Camping Together: How Sunnyfield Lets Families & Friends Share a Pitch
Admin | 18 Sep 2026
Admin | 18 Sep 2026
Camping is naturally more sociable when the people you travelled with are actually close enough to spend the weekend together. Friends want to sit around the same fire, families want children and parents within easy reach, and couples travelling as a small group usually want a shared area rather than tents scattered across different corners of a campsite. For anyone searching for camping together in Kent, understanding how pitches are allocated is therefore just as important as checking showers, location or campsite facilities.
At Sunnyfield, the normal maximum is six guests per pitch unless another arrangement has been agreed in advance. This can make a single pitch suitable for certain families and smaller groups of friends, while larger parties can discuss multiple pitches and suitable placement with the campsite. Pitches are pre-allocated according to party size, helping the site organise its eight-acre meadow without turning it into a tightly packed camping field.
Sunnyfield also gives groups several ways to stay. Guests can bring their own tents, choose furnished bell tent glamping or arrive in a campervan. For family and friends camping in Kent, this flexibility means spending the weekend together does not necessarily require everyone to own the same equipment or prefer the same style of accommodation.
A shared pitch sounds straightforward, but the practical requirements depend heavily on the group. Two couples with compact tents need very different space from a family using one large multi-room tent. A group of parents and children may have several sleeping areas, chairs, cooking equipment and outdoor storage, even though everyone belongs to the same booking.
Sunnyfield pre-allocates pitches according to party size. Guests should therefore give accurate information when making their booking, particularly if they are bringing a large tent or have an unusual setup. The normal limit is six people per pitch unless something else has been agreed beforehand.
For smaller parties, sharing a camping pitch in Kent can create a much more sociable weekend. Rather than arranging separate areas and repeatedly walking between them, everyone has one obvious place to meet. Chairs can stay together, food does not need to be carried between distant pitches and parents can keep the family's sleeping arrangements within the same space.
However, sharing should not mean squeezing too much equipment into the available area. Tent footprints are only part of the calculation. Guy lines, entrances, outdoor seating and a sensible distance from the campfire all require room. If two households are bringing separate large tents, multiple neighbouring pitches may be more comfortable than forcing everything onto one.
This is why accurate booking information matters. A group should explain how many guests are staying and what they intend to bring rather than assuming a particular arrangement will work. Sunnyfield can then organise pitch allocation according to the actual party and current availability.
The same principle applies to larger groups. If more than six people want to travel together, contact the campsite rather than attempting to fit the group onto a standard pitch. Several pitches can be a better solution because everyone remains close while individual households still have their own sleeping and living area.
Sunnyfield has only 32 pitches across approximately eight acres. That relatively low-density arrangement is important for visitors looking for spacious group camping in Kent because the experience is not based on filling every possible section of grass with another tent.
Space affects social camping in several ways. First, groups have clearer boundaries. When tents are positioned extremely close together, it can become difficult to tell where one household's outdoor area finishes and the neighbouring pitch begins. More breathing room makes it easier to arrange chairs, supervise children and keep personal equipment organised.
Second, the main camping meadow is car-free. Guests leave vehicles in the designated parking area and use wheelbarrows to move their belongings to the pitch. The unloading process requires some effort, particularly for larger family tents, but the benefit lasts throughout the stay. Cars are not sitting between tents and taking up the space where people could otherwise relax.
For friends camping together in Kent, this creates a much more natural shared area. The centre of the gathering can be chairs, a table or the campfire rather than a row of parked vehicles.
Families can appreciate the same arrangement. Children still require proper supervision, but reducing regular vehicle movement through the main camping meadow changes the feel of the space considerably. Parents can also avoid constantly moving around cars when carrying meals, bedding or children's equipment between tents.
The eight-acre setting does not mean every individual booking receives an unlimited area of meadow. Pitches still need to be allocated responsibly, and campsite boundaries must be respected. What the low pitch count provides is an overall sense of space that suits people looking for a small campsite in Kent for families and friends.
The best arrangement depends on the size and composition of the group. A family of four or five sharing one suitable tent may find a single pitch entirely natural. Everything stays together, children sleep close to parents and there is one outdoor area to organise.
A group of friends using several small tents might also prefer one shared pitch where the booking arrangement and available space allow. The social benefit is obvious: everyone returns to the same place after a day out and there is no debate about whose pitch will host the evening.
Larger groups should think differently. If several households each have substantial tents, multiple camping pitches together in Kent can offer more comfort. Each family gets enough room for its own sleeping setup while the wider group remains close enough to share meals and evenings.
Multiple pitches can also help when children have different routines. A family with a toddler may want to settle down earlier, while relatives with teenagers remain awake longer. Staying close but not sharing every metre of space gives each household a little independence.
The same is true for mixed-age friendship groups. Not everyone wants to wake at the same time or spend every minute together. A good group campsite arrangement makes socialising easy without making privacy impossible.
If the party is larger than the standard pitch limit, contact Sunnyfield in advance. Explain the number of adults and children, the number and approximate size of tents and whether the group includes bell tent or campervan guests. Placement will depend on availability and the site's arrangements, so early communication is useful.
For most groups, the question should not be “How many people can we physically squeeze onto one pitch?” A better question is “What arrangement will make the weekend comfortable for everyone?”
One of the biggest obstacles to arranging a camping weekend with friends is equipment. Experienced campers may have everything stored in the garage and be ready to leave within an hour. Someone joining them for the first time may own nothing more suitable for the outdoors than a picnic blanket.
Sunnyfield's bell tents help bridge that gap. The 5-metre furnished tents include a king-size bed with fresh linen along with useful equipment such as pots, pans, plates, cutlery, a gas stove, lamp, cool box and grill. Guests should check current inclusions before travelling, but the setup removes the need to purchase an entire camping kit for one weekend.
This makes group glamping and camping in Kent possible within the same trip. Experienced campers can pitch their own tents while friends who prefer a ready-made setup stay in a bell tent, subject to availability and campsite allocation.
Campervan owners can also join. Sunnyfield welcomes campervans, although the site remains off-grid and does not offer electric hook-ups. Van travellers need to arrive prepared for independent power use rather than expecting a serviced touring pitch.
Mixed accommodation is particularly useful for extended families. Parents and children might bring their familiar family tent, grandparents can choose glamping, and another relative can arrive in a campervan. Everyone still shares the wider campsite experience without being forced into identical sleeping arrangements.
For a broad budget reference, a short stay can generally be thought of in terms of the low hundreds of pounds, depending on accommodation type, dates and party size. Current booking information should always be checked for the actual figure.
Groups do not need an elaborate entertainment programme when the campsite itself provides a reason to sit together. At Sunnyfield, individual campfires are one of the defining parts of the stay. For families and friends, the fire often becomes the natural meeting point once the day's activities are finished.
This is one reason camping with friends in Kent feels different from booking several hotel rooms. Nobody needs to decide which room everyone will gather in or find a venue for the evening. Chairs can be brought together around the fire, food can remain simple and conversations can continue without a formal schedule.
Campfire safety must remain part of the arrangement. Seating should be positioned sensibly, children require close supervision and the fire needs to remain within the approved area. Current campsite restrictions must be followed, particularly if weather conditions increase fire risk.
Sunnyfield's quiet-hours policy also applies to every group. Noise should be kept to an absolute minimum after 10pm. A group of six people talking normally can be louder than they realise, especially in a quiet rural setting where sound travels easily.
Moving chairs closer and lowering voices allows the evening to continue without affecting neighbouring campers. The campsite is designed for relaxed social stays, not loud late-night parties.
Wood-fired pizza is available on many weekends, giving groups an easy meal option when offered during their stay. Fresh coffee is also available on many mornings. Guests should check what is operating for their specific dates rather than assuming either is available every day.
The overall rhythm is simple: spend the day around Kent, return to the meadow, eat together and sit around the fire. For many groups, that is enough.
Sharing a pitch can encourage people to bring too much because everyone imagines a different piece of equipment might be useful. By arrival, several cars can contain duplicate tables, cooking sets and enormous bags of food.
A little coordination makes family camping together in Kent much easier. Every household should remain responsible for personal sleeping equipment, clothing, medication and children's essentials. Shared items can then be divided between the group.
If everyone plans to eat together, decide who is bringing the main cooking equipment. If outdoor games are wanted, one household can bring them rather than everyone packing the same thing. Keep communal food clearly organised so that ingredients do not disappear into separate cool boxes.
Sunnyfield's car-free meadow makes sensible packing particularly worthwhile because equipment is transported from the parking area using wheelbarrows. Bringing unnecessary items means unnecessary unloading.
Headtorches are worth giving to every adult and older child because the campsite is off-grid. Portable power banks are useful for phones, and warm layers should remain easy to reach even during summer stays. Kent evenings can feel considerably cooler once the sun has gone down.
Waterproof clothing and suitable footwear are also more useful than bringing excessive campsite furniture. A weekend can still be enjoyable in changeable weather when everyone is properly dressed.
A shared camping pitch can be the base for much more than time at the campsite. Canterbury is within practical reach and can suit groups wanting historic streets, food and sightseeing. The cathedral city gives friends and families plenty to do without requiring everyone to follow exactly the same itinerary.
Wildlife attractions in the wider area provide another option for families with children. The Kent countryside offers walking opportunities, while the coast around Dover, Folkestone and Hythe can add a completely different day to a longer stay.
Groups do not have to remain together throughout every outing. Some relatives may want a substantial walk while others prefer Canterbury. Friends may divide between sightseeing and a slower morning at the campsite. Everyone can meet again later around the same fire.
That freedom is one of the advantages of camping with family and friends near Canterbury. The pitch provides a consistent meeting place without turning the weekend into an organised tour.
It is also worth leaving some time completely empty. Breakfast in the meadow, reading outside the tent or an afternoon spent talking can become the part of the weekend people remember most.
Before booking, confirm the exact number of people travelling and the type of accommodation required. If bringing tents, know their approximate dimensions rather than simply the manufacturer's person rating.
Remember that Sunnyfield normally allows a maximum of six people per pitch unless agreed otherwise. Larger groups should contact the campsite and discuss multiple pitches or another suitable arrangement.
Tell the campsite that bookings belong to the same group when staying with friends or relatives. Do not assume independently created reservations will automatically be placed together.
Check the arrival arrangements before travelling. Pitches are normally ready from 3:30pm, and departure is by 12pm according to the campsite's terms. The information supplied with the actual booking should take priority if arrangements change.
Make sure everyone understands the car-free meadow, off-grid facilities and 10pm quiet-hours policy. First-time visitors will enjoy the weekend much more when the campsite setup matches their expectations.
Most importantly, choose the amount of space that makes the group comfortable rather than simply trying to minimise the number of pitches. Camping together in Kent should create more time with the people you travelled with, not leave everyone cramped for the entire weekend.
Every pitch is cut into the long grass with its own fire pit. Weekends go first.
Every pitch is cut individually into the long grass and comes with its own fire pit. No hook-ups, no Wi-Fi, no cars in the field — that's the whole idea.
“10/10, the perfect English campsite! Beautiful setting, great location, friendly helpful hosts, immaculate and well thought out facilities, delicious pizza. Quiet, peaceful, amazing dawn chorus,...
Book camping“We had a lovely time staying here. Totally concur with other reviewers’ experience in terms of space, loos and showers, cleanliness, and owners’ clear pride...
Book camping“Absolutely brilliant campsite. Wonderful location and nice quiet area. It has compost loos, and horsebox showers which were fun to use. Very nice for sunsets....
Book campingComing as a group of three families or more? We'll pitch you together →
The normal maximum is six people per pitch unless agreed otherwise in advance. The appropriate arrangement also depends on the tents and equipment being brought.
Potentially, where the total guest number, tent setup and pitch allocation make it suitable. Provide accurate information when booking so Sunnyfield can arrange the appropriate space.
Yes. Groups can request multiple pitches together at Sunnyfield, subject to availability and campsite arrangements.
No. Sunnyfield offers tent camping, furnished bell tents and campervan accommodation, allowing friends or relatives to choose different ways to stay.
Yes, subject to availability and pitch allocation. This can be a useful arrangement for multi-generational camping trips.
Yes. Campervans are welcome, although Sunnyfield is off-grid and does not provide electric hook-ups.
Yes. Individual campfires are part of the Sunnyfield experience, subject to current campsite safety requirements and weather conditions.
Sunnyfield suits relaxed celebrations and weekends with friends, but it is not a loud party campsite. Noise must be kept to an absolute minimum after 10pm.
Yes. Cars are parked separately, and guests use wheelbarrows to carry camping equipment to their allocated pitches.
Sharing a camping pitch in Kent gives friends and families more natural time together. Meals, campfires and mornings happen in one shared outdoor space, while Sunnyfield's different accommodation options allow guests to choose the sleeping setup that suits them.
Not sure which pitch suits your group, whether the van will fit down the lane, or if you can all camp together? Message me and I'll sort it — I've been cutting these pitches into the meadow since 2014.