where can we go camping this weekend?

[whojamaflip]

I know I know its short notice, bank hol weekend and all that BUT life has just conspired to give us the first free weekend this summer without any lodger, elderly uncles to look after and no farmwork that I am needed for

I want to go camping with the dcs 3 days, 2 night over sat/sun but need some inspiration - we are in the Cotswolds and would be happy to drive up to about 2 hours away.

Looking for something really outdoorsy but not a site with "entertainment" - dcs want to do star gazing and exploring (woods, old ruins etc). The possibility of having a campfire would be a bonus!

Can anyone help? I was going to go to Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean but there are no pitches left that I can find.

The other possibility is the National Forest in the Midlands but again I'm struggling.

Please, please lovely people share some of your secret campsites - even a field with no facilities will be fine always fancied wild camping

check out cool camping and I'd really recommend you nipped and bought the book!

Shell Island?

Oh Viva

I luuuuurve shell island!

I've never been. I have friends who have been and the photos look lovely and apparantly they never run out of space.

I read a bad review once where someone said he wanted to stay and was told he couldn't as there was no space. His girlfriend was already there in a tent. So he went to visit her. Then left and the security tried to mow him down with a van on the causeway. I suspect tehre may have been more to the story but it just put me off slightly.

No they are right. And you can camp literally on the sand. Once the tide comes in you are cut off.

I always get nervous about sites that won't take a booking. I wonder why they do that. I'm sure people would pay to secure the pitch in advance.

Here they will not take any bookings, and I don't fancy driving round the alps from site to site as the evening gets darker and we all get narkier.

Binfull exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for.......only problem is its only about 6 mile down the road for us and I was hoping to go a little further than that! . Book ordered from Amazon......

Viva that ones full Its also a bit too far away but is on the visit list for next year.

Haha- shell island always runs out of space!
Every time we've been, they've been full.

Forgive my ignorance but where is the national forest in the midlands please?

Is Derbyshire too close op?

To be honest I'm at the same stage as my great aunt where I enjoy camping down the road.

According to Britain with Kids its 200 square miles of former coal mining land covering parts of Leics, Staffs and Derbyshire which is being turning into a new national forest. Its supposed to have sculpture trails and loads of hand on stuff for the kids but I'm struggling to find campsites anywhere in the area I think its in. as well as finding it marked on any map!

The camping and caravan club have a site at the National Forest. I don't think you have to be a member to stay there.

conkers is the heart of the nantional forest

So sites near to there would be worth checking out.

We like this site

hopleyscamping.co.uk/

we went 2 weeks ago to beehive woodland farm lakes, it's in the Natrional Forest. here

Site was deserted 1st week in Aug (V. odd) but filled up (a little as we were leaving stayed 3 night). Has nice walks etc but does charge for children's play area (we didn't bother and went to Drayton Manor instead). Has clean showers and toilet blocks (50p charge for family showers but free individual ones!)

Forgot to say children played on the huge amount of grass in front of tent, pitch was good and no problems so can't understand why it was empty (except maybe everyone had gone to the coast for the sun)!

Camping in the Forest have 33% off and this page lists the sites with availability. (We used this discount last weekend and had a great time)

Thanks for information about Conkers!

Looking at the site milliways linked to, Bracelands have availability (Forest of Dean)- we;ve been there a few times, and it's lovely, but I don't think you can have campfires.

If you want a campsite with campfires have a look at my blog www.yellowfieldscamping.co.uk. It is on Mumsnet Bloggers or just google it. i live in Bath so not too far from you and all the sites I review I have visited personally and allow campfires. Off hand I would suggest Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester, or Beeches Farm, near Chepstow if you want to be near PuzzleWood, it has fantastic views, great access to lovely woodland and Tintern Abbey is close by too. Both allow campfires. Hope you find somewhere great!

we always go Longthorns Farm and love love love it.
Loads of space for children to roam and play including woods to build dens, fires allowed and just altogether lovely. You can hear the monkeys howling too sometimes.
Check out the reviews on UK campsites

Featherdown 'glamping' have a last minute cancellation at their farm in Shropshire (can't remember the name) if you call them - offered it to me this morning when I was on my last- minute hunt for a camping place

we just had a lovely but wet weekend at Cloud Farm in Exmoor Nat Pk - has a beautiful river with rapids and waterfalls but shallow and safe enough for kids to mess about in all day. Also good for gentle walks with little ones..

Have also been to Rocks East south of Bath with forest and secret pathways and sunken gardens.

Also Thistledown nr Stroud is much recommended though my experience of it was coloured by being absolutely washed out in a tent which was less waterproof than a sieve!

good luck :)

Sandy Balls in the new forest - havent been yet but loads to do.

Try this link for sites with confirmed weekend availability: www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=385

Got somewhere

No where near where I was planning but hey beggars can't be choosers.

We are off to Westermill Farm in Exmoor - bit further than I was hoping to drive but should be fun if the weather holds. I'm seeing loads of rambles, a day on the beach and pleanty of exploring.

So.........my next question is - any tips on things to do in the Exmoor National Park?