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Safari Britain

Old Shepherd's Cottage, Firle, Sussex BN8 6LL, UK

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We say

Teaser text:

This site is like being dropped into the middle of a Bloomsbury-set house party. And, if you want even more glamour, you can take a trip down the road to Glyndebourne for some operatic high culture. But do remember to wear your dressing gown.

This is based on a review from:

Cool Camping KidsFind out more

Cool Camping campsite review:

It is said that Lydia Lopokova, the eccentric and colourful Russian ballerina of the twenties and thirties, danced naked along the chalk hill behind the site at Safari Britain for her husband John Maynard Keynes. She was one of the many Bloomsbury eccentrics who gathered at Charleston. She also went to the opera down the road at Glyndebourne wearing her dressing gown.

Perhaps she set a precedent, because an atmosphere of bohemia pervades this site. Everything that you want, and probably a lot more besides, is on site, including pre-erected bell tents and two glorious yurts, which sit in a sunny bowl of the Sussex Downs. You are surrounded by 300-year-old oak trees, a chalk track peeling across the fields, and the sea the other side.

The kitchen looks like a vintage photo shoot; shelves stocked with old French enamel, copper cooking pots and a gigantic frying pan big enough to cook a fry-up on the open fire for the whole party. Children will love the optional activities, including foraging, bow-and-arrow making and falconry, or they could easily spend an afternoon building dens, climbing trees and exploring – miles away from the nearest house or road – while you stretch out with the Sunday papers.

The upside:

You really don’t have to take anything. Except food and drink.

The downside:

Even though you might feel you could live here forever, all good things have to come to an end.

The facilities:

The site sleeps a maximum of 20 people in up to 11 bell tents, each of which has mattresses, pillows and cotton covers. For £20 extra you can hire a duvet. There’s a gorgeous yurt at the centre of the camp, furnished like a Moroccan souk with sofas, sheep and cow skins, cushions, a wood-burning stove and painted bookshelves: unlike plenty of yurts, it’s genuinely comfortable. There’s a well-equipped, large kitchen yurt too; you can also cook on the huge central firepit or BBQ outside, where there are tables, benches and a circle of log seats. All the crockery, pots and pans that you could dream of have been provided. There’s an eco-loo in a little hut and binoculars for checking out the fabulous view, and another up the hill to watch the moon at night. Take your open-air shower under a leafy canopy in a wooden enclosure. Gas canisters, wood, charcoal, drinking water, cool boxes, candles, matches, firelighters, cleaning kit, loo paper, tea towels, washing-up liquid and condiments are all provided.

Who's in?:

Families, couples, school groups, hen and stag parties, organisational work teams, tents – yes. Pets, cars, caravans, campervans – no.

Onsite fun:

In the yurt there are bookshelves full of maps as well as reading and reference books. There’s a guitar, board games, kites, rounders bats and balls for plenty of campsite fun and games. Activities can be arranged depending on the age of your party, and most of them are led by local people: you can try plant-foraging for supper; find out how to cook rabbits, squirrels or snails. Or you could learn fire-making, den-building and even spear-throwing. A falconer brings in birds of prey, who will alight on your arm with some food enticements, and you can have a landscape-drawing lesson, study local wildlife or go on a birdsong walk.

Offsite fun:

You can walk from the camp in almost any direction for a good distance without seeing a car or crossing a tarmac track, and the South Downs National Trail is 5 minutes above the campsite, with great views over the Channel. At the Seven Sisters Country Park the museum has bike and canoe hire. Firle House (01273 858307) is a 20-minute walk away, with great gardens to romp around in. Because this is free-spirited Bloomsbury country, Charleston house (01323 811265) is just next door; the cottage garden is particularly sweet. See the Long Man of Wilmington (a giant figure carved into the Downs’ chalk). At Wilmington church try brass-rubbing and admire the stained-glass windows of local butterflies. Local swimming places are good; try Tide Mills near Seaford or between the chalk cliffs at Hope Gap.

Food & drink:

Twenty minutes’ walk away is the Ram Inn (01273 858222), and further afield, in Alciston, is the Rose Cottage Inn (01323 870377). The village shop in Firle is good for basics, but Middle Farm Shop has masses of excellent local produce: local veg, meat, eggs and fruit as well as home-cooked pies and cakes, prepared curries and excellent cheese. For grown-ups the cider house is an essential pit stop, on the pretext of buying apple juice for the kids.

If it rains:

Drusillas Park zoo near Alfriston (01323 874100) is a 10-minute drive away and has a big playground and train. Five minutes away by car you will find Middle Farm (01323 811411), which has an ‘open farm area’ where children can visit animals and see milking in action. There is also an outdoor playground and a hay play barn, a nature trail and picnic. Lewes is a pretty downland town with a castle, a big indoor play centre called Monkey Business and a swimming pool at the leisure centre. And, of course, Brighton is just down the road, with its glorious Pavillion, the Booth Museum, which has interactive exhibits for children and Pier with its various amusements.

Nanny state alert:

Ponies sometimes wander up to the camp, even though it is fenced.

The damage:

The Firle campsite sleeps a maximum of 20 people. If you are a much smaller group, or on your own, we may be able to fit you in, so contact us anyway! The prices listed below are for the largest groups (20 people). If you are an individual, or a small group wanting to stay the night, contact us and we will give you a price...

Exclusive bookings:

Weekends: (Friday eve – Sunday eve, 6pm) Book the camp exclusively (max 20 people) for £1700. Guided activities are not included.
Weekdays: Book the camp exclusively (max 20 people). The cost is £1300 for two nights; £1600 for three nights; £1900 for the week (Monday 12 noon – Friday morning). Guided activities are not included.

Half-term and Bank Holidays & July - August summer holidays (July 6 - August 31st):

Weekends: (Friday eve – Sunday/Mon eve, bank holidays, 6pm) Book the camp exclusively (max 20 people) for £1900. Guided activities are notincluded.
Weekdays: The cost is £1400 for two nights; £1800 for three nights; £2100 for the week (Monday – Friday morning). Guided activities are not included.

Wildlife guide/activities are not included in the overall price. They cost £130 for a group session which last 3-4 hours. Please tell us what you would like and we can arrange.

Open:

Mid April–early October.

You say

Reviews:

Safari Britain

Safari Britain

- Visited on: 09/10

5

Deborah, September 2010
"Thank you so much for a weekend truly out of this world. All of us loved every minute of it. We have come back overjoyed by how communal living has made us bond so wonderfully. All our kids loved being able to run around freely in such a gorgeous setting. Waking up with the sound of twenty ponies munching on grass was weirdly magical! We loved foraging on the Saturday morning and savouring Ruth's delicious nettle soup for lunch. Not to mention experiencing a beautiful hawk feeding from us and observing a really speedy falcon fly over our heads! Thanks again - your experience is a truly inspiring one. Well done!"

Stayed in: luxury tented accommodation

Review submitted on: 02/02/12

hen weekend

Safari Britain

Rachel’s Hen weekend, May 20011

“The campsite is in the most idyllic setting imaginable. There was something very wonderful about waking up to the sounds of sheep bleating behind your tent and showering under a huge beech tree. Even the loo has a view! Our evenings were spent huddled around the camp fire and barbeque before we retreated to the cosy 'lounge' tent complete with wood burning stove, sheepskin rugs, cushions and lanterns. The attention to detail was superb and gave the place a really unique and special feel...”

02/02/12

Photos

Getting there

Take the M23 south to Brighton and then follow the A27 East past Lewes. Seven miles beyond Lewes, and shortly after the entrance to Charleston Farmhouse (on the right), you’ll arrive at the village of Selmeston. Immediately after the Barley Mow pub take the turning right to Bo Peep Lane, signposted ‘By Way’. Follow the road for 1 mile until you reach a cluster of buildings on your left. Turn right opposite Bo Peep B&B onto the old chalk coach road. After a short distance, Old Shepherd’s Cottage is on the right, followed by an old Sussex barn. Parking is just beyond the barn in the large clearing. Safari Britain folk will pick you up and transport you to the site, which is a 15-minute walk away.

Public transport:

Jump on a train to Lewes, from there it’s either a 10 minute taxi ride to the campsite, or if you’re feeling energetic you can take a train on from Lewes to Glynde and enjoy a half hour/20 min walk from there.