tents, tents... so moving on.. actual camping???

[lunavix]

Planning on a couple of nights mid-May, where should we go? Ideally somewhere cheapish, lots of bits to do (ds is only 2 so we need to be able to go places) and a max 2 - 3 hour drive from Newbury, Berkshire. Any ideas?

we went \link{http://www.camping-in-sussex.com/index.html\here} last year. Had a great time. Quiet, clean, and open enough for the kids to always be in sight. Only bind is that they don't take bookings but we got on fine on may bank holiday.

How about \link{http://www.visitpeartree.co.uk/Home.htm\here?} looks like a lovely area of the country, also we're going in August and you could check it out for us!

You can camp at \link{http://www.wellington-country-park.co.uk/default.cfm/loadlevel.1/loadindex.58 \Wellington Country park} & get free entry to the park as well. It's more expensive than the fiels type camping but there is LOADS to do there!

\link{http://www.wellington-country-park.co.uk/default.cfm/loadlevel.1/loadindex.58\oops - Wellington Country park}

My post from last night has disappeared

What about \link{http://www.eastfleet.co.uk\East Fleet Farm} just outside Weymouth

Hollands Wood is fab, our favourite new forest site. There are loads of campsite reviews on www.ukcamping.co.uk

CGMum

I didn't like Hollands Wood, but loads of people rave about it - so don't take any notice of me . I didn't like being under all the trees, and I didn't like not being on grass - it was too shaded and we didn't get any sunshine. Probably didn't help that we were on the side of the site by the road, so the cars kept us awake most of the night, and then when the road went quiet we could hear the trains!

Help,"camping with children virgins"!Any top tips for sleeping or maintaining sanity with 2 ds.5 and 2.9 please!

Lots and lots and lots of fresh air - it's the only thing that gets them to sleep, push bedtime back, until it goes dark if possible (not easy camping in June I know!)then something quiet to try and occupy them in the morning until the rest of the campsite is awake! colouring books, cars, stickers, dvd player and headphones

If all else fails then you're going to have to drug them! - happy camping

We're off to Hollands Wood in just over a fortnight

With the kids, let them run themselves down, there's no use putting them to bed on time: put them in Jammies, give them shoes and maybe a jacket and let them back until they are fit to drop. Then sit in a comfy chair with a bottle and watch.

Bought one of those cath kidston chairs Saturday- all lovely candy stripes! Dh well annoyed it doesn't match their non-matching but male seats. TOUGH!!!

ooh Hollands wood looks lovely Peachy!

I do like the idea of your Cath Kidston chair, pah men what do they know about camping style!

How are the ds's? no more visits to A&E recently?

No thank goodness, though I got a bop with a mopearlier >

THINK I went to hollands Wood many a moon ago, with a past and very unsuitable boyf. Will be interested to see if indeed the same place

(tent arrived today - would recommed the essexcamper to anyone buying new from ebay)

Just out of interest Lucycat,what is your drug of choice?Is it available over the counter or do i try the net?

yummy, not tried anything yet except fresh air!

Thanks Lucycat!Think will just be the adults on the the drugs eg booze and then nothing else matters!!:o

We went to Hurley Riverside last year. Very basic, but very lovely. Decent loos and showers - hot, though the cubicles were small. Well laid-out for people with small children. A small shop, IIRC, but no activities. Nice walk to the Thames, and along it to Marlow (?). Fascinating locks, as far as our then 4yo was concerned!

We more-or-less stuck with routine with our 4 & 2yos. They were so tired out that they fell asleep before they had a chance to object to being put to bed while other children were still up!

Our tent has zip-up 'bedrooms', so we made sure that the children's one was zipped upwards, beyond their reach, to keep them in it. Also, had a bag of toys ready to sling in with them when they woke, to give us a bit of a lie-in. Worked every morning!

Take wellies and waterproofs, but, if the weather's even vaguely warm enough, let them run around barefoot - even in the rain. Skin dries faster than shoes, and so you get less mud and muck brought into the tent itself. Besides, the children love it!

Bit worried our hol is going tits up , booked three times and had to get them to amend every time as they messed up the dayes. Final invoice was right charge, but TEN DAYS instead of four, sent all the payment and just amended. DH then e-mailed to ask if we could stay Minday night- they sendt back we would have to go home Saturday as booked up. ??????? Have been booked until Monday morning since JANUARY!!!!

Oh hang on, they just phoned and they think they might have it.....

but their PC's are down.

Arrgggh.

Oh hang on, they just phoned and they think they might have it.....

but their PC's are down.

Arrgggh.

Oh no, not what you need to hear! Hope it gets itself sorted out and that the camp itself is better than their computer system!

PeachyClair - Forest Holidays mucked us up too! We booked for Whitsun & acknowledgement came back for last weekend! Phoned them, they confirmed it WAS there error, changed booking, got new conf but then got postal conf for last weekend again!

Still, their sites are usually worth it. We love Bracelands.

Helpful aren't they???? They said we should be able to get the MOnday now but haven't heard back.... in your case I would CHASE as they told us theya re booked entirely for Whitsun.