Overview

Looking for a memory-making holiday? Check out Blackberry Wood! This place is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Imagine a helicopter, a London bus, a cabin and a caravan all sitting in the shadow of fairytale treehouses. It’s a glamping experience that’ll leave you feeling like you’ve entered another world. However, you are in Sussex’s beautiful South Downs, just 1.5 hours from London and 30 minutes from Brighton.

Activities

If your family loves nature, exploring the outdoors, woodlands, campfires, long walks, and something a bit quirky, this is the place for you. Kids, campfires, and B.B.Q.’s are encouraged!

On-site, you will find a beautiful woodland to explore, many outdoor adventures,  and play areas to run around. The main one is at the bottom of the campsite, with tyre swings, slides, and more, and there is a smaller one in the glamping area with some swings to enjoy. Kids will be so chuffed to discover Guinea Pig World, too. This glamping unit at Blackberry Wood isn’t for humans…it’s for guinea pigs! Go and meet rescued Guineas Marmite, Toast and Ginger. You can even take some food for them or send the kids off into the woods to find dandelions, daisies and burdock to munch on.

Blackberry Wood is surrounded by public footpaths and bridleways leading into glorious countryside. When you arrive, grab a local map pointing out suggested walks, some to excellent local country pubs.

Food

Blackberry Wood has an on-site shop that sells dry logs, B.B.Q. Coals and essentials, including locally produced wine, beer, local farm produce, ice cream, sweets, provisions and giftware. During busier times, they have food vans on site selling crepes, pizza and more!

If you don’t want to cook, there are many great options. Fancy having home-cooked Thai food delivered to your abode, be it a tree house or a tent? Wednesdays to Saturdays, Tiny Thai will take your order and do just that.

If you would like to eat out, there are many excellent pubs and restaurants within walking distance of Blackberry Wood. The closest one is about a 40-minute(ish) tour through fields and woods to the foot of the South Downs. The Half Moon is worth visiting because of its good food, beer, and excellent outside play area for kids with real tractors.

A good all-rounder in the heart of Ditchling (a 45-minute walk), The Bull offers excellent food and a good atmosphere. Or, within a similar distance, The Green Welly is a cafe/restaurant with high-quality food and great coffee and cakes. For something a bit more Gourmet, The Jolly Sportsman will hit the spot. With top-dollar beer and top-dollar prices! After a 40-minute cross-country walk, with spectacular views across the downs, you will be rewarded with the finest food in Sussex and weekly changing guest beers. Not for the budget-conscious.

Accommodation

This place just oozes charm. Where else can you stay in a Fire Engine or Helicopter!? It’s somewhere lifetime memories will be made, and it’s all super practical, too. Glamping options include:

The Holiday Bus (sleeps 4)
This fab retired double-decker Routemaster has been transformed into a unique and unforgettable place to stay. It’s perfect for a family, with a well-equipped kitchen and dining area on the lower deck that includes a 2-ring gas cooker, grill, toaster and fridge. The upper deck is a lounge and sleeping area; even a soft play area transforms into a super-king bedroom at night!

The Helicopter(sleeps 4)
Have you ever dreamed of holidaying in a helicopter? Now you can with this converted 1965 Wessex Search and Rescue chopper! It’s perfect for families who want to experience something unique and unforgettable. The helicopter features two double beds, one of which can be converted into two singles. The grey camo decor adds to the adventurous atmosphere, but don’t worry; your mission is just to relax and enjoy your quirky and comfortable ‘Helicopter’. You’ll also have access to a private outdoor kitchen with a 2-ring gas cooker, fridge, and toaster.

The Curvy Cabin (sleeps 4)
Welcome to the Curvy Cabin, the cosiest and quirkiest retreat you’ll ever visit! This self-contained, light and modern wood-clad cabin is perfect for adventurers. With walls curved at each end, this cabin is wonderfully unique and oh-so-comfy! You’ll find a snug double bed and two bunks, a modern kitchen (with a 4-ring gas cooker, toaster, and fridge) and even a shower room decorated with funky woodland wallpaper. And, thanks to heating throughout and a lovely wood burner, you can enjoy this year-round retreat no matter the weather outside.

‘Higgledy’ and ‘Piggledy’ – the two Treehouses (each sleeps 4)
Higgledy and Piggledy are aptly named; there is no better way to describe these truly stunning, slightly crazy and ever-so-magical fairytale treehouses. Perched among the trees, each treehouse boasts charmingly rustic designs and whimsical details. However, don’t be fooled; they are well-built and contain luxurious wooden interiors.

Higgledy and Piggledy are very different. Its turret can quickly identify Higgledy, while Piggledy has a wide-pitched roof and a gorgeous stained-glass heart-shaped window. Both treehouses have two comfortable double beds, a fully equipped kitchen with a 2-ring ceramic hob, fridge, freezer, microwave oven, and a beautiful shower room. They are fully insulated and have a wood burner to keep you warm on chilly days. During summer, you can enjoy outdoor dining on the large deck with a chiminea that will keep you cosy long into the evening.

If you’re more of a traditionalist, there’s a campsite too. Here, you will have your clearing with a fire pit. Nearby are funky shower and toilet facilities; you’ll even love washing up in the hand-crafted sink area. The beauty of this campsite is there are only around twenty camping pitches, which are situated in cosy, little private woodland glades. So it’s lovely and peaceful. Over the summer, the Wild Side is open for family camping, too, with meadow and woodland clearings and spectacular views over the hills nearby. Cars are parked separately to keep the sites traffic-free and safe for little ones running around.

All guests have access to the on-site hot showers (although you’ll have your own if you stay in the Curvy Cabin, Fire Engine or one of the treehouses).

Nearby

There’s lots to see in this stunning part of Britain, with the countryside around you and the coast in easy reach. Navigate the numerous nearby public footpaths and bridleways, several leading to excellent country pubs.

Once you’ve explored on two feet, hire some bikes and discover the local South Downs on two wheels. Hassocks Community Cycle Hire has lots of different options available at reasonable prices.

Kids will love a day at Drusillas Park, while a trip on the Bluebell Railway is charming for the whole family. Travel back on old steam trains through 11 miles of the beautiful Sussex countryside. Bluebell Railway offers the U.K.’s first preserved standard gauge passenger railway and much more for the whole family. During your visit, learn about the history and science of the Industrial Age, experience the thrill of getting up close to a working steam locomotive and relax in the comfort and style of a bygone era. Families can enjoy getting hands-on in the interactive exhibitions, and children can run about in the play and picnic areas while the grown-ups relax with a brew. Railway staff are dressed in period clothing, and the four stations are preserved in different periods, including Victorian, 1930s and 1950s.

For rainy days, The SeaLife Centre in Brighton is a good option, or go swimming at the Triangle in Burgess Hill and try out the waterslides.

Summary

This site is ideal for families looking for that perfect little getaway. They offer quirky, quality glamping accommodations ranging from cosy private clearings in the woodland to elaborate hand-crafted treehouses. Each glamping site has its private spot for a roaring campfire. For traditional camping, there are secluded meadows in the heart of Blackberry Wood, where you will have your clearing with a fire pit.