www.wardleyhillcampsite.com

Our new weekend retreat - absolutely tons of room, fires - drums free if you need one and you can collect wood. I can be home within 40 mins of starting to take the tent down and can drive there, pitch it and drive back while my daughter is at music school.

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