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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

just found out i'm a campsite snob. help me avoid further mistakes, please.

72 replies

noonar · 13/04/2009 21:58

just had a long weekend at a site in kent that was wrong in every possible way (the only thing rougher than the pitches was the other campers.)

can anyone recommend some peaceful sites with clean facilities in the south/ south east that are have pitches in a lovely scenic location with no riff- raff

OP posts:
Flutterbye · 13/04/2009 22:35

have you done a search on uk campsite with your criteria and looked at the reviews?

Lucycat · 13/04/2009 22:41

ahem me too! i totally agree with you and I am concerned that more and more people are going to see camping as a cheap option without realising that nylon is not sound proof!
Have a look at the best Of british website. There are some nice sites here, including our favourite Dornafield.
We've found that bigger sites with lots of 'attractions' tend to more rowdy as do sites by the coast.

good luck hunting...which site did you go to, c'mon warn us all

katiestar · 13/04/2009 22:56

We try and find a campsite that is small with as few facilities as possible (except toilets and showers of course !)They don't seem to appeal to the chavs as much (as well as being cheaper)!

Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:22

thanks all. yes i did look at the uk campsite reviews, and the main complaints seemed to be about portacabin loos and the pool being too small, which i thought that i could put up with.

trouble is, many of the reviews were ok- but i guess that if a scally is actually writing a review, then they are unlikely to comment on the calibre of the campers

agree about facilities. totally. i think that in my heart of heart i shouldve guessed that anywhere cheap with an entertainment programme was a no- no. but the forecast for this weekend was so dire that i didnt want to be stuck in a muddy field without any facilities.

can you believe that dh and i actually played bingo? at one point i was aware that i was actually sitting with my head in my hands as dh whispered 'how did we get here?'

it had been my intention to keep the entertainment a secret from my dds, but they found out about it from their new pals and we were doomed

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Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:23

the site did, however, provide some of the best opportunities for people watching that i've ever experienced

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poopscoop · 14/04/2009 09:25

noonar - please name and shame the campsite so others dont make the same mistake.

have you tried tanners farm, in marden, beautiful clean level site, large pitches, fab washing conditions, nature walks. No pool though. But if you are wanting a genteel campsite, this is one to try.

Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:37

poop, its called marliefarm- romney, kent.

OP posts:
poopscoop · 14/04/2009 09:38

yup been there!! thought it might be that one! We went in the overflow field so were out of the way from the main site, but could only stick it one night, Dreadful.

Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:39

tanner farm looks lovely.

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Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:42

we wouldve moved on, but it was our first time using campervan awning and it took us soooo long to put up. also, was easter weekend, so doubt we'd have got a pitch elsewhere.

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poopscoop · 14/04/2009 09:44

yes, tanner you would need to book in advance, as they limit the number of pitches unlike some sites where they grab every penny and have you pitching up all over the place like sardines.

helsbels4 · 14/04/2009 09:44

I always go on UK Campsite and read the reviews thoroughly and check out the website because I'm worried that we'll pick a naff site too.

I tend to choose small sites that don't have pool, clubhouse etc as I'm also a bit of a camping snob

Haven't really ventured Kent way yet but have been to a few in Sussex. Have you tried Blackberry Wood near Brighton? It has little glades in the wood where you camp and is very basic but beautiful and you can have your own campfire Does get very booked up though.

poopscoop · 14/04/2009 09:45

If you are camping in that area again, also avoid Park farm, Bodiam.

helsbels4 · 14/04/2009 09:53

Oh yes, I've heard that a campsite in Bodiam is dire! Is that the one with a picture of a castle on their website and it "looks" quite nice but when you read the reviews and hear from people who've been there, it's a different story!

Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:54

ah blackberry farm. trouble is, its only 20 mins from where we live, so maybe just a bit too close .

took us nearly 2 hrs to get to kent, which was a bit far tbh. however, i loved rye and camber sands and was totally intrigued by dungeness.

i think that location wise, west and mid sussex are our ideal spots. or new forest if we want a longish drive.( have been to holmsley- was lovely, as are other forestry commission sites, i believe).

OP posts:
Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:55

bodiam tip much appreciated. mightve chosen that one!

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Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 09:56

there is a book you can get called 'cool camping' maybe i should take a look.

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MegBusset · 14/04/2009 09:58

We go to Normans Bay a lot, tis very family-friendly and right by the beach, and quiet...

helsbels4 · 14/04/2009 10:00

You must be fairly near to me noonar! We have been to Brakes Coppice near Battle which is very small and was lovely and quiet when we went out of high season last year. Has a lovely Coppice at the back of the site which we all enjoyed walking through even though it was raining!

We quite fancy trying a newish site in Horam called Hidden Spring Valley (or something similar) and it's sited in a vineyard

Uk campsite has a fair few to try out.

poopscoop · 14/04/2009 10:00

There is one called Wowo near the ashdown forest which has good reviews. We pulled up there one day and it lookd realy nice, but spent30 min trying to find someone but nobody about, so left there and went on to Fairfield farm, near eastbourne which was ok. Also placed in the overflow field so away from the main campers. We don;t get involved in all the onsite entertainment though, it is not our thing. But we prefer to go for a walk and cook our meal and just relax and people watch!

poopscoop · 14/04/2009 10:01

Normans bay yes, a nice place, also brakes farm.

Original poster
noonar · 14/04/2009 10:04

hey, we've been to brakes coppice. only ever been to about 5 different sites. wickes farm, west wittering was good too. will look at wowo

yes hel, we must be close

thanks!

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messymissy · 14/04/2009 10:10

I know what you mean!!!! went to a few sites in kent that looked lovely, were lovely, till saturday night came and oh so many of the other campers decided to party all night with accompanied swearing and fighting until the police arrived!!! and yuk yuk yuk how some people leave the communal showers...oh dear!!!

Can';t recommend one in kent, but only a couple hours drive into norfolk there is a great site, really well equipped - big spaces so plenty of room between tents and the shower blocks cleaned frequently.

its called .... Clippesby Hall

www.clippesby.com

well worth the drive.

oh and watch out for sites that look good and have spaces in the summer holidays (most good sites are booked up by easter) We took a chance on one only to find out when we got there that it was on the Gatwick flight path ...we did not even finish pitching the tent and went on somewhere else, the noise was horrendous!!

Millimat · 14/04/2009 10:31

Wow that oringinal thread could have been me writing it! What a relief to find I am not on my own! Just posted a thread for sites on the south coast so will look at these recommendations too.

helsbels4 · 14/04/2009 10:56

Clippesby Hall!!! I spotted that on UK campsited and am desperately trying to convince dh that it's a really good idea to travel four hours to it!!!

Isn't that the one with all the different little areas?

I also read about a great looking children's attraction nearby in the woods but I can't think what it's called!