Camping near Battle is a great way to enjoy beautiful, East Sussex countryside. Rolling hills and fields surround small, medieval villages and towns where you can stop for a pint and bite to eat while steeping yourself in 1000 years of history.
But where do you stay and what do you do to make this best of this historic, interesting area? This blog post will tell you everything you need to plan your day out.
The Battle of Hastings
You probably want to visit Battle because of the Battle of Hastings. That’s where unfortunate King Harold took an arrow to the eye in a big pavilion-tent battle the English otherwise might have won.
In fact, there is a fun, large-scale reenactment every year or so run by English Heritage. Pulses race as you hear the hooves pound, the shields crash and the chants for doomed Harold Godwinson facing off against the Norman line. There are even two camps to explore, the Normans and the English, where the reenactors and their families method-act behind-the-scenes life of medieval soldiery.
Where to camp
There are many campsites dotted around the epic countryside where you can imagine a troop of pikemen running past your tent to reinforce the front line.
We stayed in Beech Estate, which is an eco-campsite. No cars are allowed near the pitches so you will need to use the wheel barrows they provide. Therefore, check your pitch won’t be further than you want to walk. In any case, the site is clean, well-managed, and acres of ancient, peaceful forest surround you to explore.
It’s a good place to base yourself as it’s pretty central for the days out here.
Battle Abbey
Founded in 1067, the cloisters and antechambers of the abbey are partially ruined. English Heritage have made a super job of restoration and turned this into a headline attraction for the pretty town. Once you have spent an hour or so strolling the pretty grounds, there are museums to visit, towers to climb and basements to clamber inside.
Hastings
Worthy of a day out in itself, Hastings has a piratey feel to it! There are smugglers caves to explore, a colourful fishing village and winding medieval streets crammed with shops and curiosities. It’s a hilly place, but there is a fun cable car that gets you to the main attractions and offers a stunning view of the town.
Getting there
You need a car for camping near Battle. Trains and buses serve Hastings and Battle from London (and pretty much everywhere) but the English countryside is not the most accessible place for bus users. Nevertheless, there are some campsites a few kilometres from Battle train station.
