For our first planned camping trip we are wanting to go to a family friendly site in Somerset or Dorset

[Overrun]

We are novices, but our friends who we are going with have been before. They have a 5 person tent, we are buying a kyham ontario 8, which as I understand it, is an okay size for most sites, but could just fall foul of more strict sites in terms of having to pay for a double pitch. It is 750X360cm.

Anyway, we want a site that is good for young children, between us we have 5 boys aged between 5 and 3 years old.

We would ideally like maybe a childrens playground and maybe a some sort of take away type place. As well as good shower and toilet facilities.

Tia

[Overrun]

Come on now dusty star you told me you can't resist camping threads

[Overrun]

Oh I really need some recommendations you know, have been on the internet all morning and still no closer to deciding on a site

[dustystar]

Hi overrun I have only just come online but here i am lol

What sort of site would you like. One with a bar and entertainment etc or more basic. You mention a takeaway - is this a necessity?

[chocolateteapot]

If Dustystar can help me get our new tent up we are going camping for the first time this summer (we've got a Gelert Alaska 8 which is similar to yours I think.)

Being a complete wimp I don't want to go more than 5 minutes up the road, so we are going to Wilksworth Farm for the first time.

[dustystar]

[OrmIrian]

Sorry I can't help.

I know Somerset but I tend to avoid camping. I think I'm allergic to tents.

[chocolateteapot]

[Iota]

the fount of all camping knowledge is uk campsite

[Overrun]

thanks every one, I have looked at ukcampsite following dustystars advice. My trouble is I always find something wrong with them, which may mean I am being too fussy.

What we want, we want to be able to pitch our tents with our friends in two other tents.

We want a family friendly site with an adventure playground, but lovely countryside is more important that pools, leisure activities.

Some sort of eaterie/take away type of thing for the evenings would be good.

[princessosyth]

Highlands End part of the west dorset leisure group is lovely, just outside West Bay. Very clean, restaurant/pub that also does takeaway meals, little shop, indoor pool and playgrounds.

[princessosyth]

Forgot to say it is in the village of Eype, lovely countryside and a short walk down the cliff to the beach.

[TsarChasm]

We went to East Fleet last year. It was excellent

[chocolateteapot]

Well if it's countryside you are after then I would look for something along the Dorset coast, there is some stunning scenery round there. I personally think Dorset is a better bet than Somerset - apologies to Somerset people.

[Overrun]

Thanks for those, I had a look at the East fleet site, looked good but I'm a bit worried about the lagoon.
We have dts who are 3 and are really really quick and a 5 year old, all boys. Obviously we would be keeping an eye on them, but worried in case they got away. How easy would it be for them to get to the water?

princessosyth, I will look at highlands now, I think it was on ukcampsite.co.uk, but there may have been a review that put me off .

[Overrun]

Has any on one been to either

Rowlands wait touring park at Bere Regis in Dorset? It looks nice, lots of wildlife.
Our friends are keen on

www.monktonwyld.co.uk, which also looks really nice and is in Dorset.

[dustystar]

Peachy loves a site in charmouth - i'll look up the name.

[dustystar]

I think its this one.

[dustystar]

I've not stayed here yet but its supposed to be a really lovely site.

[TsarChasm]

No worries Overrun. When it says 'lagoon' it's like a bit of enclosed sea with a lovely walk alongside it. It's part of Chesil Beach.

I would think it'd be very unlikely that the little ones would be able to get to it with out going with you. The site is near it but you have to walk a bit of distance to it iyswim, not so near they could accindentally fall in or anything.

I am a bit of a camping novice myself. I can't fault the cleanliness of the shower blocks and there was a nice little activity park for the children with some good climbarounds and swings.

[Overrun]

Thanks Dusty, I will have a look at both of them

[Lucycat]

Which side of Dorset do you fancy? as princessosyth says Highlands end might suit you of you want to stay at the Lyme regis end, Woodfarm is nice too. We have also stayed at Pear Tree near Wareham, but there was no takeaway, unless you count the Haven site 500m down the road!

The best sites by a long way that we have found are Dornafield and Ross Park, but they are in S Devon near Totnes.

btw The perfect site has yet to be found!

[Overrun]

We are not fussed about where in Dorset. The two we are looking at are

www.monktonvyld.co.uk and Rowlands wait Touring park at Bere Regis.

Any one been to either of them?

[WestCountryLass]

Durdle Door caravan/holiday park is very good

[Fillyjonk]

I've stayed at monkton wyld itself a lot. Its a nice area, I am not sure how much access you get to the house and grounds though...

forest of deam fc sites are very good

There is a playground-not sure how adventury it is but it sufficed for ds, who was 3 but kamakaze boy. There is lots of space. Theres a shop with lots of stuff. I am not sure about take outs but its closeish to various towns and I'm sure they'd deliver . They have a toilet block and so forth.

Can also recommend places this side of the bridge if thats any good-are you still in cardiff?