What do you need from a campsite?

[cakeorwine]

Love European campsites. The ones we normally use have well laid out pitches, often well shaded with trees, marking out the pitches. We need power now. The campsites we like aren't too big. Often have a pool but nothing too fancy. Proper toilet blocks with showers as well. Washing up areas. Maybe a bar or a small restaurant - but not essential.

Some of the ones we've used recently have even had either fridges for hire or small fridges you can store food in.

Not too noisy - they are definitely really quiet in the evening and at night.

Just been in the Lakes for a few days - noticed quite a few "campsites" which were fields with a Portaloo in.

Done that a few times - but think I've been really spoilt with European campsites. The idea of camping in a field with a portaloo does not really appeal to me now - not for £20 a night per person.

We've also stayed on campsites in the UK full of noisy people, too many people, noisy bars and people staying up till early hours. Not my cup of tea.

So - if you like camping - what kind of campsites do you like or hate?

I like reasonable toilets - compost is fine as long as they get cleaned!

and a rule that people have to stay fairly quiet overnight (allowing for quiet talking and crying babies etc, obviously!)

We just need a field, a water tap, EHU for our camping fridge and an elsan point. We are self sufficient in our Touraeg with "en-suite". OK so it's really a utility tent with a portaloo and a pump up shower and paddling pool shower tray but we love it. We love streams, rivers, lakes, lochs very close by and the opportunity for dark skies and listening to bird song, a few cows and sheep adding to the chorus. Our life is so busy that we absolutely relish the peace and quiet, time to read a book or in my DH case time to snooze in the afternoon.

Toilet and a tap is enough for us but we prefer closer to 'wild camping' experience. I've been to a few field with a portaloo types but I wouldn't be paying £20 a night for it. We look for sites that have a shower if we go far afield but not bothered for a 1 or 2 night stay somewhere local in 1hr drive. Never used EHU nor additional amenities like fridge/freezer/washing machines. We only use sites that allow fires.