Camping, do you like it? If so please tell me why! Plus any suggestions about where to go (UK)?

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A friend has suggested we all go camping at some point in the summer holidays with her children (8,7,2), mine (7, 18mos) and my dp. Ds loves the idea, I like the idea of the seaside and buckets and spades and country walks but I'm not so sure about being uncomfortable sleeping, lack of a loo (toilet blocks, the idea mades me shudder!), sleeping in a field etc. So, those who like it, why?

If we do go we'll probably go to Dorset or Devon, not far, just near a beach. Anyone know of any farm type camp sites, i.e. NOT with club rooms, nasty entertainers and all that stuff. If we go I'd like the simple camping experience of my childhood. TIA for any suggestions.

Hello www. We've been a few times. we go to a place called Big Meadow (or could be little meadow lol cant remember whichj one!) in Devon (just outside Ilfracombe) It's literally just a campsite with a little tiny shop, the toilet/shower/laundry block (which is very nice and clean but i still hate them with a passion!!) It has a little stream running through with a big old tree swing over it and lots of ducks! If you walk threough a little alley there's a lovely country pub It's really nice and makes sleeping in a field a bit more bearable!!

Make sure you have a nice blow up bed, dont sleep literally on the floor - we did that once and God it hurt in the morning!

We go camping most years and its great fun the kids have loads of freedom and love it! I agree about the toilet blocks but if you choose a smaller campsite it's not too bad. There are campsites in France that each pitch has its own loo and shower which is great! Closer to home the Inside Park at Blandford Forum in Dorset is great and fab for the kids.

Oooh, www, you are brave!

North Morte Farm has been recommended here before (we haven't been though).

coddy recommended one in Dorset to me last year although we didn't go in the end, I'll try ot find that for you too.

I loved it when I was child free and lived in a place where it hardly ever rained and the summers were warm.

did it in my youth and when the kids were small - loved it - such a laugh - and the kids think its ace to sleep in a tent and cook outside.

sod fancy hair-dos - get under canvass and have a ball!

The freedom. we are converts, have gone in caravans up till this year and the kids have more freedom and love it.

Sites in France are first rate with wonderful facilites, better than most hotels.

Ty Mawr campsite, on the Lleyn Peninsula in Wales. * miles away from Abersoch, totally unspoiled, BEAUTIFUL clean beaches, good fishing if you like mackerel, rock pools ets. Check out Penlech beach, tiny and golden, short coastal walk from a little cove full of red and yellow shells.

I loved my holidays there as a child!

We did it for the first (and, as yet, only) time last year. Spent a fortune on tent etc and it was incredibly uncomfortable and cold, I also got lost when had to go for a pee in the middle of the night - couldn't find my way back to the tent. It literally took me nearly an hour, by which time I needed another pee. BUT the girls adored it and we are planning to go again this year. Will definitely be getting a blow up bed thingy and peeing in fields.

Chideock, Bridport . Looks a bit bigger, going by the size of the shop, but nothing too fancy.

I can't say hand-on-heart that I like camping (and I loathe toilet blocks), but the kids always love it, there is loads of space for running around (we don't have a garden) and usually other kids to play with even if you don't take your own friends along, and it's a nice chilled atmosphere. Just another of those maternal sacrifices.

Oh, and it's cheap!

There is a company that does tipi holidays in Cornwall www!
Ds and dh are going on a "dads and sons" weekend later on this summer (suits me just fine ) and if ds is bitten by the bug, then I think we might be tempted too. The loo thing is a big issue for me...I remember giant daddy long legs in the toilet blocks of my childhood holidays [shudder]

I think the reason I like it so much has something to do with it being so totally different from my normal London life. I love not having to take responsibility for a house and its contents, not having to cook proper meals, not having to get dressed properly, not having the option to turn on the TV. It also gives children an enormous amount of freedeom, particularly as they get older.

We try and make it comfortable by using matresses, duvets and pillows etc and I tend to sleep better than I do at home. Last year we rented a cottage and I didn't like it anywhere near as much as camping.

Comfy airbeds are essential - and lots of pillows, duvets etc. Dh bought me a tent for my birthday last year cos I wanted to take the children camping (dd's idea). Dh and I used to camp before we had children but he doesn't fancy it any longer. We finished up with our own toilet and toilet tent and even a portable shower so didn't have to use yukky public toilet blocks. I wish we still had them. I think the whole experience feels like 'playing outside' and just the thought of it makes me feel happy and smiley!! Can't wait for the summer hols!

I love camping too. Its the only way we go on hols as I HATE hotels and stuff like. We dont have a car so do train and backpacks atm tho when dd is a bit older well prob get the bikes out again. facilities dont really bother me much and one of the best palces we camped was just outside Bath in a place called Rocks East woodland. No facilities at all but a lovely forest and near the town too. and there is a pub nearby too of course.
We bring two small tents with us and have bought really good sleeping bags so have never really been cold. In fact we often end up being too warm. Mind you the smaller the tent the more heat it keeps in.

Get those guest airbeds with a flock cover and a battery pump - old-fashioned rubberised cotton lilo type are crap.

girls, you've sold it to me and I didn't ask the question !!

DH mentioned camping the other day and I thought "no WAY" then, "hmm maybe", looked at tents in the Argos book last night and thought "okay then". Didn't want to spend hundreds of pounds to find out we hate it and it seems you don't have to.

Love it. only if sunny. keep phone number of comfy hotel handy if not.

best place to camp: Big Chill music festival

KBear, if you go to Eurocamp or similar you can hire a tent, so you can try before you buy. Not sure if you can do that in UK though

I've looked for Eurotents on google and they have them in Cornwall so presumably other places too. Cost almost as much as a caravan though - I'm sure buying our tent and paying per night for a pitch would still work out cheaper.

I'm quite excited at the propect although expecting a degree of hilarity and disaster! Last time DH and went camping we borrowed a tent which took four hours to put up, we were surrounded by the professional (!) campers that have everything sussed and when we finished we realised the tent was inside out! They applauded us when we took it off and started again! LOL

OMG, I really didn't expect so many replies, but you've nearly convinced me, it sounds great! I like walking and the outdoors and no tv and cooking outside, oh yes. And we'll have friend and her children so can have lovely busy beach days. Thank you so much for all this.

Now, toilet blocks. I just can't do them. Is there anywhere where you get your own shower/loo cubicle? I just want to go to the loo and have a shower ALONE, I can't stand the thought of being in a service station type block arrangment, I just can't do it .

Durdle Door Caravan Park, now it does have a bar but no cheesy club nights or entertainment, just pints and pub grub.

www.lulworth.com/holiday/camping.htm

It is a really lovely location, just a stones throw from Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, magnisficent.

We love it there.

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www - what's the problem with big toilet and shower blocks? The bigger the better. The communal washing up blocks are my favourite though. The social hub of the campsite.