So was anyone at Forgewood this weekend?

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

We were and have never seen so much mud in all my life. We were pitched in a quagmire and packing up was a nightmare. Fab weekend though - planning the next one now...

No but we are planning to go there mis August - which field were you in?

Mid August

We were in Barn Field, the one nearest the entrance. I think it might have been a bit boggier than the other field actually, possibly because I think it slopes more, so when it rained we got little rivers running through our pitches. The only problem with the other field is that the proper portaloo block is shut and they only have a few festival-style individual portaloos to use. For showers etc, people in that field and in the woods had to tramp up to the main block near the cafe. Bit of a trek, particularly in the state some of the children were in after rolling in the mud.

It is a brilliant site though - the children with our group, including DD (2.5) had an absolute riot with more freedom than they ever get at home and spent as much time as they could in the woods.

And it brightened up on Sunday so we even got the tents down dry (even if our bell tent is a bit mud splattered now). So a good weekend all in all.

Where are you planning to camp Hillbilly? If in the woods or lower field, you might want to check what the status of the loos is, particularly as there have been flooding problems there earlier this summer (although that is presumably why they are still closed).

I would imagine the track down to the lower field was almost impassable. It was very rutted when we were there in v dry weather! Definitely don't bank on the portaloo block in the lower field being in operation.

I like the woods at Forgewood. But prefer the lower field or the woods because the barn field is views of the buildings, car park etc.

Blu, after your warnings, we took a look at the lower field and, clearly, they have not been able to resolve their problem sufficiently to open the second toilet block again. I agree with you about the woods or lower field being much nicer to camp in though. We didn't have a choice as with the size of our group he decided Bell Tent Corner in the Barn Field was the place for us. There was a massive group in the other field so I assume they must have booked in before us as we had requested a pitch there.

Cars were getting up and down the track to the lower field but it was not easy and everywhere was soaked under foot. One poor couple in the woods forgot their inner tent apparently and were sleeping on the ground. They woke up to a river coming through their tent and frogs all over the place. They ended up sleeping in their car, not surprisingly.

To be honest, they need a solid few days of sunshine to sort out the ground because at the moment it is soaked and any extra rain is just sitting on the top and campers are churning it into mud. Outside our tent was like being at the Isle of Wight festival by Sunday.

I'm pleased you had a good time.

MPFT, we've been 3 or 4 times in the past 2 years and have always camped in Barn field at the bottom left, partly cos DH absolutely won't use a compost or portaloo and also it was easier with 2 little ones to. However we had a good wander round the other fields last summer and really liked them. We don't camp in the woods because I want as much sunlight and warmth as possible.

Will assess the situation when we get there I imagine!