Camping & campsites on the South Downs

There’s plenty to get excited about on the South Downs and one of the best ways to get back to nature is to book into a campsite. Walking trails and cycling routes are often accessible directly from your tent flaps. It’s also possible to stroll into market towns like Lewes in East Sussex or head off in search of history in Hampshire as you discover Portsmouth and Chichester on foot.

No matter what time of year you’re thinking of camping on the South Downs, there’s always something going on – from the Dark Skies Festival in February and fiery foliage in autumn to endless days in summer and bluebells and lambing in springtime. Check out our selection of South Downs campsites to help you carry on camping all year round.

Checking into an already erected Mongolian yurt can be an ideal means of bridging the gap between home comforts and going feral. Glamping in the South Downs is a great way to pack up your troubles without actually needing to pack that much at all. You’ll still get all the benefits of outdoor living, including campfires, grassy meadows and a clear night’s sky (fingers crossed), but the vast majority of actual effort has already been done for you. If you really want comfort you can book into a Mongolian yurt village situated right on the South Downs Way. These cosy circular tents are easily large enough to accommodate six occupants and come complete with their own log burning stove and raised beds with mattresses.

As we work our way into autumn, camping takes on a much more atmospheric perspective. Campsites on the South Downs are absolutely no exception with the leaves of ancient woodlands turning into fiery russet reds and amber oranges to coincide with seasonal fireworks and eerie goings-on over Halloween. Autumn is also a great time of year to go and visit local towns and villages without the crowds associated with summer.

The likes of Lewes, in East Sussex, is an absolute must for anyone camping at Housedean Farm via a shortish (6-8km) walk, and an even shorter cycle path that leads directly over the Downs. And if you want to experience a Fireworks Night like no other, a walk into Lewes on 5 November is an experience that will last a lifetime. The Lewes fireworks display and parade is infamous, so be prepared for huge crowds and plenty of loud bangs!

Winter camping, during November, December and January, is always going to be a tough ask with small kids; however, if you wrap them up and keep your fingers crossed for dry weather you might well get to experience some truly magical moments. Early evenings around the fire after a crisp walk in woodlands can be really lovely, with mugs of soup and hot chocolate always welcome to accompany stargazing on clear nights. Every February there’s a Dark Sky Festival with loads of things to do for families, including Milky Way spotting and learning more about nocturnal creatures, as well as finding out what we can do to help preserve these gorgeous dark nights for future generations.