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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

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

35 replies

StairsInTheNight · 21/03/2013 13:29

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?

OP posts:
hillbilly · 21/03/2013 15:50

First camping trip abroad for us. We are going to www.lesvalades.com in August because of the good reviews I saw on here.

Before that we hope to go to www.townfarmcamping.co.uk/ for early May bank holiday, never been before but it looks nice. Whitsun half term we hope to go to forgewoodcamping.co.uk/ which is our all time favourite.

We are looking for somewhere between London and Bath for a weekend in late July, but little success yet. Needs to allow campfires and have loos and showers, so recommendations welcome!

Ghostsgowoooh · 21/03/2013 17:36

Our first year of camping and we are just staying local to wrexham. Probably going in the may half term. If the weather warms up that it is.

attheendoftheday · 22/03/2013 00:27

We're camping near Penrith, probably here. It's slightly pricier than I'd ideally like, but it's within 2 hours from home (newborn dd2 doesn't like the car) and has a playground and a soft play area for toddler dd1, and allows dogs.

DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow · 23/03/2013 18:37

Our first UK summer holiday - we are going here for a week in August. Chose it because I've never been to Devon and I've always wanted to go. The site looks clean, the area looks beautiful and I've read nothing but good reviews about it. Fingers crossed for good weather.

Still doing an abroad holiday in April and October though - I need a guaranteed fix of sun!! Grin

snowmummy · 23/03/2013 19:47

Town Farm is great. We go there often for weekends as its not too far away from us.

snowmummy · 23/03/2013 19:51

Ooh I like the look of Forgewood.

Original poster
StairsInTheNight · 23/03/2013 22:00

I have been to Ladram Bay, DrGoogle! It was a nice site, pool was a bit small/grotty, outdoor play area was ok though, and nice to have a little indoor soft play for when it rained. The beach is great for rockpooling but STONY, be warned, take beach shoes!

OP posts:
Otherworld · 24/03/2013 19:37

We are off to Inside Park in May Grin

hannahem · 25/03/2013 16:06

We're going to Deers Glade in Norfolk in the May half term (crossing fingers tightly for decent weather) and to Longthorns in Dorset for a week at the start of the main summer holidays. Can't wait, haven't been to either before but they look fab Smile

DuchessOfAvon · 25/03/2013 21:02

We are off to Holland! We are camping on a site in Delft. We will do something nearer home too but I need to do some research. Its our first abroad trip and I have NO idea how I am going to get it all in the car.....

Quenelle · 26/03/2013 12:44

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.

Original poster
StairsInTheNight · 27/03/2013 13:23

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 Envy. 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... Grin

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

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hillbilly · 27/03/2013 14:27

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!

DuchessOfAvon · 27/03/2013 15:04

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.

Quenelle · 27/03/2013 19:33

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.

Original poster
StairsInTheNight · 27/03/2013 21:09

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).

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 27/03/2013 21:12

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

hillbilly · 28/03/2013 12:05

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

Quenelle · 28/03/2013 13:50

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 Hmm

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.

ihatethecold · 28/03/2013 14:18

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.

DuchessOfAvon · 28/03/2013 19:00

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......

hannahem · 29/03/2013 17:00

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!

FiveGoMadInDorset · 29/03/2013 17:02

Our first time, they are hardened campers Grin 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.

Godlessdomestic · 29/03/2013 20:03

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!!!

Quenelle · 29/03/2013 20:37

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