Every season needs a last trip, and ours was a short hop up the road to Blacklands Farm, just outside Henfield in West Sussex. The first weekend of September, the kids barely back at school, and one more chance to get the van out before it gets tucked up for winter.
Pitching up
Blacklands is a family site on a working farm, with big grassy meadows ringed by old oaks. We had loads of room. The roof went up, the drive-away awning went on the side, the VW mat went down and the chairs came out. Camp was open in about the time it takes to boil a kettle.
The playground
Let’s be honest, this is why we booked it. Right in the middle of the site is a big, fenced playground with swings, a wooden tower, a double slide and ride-ons shaped like a shark and a cow. The boys went straight there and we mostly saw them at mealtimes. Because it’s fenced all round, you can actually sit down for once.
Into the woods
When we did drag them away, there are walks straight off the site, through the woods and out towards the South Downs. We found a fallen tree that made the perfect bench, and stopped for a group photo before heading back for tea.
Easy does it
The rest of the weekend was slow in the best way. Hot showers, a shop on site for logs and supplies, and cool September mornings with a brew in the awning doorway. No long drive home either, which is the whole point of a site this close.
That’s a wrap on 2026
The Oaks in July, Roundhill in August and Blacklands in September. Three trips, three very happy boys, and one van that has more than earned its winter rest. See you in the spring.
