Summer 2013- Come post where you are going and why!

[StairsInTheNight]

Just booked up for August holidays. We are going here. Carlyon Bay, not far from St Austell, Cornwall. Chose it because you get huge grass pitches right in front of the kids play area (essential with 6yr old DS, so we can drink wine while keeping an eye), and its 5 minutes walk to sandy beach.

Hoping it will live up to last years- Inside Park which was fabulous.

Where are you going? And why?

[TheRealMBJ]

First camping holiday for us.

We are going to Bigbury during the festival inJuly and Cornwall thereafter. Have spend a night in the tent already, during gales (unintentionally) so know it can stand up to them. Hoping to do something a little more local for a weekend before we go. Maybe even here as I have heard good things about it and in is only 20 mins away

[looselegs]

We're taking our tourer to Picardy in France.
I love Cornwall, but the weather has been so poor the past few years that we started going to France 2 years ago. We're going to Le Croix de Vieux Pont which is a very big site, but, as my kids are 10 and 15, there's loads on the site to keep them busy.......so me and DH can relax....!

[Quejica]

If you are on the app that should say Espana not some weird country I have invented

[Quejica]

España because the sun shines all day

[lifeishunkydory]

We are off Guernsey this year:
Fauxquets

Am dreading the journey down from Manchester to Poole with DD, DS2 and DS3, luckily DS1 (who has ASD), if cming down with my parnts a few days later are the journey really would be impossible.

However am looking forward to our first camping trip that is a bit further afield.

Last summer we went to Low Wray, Low Wray, weather was awful and we must have had the worst pitch on the site for flooding, site could have been gorgeous but I really think they should have condemed that site given the weather.

[Kahlua4me]

We are driving to Spain this summer. Have booked the ferry and the first campsite near Tours, now to work out the rest......

[issyocean]

We are going here for a long weekend at the end of May.I went there last year with my D (then 5) and our bell tent and had an amazing time with a roaring fire every night in spite of the mud/rain/wind ect.I met my friend and her dc there.In fact I have just discovered that it's pics of us there, on the Cool Camping website

In August we are heading to France with nothing booked and no plan.

[ElectricalBanana]

the bottom link didnt work

sorry....its a big tent...its mahooosive! its a bit embarrassing TBH but we need it for DD to have room to "roam". And the fact it has two totally sep bedrooms means we dont get her trying to get in bed with us,,,

[ElectricalBanana]

we are off to a campsite just below mt Ventoux

www.provence-camping.com/ang/camping-provence-luberon-montventoux.html

I have been to this site before but DH hasnt, we are taking DD2 who is 21 and has autism. So because we have to take a lot of her "stuff" to make it more like home we have this old thing

www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/media/catalog/product/h/a/hartfordl2011pop.gif

going via the tunnel (first time) driving from nr to stoke on trent and hopefully one stop at a B&B in Troyes on the way down and back.

happy camping!

[cheerup]

We are going Eurocamping at Beekse Bergen in holland in March and then off to Le Pianacce and Park Albatross in Tuscany in August. If we can, we'll get some UK camping weekends in our own tent in between and maybe even a little trip across the channel using Tesco points for Eurotunnel and spending the site savings on wine.

[Quenelle]

Fivego take lots of warm bedclothes, lots of booze and a Kampa Khazi and you'll have a great time.

[Godlessdomestic]

We are venturing into the Dordogne this year to Saint Avit Loisirs. Have just bought a High Gear Kalahari 8 with porch. Can't wait to get some sun.. Have got to get a roofbox though as the tent takes up most of the boot!!!

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Our first time, they are hardened campers we have a tent and leeping bags and I need to get some maps, if this goes OK then will expand our equipment and go more often. Painswick is beautiful.

[hannahem]

Thanks for the tips ihatethecold, will make a note of mundesley, it's a completely new area to us so really looking forward to exploring. The DSs are desperate to go to Bewilderwood too so that's also on our list of must do's!

[DuchessOfAvon]

We have an Oakland XL too. I luffs it except for the leaks-down-your-neck if you use the side door in the rain. We are ummming about getting a front extension. We have a tarp for rain-shelter so I am not convinced we need an extension. But then we'd have somewhere to deboot and not be leaked-on-down-the -neck......

[ihatethecold]

Hannahem.
I've stayed at deers glade a few years ago. It was lovely.
There is a great beach at mundesley. It's got a shop and decent cafe and a few lifeguards.
The best thing is there are no tourists there like at wells which gets so busy.
Easy to park also.

[Quenelle]

We took a Royal Houston 6 and a 4 man Quechua pop-up to France with us last year. DH hated the Royal though; it was too big, took too long to put up and got too cluttered. And he said the blue colour was too dark

So a few weeks ago we bought a Vango Icarus 500. In green.

I haven't seen it up yet. With a tarp and a windbreak we will extend the living area on longer stays. We'll definitely take the Quechua with us again though. At 8 minutes to erect, including pegging out, it's just brilliant for overnight stops.

FiveGoMad is it your first time, or your friends'? Painswick's a very pretty little place isn't it? I almost booked a B&B there a few years back.

[hillbilly]

We have an Outwell Oakland XL. Bought it in the sale a few years ago and we just love it.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Near Painswick I think, friends birthday, first time campers, eek!!

[StairsInTheNight]

So what are your tents like? We have an Outwell Hartford which is a bit f a monster, but very nice to stay in for long periods (apart from not much storage space).

[Quenelle]

Stairs I have read it. Very funny. He's braver than I'll ever be.

Duchess great idea for a retirement trip. It passed my parents' house in the Nord a few years back but it will be our first time.

I've found a Fab site near alpe d'Huez, it's definitely a contender.

[DuchessOfAvon]

Quenelle I'd love to see a mountain stage on the Tour. We've seen the run in to Paris but I really want to see a big climb. DH and I are going to follow the Tour for real as out first retirement project. Of course, we'll be watching it in our back garden next year

Stairs Yes we have a roof box but also have to factor in 4 bikes. The camping equipmnet pretty much takes up the whole boot, the bikes go on the tow-bar and one side of the roof bars - the roof box goes on the other side of the roof bars. I think I will just pack the clothes in around the girls and wedge them in until Rotterdam.

[hillbilly]

Stairs - thanks for that I have looked at it and although it's close to our friends in Bath who are coming with us it's a bit of a trek for us given that we can only go Fri-Sun. But yes it looks very lovely!

[StairsInTheNight]

Duchess- you have a roofbox? We havent camped abroad sice DS (5) was born, DP was not keen on all the idea of long driving with DS cooped up in the back. He feels Cornwall is too far really but I am all Dorsetted out...

Quenelle- that sounds fantastic. I hope you have speedos for all men ready. You will at least experience SUN . Have you read Tim Moores book where he does the Tour - French Revolutions? Brilliantly funny!

Otherworld- it was my DSs favorite campsite ever! I met a lovely MNer there too- she guessed I was a fellow MNer by the state of our tent...

Hillbilly- might have a recommendation for you...Riverside Lakes in Dorset it's on my list of places to go- sounds lovely!

[Quenelle]

We're going SOMEWHERE in SE France in July. We want to see a stage of the Tour de France, preferably Mont Ventoux.

Exact location depends on finding a suitable campsite. I want a Domaine de Mathevies, except further East.