Does anything like this even exist?

[Dottydot]

We're off to North Devon for a week at the beginning of August with friends, but I've got the next week off and would love to take dp and the boys away somewhere - but can't afford anything like a cottage/caravan in August.

Never been camping before and am very Margot Leadbetter-ish when it comes to the 'great' outdoors, so are there campsites where there are already tents put up?!

I was just wondering if there's somewhere around North Devon that we could go on to for a few days/week, that wouldn't be too expensive. Work's been a nightmare for me recently and I'd love a proper fortnight's break away from it all.

So, campsite, with tents up, North Devon and as posh as possible, obviously...

there's that place with the teepees somewhere in that neck of the woods isn't there (though I think it was quite expensive, can't remember)?

i know ds's would love it - and dp - and possibly even me, but only if it was all done for me and had nice loos and showers...

Don't think they have them in Devon, they do in Cornwall though. These look fun here

ah - this one is in Cornwall , but I'm sure I read about another one with teepees (I tend to feel the same way as you about camping in this country!)

"long awaited shower and toilet blocks, of the highest quality and including; Under floor heating, Luxury showers and washrooms, Toilets and hand basins, Family shower room, Disabled shower & toilet, Chemical waste disposal, Motor home waste disposal unit, Launderette - including washing machines, tumble dryers, spin dryers, ironing facilities & deep sinks, Drying room, Washing up & vegetable preparation area"

You have to put up your own tent, but this sounds fairly civilized here

Cornwall again but this place has tents already pitched and ready to move into here

here

This one's in Devon and has tents ready to move into, description says:

"Ever been camping in France, or heard from anyone who has? Fancy the idea of renting a tent with beds, electric lights, cooker and a fridge, already assembled when you arrive?

Well now you can! Enjoy all the fun of camping, hassle free. All you need is sleeping bags. Our Eurotents sleep up to 6 people, and can be booked from 1st May until 30th September. (Sorry no dogs allowed in the eurotents)."

ooh, SOH, that one has an indoor pool!

There's a place where they do yurts. Sounds cosy.

how about feather down farm stays ? No where in devon but a Somerset and a cornwall. I think they look lovely.

Thanks all - they're brilliant - but too expensive . There's me thinking it would be cheap and cheerful - but I suppose it would be if we put our own tent up somewhere!

Sue - I sent off for the featherdown farm brochure a couple of months ago - looks idyllic!!

We stayed in a yurt in Cornwall- there are some in East Devon as well. We stayed here with ds2 and ds3 (it's Jimjams btw) and they loved it. Ds2 was 4, ds3 18 months at the time. DS2 still talks about it now "when are we going to go back to the yurt?".

Ds1 visited for the day and sat peacefully in the middle of the yurt with the door shut. I was quite surprised (he's never peaceful or still). The wood burner heated bath was wonderful Loo - compost - but fine.....

sigh. Jimjams (why have you changed your name?!) - that looks lovely - but in a lovely for another family kind of way! And it's so flipping expensive

I always think things made of material that make me sleep near the ground with no en suite should be cheap as chips...

But I know the boys would be in heaven - they're so outdoors-y.

I think if we don't do something like this this year, I'll start planning for 2008!

I'm semi-hiding.

Aww it was lovely.

We shared the compost toilet with the other tent there (which is quite a distance away). Dh kept going on and on about a huge poo he'd seen in there. On the last day we bumped into the friendly lady from the other tent. I was with ds2 washing up some bits and pieces. We talked about how peaceful it was, and what a magical place etc etc, then as she walked away ds2 piped up (really loudly) "Mummy do you think she did the big poo in the toilet?"

Bring your own tent- you could camp in our garden (south rather than north devon, but close). If we had a big garden and lots of money I would have got my own yurt for ds1, and you could have used that, but I don't so you can't!

Dotty that cornwall one is just £150 for week in August, that's good value (they have from 11th Aug available)

The Devon one is £310 for a week.

Not bad for the whole family

Actually - £150 isn't bad is it - i'd missed that . will discuss with dp tonight! I think i'd overlooked it because we then have to travel back to Manchester to get home and dp hates long car journeys, so wouldn't thank me taking us all further south..!

but thanks all - given me lots to think about - and Gess, if you don't watch out we might just take you up on the offer of your garden!!

Those sites in Cornwall such a great idea for all those who fancy camping but don't want to shell out for all the gear before they know whether they'll like it. And a great price too. Hardly worth packing the car up yourself!

I wanna go camping!