This place is simply magical! Hidden down a country lane with an unassuming sign, lies the most beautiful and tranquil of campsites. If you like getting away from it all, surrounded by woodlands, then The Secret Campsite is the place for you!
It was the fourth camping stay of our summer, so we treated the scamps to a couple of nights in the Tree Tent, whilst we camped underneath in our Boutique Camping Bell Tent. They were overjoyed to be in their sphere of tree glory, suspended from the mighty oak trees on the edge of the ancient woodland. It has three beds up there (which you can collapse if you want more space), but adults were obviously immediately banned and so they used one as a bedside table! Super cosy up there with a fabulous ceiling window to watch the tree canopy and windows that let you look into the surrounding woodland and South Downs National Park. It really is a magical place for scamps to sleep.
Having visited many campsites over the years, what set this glorious place apart was the way you feel your pitch is your own. They deliberately leave areas of wild grasses, shrubs and trees between pitches, giving you a sense of privacy and dappled shade, but more importantly, you really feel like you are being enveloped by nature. We felt relaxed as soon as we had arrived. All pitches have log seating and a dedicated fire pitch and are all generous in size. If you fancy other glamping options to the Tree Tent, they have The Okra, a quirky wooden cabin which sleeps 4 people, or The Gridshell, a curved structure built from ash and covered in marine canvas which sleeps up to 5 people. Lots of other camping pitches too.
Whilst camping per night is really reasonable (£26 per adult, children over 3 £16) the Tree Tent was an indulgence at £176 per night (prices are from £150 - minimum of two nights) - however, once you have paid for the Tree Tent pitch, you can add as many tents/gazebos as you like at no extra cost (up to a maximum of 5 people), so our bell tent didn't add anymore to the cost. You also get three mattresses (two adults and one child maximum) and fresh mattress protectors in the Tree Tent and a brilliant box full of all you need for camping, including a camping stove, kettle, cooking utensils, mugs, saucepan, frying pan, plates and cutlery. Full disclosure, the guys at The Secret Campsite threw in some extra wood, a cool box and a rocket stove for us when they knew we had booked, so we had roaring campfires each night! Our pitch also had a wooden picnic table and fabulous wooden chairs by the firepit.
The facilities at The Secret Campsite are understated, yet just what you need. The Wash House, a shower, toilet and washing up block, has been built to a great specification from resourced and recycled materials and hosts hot solar showers, washing up and food storage, cold showers for the braver souls of your group and toilets. There are also car charging points and an onsite shop which sells largely locally sourced produce, ice lollies and hot drinks from the Secret Teapot Cafe. You can even order meat boxes when you book so that all of your BBQ needs are met! You can take firewood and kindling and sign up for what you have taken on the refreshing honesty board at reception and just settle up your bill before you leave.
We love the fact that there are no pizza vans or bars here - along with not allowing large groups and amplified music, it really is just a chilled place to relax and explore with your family. We had lovely visitors through our stay - a cheeky pheasant joined us one afternoon and bats swooped by in the evening. We had hoped to see an adder, which they have here, but alas we were not deemed worthy enough by the snake gods! The pinnacle though was to see glow worms - the scamps had never seen them before and were enthralled! The Secret Campsite run events through the year, including the Swedish Gokotta Dawn Chorus Experience, Glow Worm Walks, Bat Evenings and the Secret Wildlife Festival.
We scamped through the woodland and pathways for about 30 minutes and found ourselves at the Holmansbridge Farm Shop and Cafe for lunch - delicious food and milkshakes!
The tranquillity of The Secret Campsite, along with the super friendly team (Harry was a delight!) and beautiful, secluded pitches mean that this place needs to be on your bucket list!
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