Bluebell Holidays in the High Weald of Sussex

Did you know that half of all the world's bluebell woods are found in the UK?

The High Weald is famous for its wonderful woodlands and, during late spring, many of them are full of the astounding colour and perfume of bluebells.

Bluebells are well adapted to life in a wood. They get a head start after the winter because they have an energy store in the form of a bulb. And they flower before the surrounding trees come out in full leaf. This means that they can complete their life cycle while light levels are high.

But bluebells and other woodland flowers cannot thrive in overgrown, uncared-for woods. They do best in woods that are managed with a harvesting cycle called ‘coppicing’ – where the trees are periodically cut down and left to re-grow, allowing a lot of light into the wood while they do so.

An Our Land High Weald holiday helps to keep local farmers and woodland owners in business – and that means they can continue to restore and conserve our beautiful bluebell woods.

You can also support our woodland producers in their work to restore and manage our coppice woodlands by buying High Weald wood products to take home with you after your visit.

A really special way to see High Weald bluebell woods is by taking a trip on one of the Bluebell Railway’s steam trains. The railway is so called because it passes close to many bluebell woods.

The volunteer-run Bluebell Line was the UK's first preserved standard gauge passenger railway. In 1960, it re-opened part of the Lewes to East Grinstead branch line of the old London Brighton & South Coast Railway. It has over 30 steam locomotives – the largest collection in the UK after the National Railway Museum!

High Weald eco forest camping at Wild Boar Wood Campsite near Horsted Keynes, offers campers stylish woodland camping within a five acre bluebell wood in the heart of Sussex. The ten fully equipped Bell Tents are set in a beautiful campsite with open campfires. Wild Boar Wood and its surrounding 40 acre field teem with wildlife. Close by the woodland campsite, the River Ouse meanders through the countryside, offering delightful and scenic walks along its banks to the welcoming local hostelries.

With the Bluebell Railway station only 5 miles away, the peace and tranquillity is interrupted only by the historic and spectacular locomotives as they occasionally thunder past the edge of the woodland campsite!

Price includes a fully equipped bell tent with all cooking equipment and firewood. From £70 - £80 per tent per night for two people. (£70 per tent midweek. £75 per tent on weekends.) Extra Children are £10/night. Extra Adults are £25/night.

The Cider House Traditional bed & breakfast cottage near Ardingly is a beautifully presented, self contained period cottage situated in the garden of the owners' Grade II listed house. The owner is a big fan of the nearby Bluebell Railway and knows a lot about its history, having visited it and its museum a great deal.

Price ranges from £140 - £150 per night for two sharing.

More ‘Our Land’ High Weald holidays can be found