Cool Place of the Day: The Secret Campsite, East Sussex

Every day, a new place to discover or explore in the UK, from coolplaces.co.uk

The Secret Campsite: Just 15 spacious pitches

As far as secrets go, this is probably one of the worst-kept ones in Britain – and quite rightly so because this is a campsite to shout to the hills about, tucked away beyond a disused railway bridge, which does indeed make it feel secluded and just that little bit secret.

Grab a wheelbarrow on arrival, load your stuff and cross the bridge, taking in the entire site along the way, which consists of just 15 spacious pitches cut into the long grass of a meadow encircled by oaks and hornbeams. If you fancy more of a glamping experience, you can take your pick from a couple of "secret shelters" on offer: a tree tent, delicately suspended between three ancient oak trees, and the gridshell, a sort of sturdy, permanent tent-like structure.

Wild flowers scattered all over the place give the site a natural, hippy vibe, while the neighbouring woodlands are just begging to be explored. Owner Tim is a keen botanist and wants to turn this place into the UK’s first "edible campsite" – a planting programme is underway, with an increasing array of berries, edible shrubs and flowers growing freely, ready for you to pick fresh and add to the saucepan. Camping doesn’t get much better…

Martin Dunford is publisher of Cool Places, a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)