Riverside camping in Wye National Nature Reserve

Magnificent views await at the Devil’s Kneading Trough—a star attraction of the Kent Downs AONB.

92% (178 reviews)
92% (178 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Wye National Nature Reserve

Dog-friendly getaways

Star Hosts in Wye National Nature Reserve

12 top river, stream, or creek campsites in Wye National Nature Reserve

87%
(141)

Daisy May’s Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Bishop's Stortford, England
Our pop up campsite is set in 20 acres on a not for profit community farm. Come and join us in the great outdoors! Help collect the eggs, feed the chickens and milk the goat! There is always lots going on at Daisy May’s Farm! Children’s play areas, paddle stream, woodland walks and lots more! PITCH FEE INCLUDES ENTRY TO THE FARM & ALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS! Open 7 days a week. Coffee Cabin and Ollie’s Food Hut also serving hot food (Weekends & school holiday 10-3pm) Local pub - 5 mins walk Golf Course (crazy golf, top golf, 9 hole course, bar and food) - 5 mins walk Shop/post office/chip shop - 10 mins walk Toilets & shower ; hot gas shower available but we are a basic wild, mostly off grid site. No concrete heated toilet blocks I’m afraid! (Showers unavailable in Winter months) There will be mud. Bring your wellies! Drinking water and bins available. Bring a torch for walking around the site at night. The site is off grid and the toilet lights are solar operated! CARAVANS - ONLY BOOKABLE MAY - SEPTEMBERTENTS - CAMPER VANS - MOTORHOMES WELCOME ALL YEAR (all pitches are the same. No need to specify which type of unit you are booking) We look forwards to welcoming you soon!
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£25
 / night
97%
(176)

The Barn KT9

21 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · Greater London, South East England
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£12
 / night
98%
(28)

The Meadow @ Waples Mill

12 units · Tents8 acres · Dunmow, England
Spacious grass pitches in the green Essex countryside A 15-minute drive to Chelmsford; 40 minutes to Audley End Tractor rides on site; firepits provided for campfires. Rural walks, How about proper farm activities like tractor rides (ask site staff for details)? The place to find all this is The Meadow at Waples Mill, an Essex farm site between Chelmsford and Dunmow (and about 15 minutes’ drive from both). This family-friendly site is handy for walks on the Essex Way and other local footpaths, and tractor and trailer rides around the farm are organised on alternate days to give guests a glimpse into agricultural life. Activities complete for the day, it's time to chill out, and that should be easy here – all pitches have access to toilets and hot showers in a trailer close by, and firepits are provided so you can have a safe campfire (with wood available to buy on site and a great farm shop 10 minutes’ drive away for fireside snacks). Pitches themselves are large, well kept and well spaced within a meadow that backs onto the River Roding. Dogs are welcome, and there are plenty of places to take them for a walk nearby. London folk looking for a quick escape to the countryside, this is a place to bear in mind – it’s only about an hour and quarter by road from the city.
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
83%
(15)

The Hop Farm

109 units · Motorhomes, Tents500 acres · Brenchley, England
The Hop Farm is set in 500 acres of unspoilt Kent countryside, known as the Garden of England. Flat grass fields and surrounded by private woodland and also fields abut the River Medway, ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. Campers have access to newly refurbished facilities, state of the art showers, toilets and washing facilities. Raised BBQ's and raised firepits are permitted. It's the ideal location for a peaceful escape with endless skies providing memorable sunsets and stars unhindered by artificial light.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£27
 / night
89%
(70)

The Slips

39 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Henfield, England
A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite in the West Sussex countryside
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Trash
from 
£19
 / night
91%
(44)

The Nut Plat Retreat

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kent, South East England
Antique living wagons on the banks of the River Bourne, with a charming orchard setting, a pub down the lane and a history unlike anywhere else
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£88
 / night
95%
(133)

Otter Channel Campsite

18 units · Tents3 acres · East Sussex, South East England
Spacious, nature-friendly camping with campfires on the banks of the River Rother
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£35
 / night
95%
(31)

The Sunset Tree

30 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · West Sussex, South East England
A sociable, tents-only, pop-up campsite, with a good village pub and playground on the doorstep
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£17
 / night
100%
(143)

Hale Farm

38 units · Glamping, Tents56 acres · East Sussex, South East England
A family-run, working farm in East Sussex offering spacious, traditional camping with no set pitches
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£14
 / night
100%
(18)

Constable Park

17 units · Glamping, Tents4 acres · Suffolk, East Anglia
A holiday and leisure park ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, with premium glamping options
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£48
 / night
90%
(15)

Wethersfield Eco Project Off grid

39 units · Motorhomes, Tents15 acres · Sudbury, Suffolk, East Anglia
Update we allow cars ad camper and this land has a special energy. Set in the valley with the hillside gives 360 degrees view of natural landscape. Wethersfield Eco Project is the historic parkland of Wethersfield Manor. Veteren Oaks and Sequoia Grace the woodland hillside with badgers and foxes in the sandy hills, buzzards and kites soaring the thermals and micro pigs grazing the wildflower meadow and wallowing in the ponds full of dragonfly and newts. Natural spring water issues from underground and was pumped by hand up the hill to the Manor House in victorian times by hand as their drinking water. More recently this high quality water was diverted into fish stock ponds and now is tapped as the finest fresh water for water ceremonies bathing therapy and herbal preparations. Great space for a family or romantic getaway or larger group party. If you are a group under 10 people please expect to share the space with others but we'll ensure you have your own private area! Bring your sound system and have your own party or event. Music must be lower after 11pm as houses are 500metres away. Price is 20 per adult 16 or over per night 11am to 11am checkout. Late checkout or day rate til 5pm is 10 per adult. Kids free. Dogs are 5 pounds. I have trouble pricing with hip camp as I can't get it to reflect my pricing structure. You can find us on Wethersfield eco project on social mediafb.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£29
 / night
100%
(12)

Brightwell Country Park

1 unit · Glamping58 acres · Woodbridge, Suffolk, East Anglia
Bell tents and an accessible cabin, with activities right from your door
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
£115
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop

Riverside camping in Wye National Nature Reserve guide

Overview

At the heart of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this small nature reserve encompasses one of the area’s most visited viewpoints. Make a beeline for the Devil’s Kneading Trough, where the steep coombes afford views across the Romney Marshes and along the Channel coast. Once you’ve admired the views, stop for a picnic on the hillside or follow the hour-long Wye NNR nature trail to spot rare orchids, butterflies, and wildflowers. Hikers can also set out along the long-distance North Downs Way, which passes through the reserve.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for country views: The Sunny Field has off-grid tent pitches, campervan sites, and glamping in bell tents, amid miles of open countryside. It’s a 10-minute drive from the reserve.
  • Best for budget campers: Flying Horse Inn is a country pub just west of the reserve and offers free overnight campervan parking for evening diners.
  • Best for escaping the crowds: Sunnyside Farm has plenty of grass and hardstanding pitches, optional electric hook-ups, and tranquil surroundings. It’s a 20-min drive away.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Kent Downs campsites and caravan sites can book up quickly, especially in July and August, and during school holidays. Plan up to six months in advance for popular sites or those with limited pitching. 
  2. You will need to pay a deposit to secure your campsite reservation; some sites ask for the full payment in advance. 
  3. Be sure to check seasonal opening and closing dates. Many campsites open from March through October, while others stay open year-round.

When to go

The most pleasant weather for camping is from April through September, and this is the main hiking season in the Kent Downs. Wildflowers bloom throughout this period, but come in late spring to admire them at their most colourful. Sites like the Devil’s Kneading Trough fill up with day-trippers throughout July and August, so make an early start to get a jump on the crowds or opt for a weekday visit in the off-season to enjoy the view to yourself.

Know before you go

  • Wye National Nature Reserve is located in the Kent Downs AONB, about a 20-minute drive from Ashford. Trains from London take about an hour to reach Wye train station, just 2 miles from the reserve. 
  • Free parking is available at the Wye Nature Reserve car park along Coldharbour Lane.
  • Camping is not possible in the reserve itself, and wild camping is not permitted throughout the Kent Downs AONB.
  • The reserve has a restaurant, but for public restrooms or to purchase picnic supplies, head to Wye village.

Top counties in and near Wye National Nature Reserve

Top towns in and near Wye National Nature Reserve

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Camp Your Way™

Cool Camping is now Hipcamp. Camp your way by discovering and reserving unique tent camping, caravan parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping getaways. Explore our maps, filter by your camping style, read real camper reviews, and book directly in our app. Hipcamp is the simplest way to find yourself outside under the stars.

Download the Hipcamp App

© 2024 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.