What a lovely, back to basics campsite Alpaca is. Just what the Doctor ordered for us after a 7-month drought of sleeping in Vinnie, due to the long winter lockdown. It’s blissfully simple camping, in peaceful countryside, surrounded by woodland and Lakes. Plus, the pub is only a 10 minute walk through fields, there’s not much more you can ask for.
This working farm is home to alpacas, llamas, goats, sheep, free range geese, ducks and of course the lovely rescue Camel, Jeffrey (PLEASE do not feed him!) Phillip the owner is ever the affable host and always up for a chat. Passionate about his farm, he makes you feel like he really enjoys sharing his little slice of heaven with the visiting campers.
I think this is going to be one of our new favourites. We’ll definitely be back.
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- Turn up and pitch up, pick your own pitch. Pitches are numbered but more to give you a loose indication of the polite amount of space to take up
- Peaceful
- Campfires
- Really friendly and welcoming owner
- Footpaths cross the campsite
- Choice of 4 pubs in walking distance
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- Really can’t think of anything to personally compain about, facilities may be too basic for some, but we were happy
- As with other Yampcamp sites you have to take your rubbish home with you. We do get it and happy to do so as we have a trasharoo to store it, but a weekend storing bags of dog poo is always just, eurgh.
SURROUNDINGS
- Walk to Newick is beautiful mostly through woods, 45 mins, reward yourself with a pub lunch at one of its 3 pubs
FIRES
- Fires – Yes, every pitch has its own firepit. Please only burn Wood bought there. Philip drives round every night.
- BBQ’s – Yes, but no disposables
FOOD & DRINK
- It’s a 10-minute walk through fields to the pleasant and friendly Five Bells in Chailey
- We did the lovely, 45-minute walk from the Campsite to Newick and ate at The Bull, which was very dog friendly. Food was delicious and lovely staff
- Other pubs in Newick that were closed when we were there are The Crown and The Royal Oak
- Newick bakery looked lovely, but we didn’t have any space this time to try anything
- Sussex Village store in Newick, has all the basics you may need
FACILITIES
- Phone service & 4g
- Composting toilets, plus male and female urinals
- Covered Hot washing up
- Hot outdoor showers (private cubicle but no roof) are exhilarating on a cold windy day!
- Tire swing
- No bins, take your rubbish home
- No electric
OUR TOP TIPS
- If you don’t want to be woken up early by other people’s children, then avoid pitching infront of the swing like we did (pitches 7&8)
- Pitches along the bottom of the fields overlooking the Lake & Jeffrey the camel are lovely.
vinstavan: camping with a VW T25, dog & kids 