Your 2019 camping adventures

[profpoopsnagle]

So, what did everyone get up to this year (know the season isn't quite yet done....) we may even venture out for a weekend or a winter night.

We stayed in the UK for the summer, and pretty much lucked out on the weather - 2 heatwaves. Although we had to set the tent up twice for storm winds which whilst our tent dealt with them absolutely fine, the worryness beforehand and noise during it still gets me.

We also did something quite different and camped at Duinrell in the Netherlands this year- a massive site within a theme park and water park. Whilst it isn't our more usual style of camping, it was rather fun and I'd look to go back sometime.

I think I have found a good MN site which I will share with you all- Nettwood country breaks in the Mendip Hills. Quite small, rustic site with lovely views and allows fires- the showers are heavenly too.

New equipment this year: toaster, induction hob and nesting pans. All things were a winner. Made DD a bespoke underbed tent too which gives her more room. I also got a clip on thing for my cup which I hoped would mean I could have a cup of tea in bed more easily but it didn't quite work as I hoped.

New hacks: colour separator sheets for the wash- I tend to do a mixed load and these did help the whiter items. I also tried to move to a vanity cubicle after a shower, for some reason you get and feel dryer much more quickly to get dressed than if you stay in the shower cubicle. (Honestly, try it!)

So, what did everyone else do?

Our big one was wild camping in the Scottish Highlands and then on a beach on the North Coast. Both beautiful. But will note for next time that midges are a real problem!

Camped in Cornwall with tent we got last year and used for 1 wk so this was it's second use. Well it leaked like a sieve, so the new gazebo we had was then replaced over the tent and it worked a dream. Looks like we get reimbursed for the dodgy tent too.

We went to Eweleaze in Dorset and a festival this year using different kit each time with varying success. Survived 50 mile an hour winds in a 20 year old tent on the first trip. Although I didn’t sleep a wink. @profpoopsnagle where would you recommend a Duinrell as we are thinking of going next year but it’s so massive I don’t know where to start!

Nearly 4 weeks in France, on four lovely small sites:
Agay Soleil, on cote d’azur, right next to the beach
St Jean, Moustiers St Marie, Verdon
Le Pole, Lathuile, Annecy, right next to cycle track
and Domaine du Buisson, Louvemont, near champagne/Verdun but in reality in the middle of nowhere!

Tent that got battered last yr just about held up, but thankfully we hardly saw any rain. Good job as I forgot to pack a tarp (oops!)

New kit: Cadac - amazing bit of kit meaning I did hardly any of the cooking and a better variety of meals eaten by all. EHU and camping fridge - revelation! No need to constantly shop and switch ice blocks.

Now to start thinking about where next! Croatia? Greece? Any recommendations near great snorkelling?

@Justalittlebitfurther we were the same- it's huge and each little site has its merits and downsides. I did go for wanders around to look at potential future visits too- took me 3 times!

If you have a look at the map, we went for Lindenveld which is in the top right. These looked bigger on the map and I would say they were here. I also wanted something quite far away from the theme parc as I thought it would be quieter which it was but a lot of family groups also tend to go for this area. The shower block could have been nearer (3 mins) and it was a bit of a trek to the park (5 mins) but our DC are 9 plus so managed ok.

Areas like the Middenveld and Eiland are popular, they have water on pitches for caravans but they are a little too cramped together and parts of Eiland is on a bit of a thoroughfare which I wouldn't like. Some areas are also quite far from the shower and loo blocks.

I thought the naturekamp looked good, although there was no covered washing up here (but a reasonable shower block), Romantisch camp as well, and there were odd pitches I'd consider on Eiland.

We spent most of the summer moving house so no proper camping. Just a Scout camp in May in the Netherlands, DH had one in Belgium as well, and DDs had a few garden camps, including one for DD1s 8th birthday party.

We might manage to squeeze a weekend in yet.

New Acquisitions... A tripod and pot for cooking over the fire and 2 more tents- unwanted equipment from a closing scout group.

We now have 5 tents. There is 4 of us.

We camped near St Austell this year.
It was a lovely small-ish basic-ish site.
I was pleasantly surprised by it not being full of people.

If the weather is OK I would quite like to sneak in a few nights locally in a smaller tent.

@badger21 we’ve been looking at Cadacs for when we go away in trailer tent. Which one do you have? I like the sound of all on one plate.
We went to La Rive campsite in France, we didn’t camp but may do next year. Amazing campsite. Fab pool and next to a lake. Busy but fun!

And @badger21 your holiday sounds lovely. We went to Moustier pre children, very quaint and we still talk about it now.

Stayed in UK and did one week camp only due to time and money on home improvements. A week in The Lizard at Little Trevothan. Could have done with more space between pitches because most people had massive tents. Was well maintained with clean shower blocks. Good kids play area and sports field, free BBQs and fire pits to borrow. Busy but quiet after 10.00. Recommended.

No new buys this year but planning on splurging on expensive SIMs next year as I’m mid forties and getting aches and pains.

@sepsisandAKI We have a Cadac Safari Chef2, and it’s great. Bbq everything ... but also toasting bagels, heating ready made galettes (fab with honey) and waffles, warming tortillas etc, and small pizzas on a pizza stone.

It’s quite a big thing to fit in the car (compared to the two tiny gas stoves we’ve been used to), but definitely worth it for variety.

Holiday was fab - can’t beat the camping life.

Just got back from 2 weeks in camping du letty in Brittany. Was beautiful weather and site was brilliant. Have been there several times before and never had a bad holiday ignoring the time ex husband came.

We did 8 nights at Trewethett Farm nr Tintagel, Cornwall, staying in my parent's golfing camper. Lovely site!

Have just got back from 3 nights at Henlow Bridge lakes which is a fab site for families with loads to do. It was just me and my Son and he ran off while I spent the day reading inbetween animal petting and goat walking!

We did a 'bring your own' weekend where we took at tent but all the kitchen stuff plus a picnic table was provided at Cwn Ty Coed near Carmarthen. Beautiful site and great to just pack the tent and go for a weekend. Firepit and logs included. I really can't recommend it highly enough!

Also did a weekend at Apple wood Country Park in Norfolk which had the best shower block I've ever seen in the UK (and only beaten by Park Albatross abroad!) Nice site, but bigger than we'd usually use.

Then a 10 day stay in Cornwall. Stayed at Keneggy Cove site near Marizion. Beautiful, quiet site with access to a beach which is near deserted even in August!

No new purchases this year. We need a new tent for next year so looking forward to researching that (saddo that I am!)

Ooh, those showers at Applewood do look good! And it's not too far from where we live, so I'll bear that sit in mind for the future...

We only had one trip this summer - to Sacrewell, near Peterborough. Amazingly, there were a couple of days where we had the entire bottom field to ourselves, and the rest of the time it was extremely quiet (mid-August). The DCs (6 and 8) liked being able to visit the farm and the play barn every day, and we did some mild sightseeing (including nearly a whole day on the Nene Valley Railway, which is highly recommended). As I said on another thread, we've just bought a huge new tent, so I've booked 2 nights (mid-September) at a very local campsite (2 miles from our house!) so we can test it out. My parents are coming too (as it's my birthday) but staying in a Hobbit Hut rather than camping

I bought a tent.
That's it.
Haven't even got it up in the garden.

We went to France. Our first time camping abroad. It was brilliant. Weather was pretty crap. The campsite was lovely, very clean, friendly staff, good area. I wish we had taken our tiny Dyson or a dustpan and brush because the grass getting in the tent is really annoying! Also I would book earlier next time and get the ferry closer to avoid the long drive.

We only managed a few days in North Wales this year. We also have a static caravan in Wales so our loyalties were split. We need to retire!

The only new equipment we used was a portable solar power setup that I put together. Worked like a charm so no need for electric hook ups. Our fridge runs on gas and can make ice too.

We’ve camped at a small local festival (Nottinghamshire) this year as well as Rutland and Carmarthenshire. I’d thoroughly recommend the wales site we stayed on: www.cowpotscamping.co.uk/ it is such a beautiful site in a lovely area.

We camped for two weeks in France in August in camping les chesnays montalivet, airotel pyrenees in luz st sauveur and les granges near sarlat in the dordogne. All very different but lovely.

We also did a weekend in the new forest at Bill's.

Our tent roof ripped open this year when dh smacked a horsefly (it is 8 years old) so I'm eying up tents for next year although dh reckons we can use a tarp for a few years yet.

Did lots of camping this year. Quite a bit with Guides (3 times for our sins!)
Just back from a couple of days in the south Lakes/Lancashire coast overlooking Morecambe Bay. Nice site with excellent cafe.
My camping revelation has been using a sleeping bag liner.

My camping revelation has been using a sleeping bag liner

I hate those with a passion! I get all tangled up in the night and end up having a panic attack.

I love mine. Nice and cosy!

Then I'm guessing that it isn't one of those YHA approved cotton ones.

Thinking back, I used to have a fibre-pile one that added an extra layer of delightfullness to my Mountain Equipment down sleeping bag. Long gone but not forgotten.

@RottnestFerry, can you give any more details about your solar power setup, please? We've never had EHU, and generally manage ok, but I've recently been googling solar chargers and power banks and am generally on the lookout for some sort of power source!