Camping

Please note that Foxhole campsite is now fully booked for the night of Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August. Please do not turn up on site unless you have a confirmed booking as you will unfortunately be asked to leave. Please note that camping is not permitted anywhere else on the Park - anyone found doing so will be subject to a £20 fine per person as per the site byelaws.

Please note that bookings for weekends are esential - we hate to disappoint but if you do not have a confirmed booking and the site is full you will be asked to leave - call us on 01323-870280 or e-mail sevensisters@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk to book a pitch.

Foxhole Campsite and Camping Barn are essentially backpackers' accommodation offering space for 20 small tents and sleeping up to 35 people in a traditional Sussex barn. This is the only place on the Country Park where camping is permitted. It is open from 1 April–31 October. Any group of 4 people or more needs to pre-book and age restrictions apply. Booking in advance is advisable as the site is small and space is limited - however, booking in August and at weekends is essential - the site does fill up and if you do not have a confirmed advance booking you will unfortunately be turned away. Prices are: £4.50 adults/ £4.00 under 18s for the campsite, and £6.00 adults/ £5.00 under 18s for the camping barn. There is a discount of £1 per person per night for anyone arriving at the Country Park by sustainable means such as cycling/ walking. It is a quiet informal site with basic facilities that can only be accessed on foot or bike along the valley floor.

Parking fees for visitors using the campsite

Cars can be left overnight in the car park (this is done at the owner's risk). Payment must be made for every day or part thereof that the car is left in the car park - daily rates are £3.50. An overnight fee of £5 is also applicable for each overnight stay - for this please purchase a £5 'coach ticket' and display this next to the daily tickets. The overnight fee applies until 9am the following morning. If your car will be in the car park after 9am you will also be required to buy a daily ticket at £2.50 for up to 2 hours or £3.50 for over 2 hours.

Local Pubs/ Places to Eat

There are several pubs and restaurants in the local area. For evening meals the Golden Galleon is within walking distance of the campsite along the river bank - bring a torch! Other nearby local pubs which can be easily reached during the day (either walking or using public transport) include the Tiger Inn (East Dean), the Plough & Harrow (Litlington), the Eight Bells (Jevington) and the Sussex Ox (Milton Street, Wilmington). There are also a number of places to eat in nearby Alfriston including pubs, coffee shops and tea rooms. Please go to the website www.visitsouthdowns.com for further information on places to eat in the local area.

For more information please contact SSCP on 01323 870280, email us at sevensisters@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk or download the booking form and accompanying regulations.

Booking Form (MS Word Document)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a booking?

Any group of 6 people or more will need to complete the booking form which can be downloaded from this page. If your group is smaller than this you can book by simply calling 01323-870280 and making a reservation over the telephone.

Can we have a fire or barbecue?

Fires and barbecues are not permitted anywhere on the Country Park.

What facilities are there?

Foxhole is a basic backpackers site, with toilets, a cold water shower, a tiled cooking are and 2 sinks with drinking water. There are also a number of picnic benches in the courtyard area.

How do I get to the campsite?

The campsite is signposted from both entrances to the Park. It is also marked on OS maps in Foxhole Bottom and is just to the north of the South Downs Way as it passes through the Park. Cars are not permitted to the campsite, but can be left in the car parks (which are located at the Park entrance, a one mile walk from the campsite) for the duration of your visit. Parking fees apply - please see above for more information.

Can I drive to the campsite?

No - there is no vehicle access permitted anywhere on the Country Park for visitors. Vehicle access is strictly for staff, residents and emergency services only.

The car parks are a one mile flat walk along the valley floor.

Rangers will not take/ collect any kit or equipment to/ from the campsite, so please do not ask them to do so as they will have to refuse.

Can I pay by credit or debit card?

At present we do not have the facilities to accept credit or debit card payments. We are hoping to put this facility in place once mobile reception in the area has improved.

Are there any age restrictions?

Anyone staying at the site must be over the age of 21, or have at least one person over the age of 21 staying with them. This includes Scout, Guide and Duke of Edinburgh groups, as well as groups of private individuals.

How far from the beach is the campsite?

The beach is approximately a 15 minute walk from the campsite.

Can I make a booking for a large group?

During the week (Monday – Thursday) the maximum group size will be 20 people or 10 tents. At weekends (Friday – Sunday) and Bank Holidays the maximum group size will be 15 people or 7 tents. Exact numbers of people staying overnight will be required, and charges will be made according to these figures. Only one group booking per night will be accepted.

The camping barn can also be booked by individuals or exclusively booked for large groups of up to 35. The barn is not available for exclusive bookings over Bank Holiday weekends. Please note that if you wish to stay in the barn you must book in advance by contacting the Ranger's office on 01323-870280.

Can we book the whole campsite?

It is not possible to book the whole campsite. During the week (Monday – Thursday) the maximum group size will be 20 people or 10 tents. At weekends (Friday – Sunday) and Bank Holidays the maximum groups size will be 15 people or 7 tents. Exact numbers of people staying overnight will be required, and charges will be made according to these figures. Only one group booking per night will be accepted.

Is the site suitable for parties?

That depends. The Seven Sisters Country Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and therefore has a very high conservation value. As such, the campsite is a quiet, tranquil and remote place, and is only suitable for informal camping and lightweight tents. Please note that this is a ‘dry’ site, so alcohol is not permitted. We operate a ‘lights out and quiet’ policy after 10.00pm.

Who needs to use the booking form?

Any groups of more than 6 individuals will need to complete the booking form, which can be downloaded from this page.

Are there any cooking facilities?

There are no cooking facilities provided, so you will need to bring your own camping stove with you as we do not permit barbecues or fires. There is a tiled cooking area and several picnic benches for your convenience.

What size tent can I bring?

The biggest tent size allowed on site is a four-man single structure tent. This means that multi-room and marquee-style tents are unfortunately not permitted.

Can I bring my dog with me?

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the camp site, but unfortunately dogs are not permitted in the camping barn. Owners must be responsible and ensure that their dog is under control at all times, as the Park is a working farm and there are often cows and/ or sheep next to or near the site. Owners must also ensure that they clean up after their dogs and that their dogs do not cause a nuisance for any other site users.

What time can I arrive and what time do I have to leave?

The earliest you can arrive is midday on the first day of your visit, and you must ensure you leave the site by midday on the final day of your stay.

What is the Camping Barn?

The camping barn is a large open barn with 2 raised sleeping platform that can sleep up to 30 people. If you stay in the barn you will still need to bring a sleeping bag and roll mat with you, and a small cooking stove as there are no cooking facilites in the barn. All stoves must be used outside as no flames, fires or cooking facilites are permitted to be used in the barn due to fire regulations.

Alternative local campsites can be found in:
Pleasant Farm, Alfriston 01323 870560
Buckle Caravan Site, Seaford 01323 897801
St Ives, Hartfield 01892 770213 (campfires permitted)

For further information about camp sites in the area please visit the ukcampsite website.