Set among beautiful woodland and peaceful meadows in tranquil West Sussex, Sumners Ponds Fishery and Campsite is a working cattle farm, fishing mecca and family-friendly campsite with direct access to countryside walks and cycle routes.
The camping is split over three parks: Bluebell, Ribbon and Sumners. Bluebell Park is ideally suited to families, with a children's play area that sits adjacent to woodland walks and cycle tracks, while Sumners Park includes some premium lakeside patches for avid anglers. Camping pods are also available for those who want to enjoy a more weatherproof camping experience.
For many campsites, onsite places to eat and drink are more of an afterthought. Not so at Sumners. The award-winning Cafe by the Lake serves excellent food throughout the day which can be enjoyed al fresco on the decked area overlooking the lake. The varied menu serves everything from cooked breakfasts and light lunches to inventive evening meals such as pan fried tuna steak with chargrilled asparagus, lemon crusted poached egg and a warm hollandaise sauce. The cafe has a licensed bar in the evenings where there's a calendar of regular events including live music and outdoor cinema screenings (weather permitting).
Sumners Ponds is an angler's paradise with four well-stocked fishing lakes containing catch including carp, roach, bream, and pike. Anglers of every age and ability will enjoy fishing here and supplies, including live bait, are available from the reception.
If fishing's not your thing there's plenty of other activities to keep you amused. There is direct access onto The Downs Link walking and cycling route connecting the North and South Downs. This waymarked path follows two disused railway lines and takes in wildflower banks, woodland, rivers, ponds and streams, and the wide variety of wildlife that inhabits them.
The neighbouring village of Southwater (3.5 miles away) is home to the Southwater Country Park. Popular with families, activities such as orienteering, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing abound. The park also includes a beautiful wildlife area which is home to lizards, kingfishers, butterflies and dragonflies. Nearby Horsham is a charming market town that's well worth a wander around. Make sure you stop by the Horsham Museum – an absolute treasure trove of local history. Further afield lies Petworth (a 25 minute drive) where's you'll find the magnificent Petworth House and Park, numerous shops, cafes and restaurants. Alternatively pack your swimmers, bucket and spade and head to the coast – the beaches of Littlehampton, Brighton and West Wittering are all less than an hour's drive away.
Hosted by Sumners P.
Joined in July 2014The campsite offers direct access to countryside walks, cycling and horse rides along the Downs Link route which runs north to south over nearly 40 miles. The Warnham Local Nature Reserve (01403 256890) with its millpond and marshes is home to flora and fauna including kingfishers and dragonfly. Wine drinkers should book a tour of the local Bolney Wine Estate (01444 881894) and pick up a bottle (or case!) of their award-winning wines to take home. Soak up some local history at the Horsham Museum and Art Gallery (01403 254959) and drop by the National Trust property Petworth House and Park (01798 342207 ) – a splendid stately home with a park landscaped by Capability Brown, plua a fine collection of paintings by artists including Turner and Van Dyck. The fascinating Amberley Museum (01793 831370) is dedicated to the industrial heritage of the South East and is home to traditional crafts people including blacksmiths and potters who you can watch at work.
The Cafe by the Lake at Sumners Ponds is open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and ice-cream (eat-in or takeaway). It also has a licensed bar hosting regular events including live music. You can stock up on local produce and home-grown food at Westons Farm Shop (01403 791228). A short stroll away along a country path lies The Queen's Head (01403 730436), a cosy olde-worlde inn serving traditional pub grub. Other locals worth a punt include The Selsey Arms (01403 741537) in Coolham, The George and Dragon (01403 741320) in Dragons Green and Bax Castle (01403 730369) in Horsham. If you head to Petworth for an afternoon call in at The Hungry Guest Cafe (01798 344564) or enjoy a cream tea in the splendid surroundings of The Old Railway (01798 342346) – a grand old railway station built in 1892.
