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Camping

The perfect camp site....

36 replies

Tiredandtorn · 08/08/2021 11:38

Hi,

We've only recently go into camping as a family and would love any recommendations for great family camp sites.

We don't mind not having EHU

We like a quiet site

Don't need or want evening entertainment- just a take away and little shop

A heated pool and kids play ground is a must and near the beach or a lovely lake is a bonus!

Happy to travel around the UK, any recommendations of little hidden jems would be great, thank you in advance 😊

OP posts:
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Doyoumind · 08/08/2021 11:42

Unfortunately a heated pool and a quiet site don't go hand in hand. Most sites don't have pools anyway. Those that do attract families and tend to be in high traffic tourist spots.

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SquirryTheSquirrel · 08/08/2021 11:49

We used to like Pentewan Sands in Cornwall, but we haven't been for donkey's years so not sure what it's like now. It fronts the beach directly, has a heated pool and a shop and there is, or was, a lovely pub next to the site.

It may not be as quiet as you'd like but I think you'll struggle to get the combination of the pool and a quiet site.

It's not dog-friendly (which is why we haven't been for years) but sadly our dog passed away during lockdown so we are thinking of going back next year.

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CoronaPeroni · 08/08/2021 12:07

Heathland Beach at Kessingland in Suffolk is an independent campsite with pool and play area. Not sure about a shop but has a bar. It's been quiet-ish when we've been, the pitches are large and discrete.

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CoronaPeroni · 08/08/2021 12:13

Homing Park in Whitstable, Kent was nice, not sure about shop. Pool, play area, bar, tennis. There will be very few sites with facilities that haven't got a large static contingent IME although the touring area will be separate.

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user1495884211 · 08/08/2021 12:25

The municipal campsite at Kirkwall, Orkney is a nice little site and right next to the leisure centre.

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MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting · 08/08/2021 12:35

We're at clippesby hall now.
Has a heated outside pool, 3 play parks, one of which is a zip line, no evening entertainment but does have a restaurant, take away and small shop. Quietness depends on where you pitch, last time we were on cedar lawn, this time in the heath which is much quieter and more private, its 10 minutes from beach, near a lake at nearest village in fleggburgh

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SuperSange · 08/08/2021 12:46

There's a little family run place in charmouth near Bridport with a small heated pool, play park and within 5 mins walk of the beach.

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SweatyBetty20 · 08/08/2021 12:54

I haven’t been yet but have heard good things about The Quiet Site in the Lake District. Unfortunately it keeps being featured in the Guardian so is very booked up and I can’t get in!

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justaweeone · 08/08/2021 14:25

The Doer House in Norfolk is nice

http://www.dowerhouse.co.uk/

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justaweeone · 08/08/2021 14:25

*Dower

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justaweeone · 08/08/2021 14:26
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NannyR · 08/08/2021 14:28

No heated pool, but one of my favourite sites is Low Wray near Windermere in the lakes. The woodland pitches are lovely and it's right next to the lake.

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CatCup · 08/08/2021 14:33

Kelling Heath.. busy and so many wasps in the summer

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justaweeone · 08/08/2021 14:39

Pool but not heated but very quiet nice little site

http://www.caravanparksnorfolk.co.uk/Touring/touring.html

Knettishall Heath is nearby and has a river running through it with a small 'pool' area
I wouldn't swim in it but teenage Ds does
Also Diss Mere is nearby which is in the middle of the town but very green and also has a children's play park

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/knettishallheath

And Southwold is just over 20 miles away if you want the Beach

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taybert · 08/08/2021 19:12

Low Wray is lovely but only for the woodland or lakeside pitches, the field pitches are pretty ordinary. It is busy but it never feels it as the pitches are all in small groups and we’ll spaced. There’s a couple of ply areas and whilst there’s no pool there is Lake Windermere!

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Tiredandtorn · 09/08/2021 04:49

Thanks all - some great suggestions here x

OP posts:
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ShaunaTheSheep · 09/08/2021 05:56

orchardsholidaypark.co.uk

Thus has an indoor and an outdoor pool. Haven't been for a while but it was quiet.

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AngelsWithSilverWings · 10/08/2021 13:03

Agree with recommendations for Heathland Beach , and Clippsby Hall. Both are lovely quiet sites.

My all time favourite is Tregarton Park in Cornwall. The outdoor pool is lovely and they serve lovely Gin and Tonics in the pool terrace area. You feel like you are in a nice hotel pool. The shop is great and the homemade takeaway food is excellent and very good value. This was the first site we went to where we decided that it wasn't worth cooking for ourselves when the campsite food was so good. We have been back twice since. Sites like this are very hard to find as usually a pool means the site is loud and busy.

The downside is you need to drive to the beaches but it's so worth it. The closest beach is Porth Luney which is stunning and you can drive and park almost on the beach. There are toilets and a trendy cafe bar that does amazing slow cooked pork and similar. I really hope it's still there as the food was delicious.

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Calgoose · 10/08/2021 19:23

Another vote for Clippesby! Not the cheapest but a lovely site. If you can possibly forgoe the pool then Fforest Fields in mid-Wales. You can swim in the lake! Both are popular and will get booked up in holidays but are still peaceful.

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coldwarenigma · 10/08/2021 20:09

Cofton at Dawlish has indoor and outdoor pools. It is a big site but lots to do to keep kids busy. As others have said pools come hand in hand with 'family' sites and by nature will be busier.

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ArtyFartyQueen · 10/08/2021 22:54

Check out Alpine Grove in Somerset. We went here a few weekends ago and it was fab. One of the best campsites we’ve been too 😊

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profpoopsnagle · 11/08/2021 08:37

River Dart in Devon might suit. It has lots of outdoor play areas, a lake with a pirate ship (take wetsuits and water guns), paid for activities like morning and a tree top trail. There is a shop and a restaurant-pub. It is busy, but spread out, there are quieter areas. It is popular, you will need to book soon for school holidays and expensive but that's because you have access to the site

If you're prepared to go abroad, look at Duinrell in the Netherlands, or start researching French sites!

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AngelsWithSilverWings · 11/08/2021 15:10

Duinrell is amazing - we've been twice but I could never describe it as quiet. Loud disco music all night every night coming from the camping field when we were there. No sign of wardens to keep an eye on things. Luckily we all had earplugs but even in a static caravan slightly away from the campers it was noisy - would hate to have been in a tent. It is a fantastic place for kids though.

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gogohm · 11/08/2021 15:31

Heated pools are never on quiet sites in my experience. If you like quiet I would look for somewhere inland a bit where you can drive to a pool

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custardbear · 11/08/2021 16:05

www.thorntons-holt.co.uk/

This is near me, been once and it was nice but pool was closed then as Covid times, looks like it's open again.

It's near a large village and small satellite town short drive with pubs and restaurants

Don't recall a shop but Cotgrave nearby has small supermarket and little shops pubs abs take away places deliver there, and west bridgford 10 mins drive or short bus ride and has all sorts - very cosmopolitan town.

It's near a country park, national watersports centre, canal walks, and Nottingham city about 20 mins drive, but it's still pretty rural

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