We bought a tent yesterday - where shall we go?

[PrettyCandles]

OMG what was I thinking of? It was all my idea "let's buy a family-size tent and take the children camping. It'll be fun, an adventure." But I hate camping! Breaking my back crawling around, trying to get dressed without standing up, midges in your food, and (oh, horror of horrors) those hideous communal concrete showers and loos.

Dh has been persuaded that we should try a 2-night camp before going off on a summer holiday camp. So, where can we go within an hour or so drive from London, with decent showers and loos? And either close to nice things to do with a 2yo and a 4yo, or else with nice things on-site.

There's a current thread I think where people are talking about camping in France? Is that a good idea for camping virgins? Any suggestions?

Thanks

(What have I got myself into?)

[PrettyCandles]

Just came back from 2 nights at Hurley Riverside Park and I can highly recommend it - thanks, Amynnixmum. It's made up of several camping fields separated by bits of fencing, shrubberies and small trees, with the roadways in between, so there is minimal car movement around the tents themselves. Which made for a lovely big fairly safe green space for the children to play in and make friends with others. Decent showers, loos, dishwashing etc - though the shower cubicles are tiny and very tricky to manage with little children, and they're too hot for me, though dh found them fine. Very nice area, nice walking along the Thames, generally very nice.

It rained from 2 hours after we put the tent up to 1 hour before we took the tent down, with a brief and very convenient break on Sunday night for our BBQ. I ripped the seat of my last remaining pair of jeans while putting the tent up and have 4 screamingly itchy insect bites on my ankles and back. I barely slept the first night because the sound of the rain was so strong that I kept dreaming that the tent was leaking and getting up to check, and not on the second night either because I had a tummy bug and was really worried that I wouldn't make it to the toilet block in time (I did!). And we forgot to bring shower gel so I had to wash in Fairy Liquid. But all told, we had a nice time and would do it again. Crazy or what?

[amynnixmum]

The New Forest is great but it'll probably take you more than 2 hours to get there at the weekend.

We've just been to Hurley Riverside Park which is close to Henley. Its only 10 minutes from the M4 but you wouldn't know it. It is beautiful there and close to the Thames too. Not much on site though so you may want somewhere with more facitilities for your first time.

My sis says there is a park in Henley which might be more what you are looking for.

[Janh]

I was visualising some extreme form of highland dancing! (Must be thinking of taliskers?)

It looks just right, arwen, have you booked?

[arwen]

Hmm, on further investigation you have to be a member of the camping and caravanning club to stay there which is £35. Maybe not worth it in case this the only time we ever go. Back to the drawing board

[arwen]

obviously that should read talking in case you wondered what new olympic sport I was describing...

[arwen]

Thanks Janh, that link was great.hillside camping sounds perfect. Only 14 tent pitches and a massive open space in the middle for the children to roam around. as we want to hang about by the tents, not go on day trips (it's only for one w/e and we all live within 15 miles) all being in rows would be a nightmare. I also love the fact it's taliking only after 9pm and no clubhouse!!!

[misdee]

we'll i have now arrived to take mine to great yarmouth for the weekend.

[Fio2]

me and my friend are meeting at sandy balls

please dont type it into google

[Janh]

I think most of the New Forest isn't actually forest, arwen - it's sort of heath-ish (I'm a renowned geographer you know!)

(Basing this on a couple of trips there about 30 years ago so don't quote me!)

New Forest campsites

[Blu]

Wellington Park is meant to be great - v good facilities, lots for children to do - it's a 'country park' near the Thames, near Reading, I think.

[misdee]

mine is up in the back garden atm to keep dd2 quiet. she is pretending to be on holiday.

[Oliviab]

Perfect timing this thread, I too am awaiting delivery of my new tent and am wondering what on earth got into me. Plan was not to do it until next year when ds is walking but I can't resist an Ebay bargain.
We may just take dd to Sandy Balls to try it out as we live very near.

[arwen]

are there any sites to avoid in the new forest? There are about 6 families that want to give it a go but we want to be close to home and the forest is perfect. As we will be a large group all with tiny's we need somewhere with lots of open space not just forest so they can meander and we don't have to spend the entire time chasing them....Also want good toilet facilities Any suggestions appreciated

[happymerryberries]

we went just outside of bournemouth for 4 days and had a great time. off to france in the summer holiday for 2 weeks. all in it will cost us less than 700 ukp for the 4 of us!

[PrettyCandles]

What are the Rock and the Saracen's Head?

[Milliways]

Thanks Jan

[Janh]

campsites in or around West Wittering

[Janh]

Nunnington Farm, West Wittering

[Milliways]

Sounds Fun.

Dinny - do you have details of the West Wittering site, that is a beach we go to for day trips so wouyld like to camp there!

[dinny]

West Whittering is supposed to be great for camping, PrettyCandles...and not too far from London.

[Milliways]

Have you done the Sculpture Trail? My kids were dying with laughter at some of the sculptures, and we got lost & missed the best ones! They also love walking down to the "wobbly" suspension bridge, straight from the site. We are going again first weekend in August.