Any recommendations - sites with good showers/loos and decent space between pitches in August?

[CaffeineDeficit]

Or, am I hoping for the impossible?

We've just got back from a week at Slapton Sands, and though we loved the local area, weren't completely enamoured with the campsite. It seemed that they'd gone all out to pack in as many tents and motorhomes as possible, and there was very little space for the kids to play (the playground itself was titchy). DS is only 3, so just wanted space to kick a ball round with us, but there was nowhere for him to do so without us worrying that he'd hit our neighbours' tents. DH and I would have liked a bit more space to sit out in front of the tent and drink a cup of tea wine in the evenings while admiring the view.

So, I think we've realised that getting the right site is probably key to us enjoying our holiday, and possibly more important than the site being in any one specific area. So, could anyone please suggest a site that gives more than the bare minimum of space between tents, is attractive and has decent showers/loos (sorry, I can't do composting loos for more than a weekend!) DS would like to be able to visit a sandy beach, but the site doesn't need to be directly on the coast. Ideally, we'd like the site to be within 4 hours of SW London, but we might be convinced to go further afield for the right site!

[AnneUulmelmahay]

Llangennith on the Gower fits all criteria 'cept distance.

[PulpFriction]

South Lychett campsite outside Poole is lovely. There's a huge open space for football, a permanent goal post and badminton net, a decent play area and a generally very spacious feel to the site. Well stocked shop, fabulous staff and a great local pub in walking distance. The toilets and showers are beyond compare! Fresh flowers, piped music (!) and they seem to be cleaning them three times a day. We are just back from our second visit there.

[PulpFriction]

Sorry, the should be south lytchett manor campsite

[LondonSuperTrooper]

Wow, that site is fab!! EHU and TV hook ups?! My DH wants us to go there in the middle of September :)

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Oblomov]

Inside Park, bland ford, Dorset.
Great. Loads of room between pitches. Loads of space for riding bikes and playing games by your caravan/ tent. Toilets and showers fab and free hot water for washing up.
We are off next week, for 10 days. Can't wait.

[Ktay]

We had a weekend at this place just outside St Helen's on the isle of wight about a month ago. V new so not much greenery but v spacious pitches and a little playground. They have a couple of family bathrooms in a portakabin-type setup.

[Budgiegirlbob]

I'd second The Inside Park, we've been three years running, there are great woods which the kids love to play in, large pitches, nice kids park, games room.

[CaffeineDeficit]

You lot are brilliant!

AnneU - I could be tempted by the Gower peninsula, as I have a former colleague who's moved there and her fb photos of the area look amazing. What was the name of the Llangennith campsite you'd recommend? UKcampsite comes up with two.

Pulp, South Lytchett Manor was on our short list for last year, but I wasn't sure if it'd feel too crowded just given the number of pitches, so good to know it's actually got a spacious feel

Oblomov - we did Inside Park last year and loved it. I was tempted to say in the OP that we wanted a site pretty much like Inside Park, just somewhere different! We've only been camping a couple of years, so we're trying to vary at which sites we do our main holiday. That said, I'm tempted to try to persuade DH that a May BH at Inside Park would be good next year

I hadn't even thought of looking on the Isle of Wight, Ktay, but that site sounds laid back and toddler friendly. Did you go with the EHU allocated pitches or the "choose your spot" tent field with no hook up?

If anyone's got any more suggestions, that'd be great.

[AnneUulmelmahay]

Sorry sorry, kennexstone (sp). A couple miles from beach but fab fab site. Really helpful staff too (awning blew down, just me, my sis and bunch o small.ish kids, staff whipped it back up. This was last yr, the Summer of Neverending Rain lol)

[Ktay]

We had an allocated pitch, not sure I realised the other field was there. You might want to google iow beaches to check they are sandy enough for you.

[Gracie990]

Can you get to trellyn in that time? It's Pembrokeshire. A lovely site, if you book the lower meadow you get two acres to yourself. It's a fab, fab site.

I like sites that you pitch around the edge as the children can play in the middle without upsetting anyone.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

We have just come back from Long Meadow in The New Forest. I booked it following a recommendation on here.

Lots of space , especially if you request a pitch at the back. We had pitch 44 and it had a huge empty field behind it.

The shower block is brand new this year and I didn't have to queue once. No children's play area but the little stream and rope swings in the forest behind our pitch kept everyone from toddlers to teenagers amused for hours.

Good value for The New Forest too.

I'm going to look at some of the recommendations on the thread to get ideas for next summer.

[Pixel]

Yes we discovered Long Meadow this year and it is now firmly on our favourites list. We went during the New Forest Show so expected it to be crowded but we still had plenty of room to play tennis/frisbee etc without annoying anyone and it felt very spacious. Woken up by a munching noise at 4am and crept outside to watch the deer grazing right by our tent .

[Grittzio]

We just had 4 days at Wareham Forest Park, Dorset, you can explore the Jurassic coast, go fossiling at Kimmeridge. Lots of room on site, exceptionally clean, kids play area and swimming pool.

[jellymaker]

Lovely campsite in West Sussex - Washington campsite. Nearest town storington. Near south coast. We managed a trip to west wittering beach which is lovely.

[chocolatespiders]

www.clippesby.com Clippesby

Stayed here twice and loved it. Great few hours spent on the broads to. DD loved steering a boat.

[chocolatespiders]

Clippesby

Sorry

[Grittzio]

Also recommend Hollands Wood in New Forest, it's by a stream/river the kids can go in, play on rope swings etc. the New Forest ponies and donkeys walk amongst the tents, again good clean shower block.

Sites I have been recommended in Dorset but haven't made it to yet are Wilkesworth just outside Wimborne, Sandy Balls in New Forest which has excellent swim facilities, Durdledoor and Burnbake - both these are v. Close to Jurassic coast.

[MegTheCat]

Bay view farm campsite, Croyde Bay, North Devon. Always seems to be plenty of space for games & riding bikes. Decent sized Children's playground (with Zip wire). We were there in May and most pitches have electric hookup now. Showers and loos fine - can bseem like a long walk depending on where your pitch is but in August I expect the extra toilet block will be open. 5 minutes walk from beach, 5 minutes walk
from village with shops.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Oh yes Pixel that munching noise woke me up too! Sat and watched a herd of dear grazing just outside my tent! Wonderful!

[chicaguapa]

Glad you enjoyed Long Meadow Angel.

[FriedSprout]

Just come back from South Lytchett too. Fabulous showers/loos, immaculate site, entire field for footie, but very few facilities for teens, eg very small games room.
Plenty of space between tents, but caravans looked a little cramped due to awnings etc.
Helpful and friendly staff.

[gerbilsarefun]

We've just got back from Grange Leisure Park in Mablethorpe. It is a fairly big site, there are statics (mostly privately owned) tourer sites and a lovely tent field with ehu. I was a bit hesitant before booking (we went with a family group) as we're not into the big, noisy, commercial campsites. But I was pleasantly surprised, the tent field filled up at the weekend but there was still a large area for children to play. It had a club, a playground and a ball court and best of all only cost us £14pn with electric. There are lovely beaches in Mablethorpe too.