Can you recommend a good CAMPSITE - possibly NEW FOREST area?

[noonar]

ok, we've not camped since we had the dds, aged nearly 3 and 5. we'd like a site with clean facilities. we dont want to have to queue for the shower. a small shop on site might be handy. a pool might be nice, but we want to avoid big eurocamp style sites, full of swanky caravans, iyswim.

i actually think that a basic field would suit me fine, but with the dds, this might be hard work.

any ideas for a good site, not too basic, and in a pretty setting, definately WITHOUT a 'holiday camp' atmosphere?

tia

sorry, x posts.

i suppose one big concern is the loo thing. what is the camping etiquette for middle of the night pees?

dh and i once camped years ago in north wales. some very drunk women from manchester camped next to us. i could HEAR them pissing just yards away from our tent. gross.

some sort of cool box?

a couple of those collapsible crates are a must for us too.

I have been known to wee round the back of the tent

use a bucket or camp fairly near to the loos.

peachy, we're going to go as soon as we get a nice weekend, weather wise. maybe next week.

we were hoping to go last week, but it was so wet.

We don't drink for 30 minutes before going to bed, last wee and clean teeth then that's it until the morning - do you usually have to get up in the night at home? (sorry if v nosey )

Noonar we had hailstones last week! I woke up at 3am thinkinh wow that is heavy rain, then the hailstones were all piled up at the side of the canopy in the morning!

lucycat, i initially thought that your cool box idea was a solution to my loo problem. lol. seriously, is there any point, if we cant freeze ice packs?

quad, i'd have had no problem with them pissing behind their on tent!

lucycat, i think i have a weak bladder. i always need to wee by 5.30am or much earlier if i've had the odd glass of wine...hick...

it's daylight by then, so wouldnt want to pee outdoors!

at Holmsley the toilets are never too far away. i like getting up for a little stroll that time to the loo, like laughing at all the weary faces from the lack of sleep

I like getting up early too and wandering about when noone else is about - before the caravanners come out and spoil it all

holmsley may have an ice pack freezing service, most palces do- you pay about 30p (often nothing but chrsitchurch its 30p) and they freeze the,m so you have some in the box, some freezing

now thats worth knowing, peachy.

Folkestone Warren is wonderful - we've just come back from a week there. The cleanest loos and showers imaginable, a useful shop on site, lots of trees, lovely walks and a fab beach three minutes walk away. You can hear the sea from nearly all the pitches.

thanks katelyle, i read about that site on the independent's top 50 campsites guide. the clifftop location sacred me a bit, tbh. 'm guessing it wasnt right on the cliff's edge??

katelyle you'd like Nodes Point on the IoW then, or Pentewan in Cornwall (both right on the beach)

noonar - clifftop is a bit of an exaggeration -it's not that high and it's very well fenced. There are some wonderful cliff walks around though. Damn - I didn't realize that it was in the Independent - I was very relieved to see that it didn't make the Guardian's top 50. It's my secret I say, MINE, MINE, MINE all mine!!!!!

Thanks for the Cornwall recommendation - we know a fab site near Falmouth - can't rememeber what it's called, but I'll look it up if anyone wants it.

ooh, thanks for that kate. i also fancy the I of W, peachy. Hmmm...spoilt for choice.

Haven't been to the folkestone one- sounds nice but Wales - Folkestone is just too far with the kids atm.

Nodes is nice, it seems a commercial park at first and thats all there if you want it- then you get to the camping bit! Its a field between the park and the sea 9with good facillities, most of which brand new). The whole park palce is screened out by tress, all you get is a stunning view over the bay- lovelynfor watching thunderstrms at night!. And tehn its 2 minutes down to the bay, where theres sand, rockpools and a lovely restaurant and not much else.

pentewan I can tell you more about in a few weeks. rather like the notion of a private beach though LOL!

ok , i've been watching the forecast, and we plan to head off tomorrow. will we be warm enough in sleeping bags at this time of year? do you take extra blankets?(dont know the tog rating, but theyre pretty basic- free with halfords tent!)

hi, reading this with interest. We tried to book Sandy Balls, but it's full (last 2 weeks July ) Does anyone have any other New Forest suggestions? It seemed perfect, not too big, not too 'butlins-y', but not too basic. I ideally want a shop, cafe and kids' stuff eg playground, club, but don't want to stay anywhere too big, the ones I saw were like 700 pitches .

Isn't that Folkestone Warren in Kent? (sorry, dim)

re early morning wee - I bought a 5 litre Jerrycan (only got boys, so the night-time, early morning wees all in there, and treated myself to something like a she-wee, but better, so can use it too, it's great, no squatting required.

Holmesley doen't have a cafe 9that I am aware of) but fits the rest, it is big but whether that matters tends to depend on layout

this link is perfect for finding sites

hurrah, have booked pitch at holmsley. we go tomorrow still have bought my pee bucket, though.

OOh looking forward to a review, we're off on the first weekend of July (tis my birthday), know the forest but not that site

we've just been to holmsey and it was great. i was really impressed. toilets & showers cleaned everyday, shop well stocked and the takeaway is great (even if there is a queue and only sells chips really). playground was good and the woods great for exploring. loads of families and really friendly. loved it and would definitely go again. but get there early to get a good pitch. it gets busy REALLY REALLY quickly, especially in the good weather. great stuff to do nearby as well.

Oh excellent, we'll be there for opening I think so looking forwards!