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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

South East England - Wild Camping

16 replies

LionMother · 19/02/2021 17:34

Hi there, I've got the tent... first ever family camping trip this summer!!

Would anyone be able to recommend a 'wild campsite' in south east England please?

I'm looking for minimal facilities, although campfire would be nice. Just for 1 or 2 nights (to start with!) and I'm not fussed about being around other people!

Any tips for a newbie with 2 children (aged 5 and 7) would be amazing too please.

Thank you!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LionMother · 19/02/2021 19:01

It looks wonderful. I'll keep an eye out for when you are open for bookings! That's about 45 mins from me so perfect.

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 20/02/2021 07:30

OP, you have a lot of good campsites to choose from in your area.
Beech Estate pegsandpitches.co.uk/beech-estate/ .
Nethergong and The Secret Campsite thesecretcampsite.co.uk

Some tips:
Practice putting your tent up before you get on to a campsite, crucial if you have not put it up before.
When you pack the car, make sure the things you will need first when you arrive on site are easily accessible. So things like your tent, pegs mallets etc. should either be packed last so they are easier to get to.
Choose a pitch with good morning sun so your tent dries quickly on packing-up day.
We put a couple of foil survival blankets on the bedroom groundsheet before putting the airbeds on top to stop the cold from the ground chilling the air in the air bed.
Take a few bits of cardboard for levelling tables and cooking stands etc
3-in-1 coffee sachets are good if the milk and sugar aren’t handy.
Soak pasta in cold water before cooking to soften it and save gas.
Seal your phone in a plastic freezer bag to protect it from rain, sand, dirt and the occasional wine mishap.
Ear-plugs are a must have.
Avoid keeping food in your tent at all as it can encourage insects. Lock food away in a car if possible, or seal it tightly in Tupperware or a cool box.
Prep food at home.
Get a water carrier that folds flat to save on space, but remains relatively rigid in use (even when it’s not full) as this makes actually dispensing water much easier. I recommend the Outwell Collaps.
A hand held or head torch is a must for middle-of-the-night visits to the toilet as are shoes that can easily be slipped on and off (that still doesn’t make Crocs acceptable though…!)

Original poster
LionMother · 20/02/2021 10:20

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write these brilliant tips!!

OP posts:
MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 20/02/2021 10:31

Crocs are a camping must! ShockGrin

Mysterian · 21/02/2021 13:04

Soak pasta in cold water before cooking to soften it and save gas. - I use the absorption method for pasta now. Cook the sauce then add dry pasta. Boil it up adding a touch of water when needed until cooked. It saves boiling a huge pan of water.

Avoid keeping food in your tent at all as it can encourage insects. Or mice. Took me ages to catch the little bugger last time. I use sealed plastic boxes in the tent though.

My number one tip is to not buy all the equipment until you know you like it! Stuff you have in the house will do much of the time. Although sleeping bags are always going to be pretty handy things to have anyway, as is a cheap camping stove in case of power cuts and stuff.

Also, the term "Wild Camping" usually refers to camping not at a site, but in the wilderness away from buildings and cars.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 21/02/2021 22:58

You can search Pitch Up using the ‘wild’ style.
Also search on Cool Camping using the campfire filter.

For a water carrier you can just us one of the supermarket 5l flagons and keep refilling it.

Kent and Sussex are full of lovely ‘back to basics’ sites that allow campfires. Some good ones suggested here.

thewinkingprawn · 21/02/2021 23:00

Abbotstone near Alresford in Hampshire is fantastic. Camp in woods or on field, you can have your own fires etc

crackofdoom · 21/02/2021 23:07

nettletea, your campsite sounds fantastic! Now I just have to remember the name until summer Grin. My family are in the SE, so we could tack some camping on to a visit to see them. Sounds like you must be reasonably close to Knepp, which I'd love to visit.

Fist bump from another single mum camper, OP x

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 22/02/2021 11:53

Blackberry Wood
Welsummer
Falllowfields
Wowo

Original poster
LionMother · 22/02/2021 21:41

NettleTea... when are you opening for bookings??? It looks amazing x

OP posts:
NettleTea · 23/02/2021 10:45

@LionMother

NettleTea... when are you opening for bookings??? It looks amazing x
Im just waiting from confirmation from my daughters 2 friends who are away at uni, and who will be the onsite stewards. hopefully in next month or so we just do a pop up in summer holidays, but believe we are allowed to extend beyond the usual 28 days to 56 again this year (tho with all the madness we didnt open last summer)
NettleTea · 23/06/2021 12:27

@LionMother

NettleTea... when are you opening for bookings??? It looks amazing x
@LionMother we are open now!! right here
notonmywatch28 · 27/06/2021 21:48

Look at Star Field Camping, just outside Cranbrook in the Weald of Kent.
Has a fab farm shop on site too 😊

www.starfieldcamping.co.uk/

NettleTea · 28/06/2021 21:17

[quote notonmywatch28]Look at Star Field Camping, just outside Cranbrook in the Weald of Kent.
Has a fab farm shop on site too 😊

www.starfieldcamping.co.uk/[/quote]
this looks lovely

Equimum · 30/06/2021 07:59

Pegs & Pitches have a lovely site near Battle.
Bagdells Woods in Kent is also nice and linked to some lovely paths across the countryside.

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