Beachy Campsite Recommendations (By train from London)

[allinor]

My oldest is looking to go camping in August with her friends and they really want somewhere near a beach (she forgot to renew her passport so there's no international travel or international beaches for her this summer). We and one of her mates live in London and there's one in Essex and one in Cambridge so I think somewhere southeast would be good. The real challenge is that none of them drive so it'd need to be a campsite within a mile of a beach and probably about 10 of a train station.

Also if anyone has any recommendations for a small inflatable sleeping mat for under £50 she'd appreciate that. I've told her she can borrow any of my camping equipment but it's a bit bulky since she's not driving plus she wants her own stuff for when she's back at uni.

Thanks! :)

what seasons is the camping mat for, just summer?

Train to new forest ( brockenhurst - no beaches but streams) or stay on train to weymouth

@pendleflyer I imagine so

In which case I would recommend this - I have one.

https://alpkit.com/products/numo

Can't be used in colder months as there is no insulation.
which you need of course as you get cold from the ground.
I have used it in a mild October camp and was fine, but it's essentially summer.
If you feel like spending more, one of those USB inflators is handy.

Alpkit do online but also several shops where you can check things out.

PS -any way this trip could be in early september?
campsites are going to be very crowded in August, maybe less tolerant of youngsters.

@pendleflyer She'll be moving house then and one of the lads has already graduated so the plan is to go asap after their next paychecks. I really appreciate the recommendation and will be sure to pass it along.

I was going to suggest the Norfolk or Suffolk coast- Cromer, Great Yarmouth, Lowerstoft, Southwold etc as not TOO far from any of them. Aug will be busy and expensive though. I'd check the train lines and where they stop. Sometimes a camping place is cheaper if its away from a main town. They'd need to check there was enough to do and places to buy food etc though.

If there are several of them though, they might be able to get a static caravan at a reasonable price- rather than carrying all the camping equipment. Easier to cook in a van, no wandering to a toilet block at night and you are covered if it rains!

@CC4712 Thanks for the suggestion! They were leaning towards Norfolk as they go to the Norwich unis so they're somewhat familiar.

Dymchurch has quite a few campsites that friends have used ( I don’t camp ) and there is a station

Sometimes a camping place is cheaper if its away from a main town. They'd need to check there was enough to do and places to buy food etc though.

What I meant, but didn't explain well, was that there are other coastal towns, along the train line, which might be cheaper than the larger towns of Cromer/Great Yarmouth etc. Gorleston on sea or Sheringham for example.

Kent coast is quite accessible by train ...Hampton Bay, nethergong, even the Folkestone camping and caravan club can be done by train.

Large branches of Asda have cheap stuff

Er, the station at Dymchurch is the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, which I love, but a teeny tiny miniature steam train may not be her thing.

If you think Kent might be the way to go, take a look at Little Switzerland or the camping and caravan club in Folkestone. They will be able to walk to the Harbour Arm and restaurants and have a good time.