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Canvas & Stars at Hale Farm

Chiddingly, East Sussex, England
1 acre hosted by Nicky S.
Bell tent glamping on a Sussex farm complete with campfires, scavenger hunts and plenty of luxury touches

Double beds, bunting, fluffy pillows… there are always a few things to be expected when you book a luxury bell tent stay. But you know you’re doing glamping right, when the gin van shows up. Serving local tipple from across Sussex, including beers from nearby Horsham, cider from Cowford and gin from Brighton, Chilgrove and the Blackdown Hills, the evening arrival of this mobile bar, housed inside a vintage Citroen horsebox, sums up the quirky, classy nature of Canvas & Stars. This is glamping with a capital ‘G’.

Set in a secluded segment of the spacious and scenic Hale Farm Campsite – a working farm where kiddies can get up close with the animals each morning, feeding rare breed pigs, donkeys and lambs – Canvas & Stars is a new luxury offering (though already being lauded by The Telegraph as one of the UK's top mild camping sites) set within its own private space. Their ‘bell village’ comprises 10 fully furnished tents, with beds for a family of up to five people, and an eleventh, communal tent with board games, books and magazines in case the weather turns. Outside, meanwhile, every tent has its own campfire pit and deck chairs, with access to a pop-up kitchen with all the utensils you need, either for cooking on a gas hob or on your open fire.

While the attention to detail here is excellent – complimentary toiletries provided on arrival; a scavenger hunt and fancy dress rail for children in each bell tent; a gift for anyone celebrating a party – it’s still the more universal charms of the place that make it stand out. The two homely local pubs are a perfect case in point, both eminently walkable from the campsite down the quiet Sussex lane, while National Trust attractions and ancient castles seem to pop-up in every direction you drive.

In all, it treads the ideal line between camping and luxury. Those essential elements of the outdoors are still there – the smell of campfire smoke, the morning stroll to the showers through dewy grass, the morning alarm of birdsong – but you’ve still got an incredibly comfortable bed to sleep in and a minimal amount of packing is required. All that, plus the gin van. Now that's the way to glamp!

Activities
Biking
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Farm
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
More camping spots nearby
Location
Chiddingly, East Sussex, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Nicky S.Joined in May 2017
From the host
​Looking for the perfect child friendly family glamping getaway? Hale Farm lies in 56 acres of beautifully picturesque countryside, complete with a campsite and farm. The Bell Tent Village, separate from the farm and campsite, offers 7 acres of tranquillity. When you visit Canvas and Stars, you’ll stay in one of our 10 stunning fully-furnished bell tents, right in the heart of the East Sussex countryside – truly the perfect place to get away from all the daily pressures of life and relax. This luxury Sussex glamping experience allows the whole family to enjoy themselves, the children can enjoy visiting the farm animals and exploring the great outdoors, then when they’re tucked up in the comfort of their deluxe bell tent, the adults can gather round the fire and enjoy a glass of prosecco under the stars. You’ll also find a big communal chill-out tent stocked with bean bags, games and books. Truly the perfect place for children to play and adults to chill out in too. Canvas and Stars is the perfect luxury glamping escape and ideal place to just relax in the fresh open air. All bell tents are complete with beds, bedding, cushions, lighting, rugs and tables, a fire pit and grill, complimentary toiletries plus a scavenger hunt for the children. Our bell tents sleep up to five people (two adults plus three children or four adults).
Nearby attractions
The High Weald and the South Downs are the best places to go walking nearby – though the footpaths directly from the site are not to be sniffed at. Arlington Reservoir is about a 10 minute drive, a good spot for bird watching, while a few hundred metres further is Drusillas Park (01323 874100), a small 10 acres zoo mainly aimed at children. National Trust owned Batemans (01435 882302), former home of Rudyard Kipling, is around 15 minutes in the car, as is Alfriston Clergy House, the very first property the Trust bought back in 1896, before becoming the cherished charity it is today. Herstmonceux Castle (01323 834457), Sheffield Park and Lewes Castle (01273 486290) offer further heritage and are all within half an hour's drive, while, families, will particularly like Knock Hatch Adventure Park (01323 442051), Ashdown Llama Park (01825 713698) and the Observatory Science Centre (01323 832731).
Food and drink
A mobile gin bar visits the site almost every evening, offering gin cocktails, prosecco and beer. A range of luxury breakfast hampers and locally produced sparkling wine are also available to purchase and there is a small village store within walking distance (around 10 minutes). There are also a pair of excellent pubs in Chiddingly, The Six Bells (01825 872227) and The Gun (01825 872361).

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