Local Interests- Camping in East Sussex Countryside (near Tunbridge Wells)

We have not included “family-friendly” attractions to be found in many guides and the following is our necessarily-biased selection (i.e. the places we ourselves would go) in most cases we have not, for reasons of brevity, included full web addresses and telephone numbers as we assume that campers will have easy access to the internet.

For walkers and cyclists:

Eridge Park – see About Great Danegate Farm

Nap Wood – see About Great Danegate Farm

Ashdown Forest (www.ashdownforest.org) – 6,500 acres of open heathland

Sussex Border Walk (runs within a mile of Great Danegate Farm)

For pub goers:

The Huntsman, Eridge – James, the landlord, has done a terrific job of building up a solid base of local regulars.

The Abergavenny Arms, Frant – traditional English pub, in the heart of a lovely village.

The George Inn, Frant – A lovely country pub atmosphere with delicious classic dishes.

Nevill Crest and Gun – roadhouse pub in the heart of Eridge.

Cafes and restaurants:

The Café, Sussex Country Gardener, Mark Cross – damn fine cup of coffee, great cakes and/or a more substantial bite – and a mile’s walk along the back way to the village

The Courtyard, Rotherfield, Lifestyle cafe – https://www.thecourtyardrotherfield.co.uk

Hattons, The Pantiles,Tunbridge Wells – delicious creative food

The wider Tunbridge Wells foodie experience

The Giggling Squid – https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/tunbridge-wells/

Marlowes – a funky restaurant for an excellent burger- https://www.marlowes.co/

Bills – https://bills-website.co.uk/

Thackereys – http://www.thackerays-restaurant.co.uk/

The Ivy – https://theivytunbridgewells.com/

For farm shops:

Renhurst Farm Shop – Renhurst Farm Mark Cross East Sussex TN6 3NR – http://renhurstfarm.co.uk/ – 01892 852168 (0m)

Fullers Farm Shop – 1 The Barn, Bunny Lane, Eridge,, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9BY -https://www.fullers-tw.co.uk/ – 01892 541238 (6m)

For sightseers:

Eridge Rocks – small nature reserve sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/eridgerocks (2m)

Wildwood vineyard – by appointment only – 07970155303

Groombridge Place and raptor centre – award winning gardens and enchanted forest (5m)

Pooh Corner (Cafe) – Sackville Cottage, High Street, Hartfield TN7 4AE (8m)

Poohsticks Bridge – Cotchfield Lane, Hartfield, TN7 4AE Walk to the bridge to bring back your childhood (8m)

Scotney Castle – National Trust English country house with formal gardens (9m)

Penshurst Place and gardens – 14th Century Manor House and gardens (10m)

Hever Castle and gardens – 13th Century castle and gardens – Anne Boylen’s home (13m)

Sarah Raven’s Gardens – Perch Hill.   Open days only (14.5m)

Batemans, Burwash – Home of Rudyard Kipling.  17th Century National Trust Property (15m)

For Fishermen:

Frant Lakes – frantlakes.com

For rock climbers:

(all are less than five miles away)

High Rocks (www.highrocks.co.uk)

Bowles Rocks (www.bowles.ac)

Harrisons Rocks (rockclimbingstore.co.uk)

For train lovers:

Spa Valley Steam Train: (spavalleyrailway.co.uk)

The volunteers who run this have done a splendid job, particularly by extending the line down to Eridge in 2011