A private Park Estate campsite in Kent. Acres of woodland to explore and treasure to be found, Forge Wood campsite is a tranquil setting with space to relax and ideal for spotting wildlife flitting through the woodland.

Camping in beautiful natural surroundings, sitting round an open camp fire and enjoying the company of friends and family. Beautiful surroundings of the Eridge Park Estate.  Real back to the wilderness woodland and field camping in one of the most beautiful and historic parks in the country.  Iron Age Forts, Victorian follies, Ice Caves, Lakes and one of the largest Deer Parks in the country make the Park one of the most naturally beautiful in Britain. Ancient woodland and unchanged parkland make for stunning walks and adventures, along carriage ways carved in the 18th & 19th centuries.

 

Forgewood campsite is set amongst the private estate of Marquess of Abergavenny, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, reputedly the largest enclosed Deer Park in England. It was to be our location for an autumnal nights camping, with a group of friends, some who were new to camping and some camping veterans. Forgewood did not disappoint, fulfilling our dreams of cosying round a roaring campfire under the stars.

On arrival at the campsite the manager was not in the office, but was easily contactable by phone. John told us we were welcome to camp where we liked, but for making the most of the experience he recommended pitching in the woods. The newbie campers amongst us were not all that keen on the idea, although other groups had already pitched there and it did look beautiful. We compromised by pitching at the edge of the woods in a large field. In fact the field was so large even on a busier weekend you wouldn’t feel cramped or overlooked. The kids in our group were soon off exploring in the woods, leaving the grown ups to pitch up. It was a windy weekend, but the ground was even and not too hard, and in a couple of hours all the tents were pitched and we were ready to build the fire and check out the facilities.

Stand pipes are placed around the field and at the top of the field where the site manager’s office is placed. The toilets and showers were also located here, and although temporary and housed in a portakabin, they were clean and very well stocked. John advised that he would probably use the same next year, as they had worked so well, I certainly would agree, as they were the smartest and cleanest I have seen at any campsite. Within the same area the usual rubbish and recycling facilities were available as well as a washing up facilities, which were also very clean and tidy. John has also thoughtfully provided buckets and watering cans for fire control, and on such a blustery day we were grateful for such fire safety consideration. Such a simple idea, but one I have not seen before

Forgewood not only allows campfires, but this year you could collect the wood yourself from the various log piles around the woodland free of charge. The boys in our group young and old went into the woods to collect firewood, and we soon had a large pile ready to start chopping with the axe. A short while later the fire was roaring, and as darkness fell, we begun preparing supper.

The beauty of this campsite for families is the freedom you can give to your children to explore alone in the woods, knowing you are only a few meters away. Even in the dark they were desperate to continue their games, so glow sticks and head torches were distributed, and it was a joy to see and hear them have so much fun. Dens were built, trees climbed, sticks bashed, and with woodland undisturbed for several decades; animals skulls and bones were found. A truly memorable evening for the under 10s, and marshmallows and Rocky Road before bed made a perfect end to the day. The over 10s enjoyed a more sedated evening round the fire. With wine and beer flowing, and a delicious supper from the BBQ, newbie campers could see the joy in a night under canvas, and old timers were relieved their suggestion to go camping in October had gone well.

The following morning brought brighter weather, and the joy that a Full English Breakfast in the sunshine can bring. The children came back from the woods for pancakes, before the whole party set off for a walk round the estate. The surrounding area is beautiful, with stunning views across the pastures and farmland of Kent. As we were only staying for the weekend, we just took a lazy walk past some shire horses to a lake with a rope swing in the tree, where we relaxed for an hour or two, before heading back to our tents. But the area has so many attractions, such as Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Penshurst Place and gardens, Hever Castle, Bodiam Castle, Sissinghurst , Groombridge Place with Enchanted Garden, Pooh Corner and Hundred Acre Wood, Go Ape, and is within easy reach of many beaches and the South Downs, it would be a great base for a weeks holiday.

 

The site is shared with a tearoom, which we visited that afternoon for ice-cream, but it also had a fine selection of cakes and light meals Which all looked delicious, and from the number of people who visited the tea room that weekend, must taste delicious too.

All too soon it was time to pack up putting out the fire was performed with much glee by the children and made up a little for the disappointment in having to leave. It was a shame for all of us to end such an idyllic weekend. It was everything I thought camping would be from reading Famous Five books when I was younger. A campfire, exploring in the woods, eating and cooking yummy food outside, and finding ‘treasure’ such as animal skulls and jaw bones. As my son said “this is the best camping trip ever”. We will certainly be back next year.