Sleeps: up to 2 adults and 2 young children
Location: Sheffield Park, Nr Uckfield, East Sussex
Price: from £156 for two nights
Wowo has always intrigued me. The name itself sounds mysterious and fun. Living locally I’d heard positive things about the place…feedback told me Wowo was one of a kind, a real find…even magical! I had to see this for myself. So last weekend, in early May I visited with the whole family in tow. We booked a tent pitch and a small yurt to accommodate us all. It was time to find out what Wowo is all about!
Wowo is set in the heart of the Sussex countryside on Waspbourne Farm near Uckfield. The campsite is tucked away and not even sign posted from the main road…this is a place you hear about, not stumble across. Right on the campsite’s doorstep you can find some of East Sussex‘s best days out..with both the Bluebell Railway and Sheffield Park a stone’s throw away.
As you drive into the site it’s clear that this is a working farm as well as a campsite….indeed the main reception is located in a very large barn. On our arrival we nose around the barn area on the way to checking in. It’s a hive of activity..with tots exploring the play area, older boys playing table tennis and a group of children having a bash at playing the piano. The vibe is relaxed, carefree and joyous.. albeit a little rough around the edges. Our children are clearly impressed darting off in all directions to check out their new environment.
We are welcomed by friendly staff in the reception area and efficiently given our key, directions to our site and a run down on all the goings on throughout our stay….which is a lot! Wowo has a mini festival feel with pop up eateries visiting throughout the weekend, bushcraft and camp skills sessions available to book for the children and acoustic sessions throughout the evening.
Wowo is pretty vast, with a number of large camping fields branching off the main track running through the middle of the site. We were directed to the Upper Moat field where we found the Tipi Trail…..a pretty woodland path where the majority of the Glamping accommodation is located. We were able to park a less than 50 m from our yurt…you can park right next to your plot if you’re camping. We were thrilled to find our Hobbit Yurt hidden in a beautiful patch of bluebells in the wooded area.
Our site comprised of far more than just the yurt…we had a large wooden picnic bench with a small patio area, and a benched area with a fire pit for cooking and campfire antics. To top it off there’s a pretty little stream running alongside the plot. An absolute beauty of a location!
We stayed in the Hobbit yurt which can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 young children. The yurt is a lot bigger and better equipped than I’d expected. In the middle of the room is a smart double bed decorated with pretty throws and cushions. We found the yurt much warmer than we’d anticipated but if you were to visit during the colder seasons there is plenty of extra bedding provided.
The small kitchen area includes a 2 ring gas hob with all the essential cooking equipment you should need. Instructions for using the gas are clear and easy to follow…and all the little things you tend to forget when camping are provided…matches, bottle opener, corkscrew, tea lights….even washing up liquid and tea towels!
The wood burner is extremely effective! Wood is thoughtfully chopped up and provided ready to go…including various aspects of kindling and newspaper. I got the fire going just before bedtime thinking it’d keep us warm through the night and we were all sweating by lights out! Thankfully air con is provided by simply opening the door!
There is no electricity in the yurt so if you bring your own cooking provisions it’s advisable to bring a cool box. There are fridges and freezers available at reception for shared storage but it’s certainly helpful to have something to keep things cool in your own acconodation….especially in the middle of Summer. There is one battery powered light near the kitchen area but the only other light sources are candles and the log burner. It’s definitely advisable to pack a decent your for any night time toilet visits.
The fire pit is set in a beautiful spot right next to the stream. We were able to start a fire easily with provisions from the wood burner. The metal grill is study and an ample size for cooking family meals. My husband loved getting Logan involved in the whole process…and needless to say our youngest was fascinated! Obviously extra attention needs to be paid to the open fire and hot grill with youngsters about but it was also a fantastic opportunity for our toddler to learn about outdoor cooking.
There is a toilet block with showers and wash station in each of the camping fields. Each time we visited these facilities we found them reasonably clean and without a queue. There are larger facilities at the main camp site entrance with spacious family wash areas and accessible facilities.
By far one of the greatest appeals of Wowo of the environment. The campsite is set in a magical, natural playground…with gulleys filled with bluebells, natural see-saws created from collapsed trees, stepping stones in streams and the best hide n’ seek territory you could imagine. There are swings hung from several of the larger trees..but we found that our children needed very little to entertain them during their stay at Wowo. Nature provided all the adventures they could have asked for.
There’s a number of workshops for both adults and children run on site including bushcraft, foraging, basketry and little Wowo sessions for pre-schoolers. These are open to residents of the campsite and local residents who might just visit for the workshop only. You can find more information about upcoming workshops here. Wowo also offers a range of entertainment on site during peak season…in fact if you are a musician who can offer an hour of music then you can camp for free! Wowo wholeheartedly encourage acoustic music being played on site and walking around the site you can hear violins, guitars and other dulcet tones floating across the fields. Evening entertainment takes places in the giant tipi in Lower Moat field.
On the evening we visited the tent was filled with happy families singing to well known camp fire songs. A team of musicians not only entertained us with their music and songs but made us laugh and feel welcome. THIS is one of the truly special elements that makes Wowo unique. The site has a mini festival feel throughout the Summer season making any visit so much more than just a camping experience.
During peak season there’s also a range of pop up eateries who visit the site in case you don’t fancy cooking over the fire pit every night. These vary from a Chai coffee shop, fish n chips, pizza to a crepe van on a Sunday morning. We were thrilled to pick up a freshly made crepe for breakfast as we checked out. What better way to start the road trip home?
Those behind Wowo really have created something very special. As I’ve already mentioned the site has more of a laid back festival / village feel than a typical campsite. It’s hard not to relax here. The kids are happy creating their own adventures and making new friends. We have space to breathe and think away from the chaos of routine life. We’ve already decided to visit again this Summer….and I genuinely can’t wait.
We were provided with a complimentary stay at Wowo in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Wowo team for a organising our stay and looking after us so well.
