Ouse Meadow Campsite

From £26 For 1 night, 2 adults 9.9 25 reviews
Peaceful setting (added by manager 10 Aug 2023)
Railway meadow wide (added by manager 03 aug 2023)
End of riverbank meadow (added by manager 03 aug 2023)
Railway meadow space (added by manager 03 aug 2023)

  • Almost-wild camping on the banks of the Ouse river by Sheffield Park
  • Bluebell Railway station over the road; Ashdown Forest 10 mins' drive
  • Rope swings, hammocks and play area; firepits for hire on site
What an excellent spot for an East Sussex break – as the name suggests, Ouse Meadow Campsite is on the banks of the Ouse river, and it’s got views out over the lovely National Trust-owned scenery of Sheffield Park (which is free to wander around and can be accessed via a bridge and footpath from the site). Just across the road is another splendid attraction in the form of Sheffield Park station, a stop on the steam-powered Bluebell Railway line – you’ll be able to board trains here or just watch them puff past (a real treat for train fans of all ages…). The site is also just on the southern edge of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so there are walks galore to be had nearby – and handily there’s a brewery and taproom just over the road for a restorative drink when you get back. Shops for other supplies (and indeed more pubs) are 15 minutes’ drive away in Lewes. ‘Wild camping stays with a few little luxuries’ is how the owners describe their site – the emphasis is on maintaining a peaceful environment, but you will have access to basic amenities of drinking water, toilets and showers, and will be allowed to bring along off-ground barbecues (or hire firepits and buy logs on site if you’d like to have a campfire). There are no set pitches, so you can choose the spot you most like the look of and set it up how you wish (within reason…) with things like an awning or a gazebo. Free-range kids can play swingball and badminton or use the rope swings; there are also a few hammocks around for chillout time.

Site type

Tent pitches 50
Opens 26 April
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • This is a basic site so has no washing-up facilities. The team asks that all rubbish is taken home with you on departure. Please be aware that there is a river running along the boundary of the campsite so children must be monitored at all times.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 26 Apr to

Reviews

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would recommend this site to a friend

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Super site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Allen W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch (riverside)

Liked: Everything - great site loads to do and see and walk around here. Lovely evening under the stars

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site with clean facilities, and lots of space.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Natalie K. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Lovely landscape, close to a beautiful river, lots of space.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly site. Adult only field next to river. Really peaceful. Lovely and…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch (riverside)

Liked: Friendly site. Adult only field next to river. Really peaceful. Lovely and dark at night so the stars looked beautiful. Lots of walks from site. Loved hearing the toot of the steam trains.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely chill spot, will be back for sure…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Jamie H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Lovely chill spot, will be back for sure

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely and clean campsite Neil was very helpful giving out free ice…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Isabel N. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch (riverside)

Liked: Lovely and clean campsite Neil was very helpful giving out free ice poles for campers

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything! Owners were amazing especially when I had any questions! It was…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Everything! Owners were amazing especially when I had any questions! It was my first time solo camping so was very nervous but everything went well. I felt very safe and the camp was so peaceful and lovely at night!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very friendly staff who were so accommodating, a lovely spot and well…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch (riverside)

Liked: Very friendly staff who were so accommodating, a lovely spot and well maintained. The outdoor showers were the highlight - lovely and warm!

Disliked: Slightly noisy with the planes going overhead but soon got used to it and there's nothing that can be done about it apart from making people aware.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
David W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Great place

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place to camp, we will be back

Overall 10/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: The freedom of unlimited pitching is always a big plus for us! the outdoor showers were an nice experience and the manager is an absolute gent.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A perfect stay - an absolutely beautiful site right next to (as…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Alison H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent, campervan or trailer tent pitch

Liked: A perfect stay - an absolutely beautiful site right next to (as in actual strolling distance) interesting attractions and a cool craft brewery. Loved having a dip in the stream and the owner was super friendly and helpful. The campsite was v relaxed and clean. I was worried about the river as we have toddlers but we stayed in Railway meadow and it was really safe for them there.

Disliked: Nothing, it was fab!

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Wild swimming

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Rallies welcome

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Leave the car at home

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Public transport nearby

Type

Farm

Medium (26-50 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Outdoor pool nearby

Sailing nearby

Surf school nearby

Watersports nearby

Location

Ouse Meadow Campsite

Sheffield Park

Lewes

East Sussex

England

TN22 3QL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.9937°N
0.00247°W

Route directions

Look out for the site directly opposite the Bluebell Railway (Sheffield Park station)

Nearest transport

Coach
3.5 mi School Lane
3.6 mi School Lane
4.4 mi Bus Station
Rail
4.4 mi Uckfield Rail Station
4.8 mi Haywards Heath Rail Station
5.3 mi Plumpton Rail Station
Ferry
14.2 mi Newhaven Harbour Ferry Terminal
Airport
13.4 mi London Gatwick Airport South Terminal
13.4 mi London Gatwick Airport
14 mi London Gatwick Airport North Terminal

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

You’ll definitely want to pack your walking boots for a stay here, as there are lots of options for exploring on foot. A short 10-minute walk gets you to Ringwood Toll, which has a great natural woodland play trail for the kids, while a half-hour wander along the riverbank takes you to Newick for a butcher, a baker and three pubs. You’ll want to take a stroll around Sheffield Park (next door) as well – and quite possibly the lovely trails of Ashdown Forest (10 minutes’ drive), which inspired AA Milne and has various Winnie-the-Pooh-themed areas. The gorgeous gardens of Wakehurst (20 minutes) and Nymans (25 minutes) are well worth a visit too. Heading south, you’ll get to the South Downs National Park within about 15 minutes’ drive for lots more great walks. It’s also easy to get to places like Drusillas Park (35 minutes) for animal spotting, or Brighton (40 minutes) for a day at the beach.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Brighton Kemptown 13.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Good
Saltdean 13.6 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Brighton Central 13.6 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Hove 13.9 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Southwick 15.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Sheffield Park Garden 0.5 mi

Bluebell Railway 0.6 mi

Wakehurst Place 6.4 mi

Standen 7.6 mi

Nymans 9.5 mi

National Trust

Sheffield Park Garden 0.5 mi

Wakehurst Place 6.3 mi

Standen 7.6 mi

Nymans 9.6 mi

Monk's House 10.8 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

SHEFFIELD PARK 0.6 mi

Danehill - Cumnor House - Newnhams - Buttocks Bank Wood 2.8 mi

NEWICK PARK 2.9 mi

Horsted Keynes - Sheffield Park 4.2 mi

Fairwarp - Ashdown Forest - Fairwarp 4.2 mi

Local events

  • Glyndebourne Festival (Thursday 16 May 2024 – Thursday 16 May 2024)

    Lewes, East Sussex 8.4 mi

  • Wick Street Festival (Thursday 29 August 2024 – Thursday 29 August 2024)

    Polegate, East Sussex 12 mi

  • Arundel Festival (Saturday 17 August 2024 – Saturday 17 August 2024)

    Arundel, West Sussex 26.1 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in East Sussex?

  • Does Ouse Meadow Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Ouse Meadow Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Ouse Meadow Campsite? You’ll definitely want to pack your walking boots for a stay here, as there are lots of options for exploring on foot. A short 10-minute walk gets you to Ringwood Toll, which … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Ouse Meadow Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Ouse Meadow Campsite? From £26 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.