Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring with me?

Tent, mattress/airbed, bedding, cooking and eating utensils, water carrier, loo rolls, wellies, matches, torch, fold-up chair.
May can still be a little chilly at night (temperatures have been as low as 5°C) so bring extra bedding and clothes to put on if needed.  The weather can range from heavy rain to a heatwave so bring appropriate clothing to cover a range of different types of weather.

If you need your mobile phone, you will need to make your own arrangements for charging it, there are no facilities on site.
Earplugs (if you prefer not to be woken by the dawn chorus or prefer to go to sleep earlier in the evening-some members of your circle may enjoy late night chats around the fire)

You don't need to bring the whole range of large pots, fire and wood-cutting tools as there is always some sharing in circles.

Bring musical instruments if you have them.

Leave behind alcohol, drugs, dogs, electronic music and electrical items - there is no electricity.

If you have a stove in your tent or vehicle you are required to bring a fire bucket/blanket.

When can I arrive?

Unless agreed with the Admin Coordinator, there are no arrivals before 12noon on Friday 24th May and departure must be by sunset on the final Saturday.  For further details see our Arrivals/Departure Policy.

Can the Sacred Arts Camp be reached by public transport?

The site is conveniently located 3.5 miles, from the nearest railway station - a short taxi ride of 15 minutes .

Buses between Oxford and Reading stop at the end of the lane.

Can I bring my car on site?

Vehicles can access the site for setting up and taking down (unless adverse weather conditions prevent it). We ask everyone to then place their cars in the car park until after the closing ceremony on the final day.

Are there hot showers?

Hot individual showers are available all day.
Please make sure you use the hot water mindfully to ensure the water remains hot for those that use them after you.

Is food provided?

No, there will be a minimal shop and cafe facility - details still being worked out.  

Camping is in circles and each circle works out its own way of doing things. Often people make their own arrangements for breakfast and lunch and have a rota for cooking for the evening meal. People on special diets can cater for themselves individually if that is easiest.

What does it mean when you say the camp is 'closed'? Can I leave?

One of the many joys of the camp experience is that we all arrive together from our diverse backgrounds and lives outside of camp to begin a journey together for the whole week. This gives a sense of common purpose and enables a safe, nurturing atmosphere in which we can all relax and benefit fully from a wonderful experience.

It is with this in mind that camp tickets are sold for the whole week and we ask campers to make that commitment. Sometimes unexpected things happen and people do need to leave early, we recognise that this can't always be avoided.

If anyone fancies a trip off site, there are several towns in the area and the River Thames is close by.

Can I bring a caravan or campervan?

Residential vehicles are only allowed on site by prior arrangement. We encourage all participants to enjoy the feeling of connectedness with the natural world by camping close to the earth. However we do realise that caravans/campervans may be necessary for some participants. We aim to position them along the hedge line and therefore have restricted capacity. You must commit to arriving on Friday and not leaving until after the closing ceremony on the Saturday morning.  All refrigeration units must have a valid safety certificate.

Please make sure that you tick the relevant box when you book your ticket on line. Any unregistered live-in vehicles will remain in the car park.

What is karma yoga and why is it necessary?

Although we have a team of people who organise and support the camp on working tickets, there are still many areas where we need extra support. It is part of the camp's ethos that, everyone contributes, in some way to the running of the camp. We ask those adults and teenagers - 13 years and over who are not on working tickets, to share in this by working for 2 x 2 hour sessions, for example in the cafe, chopping wood for showers, helping with kids' activities and outings, cleaning the showers, etc. If you have special skills or work you would love to share, please come prepared. Your area and times of work are allocated on arrival at the gate.

What happens if I get unwell at camp?

We have a team of first-aiders available at all times. However your circle is your first port of call for support, medicines, nurturing. The local GP surgery is less than 4 miles away and contact details for them and nearest hospitals are available at the Gate.

Can I stay in a local B and B and still attend the Camp?

If you wish to arrange to stay in a B and B, we would suggest that you have a small tent in a circle so you have a base on camp and then arrive at the camp daily.

Contact Us

If you can't find the information you need or have any questions then we would love to hear from you. If you would prefer to speak to someone, send us a telephone number and we can call you back.  We would expect to respond to your email with in 24 hours.