Dernwood Farm Wild Camping, East Sussex
Safari tent or bell tents on this family-run working farm in High Weald of East Sussex near the spa town of Tunbridge Wells
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Sleeps: 4 in bell tents; 6 in safari tent
Tariff: Bell tents from £200 per week; Safari tent from £400 per week depending on season
Note: Open Easter - October
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Dernwood Farm Wild Camping is set on a working livestock farm very close to the spa town of Tunbridge Wells and the coast at Eastbourne and Pevensey, in the heart of the High Weald of East Sussex on the edge of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Considered to be one of England’s finest landscapes, it is a region of ancient forests, rolling hills and winding sunken lanes.
At Dernwood Farm we are privileged to have one of the largest blocks of coppice woodland in East Sussex.
We produce our own beef from our pedigree herd of Sussex cattle and our pork is bred from traditional breeds such as the Saddleback, crossed with the Large Black. We now also have a small herd of Southdown sheep.
A selection of all our meat is available to pre-order when you book your camping or to buy from our shop during your stay.
Bell Tents
Our gorgeous five meter Bell Tents are in individual clearings in the woods just off the sunset side of the camping field.
The clearings allow each tent its own privacy and are large enough to let in lots of sunshine.
They are sumptuously furnished with everything you’ll need for 4 people and come complete with their own tripod with grill pan and Dutch oven in which you can cook anything from bread to a roast dinner.
Beds are a double futon and two single cotton mattresses.
There is a 2 ring gas stove so you can make your early morning coffee without having to light the fire first, and all the pots, pans and utensils you’ll need.
Best of all there is a mini wood burning stove to keep you toasty warm if the evenings are chilly.
The bell tents have their own toilet and shower facilities; we are always aware our green credentials so we have built a ‘Tree Bog’ situated in an ancient grove of willow trees.
The trees are so old the trunks are totally hollow, my two girls can climb inside them, and tree bog works fantastically well with willow trees as they are so nutrient hungry, so they reduce the waste we produce far more efficiently than I would have ever believed.
It is a hazel hurdle outdoor shower you just need to heat up some water to put in the galvanised shower bucket, all part of the fun!
Safari Tent
Our long awaited safari offers the ultimate in luxury camping and is enough to tempt even the most reluctant of campers out into the woods.
Situated in a large sunny glade in exclusive eight acre area in our ancient woodland, it offers home from home comfort with the excitement and adventure of sleeping under canvas.
The careful setting of the our safari tent works in harmony with our desire to better manage our woodland; we have reintroduced a coppicing cycle, the centuries old method of woodland management and the tents are situated in the glades created by this coppicing.
The large sunny glade is in an 8 acre compartment of the woodland that is exclusive to the safari tent, this year we only have one of these so you will have it all to yourselves, next year we are planning two more.
Living in the woodland for a few days or a week gives a unique experience of being with nature and the tents are equipped with lots of reference books for adults and children alike and spotter guides for each of the seasons that children can take off and explore with, it really is a children’s paradise.
This beautiful, traditionally made tent has two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and a double cabin bed which children love.
It has a Belfast sink and a wood burning range with oven for big stews and roast dinners plus a two ring cast iron gas burner so you don’t have to light the fire for that early morning cup of coffee.
There are plenty of soft furnishings and woolly blankets for sofas and beds, but also hot water bottles in case the nights are chilly come spring and autumn. The dining table seats six and there are sofas and comfy chairs round the wood burner.
The kitchen is equipped with everything you‘ll need to cook up feasts for the family.
Outside there is a fire pit with a large double tripod, grill and Dutch Oven for outdoor cooking, with big tree trucks around the fire. On the veranda outside the tent there is outside seating.
There is a herb garden to add to your culinary masterpieces and you can borrow a few chickens with a house and run for your own early morning eggs.
There is a plentiful supply of logs for the wood burner and out door fire and these are included in the price. From the back of the tent you access the state of the art composting toilet and hot shower room.
All the bed linen is included in the price, you only need bring your own towels.
Features include:
- 3 bell tents (sleeps 4)
- 1 safari tent (sleeps 6)
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Working farm
- Ancient woodland
- Delicious farm produce
- Surrounded by nature
- Car fee site
- Family friendly
- Range of camping options
