Orla was born of a vision to create an environmentally sustainable, intimate campsite for nature lovers who prefer some creature comforts whilst camping.
We have just 4 pitches available over 4 acres.
This peaceful space is surrounded by wildlife and has stunning panoramic views of the Kent countryside.
Bramble Bell provides an unique glamping experience in a spacious 6x4m tent.
Please read the description fully to ensure you know what to expect during your stay.
The space
The stunning south facing views, the natural setting and our eco/sustainable principles are really what we are all about at Orla.
We are members of the wonderful Greener Camping Club, and if you would like to stay you will need to be a member. This a one off-fee of £12 per family for the year (1st January to 31st December) and is added to your cleaning fee of your booking. To provide your membership, we will need to pass on your name, email address and mobile number, and you will receive a membership e-card. Please look online for further details as we are unable to share the website on here.
Bramble Bell is in a dedicated glamping field with up to 3 other pitches. The space comes set up to sleep 2, however there is space for up to 2 camp beds for primary school-aged children which we can provide, however we would ask that you bring bedding for any additional beds.
For an extra charge, you can pitch your own reasonably-sized tent in the adjacent space to accomodate up to two older children or adults. Facilities would be shared with those included in your booking.
Please let us know in your initial enquiry if you would like to add anyone else to your booking.
We provide everything you need to have a comfortable stay:
Electricity is provided inside, for your charging, kettle boiling and powering the heated blanket on your kingsize bed! ... well who wants to be cold at night when camping?!
Also provided inside the yurt is a kettle to make your hot drinks with along with lighting, tables, chairs, clothes storage, shelves, cooking equipment, salt, pepper, oil, tea, coffee, sugar, coolbox/bag, crockery and cutlery. Bedding, towels, tea towels, dishcloths, toilet roll and kitchen paper are also provided.
Just outside, you have your own sink with cold water tap, outdoor seating and eating area and a fire pit/BBQ for cooking
Shared facilities are really close, and include a hot water sink for washing up and beautiful honeysuckle-entwined hot outdoor showers.
We are working towards every unit having its own composting toilet but in the mean time, you may have to share with one other pitch.
PLEASE DO
- Understand that we welcome people that are respectful of the environment and wildlife, along with other camper's and neighbour's needs for a peaceful space.
- Carshare - we have a maximum number of 2 cars per pitch, parking is free. We accept no liability for loss or damage to vehicles. We have provided so many of the facilities you will need for your stay, so you shouldn't need to bring a car full of bags.
- bring firewood, we can provide a small amount and you can buy from us, but please feel free to bring your own. Fires are permitted in fire pits provided unless in periods of extreme drought or when its windy.
- bring suitable footwear, we are situated on a steep hill so sturdy footwear for walking around, and some waterproof shoes for the shower and walking around your camp (crocs or flipflops are ideal)
- use the products we provide. We have sourced washing up liquid, hand soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner which is not harmful to the land, so please help us maintain our sustainable ethos.
- expect wildlife! You will be sharing a field with foxes, badgers, rabbits, owls, bats, kestrels and buzzards, and whilst we try to keep these out of the yurt and facilities, there may be some insects.
NO
- naked flames/smoking inside the yurt.
- parties or amplified music, due to the elevation we have great views, however noise travels very easily to distant neighbours. The birds provide some great background tunes anyway.
- No dogs. Sorry! We have animals on our surrounding land, and want to keep encouraging wildlife in the space.
-Foraging for wood in the woodland as it is mainly elderberry - this can produce toxic fumes when burnt.
- Driving in the camping field without prior agreement, the ground may not be suitable for your vehicle.
Guest access
Please note that you will need to be able to walk up a hill to access our camping field.
Access is via a trackway to the car parking area and from here you can take your bags to the camping field with wheelbarrows provided. If the ground is dry, and you have a suitable vehicle, then it may be possible to drop your bags off to your pitch, however you should walk the route first to ensure you are happy to drive along the track is suitable (there are no turning areas for some of the route) and then please liaise with us to give you a pedestrian escort. Please note that vehicles are not permitted in the field when it is dark for safety reasons and we have a 5MPH speed limit.
If we can meet and greet you when you arrive, we will endeavor to help take your bags to the field in our vehicles (this will take some prior arrangement).
During your stay, you have access to our dedicated camping field and all the facilities we provide. There is plenty of space around your pitch to enjoy, and whilst you may choose to walk past other pitches on your way to the shared facilities, please respect that your neighbours may wish for peace and privacy.
We also maintain a private footpath which takes you out of the other end of our field to a roman road cut through, from which you can access the Greensand Way footpath.
Other things to note
USEFUL INFORMATION
SHOPS
Large supermarket: 10mins by car Morissons, Sutton Road, ME15 9NN (Mon-Sat 6am till 11pm, Sun 10am till 4pm)
Medium supermarket: 10mins by car Sainsburys, Station Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0QE (Mon-Sat 8am till 10pm, Sun 10am till 4pm)
Small essentials shop: 3mins by car Boughton Services, Heath Road, ME17 4JD
Nearest petrol station: Boughton Services, Heath Road, ME17 4JD (24h I believe, card only, unmanned)
PUBS
Closest pubs in the area – please look at their websites for opening times, and book a table in advance if you want to guarantee eating:
The Cock Inn, Heath Road - 0.9miles (handy distance, but food not great)
The Lord Raglan, Chart Hill Road – 1.6miles (typical English pub)
The Albion Inn, Church Street – 1.4miles (lovely food)
The Bull, Linton Hill 1.9miles – can be reached by walking along the Greensand Way footpath (some ok food, great garden over looking more great views)
The Stile Bridge, Staplehurst Road – 2miles (pricey but excellent food)
ATTRACTIONS
Orla’s location is ideal for anyone wishing to enjoy the attractions in the Kent and East Sussex countryside.
Castles are numerous - the most notable being Dover, Deal and Walmer (English Heritage), Bodiam (National Trust) and Leeds (Private Foundation).
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the North Downs and High Weald - which includes Ashdown Forest (and Pooh Sticks Bridge) - and the South Downs National Park.
Other locations of the National Trust - Knole, Scotney Castle, Sissinghurst Castle and garden. And Penshurst Place (Private)
Towns to visit - the cathedral city of Canterbury, and towns of great charm which time seems to have left behind - Faversham, Sandwich, Wye, Tenterden, Rye, Winchelsea, Lewes.
Rochester has a nice old bit plus the Chatham Historic Dockyard nearby.
For beaches - the north coast from Whitstable to Ramsgate, and from Hythe to Hastings on the south coast.
For cycling see the National Cycle Network see the Sustrans website and for some adventure there is the Bedgbury National Pinetum. Nearby is Bewl Water Reservoir which has a 13 mile circular route for either walking or cycling around.
For walks, the Orla is only 100 metres from the Greensand Way. Greensand is an odd name for the geological feature - the grey-coloured Ragstone belt that runs parallel to the the chalk escarpment of the North and South Downs, which is best understood from a lookout point at Brenchley. The Greensand way ends near Hythe at one end and stretches across to Sevenoaks before disappearing into Surrey. The churches of the Greensand villages have a lot of charm and the presence of Ragstone in vernacular buildings always indicate the near proximity of the Greensand ridge - as no-one ever wanted to carry it too far.
The Kent County Council Public Rights of Way website is helpful for walks and the Explorekent website is good for the Kent section of the Greensand Way. You can either plan a circular route centred on Orla, or wherever you choose to park your car, or alternatively call a taxi to fetch you back.
