Oldbury Hill, Kent: Camping in the Garden of England

Oldbury Hill: Is It The Right Campsite For You?

Wild camping is illegal in most parts of England therefore in order to get away from it all, choosing the right campsite for your needs is vital. The first thing to establish is what you want from your break away. Is it peace and quiet? Is it important to have entertainment facilities? Do you want a large or small site? Are you contemplating a trip to the beach or the countryside?

In the same way, people utilize websites like TripAdvisor to review hotels there are now websites emerging that focus on camping and glamping – one such trusted website is UK Campsites. This is a website that works in a similar way to the popular hotel and restaurant reviewing site, where people can leave their thoughts about the campsite and local area as well as provide top tips for those looking to visit.

If you expect certain standards from your campsites it is also worthwhile considering a membership to a dedicated camping organization e.g. The Caravan and Camping Club – as this highlights campsites under different ratings, catering for all needs.

When we look to go camping we want to feel like we are away from it all. We want to be able to enjoy the peace and tranquility that certain sites offer.

One such campsite is Oldbury Hill near Sevenoaks in Kent. Living in the South East we still want the rolling hills and views that the North of the country offer. Whilst hiking up mountains is not an option the rolling hills and countryside are hence why we picked this site.

Oldbury Hill is ideally placed in a forest setting with easy reach of local amenities, including a pub. The novelty of this particular site, and what makes us return, is the fact that the shower blocks are actually hidden in a wooded area so you truly do feel like you are spending a weekend away from it all. This is further highlighted when you realize you have no phone signal.

The campsite itself has a small shop where you can buy your morning eggs but should you want to do more shopping you are very close to a supermarket and local towns.

This is a small quiet site that allows for a relaxing weekend in the sun with a BBQ. When you arrive here you will be returning to the basics and therefore should expect to find very little to do which is the reason for going.

Now when I say basic one of the things that people always ask me is whether there are working toilets and as I have already mentioned these are a novelty in the woods. They are always clean and have plenty of toilet roll available…so no embarrassing moments, plus the showers are always lovely and hot. There is even a hairdryer!

Are there bugs? You are camping in the woods so I would question it if there wasn’t…however, that is part of the charm of this site. Along with the bats flying low at night, the squirrels and the birds that wake you in the morning who knows what other wildlife you may stumble across.

Camping doesn’t mean you need to slum it though and this site provides an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Royalty and actresses with a visit to Leeds Castle or maybe a day at the races is more your style with Brands Hatch being very close by.

During one of our visits, we attended the Aston Martin Centenary weekend at Brands Hatch; rubbing shoulders with Bruno Senna in the pit lanes and spending time admiring the most famous Aston Martins of all: those that belong to James Bond. Various events run throughout the year and may provide you with an opportunity to do something completely different.

 

Do you enjoy camping? Let us know what your favourite camping locations are.