Mumsnet Camp Site Reviews 2007 - where have you been camping and how was it for you?!!!

[Kbear]

I went to East Fleet Farm near Weymouth. Nice enough site, if you like straight lines. Play area for kids but no grass area for them to play on which I thought was weird. DS a bit young to ride round the roads on his bike. A bit too built up for me. Fab new shower block in the Stable Field with family rooms. It was quiet at night and there is a nice pub at the top end of the site so you can relax and have a meal or a drink in the evening. Good shop, pleasant helpful staff.

Last month went to Kessingland Caravan and Camping Club Site. Safari Park next door which was good. Immaculately clean loos and showers. Very tidy! Bit too tidy, if that's possible!!!

ohhhhhhhhh I was going to do this, you beat me to it.

Valley View campsite, Blackwater near porthtowan Cornwall. Cheap site, only £10 per night per pitch, considering the price it was very well run, very tidy, with clean toilets and showers which were brand new and well maintained. It also had a 'utility' static caravan that could eb used to wash up, freeze ice packs (and wine ), charge electric goods, change babies, or just to sit in when the weather got bad.
Not the most picturesque of campsites, and you can hear both the A30 and the trainline in the distance, but a great base for exploring Cornwall, half way between st ives and newquay with falmouth, Lands end, Penzance, The eden project, truro, Bodmin and The lizard all within reach for good days out.
All in all excellent value for money, we will certainly go again.

We have done other camping trips but at festival type do's so nothing to report really

Pentewan- overall well worth it if you like the commercial sites, plenty of good quality, clean facillities, beach, 3 play areas, pool- if anyone fancies it you have to book in November to get a seafront pitch, but later OK for others.

C&CC St davids- like your pitches edged with abrbed wire and 'WARNING: Danger of death' signs? No? fancy a 2 field walk to the 2 loos? No? Skip it then .

C&CC Mendip- basic, but nice. Park, space, all very acceptable.

Cheddar broadway house- has been improved so even better than before, fab new small kids area with sandpit to add to the best-ever adventure playgound. Hugely recommended.

Holsmey- nasty concrete. Did nothing for us.

Christchurch, Forest of Dean (forest holidays). have been 3 times, considering our own pitch next year. Nuff said LOL

This year we've been to:

Mandale House near Bakewell. Nice enough campsite, good views, cheap. No fixed pitches (which we prefer), site was apparently fully booked when we went but not at all crowded. Showers & toilets were OK if a bit wet and muddy, though the weather was atrocious so to be expected really. Big sinks for washing-up, but no hot water, which was a bit of a pain. Very exposed though and we ended up packing up & coming home 2 days early as we didn't think the tent would stand it.

Trevornick (Holywell Bay, Cornwall). Bit on the expensive side... and we had to pay for 7 nights though we only wanted 6, as they had a minimum stay of a week.

Plenty of showers & toilets, never had to queue, despite the sheer size of the place. Showers 20p (I thought you got a decent shower for that, though DP said he had to put 2 x 20p in the men's to get any hot water? Family bathrooms were excellent, 50p for a bath, only drawback was no shower in there, so remember to take a jug or something to rinse hair!

Lots to do on site, golf course, fishing, pool & toddler pool, clubhouse (if you like that sort of thing. We didn't go in so can't really comment). Good on-site shop, but be prepared to queue!

15-minute walk to the beach across the golf course & sand dunes (maybe less without littlies...), beach itself is lovely and not overcrowded.

Downsides

• a bit too big and Haven-like than we would usually go for, though the kids loved it.
• the cost - it was a fair bit more than we would usually pay, though if you make use of all the facilities, it's worth it.
• too many rowdy large groups up till all hours
• VERY sloping pitches! Though we were in the overflow field and not much room left when we arrived, so not the best pitch. Could see the sea from our pitch though, and would rather be up there than right in the throng of it all!

We will probably go back though, as the location is good and we loved Holywell Bay

River Dart Country Park (Ashburton, Devon)

Loved it Huge site again, but didn't feel in the slightest bit crowded. We were in the overflow field, good pitches, we were camped under some trees right next to the river.

Showers were free, took a while to get hot, but did the job. Family / disabled bathroom, no bath, but you could move the shower head, so slightly better than standard showers for the kids. Good washing up facilities (with dish drainers!). Utility room in showerblock with washer, dryer, sink & freezer for iceblocks or water.

Adventure playground is fantastic. Lots of other slides & things dotted around the site. Pirate ship & toddler beach which my 2 loved. Lots of activities for older kids (canoeing, abseiling, high ropes, etc.) - we've bookmarked this one for when the kids are a bit older too.

Would definitely recommend it - weather was lousy all week, but we still had a great time. Lots to see & do within about 1/2 hours drive. Far enough from the coast for us to avoid the winds!

That was a bit longer than I intended. Oops

This is going to be our ultimate guide for next year with all this info!!! C'mon campers, let's ave ya.

Tristram Polzeath Cornwall. Not the huge field in middle of nowhere that we usually go for but:

Good - Perfect for the beach and coastal path walks. Great for surfers. Easy walk to shops, cafes and cash points. Beautiful views of sunset and we saw dolphins. Clean loos and showers. Plenty of washing up space. Clean site. Lots of families so lots of other kids for yours to play with.

Not so Good - Expensive and still had to pay for showers (50p for about 5 mins). Washing machine was £4.00!!! And only small. Crowded - first time we'd been in August and we were packed in tight - not as bad as I thought though as was fairly quiet (Apart from sea and wind)from 11.00pm. Steep site but most pitches were fairly level.

The Camping and caravanning club site at Folkestone Warren.

Quiet. As near the sea as you can get. Clean showers. Near to lots of good stuff to do. Only 30 minutes from where we live so it's easy to go home if we've forgotten something vital.

BUT. You really need a car - and there's no pub or restaurant in easy walking distance.

Ok I don't do straight line, manicured pitch camping. Here is part 1 of my reviews, back later when have taught fillyboy to ride a bike.

smallfarms three cocks, powys (about 15 minutes from abergavenny)

Ok am going to let you all into my secret favourite campsite BUT you must NOT all come at once.

You camp in an orchard (plenty of space not under trees for tents), with views of the Black mountains. There is an organic farm shop, selling pretty much everything-fruit, veg, cheese, milk, eggs and meat (no fish), fresh from the farm. Also bascis-pasta and sauce, QUALITY chocolate . They make very nice cakes and coffee/tea and sandwiches. The coffee is GOOD. There IS a tiny playground thingy, thoughtfully placed beside the cafe.

There is a proper stream a shortish walk away where kids can paddle and build dams and you can skim stones (lots of stone)-its like those rivers in the south of france. There are also things like otters and kingfishers there.

Can't think of any downsides really. Its the best campsite I've ever been to. oh and you can have campfires. Am not sure about caravans, tbh-have never seen one there.

britchcombe farm in uffington

basically a series of big fields with portaloos. You are allowed fires, your host marcella provides firewood. Suggest you don't use the plastic rope supplied as a fire lighter though. In sight of the white horse, lots of wildlife. Absolutely bugger all facilities really, hot showers allegedly between about 7 and 7.07 am.

Thing I found hardest was that, unless you are in the tiny field next to the house, you are expected to walk either across or along a b road to get to the farm with the alleged hot showers, also washing up block etc.

Good local pubs.

abbey home farm , cirencester

on site of large organic farm, with large shope (not open sundays). Good reviews in grauniad, not really sure why. proper green field camping in a bloody tiny field-smallest I've seen. Quite a few nettles, no space for kids to play really if campsite full. There is a nice copse and some compost toilets, and a communal campfire, but really, with young kids, I'd give it a miss. Use the shop and camp nearby.

Sounds blissful!

This is from last year (have put it on the campsite reviews in the reviews section here, but this still doesn't seem to be accessible to people looking) -

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Peninsula

Spectacular hilltop campsite overlooking beautiful beach. Just could not be more lovely. But nowhere in any of the info did I find mention of the heart-stoppingly vertical path down to the beach, I mean it is a VERTICAL path/cliff which leads straight from the site, and we were there with ds at 2.5 who was still not completely reliable in coming back when called, especially when mega-excited because camping. There is an easier path but it takes ages - a lovely all-day excursion, really.

So if you are a fit family with children of ?over 5 or 6 who don't whinge too much when faced with a long climb at the end of the day, it could be your place. Nice shop, pleasant shower/loo cubicle, laundry room. Two areas, clifftop and field; would recommend field as clifftop VERY windy but not much view from field.

Westermill Farm in Exford is a working farm. The camping fields lie along the river Exe and it is a really beautiful site. Its very basic and the shop is only open for 2 hours a day. There is no electric hookup but they are quite happy to charge batteries, phones etc. There is no playing area but plenty of space to run around and 3 of the 4 camping fields are open to the river so you can camp right on the bank if you want. Lovely walks around the farm. This is definitely my favorite site.

Southlands on the Isle of wight is a really nice site. Large level pitches sepertated by hedges and each pitch has its own EHU and water point. A small shop and absolutely fantastic shower and toilet facilites. They have a small play area and a lrge sloping meadow for walking.

at kbear

second bracelands/christchurch, mainly for space and walks, and also three cliffs. My kids are 2 and 3, no probs

Er Filly

tihird I think yu find

Imentiojned christchurch forst

mere hangers on.......

Ripley caravan park in North Yorks. One night. Clean and nice facilities, play park and footy type field. Indoor pool (very small but fun for kids) Not too crowded, nice and quiet (rigourous no noise after 10.30 rule). but scary caravanners looking down on us scummy campervans .Very noisy ducks on lake though

The Headland at Tintagel, Cornwall. Very friendly, nice little shop, showers 20p but hot and looonnng. Washing machines £2.50 (didn't bother) 5 minutes walk into village with numerous pubs, cafes etc. Sea views! Loads of space even in August and not in straight lines. Central play area (but at night teens hung out there and were a little noisy but only till around 11pm. Two toilet blocks, 2 washing up areas. Extra field for bigger groups. Very windy though, being on, er, The Headland! But was very windy everywhere at the time. Will deffo go again.

Hooks house farm Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorks.

Gorgeous little site with panaoramic sea views wherever you camp. 10 mins walk into village with pubs, shops, beach etc. Very popular so gets bit crowded in high summer. Family run very friendly and helpful. Very basic facilities but clean. Great spot for star watching as no light pollution!

A

Went to Burrowhayes farm North Somerset at half-term. That is a gorgeous place, family run, with excellent facilities. Hot showers any time of day or night with no fiddling about with coins or pushing a button every 30 seconds! Disabled shower/toilet too. Laundry room and pot wash, well-stocked shop with cakes from the tearooms down the road. There is a stream to paddle and build dams in and a riding stable on site. There are lovely walks literally on the doorstep and plenty to do in the surrounding area. Only downside, camping on a slope.

Have also been to Scott's farm, West Wittering a couple of weeks ago. This was a last minute choice for us and we went because there is no booking required. We were a bit dubious as we usually avoid the very big sites but were pleasantly surprised and will probably go back soon. It's a flat-rate per night arrangement and you pitch where you like so big tents aren't a problem and the whole site is lovely and flat. There is a well-fenced childrens' play area, a field where you can play ball games or fly kites (except at weekend when there were tents in there) and a separate field for dog walking. Showers were clean and hot and free although they had the dreaded constant button pushing, also washing up facilities and laundry. Reception sells emergency camping stuff like gas and tent pegs as well as ice (if you like a G&T!)and is open from 8.30am to 11pm with very friendly staff. They don't sell food etc because there are shops 10mins walk away that include a mini Tesco and Co-op as well as chippy etc so not really needed. A nice beach a few mins stroll away and a fantastic beach 10mins drive! For the size of the place it was quieter at night than I expected and we didn't feel crammed in either although it was busy due to the fact that we were in the 'family friendly' field.
Not the sort of site I'd recommend if you like waking up to a nice view but a convenient and well-run base if you want a beach holiday and are going to be out most of the day anyway. One thing I will do next time is take some kind of over the door hook for the showers as it was almost impossible to keep your stuff dry with the one tiny hook supplied.

oh NO peachy am so

bracelands is a bit on the commercial side for me tbh but I do occasionally go there with newbie friends who oddly object to wiping their ar$es on holly.

Hardhurst Farm - Hope, Derbyshire

Pitch where you like, lots of space for kids to run round - pub serves food 2 minute walk. Cheap and cheerful.
Showers / toilets not the best but do the job, bit of road / train / sheep noise, but no light pollution so saw great meteor shower. We really enjoyed it.

Hardhurst Farm - Hope Derbyshire

Pitch where you like, lots of space for kids to run round - pub serves food 2 minute walk. Cheap and cheerful.
Showers / toilets not the best but do the job, bit of road / train / sheep noise, but no light pollution so saw great meteor shower. We really enjoyed it.

Recently stayed in a campsite ten minutes from Brighton Marina,(forgotten name off top of my head).Was extremely nice, with ultra clean showers,toilets. Only a ten minute walk to the Marina and then hop on the wee train that takes five minutes to the pier. Only downside is that it was a tad on the expensive side but would deffo go again!
WONDERFUL!

we also went to east fleet farm - ok, but I won't go back in August - can't fault the set up, well run, v orderly etc but full of windbreak-loving-tent-village-making families who couldn't/wouldn't control their kids

However, fab showers, good shop, lovely setting, DTs had a fab time and we got the weather just right too

We will not camp on big pikey sites ever again (in this country!)

Have also been to Camping Fabulous near Rome which is not v fabulous really. The Italians could teach us a thing or 2 about tent villages though - amazing semi permanent set ups!

Ten out of ten for your Mumsnet name-IMF!!! Hilarious!!!

Castlerigg Farm, Keswick - lovely scenery - clean facilities, no noise after 10.30 (enforced!). Did get charged a flat rate of £20 for our 8 man monster tent whch wasn't on their website but we still enjoyed it

Dropinthe, do you mean Sheepcote Valley?