Gumber Campsite
A converted flint barn and tent field on the South Downs Way, inside a National Trust sheep farm, with dark skies that earn the journey.
Gumber sits in the middle of the National Trust's Slindon Estate, a working sheep farm on the South Downs escarpment where the nearest neighbours are counted in singles and the sky after dark is the blackest you'll find in southern England. The site sits within the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve, and the reviews are consistent: the Milky Way is visible without trying.
The accommodation is built around a converted Sussex flint barn that houses three bothy dorms alongside a fully equipped shared kitchen, a lounge, and covered outdoor seating. Tent pitches occupy the large open field beside it. The whole operation is run with quiet National Trust care: showers and loos are modern and well-maintained, the communal fire is lit each evening, and the barn kitchen has everything a walker on a multi-day route needs except a microwave and a phone charger.
The South Downs Way runs just outside the gate, which is the point. The Monarchs Way crosses nearby, and over 25 miles of public rights of way fan out from the site. Deer and hares use the field; birds of prey and owls are reliable at dusk. This is where people who are actually walking the SDW pitch up, not people who drove down from London for the weekend with a cool box.
No dogs are accepted, which keeps the sheep at ease. Booking is essential in summer months.
Before you book
- No dogs accepted.
- No phone signal or charging point on site, bring a power bank with capacity to spare.
“The honest waypoint campsite on the South Downs Way: National Trust-run, dark-sky-certified, with a converted flint barn that makes a wet night on the ridge something to look forward to rather than endure.”
Why it made the cut
- Within the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve, stargazing without driving anywhere
- Converted flint barn with shared kitchen makes it genuinely practical for multi-day walkers and cyclists
- National Trust working sheep farm gives it landscape, character, and maintenance you can rely on
- South Downs Way directly at the gate, with 25+ miles of rights of way from the doorstep
The Feeling
Off grid real · Soulful handmade · Mixed tempo
Good For
- Solo
- Date
- Big group
Best For
- Walking the South Downs Way from your tent pitch
- Simple, peaceful camping on a working sheep farm within National Trust estate
- Groups and walkers seeking bothy accommodation plus tent pitches in remote setting
In Campr's collections
- Farm fields properNational Trust sheep farm on the South Downs escarpment, the real thing, not a rebrand.
- Stargazers picksInside the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve, with two houses for neighbours and no light source for miles.
- Solo sanctuaryThe bothy dorm format means solo walkers on the South Downs Way arrive and find the fire already lit.
Facilities
Quick answers
- Are campfires allowed at Gumber Campsite?
- Yes, campfires are allowed in provided fire pits.
- What kind of stays does Gumber Campsite offer?
- Tent, in a field.
- How much does Gumber Campsite cost?
- Budget pricing. Check the owner's site for current rates.
- Where is Gumber Campsite?
- Gumber Farm, Arundel BN18 0RN, UK.
Where it is
Gumber Farm, Arundel BN18 0RN, UK
In a field · West Sussex · South East · 50.898° N, 0.634° W
Open in OpenStreetMapIndependent Rating
Based on 48 Google reviews
