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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.

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Original poster

Tell me about Forest Fields (or somewhere else!)

18 replies

BarchesterFlowers · 06/08/2017 21:19

Thinking of going there as a last minute thing after a change of plan.

Or anywhere else in that direction within 200 miles/4 hour drive of Harrogate. Decent walking, canoeing or cycling on quiet roads, basic but quiet campsite.

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 06/08/2017 21:23

Its absolutely gorgeous! We are there in 2 weeks, and love it there. We swim in the lake, kayak, mountain bike, walk over the hills, and enjoy the amazing night sky.
Hot, clean, showers, immaculate loos, nice little cafe and honesty shop, and you can have fires as long as you use the blocks provided

TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway · 06/08/2017 21:23

We've just come home from there, it was our second visit (my third technically but the first time I was about 13). It's a lovely site, the facilities are some of the best I've come across. They've just opened a cafe/bar too which did a lovely pizza and immense cakes. The lake is stunning and there are plenty of walks from the campsite or a short drive away. The only thing that would put me off going again would be the weather - there is very little to do in the area on wet days and given that it's in mid Wales there are a lot of wet days! I think I would only go back if I could plan it last minute if the forecast was looking good. I hope that helps?

Original poster

BarchesterFlowers · 06/08/2017 21:33

Thank you.

Is it worth taking our own canoe or is the lake too small for that?

Bike wise we only have tourers and I am currently not up to much. Is there much to do on bikes that isn't too hilly? We could swap tyres and be fine for rough tracks.

I presume that they will allow our wood burner as it doesn't mark grass, will ask.

Are there any parts of the site that are better to ask for a pitch on?

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TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway · 06/08/2017 21:45

I think wood burners are fine, we saw plenty and they even lend out their own. The lake isn't very big, it's fine for kayaking but wouldn't take long to go all the way around. It is quite hilly. We were in the field nearest the lake. The amenities block is fairly central so I'm not sure any area is better than another. We were given a choice when we arrived.

CMOTDibbler · 07/08/2017 09:39

Theres a lovely bike ride up at the Elan Valley that its worth taking the bikes for. Its not hilly, and the views are great (and the cafe does some great food).

If your dd likes to paddle round, then its worth taking your canoe, but its not mahoosive. You could drive to the Wye and have a really good journey there - or hire.

We've always been on the sports field, but they are pretty casual about things and will offer you a choice when you get there - and show you the pitches.

Original poster

BarchesterFlowers · 07/08/2017 13:25

Thank you CMOT and TheCold. I think we will try to book it.

Is that ride on the roads and should we swap tyres anyway so you think? I will be mostly found reading my book and doing something relaxing but DH /DD would ride on anything remotely suitable.

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 07/08/2017 13:32

I'd swap tyres. IIRC it changes between tarmaced path and gravelly bits.

Hope you have a lovely time - am gutted we won't cross over though!

Original poster

BarchesterFlowers · 08/08/2017 06:12

Thank you CMOT, we will swap them. I know about crossing over, I bet we will, somewhere, one day.

A very small part of me is still wondering whether we should take the ferry we have booked and ride 10-15 miles a day or something equally feeble but I think that without being able to do much it could be a disaster as everyone else might get bored and interesting places might not be within my daily reach.

I did email FF last night, a positive response from them today will seal it (my leave starts tomorrow).

OP posts:

Original poster

BarchesterFlowers · 08/08/2017 23:00

We are going to Forest Fields! They have confirmed they have got room in the rain.

DH ... 'if you can't make it to York and back (which is one of our day rides) there is no point in going cycling in Europe'.

Fair point so FF it is.

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CMOTDibbler · 09/08/2017 07:36

Have a lovely time (and btw friends are currently on a family cycling holiday in Europe getting soaked everyday which is particularly miserable).

Original poster

BarchesterFlowers · 09/08/2017 08:35

Thank you, we will.

I find cycle camping in the rain trying after more than two days and we were planning on camping the majority of the time with a few nights in B&Bs so it isn't entirely a bad thing.

OP posts:

Chiddles09 · 10/08/2017 18:00

We are going to FF for the first time next week - I've been looking forward to it for ages! The weather doesn't look brilliant though - any ideas from anyone that's already been for a really rainy day?

CMOTDibbler · 10/08/2017 18:23

Put wetsuits on and swim in the lake? The kids think it just as good

Or drive to the Dan Yr Ogof cake complex which is really nice and quite a lot there

Chiddles09 · 10/08/2017 20:16

Thank you - good plan!

Babipotjam · 14/08/2017 09:23

Lake is quite small.

The pub down the road Hundred House Inn does nice basic pub grub.

Get to the showers early was heaving about 6pm and again about 9 am

Rainy days: Brecon has a lovely swimming pool and cathedral worth a visit.

There is a playbarn in somewhere called Newbridge on Wye it's called Quackers. The food there is reasonable too.

Chiddles09 · 14/08/2017 10:08

Thank you

Packing up the caravan now...

profpoopsnagle · 09/09/2017 10:53

Barchester and Chiddles did you enjoy FF?

Chiddles09 · 10/09/2017 06:49

Well the weather was awful, but the site was lovely. We enjoyed the lake and had some lovely walks. We gave up early though and went to a campsite closer to home where it was 6 degrees warmer and not raining!

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