When we booked our weekend at the Beech Estate Campsite, we figured that in mid-June it would be sunny, warm, and dry. Little did we know that we would be packing our woolly hats, gloves and a million and one blankets! However, the cold and wet weather didn't dampen our spirits or stop us from loving our time at the Beech Estate Campsite with fabulous friends!
The Welcome
We arrived to a warm welcome and a thorough go through of the site and facilities by one of the friendly and helpful wardens. They have a great system where the wardens send you a text message the day before to say hi and welcome you, along with giving you a helpful reminder of the check in times and where to find them. I had to send a message back as I had committed a scheduling faux pas with our diary and scamps' commitments and we were going to arrive later than we had planned. The wardens replied really quickly and couldn't have been more accommodating. Top notch service.
The Pitch
Then it was off to the wheelbarrows and to discover our home for the next two nights! We timed the unpacking of the soft stuff well before the heavens opened, but we were all in and settled after just a few wheelbarrow journeys. We decided that this weekend was for glamping rather than camping, so we were in pitch 9 and had a huge bell tent and generous pitch to ourselves. So much is provided in the bell tents, you really don't need to bring much kit (which we stupidly ignored on the pre-arrival email details and, as ever, brought too much stuff!). The only thing you really need is bed linen and sleeping bags/duvet/pillows and something to cook on if it is raining and the fire pit and grill are not going to be successful. They provide metal chairs, but you might want your camping chairs too for a cosier backside experience! Bed-wise there was a double bed and two fold out beds for the scamps. The bell tent is raised, so being so close to the ground on the mattresses wasn't a problem at all. In fact, this was one of the comfiest glamping beds that I have ever slept on - I didn't wake up until 8.45 on the second morning which is utterly unheard of in the history of Camping Scamping!
We had paid for two bags of logs and kindling, which were all waiting for us and it has been a long time since we were at a campsite where we were provided with two bins for general waste and recycling on our pitch. A fire pit, grill, picnic table, cute kettle and mini-stove, washing up bowl and drainer, cool box, wind up torch, matches, plastic box full of all the cooking utensils, cutlery, plates, bowls, chopping boards etc that you could possibly need. Two plastic wine goblets and fabulous bread bin finish it all off! Honestly, we were really impressed!
The campsite were able to put us and our friends in neighbouring pitches, but each plot was really generous so we were not on top of each other at all.
The Facilities
You can decide whether you want a flushable toilet or eco-compost toilets. Irrespective, they were all really clean, with the phone number of the wardens if there were any problems or if the loo roll had run out (it never was!). There is a large washing up station and the most brilliant warm bucket showers - we've never experienced these before and loved them! Eco hand soap, washing up liquid and body wash are provided.
The campsite prides itself for being off-grid, and it really is. There are solar lights in all the toilets and over the taps next to them, but beyond that the only light comes from the moon and stars and campfires. Just how it is supposed to be.
Don't be put off by it being a woodland campsite. We have been to many which become so muddy in the rain, but here there were lots of wood chips which helped with stopping slipping and getting too impenetrable.
Things To Do
Beech Estate woodland is part of a privately-owned estate in the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Set next to 600 acres, you are not short of walks and wildlife. We did about a 30 minute walk along the woodland trail to the nearby Squirrel Inn for lunch. Lots of den building opportunities and bird watching too. You can also do "Yoga in the Woods" in the Faraway Glade on Saturday and Sunday mornings (weather permitting) for £8 a person. However Beech Estate Campsite isn't about children's playgrounds and booking activities to keep them occupied, it is about getting back to nature, exploring, reconnecting and making your own fun. A campfire is the best TV there is!
Cost
Full disclosure here, Beech Estate Campsite gave us a 10% discount and for the wood and 4 adults and 4 children in two bell tents it came to £432.40. Without the discount this would be £476, so £238 per family. Whilst this was not as cheap as camping, we were really taken in by the charm and tranquillity of the campsite and the friendliness of the warden and booking process.
Cooking
What did we cook? Our current obsession, which is our fabulous Smoky Chorizo & Bean Cajun Rice (over the camping stove this time as we were a bit late to get going and then scuppered by the rain!) and on Saturday it was the delicious and juicy Pork and Pineapple Kebabs over the fire followed by the obligatory Banana Foils.
Final Thoughts
What else did we do? We cooked, we drank tea, we nattered, we snuggled, we flocked to the fire like moths to a flame, we drank wine, we laughed, we shared stories, we put the world to rights and we had an utterly glorious time cementing friendships and dodging deluges!
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