Your VW Camper Guide to 1066 Country

This is a guest blog written for 1066 Country by Dakota Murphey.

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Photo Credit: Sam Moore Visual Air

Few sights can compare to waking up in a beautifully converted VW camper overlooking the beautiful Sussex countryside on a crisp sunny morning. With an abundance of stunning, world-class vineyards, historic architecture, and pristine valleys a stone’s throw away from each other, you won’t find a more picturesque view when you wake up.

1066 Country offers campervan enthusiasts and those with a thirst for the great outdoors the perfect blend of convenience and luxury. Explore this exquisite part of the country at your own pace while enjoying the best parts that Sussex vineyards have to offer.

Let’s uncover how to make this type of unique getaway perfect for you.

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Photo Credit: Sam Moore Visual Air

Why choose a VW camper for your vineyard adventure?

Exploring the Rother Wine Triangle in a comfortable, durable and spacious campervan elevates a routine vineyard tour into an immersive and luxurious countryside escape. If you want to get the most out of an extended break entrenched in this stunning area of East Sussex across some beautiful campsites, it’s worth kitting out your campervan to give you that element of luxury when staying. 

With the popularity of “staycations” having increased in recent years, so too has the interest in campervan conversions. From thoughtfully designed living spaces and compact kitchenettes to smart storage and quirky decorations, you can create a modern, optimised studio apartment on wheels, or, in the words of local campervan conversion specialists Out and About Campers,‘“a fully-equipped, off-grid-capable adventure vehicle”.

Bespoke, quality campervan conversions, are a great option to make your various stays across Sussex more comfortable and enriching; an assured peaceful rest after a busy day’s exploring. A suitable level of personal luxury in which to savour that bottle of Tillingham Pet Nat back in your van, watching the sunset over the Romney Marsh, rather than stressing about getting taxis to an Airbnb seven miles away.

The beauty of campervan tours is that they’re inherently flexible and can be made entirely your own. You can start your morning in Rye, spend the afternoon tasting wines in Bodiam, and end your evening at a clifftop Hastings campsite, all without the need to meet check-in times and move hefty luggage around.

Places to Stay When Touring Vineyards in Your VW Camper

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Photo Credit: Georgie Scott

Rye and Winchelsea

The ancient Cinque Port of Rye makes an ideal base for accessing the heart of the Rother Wine Triangle. Several campervan and motorhome sites in the area offer level pitches with sufficient power and e-vehicle charging ports, if needed. 

From here, you're perfectly positioned to visit Tillingham (just outside Rye) and Charles Palmer Vineyards in Winchelsea, both easily accessible via country lanes that showcase the area’s natural hilltops while enjoying vintage wines.

Tillingham offers ample parking for campervans, and its laid-back atmosphere extends to welcoming travelling wine connoisseurs. The vineyard's 70-acre farm setting means you can enjoy its natural wines whilst taking in far-reaching views over the Romney Marsh. 

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Photo Credit: Sam Moore Visual Air

Bodiam

Bodiam's convenient position makes it an excellent overnight stop, particularly for those wanting to combine historic sightseeing with wine tasting. The area around Bodiam Castle offers several campervan-friendly sites, and you'll find Oastbrook Estate Vineyard comfortably tucked within the village itself.

What makes Bodiam special for campervan drivers is the proximity of attractions. You can park up, explore the iconic 14th-century castle in the morning, and then spend the afternoon on one of Oastbrook's acclaimed vineyard tours. Known for their sustainable winemaking practices and Tolkien-inspired accommodation options, staying here will add a unique dimension to your visit, though many find the campervan experience equally enriching.

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Photo Credit: Jonny Thompson

Battle and Sedlescombe 

The historic town of Battle provides excellent campervan facilities whilst serving as your gateway to Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, England's oldest organic wine producer. The countryside around Battle offers several camping options with easy access to the 1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield, making it ideal for those interested in the site’s history who also appreciate fine wine. The vineyard's location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) makes it perfect for those wanting to combine wine tasting with beautiful countryside walks, a combo worthy of any sunny day.

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Photo Credit: James Ratchford

How to get the most out of your vineyard VW experience

The vineyards of the Rother Wine Triangle are well-connected by scenic and winding country roads that VW campers will love. Plan your route to include overnight stops that give you ample time to cherish and enjoy your wine tastings without worrying about rushing. Many vineyards offer multiple tours every day, so you can comfortably visit two or three spots while maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable pace.

Most vineyards in this area provide sufficient parking spaces for campervans, although it’s always worth calling ahead when the season is at its peak. Oxney Organic Estate, a stunning organic vineyard and winery, situated in an old oast, offers accommodation in converted buns or shepherd’s huts, as well as nearby campsites around Rye.

Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons to take a campervan tour in Sussex’s many vineyards, with the temperatures and weather often pleasant enough without the large crowds of summer tourists. Vineyards in the area offer seasonal events worth considering alongside sampling award-winning wines. You can even let someone else do the planning and driving on your behalf as part of their private tours, whatever takes your fancy.

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Photo Credit: Clive Sawyer

Where else to explore in 1066 Country?

Your campervan gives you the freedom to explore the dramatic Sussex coastline at your own leisure. You can easily reach Camber Sands for long beach walks at sunset, or head to Hastings for fresh seafood and a stroll around the historic town. The contrast between inland vineyard tranquillity and coastal energy adds depth to your 1066 Country experience.

Pevensey's Roman fort and castle ruins, Herstmonceux's woodland gardens and Observatory, and Bexhill's Art Deco architecture and beaches all become worthwhile visits. Seeing all of these towns and landmarks becomes much easier when travelling in ultimate comfort with a camper, where you can truly appreciate each place’s unique charm and character.

A reliable, well-stocked camper can make all the difference between exploring 1066 Country’s diversity at a rushed pace and one that allows you to truly soak it in. It’s a homely base that moves with you, at the speed you want, whether you want to sample boutique sparkling wines while overlooking the vistas beneath, or enjoy some local seafood delicacies on the rolling hills of the Rother Wine Triangle. 

Whatever the case, you won’t find much better than venturing through one of England’s most historically significant and naturally stunning regions. Use our itinerary planner to get started on planning the perfect vineyard getaway today.