Ashdown Forest Riding Centre

The scent of pine needles and bracken drifts across the pitches here, with birdsong filtering through the ancient woodland that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh — you're camping on the edge of one of England's largest free public access heathlands.

This is a straightforward spot for anyone wanting to explore Ashdown Forest properly, whether you're pitching a tent, parking up a campervan, or settling in with a caravan. Walkers will love having hundreds of acres of heather moorland and sandstone outcrops right on the doorstep, and the South Downs Way isn't far if you fancy extending your rambles. East Sussex's market towns and the coast are both within reach for day trips, but most people come here for the forest itself — those wide-open views across the Weald and the chance to spot deer at dusk.

You've got toilets and showers onsite, keeping things simple and comfortable. The campfire policy needs checking when you arrive, so ask if you're planning to bring logs. It's a quiet, back-to-basics kind of place with that proper woodland camping feel.