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

52 replies

Kbear · 24/08/2007 20:06

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!!!

OP posts:
marymoocow · 27/08/2007 20:35

we have just returned from our final camping trip for this year (in our first season of camping)

First trip was for weekend to lincoln farm park, Oxford.

Fantastic first site, and one which will be hard to live up to.

Second trip was Merley Court nr Poole for the first week of the school holidays.
Was a clean site, but facilities changed in between us booking in April, and us going in July. They removed the play area (condemmed), which is not good with 3 dc, and large ball area was closed off. Good base for sight seeing though.

Third trip was orchard park, nr Nottingham. Went to this one for a weekend (to visit the Robin Hood festival). Site lovely, owners really friendly and helpful. Lent us an extension lead for EHU. Was put in tent field which had loads of space, unlike the caravan area, which they were also putting some tents in.

Fourth, and last trip was to wooda farm park, Bude. We went here for 2 weeks, and had a fabulous time inspite of the gales and rain (tent next to us flooded because of flat groundsheet). We did decide we would like to be in the overflow field another time which did have some EHU, as there was far more space. Facilities fantastic (if you like outdoor sports). Dc played golf on a 9 hole pitch and putt, had a go at archery, and went fishing with dh.

Here's to next years round of camping - we have certainly got the bug for it now, and are more aware of the type of sites we would like to go to. Will be reading this with interest

hotcrossbunny · 28/08/2007 15:04

Just got back

Stayed a few nights visiting friends at Hollyfast campsite in Coventry. Wouldn't go back. They obviously dont encourage children. There is a very run down overgrown play area with fisher price plastic tat in it. No ball games, no running around, no having fun basically... the loos were good, hot clean showers and reasonably cheap, but.... no atmosphere. Silent by 8.30. Very boring

Then we went to a site near Great Yarmouth, Rose Farm in Belton. In the tiny sheltered bit you are really crammed in next to a sea of windbreak surrounded family groups and mixed in with caravans. Up the hill the wind whistles across the site. Its nice and relaxed up there, but we had to leave early because we thought the tent was going to be blown away. About 10 poor families came back to flat tents the manager is a bit of a cow really. When we went to get our deposit back she was on the phone to someone saying 'no, no rain here and its nice and calm' I felt like shouting into the phone to go somewhere else.

We ended up near Taunton at Cornish Farm. If you like order, uber clean and the sound of the M5 then its great. TBF they were really friendly, dd made loads of lovely friends, and we had a great time in the sun. It wa sjust a bit too perfect for us...

Off to one of the recommendations here this w/e hopefully!

oops...long...

Peachy · 28/08/2007 15:10

Marymoocow don't know how old your kids are, but when they're old enough consider the broadway house site in Cheddar if they're intoa ctivities, as they lay on loads- climbing wall on site, archery, caving - the lot!

marymoocow · 28/08/2007 17:16

thanks for the tip peachy. Definitly looking at going to that area soon. dc are 9, 7 and 4 atm. Sounds good. Will have a look

Peachy · 28/08/2007 17:31

Ah they'll like it then (mine are 7.5, 6 and 4)- there's a mahoosive adventure play area (and I do mean mahoosive- biggest I ever saw) which seems to suit most kids. the entertainment is basic but kid friendly- well the bloke who does it is a friend and a father of 5, so would be LOL

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 28/08/2007 17:48

Eweleaze near Weymouth - fantastic location, good atmpsphere. No marked pitches, plenty of space, campfires allowed, great organic lamb burgers at the shop. Downside is there is no noise policy and there was a lot of groups singing, guitars, etc until late at night. They couldn't freeze ice blocks for you either.

blondehelen · 28/08/2007 17:50

Just got back from Le Vieux Port in Messanges with eurocamp independent. Wouldn't go back. Packed in like sardines, poor facilities, (1 english toilet for 100 pitches.) Longer walk to the loo than I walk the kids to school at home. Kids club poor. Security on the gate but all the stuff for kids outside the gate, ie park and kids clubs.

Park advertised in brochure as 1000 pitches but actually 1500 and wouldn't be surprised if it was more as we were pitched on unnumbered pitch as were other.

Queue for bread, queue for toilet, queue for showers

queue queue farking queue

Rubbish

miljee · 28/08/2007 18:10

We go with 4 small boys + parents so we look for reasonably child friendly places. I need showers, WCs and pref washing up facilities! SO:

River Dart Country Park, Ashburton, Devon-

For all the reasons LittleFriendSusan states. Not the cheapest (but to call a spade a spade, no chav element, either), and the site we were given was a tad slopey (is that a word?) but the facilities were fine (not quite hot enough showers- try another block!). The big draw is the attached 'day park' (where people pay per day to visit, free to campers) right on the Dart- lots of rivulets, dams, pirate ships, big slides, wooden climbing structures etc. The beach at Bigbury is a 30 min drive away but one of the nicest I've been to, even in August! And of course, you get Dartmoor thrown in for free! We went 2 years ago (fab weather, remember THAT?) and would happily go again.

Seadown Caravan Park, Charmouth, Dorset

Smallish tent area (in an otherwise caravan park) but nicely tucked down in a 'V' shape of the river flood protection bank! Extremely well kept facilities. Short, lawned stroll to the fossil beach, an hour's walk along the beach to Lyme Regis and better swimming beaches (they've spent a LOT of money there!). Don't recall a playground as such but our boys (4 of, 5-8) played along the top of the flood defence bank and in the river shallows.

Sandy Balls, Fordingbridge, New Forest (in The Corn Field, Aug. only campsite)

Also recommended. Not perhaps the cheapest but see comment re River Dart! Good, clean facilities and a free indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Good playground. Well kept site with caravans, motor homes, statics, cabins, tents, the lot but most in their own hedged enclosures. Food on site overpriced, supermarket good, nearby pub (Fighting Cocks) excellent. Good forest walks can be made directly from the site.

Beetroot · 28/08/2007 18:11

another cheer for river dart

wheresthehamster · 28/08/2007 19:21

and another

brandnewhelsy · 28/08/2007 19:59

Fisherground in Eskdale, Cumbria - can't book, large, friendly, large pitches all with firepits (think that's what they're called). We were in the smaller field which is not as noisy as the big one in the middle. Showers ok (think we had to pay), boot drying cupboard, washing machines and dryers (I think), great play area (probably for older children rather than toddlers - raft pond with tyres in the middle, ropes to swing from trees, etc) and lots of hills for them to run up and down. Also has a stop on the Eskdale - Ravenglass railway on site. Nice and quiet after 10pm. No shop and had to drive about 2 miles to the nearest one which had lots of nice stuff but seemed really expensive. Loads of lovely places to walk and visit nearby. Would definitely go to that campsite again.

Treglisson, Hayle near Cornwall - don't actually want to list this one as it's the nicest campsite I've ever been to mainly because there are only about 30 pitches and I don't want it spoilt! It's got a lovely play area with sand and tyres in the middle so you can watch the children while you pitch tent/drink wine/cook. It was quiet by 10pm. Everyone very friendly. Had washing machine and dryers and a freezer. Toilets not too far away for anyone, a little hut with lots of tourist info, washing up area has extra things (bowls, teatowels, liquid) in case you forget something AND there's a new M and S about a mile away and there's a Costa Coffee for that fix. Perfect!
Proper family site, lovely owners, has a great B and B on site which my dad stayed in and he said it was the nicest breakfast he'd ever had. Area not too bad, could be closer to the sea but it's a short drive to Gwithian Sands, St. Ives (if you don't mind spending your life queueing to park) and others.

Rudding Park Harrogate - £25 a night! Huge, loads of caravans, very residential looking, very clean and manicured. Good facilities, all pitches have EHU, has a nice pub for a campsite, decent cheapish meals. Shop on site ok. We had to pay 20p a block for putting the ice in the freezer!
Toilets were very good, lots of electric points and decent hairdryers had a large parent and baby room and very large free showers with enough room to take two children in.
Not my cup of tea - too many large groups and stroppy teenagers hanging round when we were there, although security does drive round and will respond to complaints - but overall a good site.

WestCountryLass · 28/08/2007 20:54

Watermouth Cove, Coombe Martin, Devon:

A small rustic site that is next to a little harbour and has its own beach with caves and rockpools and had a view of Watermouth Castle. There was a swimming pool and a playground, we went the 2nd week of the holidays and the playground was still under water from the previous weeks rain, and a small bar and shop that sold crabbing bait but very poor selection of groceries (Tesco 5 minutes up the road).

The site was clean and friendly and in a lovely spot with unmarked pitches. However was advertised as a luxury holiday park and I feel this was stretching the trades description act!

Haven - Perran Sands, Perranporth Cornwall:

We booked to stay here as got a cut price deal online. Absolutely lovely local area, Perranporth with fab beach, lovely boating pond and mini-golf, there were sand dunes that the kids loved exploring and it was close to St Ives, we went to Marazion/St Michaels Mount one day which was very picturesque etc.

There was no hot water for 2 days. The showers were wet rooms with toilet style cubicles which had curtains inside and you hung your stuff on the one hook on the door. The wet rooms did not drain properly so you walked through other peoples water to get into the cubicles. There was no where dry to put your stuff. If you left your shoes on the floor they got wet. The showers were either too hot/cold and they were too powerful, it was like being showered by needles.

The baby changing facilities were dirty, the changers had poo on them and were not cleaned, some had the safety strap missings. There were only baby changing stations in the ladies facilities, not in the mens. There was no where to bath a baby and you could not shower them due to the temp issues and water pressure. The toilets were like visiting a nightclub toilets at the end of a busy night, stank of urine, toilet roll on the floors - grim, grim, grim!

The outside pool was not open while we were there, the main pool was freezing cold. The showers did not work in the pool changing rooms at all. The family change cubicle did not have a baby changing station in it. The baby changing cubicle did not have benches for other children in it.

The main 'precinct area' had parking bays down one side and a zebra crossing at the end. The parking bays obstructed the view of drivers from seeing small children at the crossing.

If it weren't for the fact the local area and beaches were lovely and we had some good days out I would have gone home as the actual camping facilities were awful. We did take the kids to a Spiderman show which they loved but we would not have missed the entertainment if it weren't there.

orangecat · 29/08/2007 20:58

Loves Lane Herts

Small site, owned by absolutely lovely farmer, wife and daughter.

Nice if you are looking for somewhere small - room for only 4 campers/caravans and 5 tents. Subsequently it has basic facilities, but is clean and well mantained.

Good walks nearby, zoos for kids and nice pubs in village of Ashwell.

Loving this thread. Come on, keep on adding

spudmasher · 29/08/2007 21:07

The Warren Folkestone.
Lovely position with amazing views.Short walk to a shingle beach.
Friendly staff.
Clean toilets and showers but not enough of them.
Busy.
Newly tarmaced paths.
Unfortunately whichever numpty who tarmced them also covered the drain so we woke up shin deep in water after a thunder storm and had to abandon our tent.
The campsite have said they will not provide us with photos to support our insurance claim for our tent(and all our stuff) even though we saw the warden taking pictures. And it would be no skin off their noses...(he was the one who told us about the tarmac)

Boycott it for the wet spuds...

crunchie · 29/08/2007 21:12

OK we have just got back from our French holiday

Stayed here for one night on the way down.
We have stayed before and loved it, and one second visit we loved it again. HUGE pitch (we have one tiny tent) nice friendlypeople, great pool and nice bar. EXCELLENT!! expensive though about 38E (but still cheaper than a hotel)

Then went to here in the dordogne
It was the best campsite we have stayed at. Again expensive, but brilliant. It rained A LOT for the first 5 days but our pitch was pretty good size - totally hedged off and if we had a smaller tent it would have been more room but our new tent is MASSIVE. However well maintained pitches, great pool, nice restaurant, good bar, canoeing from the campsite, friendly people etc etc

TBH I want to book again for next year, we are just looking at dates. If you want to camp in France THIS IS TEH SITE.

Good clean loos (OK unisex, but all english) Good showers - hot anytime, lotsof sinks for washing up/washing etc.

What can I say, but BRILLIANT SERIOUSLY If you go tpo France you couldn't do betterthan this place

TinyGang · 30/08/2007 11:33

We've just come back from East Fleet and really enjoyed it there. Will definately return, we liked the site. Very clean and well run by interested helpful staff.

Weymouth beach/ Chesil Beach and Lulworth Cove were gorgeous.

dustystar · 30/08/2007 11:36

spud
Name and shame them on ukcampsite

sandyballs · 30/08/2007 14:15

Went to Heathfield in E.Sussex in May - small site, but quite spacious pitches, no playground which my DDs were a bit upset about. Peed down with rain for two days and we went home early, vowing to e-bay all my camping gear .

Got over that and decided to try again during the first weekend of school hols in August so went to another small site nr Horsham in Sussex - Honeybridge Park. Great big playground which was visible from almost every pitch, so DD's were ecstatic and I hardly saw them, they just came back for food now and then .

Mid-August went to River Dart Country Park which I absolutely loved and will definitely go back for longer next year. Huge, huge adventure playground hidden in the woods, with pirate ship, lake, beach (as described below!). Nice bar/restaurant with small playground opposite. Loads to do around the area - Dartmouth was a big hit with the boat trips and also Blackpool Sands, a fabulous beach with crystal clear waters.

Cloudhopper · 30/08/2007 14:33

No-one has mentioned the New Forest yet?

The Forestry Commission have a number of sites there - we went to one called Roundhill.

Best thing is that there are no fixed pitches just acres of open space, trees and forest clearings. Right in the new forest, so ponies rambling aimlessly around. You choose your spot - great if in a group as there is oodles of room. Really nice for privacy and picturesque location.

Only downside is fairly basic facilities, no showers, just cubicles with sinks. We only stayed 2 nights so this didn't matter too much.

If you are a back to basics camper you will love it. Not many home comforts or kiddie facilities - I prefer this in a bizarre way.

miljee · 30/08/2007 15:11

Cloudhopper, don't you have to supply your own loo as well? I'd also heard that the company who have taken over the running of the NF camp sites has upped the prices dramatically? We live very near the NF so it'd be handy but these are a couple of impressions I have! Correct me if necessary!

dustystar · 30/08/2007 15:14

Roundhills have loos but some sites like Setthorns dont. And you are right prices have almost doubled this year Some really lovely sites though. We like Longbeech near Stony Cross but that is VERY basic - one temp toilet unit for whole site.

Cloudhopper · 31/08/2007 13:43

Oh - miljee and dustystar - I went for the first time this year, so didn't know the prices before. It cost us 33 for a large tent with two adults two children, for two nights. I suppose that is quite expensive considering the basic facilities they have - but ooooh the location was top notch.

Roundhill had toilets and cubicles with a sink where you could wash. Also had a dishwashing room and the usual chemical and rubbish disposal points.

If you like your camping a bit more 'off-piste' than 'Haven' then I would recommend.

Pabby · 01/09/2007 11:43

We've just come back from Wooda Campsite in Bude, Cornwall. Nice site although the pitches tend to be small and very smelly if they get wet! We lifted the ground-sheet one day and had to evacuate the tent due to the smell! Very picturesque setting and only about a 10min drive to Widemouth Beach for some good surfing and lots of rock pools. Nice bar and restaurant but got very very busy. Showers really clean and spacious.

Also had a week at Sandy Balls site in New Forest - again a beautiful setting. Two minutes walk and you're in the New Forest with the horses - bliss. Benefit of this site is that it has an awful lot to do on the site - river for fishing; indoor and outdoor pool and amusements for the kids. Lots to see nearby too. Would highly recommend both sites.

babycino · 09/09/2007 16:13

We stayed at Glan-y-mor campsite Caerfai bay .St Davids Pembrokeshire. It was awful the pitch originally offered was too small for tent (we have monty 6 - so accept isn't small but this would only have fitted a small 3 man tent + car). Eventually got offered another pitch ...next to the wind turbine so lovely hum as force 5/6 wind... which didn't drown out noise from v bad guitar playing/singing group til 2am but did stop me walking over to them as cold and too worried about tent blowing away.... toilets and showers v dirty and even after cleaning found tampon tubes on floor - well 2 yr old did.. only had hot water at odd times of day and when 'busy' not at all....no room for kids to run around either. Lovely area, St.Davids fantastic - would stay at Caerfai farm down the road or caerfai bay - but be prepared for wind....

Dottydot · 09/09/2007 17:44

We've just got back from Fieldhead Campsite in Edale here and I thought it was fab - but it's the only place I've been to so far so I've not got a lot to go on!

It's part of the peak district national park and has the visitors centre in it, so something indoors to look at - there's a fab waterfall on the roof - when it's cold. 5 small fields, a couple by a beautiful little stream. No cars allowed by the tents (so I chose the field right next to the car park!). Quiet, no playground but plenty to do - visitors centre, stream, sheep to chase etc. Fantastic views of the mountains, rangers on site checking everyone's OK. No campfires allowed. Loos and showers were lovely and clean - lots of loo roll! Showers were 20p per minute. I definitely want to go back!