Things to do near Sunnyside

It is a medieval landscape of wooded, rolling hills; studded with sandstone outcrops and a rich patchwork of small fields, scattered farmsteads and ancient routeways.

Situated in the heart of rural South East England, the High Weald National Landscape covers 1,461 square kilometres across the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey. It is the fourth-largest National Landscape in England and Wales, and without doubt one of the most beautiful.

The High Weald is a very special place. And it’s all yours to discover. Note: Chapter 3 passes by our land! 

https://highweald.org/things-to-do/high-weald-landscape-trail/ 

Just across the road from our site, Standen house was built by a well to do family during the height or the arts and crafts movement and is awash with William Morris wallpaper. It’s a fascinating house, and even better garden, with a schedule of activities for young children throughout the summer and a lovely café for a spot of lunch and amazing cakes!

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/standen-house-and-garden/index

This pub a 15 minute leisurely stroll from our site. It has a lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent menu. Children and dogs are welcome too! And you might be delighted to hear that on Friday nights the kitchen stays open till 9pm and kids are welcome until 10pm. So no need for camp cooking for those who arrive late and slightly frazzled after work on Friday night!

https://www.olddunningsmill.co.uk/

We discovered from some of our campers that we have an amazing Rock climbing sites right on our doorstep! Please check out their website for details:

https://www.southernsandstoneclimbs.co.uk

You can hear the toot-toot of the steam engines from the site, as the tracks run fairly close by. You can catch the train from East Grinstead and it is definitely worth checking their website as they often have amazing things going on, including a circus on the May half term holiday.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com

This is a lovely and fascinating museum in the heart of East Grinstead. The museum is small, but there is plenty to explore. I am a theatre nurse and I have worked a great part of my career in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery and therefore personally their flagship exhibition "Rebuilding Bodies and Souls" is particularly interesting to me.  

https://www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk/ 

Weir Wood Reservoir is 379 acre biological site of special scientific interest, located a short drive away from Sunnyside. 

Weir Wood Sport + Leisure offers a wide range of water activities including sailing, SUP paddleboarding, canoe & kayaking, pedal boating and open water swimming. With its stunning scenery and abundant water activities Weir Wood Reservoir is a must-visit destination for any water sports lover.

https://weirwood.sailia.co.uk/

This family owned vineyard has been operating organically since 2019. They produce wines of award-winning quality and their 160 acre estate is home to abundant wildlife and stunning scenery.  On your visit you can discover over five kilometers of natural woodland walks, which you are welcome to explore at your leisure. You can book a tour and tasting with or without food or  just sit down and soak up the sun in their beautiful wine garden. There is wine shop and a lovely cafe too! 

https://kingscoteestate.com/ 

the beautiful Old Plaw Hatch Farm, which is an organic, biodynamic working farm with a garden, cafe and a shop brimming with gorgeous food. Huge amount of the food has been locally produced at the farm. 

This lovely place is only about 10 minute drive away from Sunnyside and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are looking for something extra nice to chuck on the BBQ.

This farm also looks after our land by cutting the hay and feeding it to the cows. We hope to carry on with this relationship for years to come!

https://www.plawhatchfarm.co.uk/ 

Covering over 10 square miles, Ashdown Forest is one of the largest open access areas in Southeast England.  Situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its lowland heathland and deciduous woodland habitats are home to many rare and threatened species.
With a rich human history from Kings and commoners to smuggling and industry dating back centuries, Ashdown Forest is also the setting of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. A brilliant team of staff are employed by the Conservators to look after the Forest – to protect, conserve and enhance the nature and culture of Ashdown Forest as the largest biodiverse heathland and open space in Sussex for the enjoyment, education, health and recreation of all.

https://ashdownforest.org/ 

British Wildlife Centre is a privately owned organisation and the vast majority of their profits go back into improving accommodation for animals, breeding programmes, conservation and providing the best experience to their visitors and a unique insight into the world of Britain’s wonderful wildlife. The centre is situated in the countryside and is a home to the finest collection of native wildlife in Britain with over 40 different native species, from tiny harvest mice to magnificent red deer. It is a fantastic day out for all the family and a REAL natural history experience.

https://britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/ 

Ardingly Reservoir was a regular hang out when I was young and at school nearby, Ardingly reservoir has a special place in my heart. Ardingly activities centre offers Kayaking, SUP and other water activities. You do need to plan it and book it in advance.

https://www.ardinglyactivitycentre.co.uk/