Organising first camping trip for all our friends - pressure!!! Anyone camped on the Gower recently???

[BooBoosMumma]

So I have volunteered to organise a camping trip for our group of friends: eight families, with a 5 yo, two 3yos, and seven under 2s between us!

Bearing in mind most of them have never camped before (not me and DH, we're from good Scout and Guide families!) I'm thinking a long weekend will be enough, and as we are all based around Bristol (and have 'done' Devon and Cornwall) thought we could head to the Gower in Wales as less than 2 hours away.

I thought I'd hit the jackpot with Bank Farm in Horton - close to beach, toddler friendly play area, swimming pool in case of weather failure etc, but I've been scared by a review site with lots of mentions of dirty toilet blocks and rowdy groups

Did anyone camp there last summer? How was it for you???

And any top tips for camping with lots of little people? We've bought a tent with lots of indoor space in anticipation of running the inevitable crèche!!!

Not been to that site but have been to Three Cliffs and Hillend. Both of which are lovely. Three cliffs is probably the nicest.

I second Three Cliffs.

We did the Gower years back but can't remember the name of the site.

It was good.

Have you tried Woody Hyde in the Purbecks?

It's near Swanage,nice for beaches and near Corfe Castle.

Lots of good walks and the Square and Compass is lovely after a longish walk,good beer and pasties.

My favourite place.

Bank Farm has got rowdier IMHO. have stayed there a few times over the last 20 years. We went for 2 nights beg August. Was ok not wonderful. Club house heaving and noisy teenagers in our field between 9 & 12 at night. Toilets haven't changed in my memory. I've definitely known worse though! Kept liquid soap in handbag for loos and sat outside clubhouse for only 1 beer both nights. BUT - I love the location. Last previous time was May Bank Holiday 5 years ago. Was fine then.

Not camped much in the Gower recently, but wherever you decide I can highly recommend getting Tesco your favourite supermarket to deliver your provisions. It's far easier than someone doing a massive shop and then trying to divide it up for each family to cram pack into their cars.

Three Cliffs is a bit of a pain because of the long steep walk to the beach, when carrying food/kit/toddlers, but a lovely site and a fab beach. Nicholaston Farm, just along, has an easier walk down and is really friendly and pleasant, I prefer it.

I don't know Bank Farm.

We've also stayed at Port Eynon, and although the campsite is a bit characterless it has great facilities, is a moment from the beach, and on the edge of the village with a couple of pubs, shops and cafes which makes it good for families. Fires on the beach are ok, I think, but def not on the site.

Hillend is lovely, but we have a touring caravan (sooooo easy with three little ones!) and they don't allow them. They also don't take bookings, which is a pain if you're going any time that is likely to be busy, like a bank holiday or Easter hols in a heatwave (we can hope!).

Hope this helps.

I adore Hillend but it can feel overrun with big groups of teenagers at weekends and holidays. Mind you they all spend the evenings having fires in the dunes so the site itself is actually quite quiet.

I camped in Port Eynon last year (August Bank Holiday) with a friend and our dds (2.5 and 4.5) and it was fab. Not that many facilities on site (no pool etc) but it was perfect for them to run around, an easy stroll to the beach and was quiet with just families around.

Three Cliffs is lovely but a bit of a trek to the beach with young children, and I agree that Hillend can get a bit rowdy (we always used to go in a big group and weren't very considerate to other campers ). A friend stayed in Nicholaston at Beynons farm and recommended it.
I'm very excited about going again this year in our new tent, probably to Port Eynon (is camping with a newborn and toddler a good idea??).

We stayed at Pitton Cross near Rhossili for 10 days last Aug. I wouldn't go back to that one but maybe another site nearer to Swansea like Three Cliffs. Pitton Cross was just too far out (45mins drive to Swansea) to escape for half a day in bad weather. Too isolated, no food shops nearby - had to really plan what we were going to eat and if we had enough storage for it.

I've just had a look at Google maps because I was considering Pitton Cross, but it's just a bit further from the beach, and I can't see the point being so close to the beach yet still having to load up and drive.

For our next couple of trips to the Gower, I'm going to plan a stay at Eastern Slade Farm (have been to the beach there before which is lovely, private and rock-pooly), which looks to be really friendly and in a gorgeous spot, but with very limited facilities - perhaps best just for a weekend or I'll be craving a decent shower. Then a longer stay at Nicholaston, which is also above an amazing beach, with better facilities for us to stay longer.

We went to Three Cliffs with a toddler and felt like we were on constant alert because of the drop at the side of the site. Was also a mission getting back up from the beach. It is a beautiful site though...