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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

So where is everyone off to?

101 replies

Birdistheword · 22/03/2010 10:28

Am so happy to have found this topic

I'm off for a (child and DP free) camping weekend with my friends in about 6 weeks. I really can't wait!

Am also hoping to take 18mo DD on her first camping trip later in the year. Not sure whether to do a long weekend or just sod it and go for a whole week?

Am stupidly excited , haven't been camping since June last year!

OP posts:
saggyhairyarse · 22/03/2010 18:36

IvyKaty44, we are going to Duinrell. We went to Italy with Eurocamp last summer and when we came back DS was looking at all the sites online and found it and so booked it as it was so cheap.

We are moving house this year so can't do anything in August when prices are up

Our Isle of Wight holiday is two back to back Sun holidays.

BariatricObama · 22/03/2010 18:37

we are off to 'the continent' the first 2 weeks in july.

Slubberdegullion · 22/03/2010 18:43

saggy, we've been to Duinrell. It's amazing, a bit like camping at Thorpe Park, but lots of fun. Do you like rides?

saggyhairyarse · 22/03/2010 18:44

Well the kids do! I'm not fussed to be honest but it looked like a good place to go for the kids.

Did you venture out the park much?

MisSalLaneous · 22/03/2010 18:48

Ttroutpout, it does indeed. I've just realised it's on the weekend that we're already going camping with friends - am so disappointed, it looks amazing!

madhairday · 22/03/2010 18:53

oooh love it when camping talk gets going again. we're going to the lake district in May then to peak area in July.

mrspnut · 22/03/2010 19:00

We're doing 2 weeks camping this summer, previously the most we've ever done as adults has been 4 nights.

Slubberdegullion · 22/03/2010 19:03

saggy, yes we went to the beach a couple of times. tbh the weatherwas piss poor and it was far easier to do the pool in the morning and then the park stuff in the afternoon.

If it is on again you must go to the pantomime thing. It is on twice a day, all in Dutch (fair enough) and was one of the weirdest things I've ever sat through in my life. We watched it 4 times iirc as the dds were entranced despite none of us having the faintest clue what the hell was going on.

troutpout · 22/03/2010 19:23

Lucy tell me how you do your travelling down to france and how long it takes. I looked at sites for this summer but was put off when I factored in travelling and travel sick/ bad travelling kids. Do you take it slow and stop off for a few days on way down?

Lucycat · 22/03/2010 19:35

We get across the channel in one day from here - or rather under the channel- then stop for the night. Then day 2 down through Paris to south of the Loire , overnight again and aim to arrive on site at about 1pm on day 3. French roads are a joy to drive on and we do use the peage but we are towing so can't go too fast( at least that's the theory!)
it is a long way but is soooo worth it when we are guaranteed 3 weeks of sunshine!

Milliways · 22/03/2010 19:36

This year, as a change from France, we are going to Sanguli near Barcelona

PavlovtheCat · 22/03/2010 19:58

troutpout I have solar powered fairy lights! strung in my little bedouin space...
misSal we have stayed in a yurt a few times, it was just the best. I loved it very much, just so luxurious yet outdoorsy! Wonderful waking up to a warm yurt as the embers from the woodburner keep it warm, along with the huge double bed and duvet. give me that over a stale old hotel room any day.

MisSalLaneous · 22/03/2010 20:05

Pavlov, exactly. We stayed in a yurt for the first time last year (did this before we tried camping), and it was the perfect introduction. Made me realise just how relaxing open space with a toddler is - beats trying to be on your best behaviour in a hotel lobby or restaurant. I keep trying to persuade my friends who refuse to camp to give that a try. If I had loads of money I'd often go to yurts off-season and camp in summer.

PavlovtheCat · 22/03/2010 20:15

The first time we stayed in a yurt, was to celebrate our first wedding anniversay (we got married in a cave, had our reception on a farm, sort of in keeping!). We went with DD aged 2.3 and the night of our anniversary we stayed in a very posh hotel, cost us the same as the entire yurt trip. It was not that great at all as there was hardly any space even though we had a baby sitting service and we had the most fantastic time at the yurt, enjoyed it far more than the hotel with toddler.

MisSalLaneous · 22/03/2010 20:18

Oh wow, your wedding sounds amazing! I grew up on a farm and can't imagine being a child and not covered in mud at least once a week.

PavlovtheCat · 22/03/2010 20:21

I agree, that is why i love camping. There is no pressure to be clean, dirt is fine, and things dry out, even if they don't get cleaned til they get home! We have not been abroad camping yet, so good to see the places people are going abroad, we are hoping to go to france this year.

MisSalLaneous · 22/03/2010 20:28

Ah, yes. I'll stick to UK for a year or two whilst following reviews here. I leafed through Cool Camping Europe the other day - some amazing places there.

BariatricObama · 22/03/2010 20:36

pavlov - camping abroad is like ascending to a higher plane! better weather, better food, swimming pools, great loos!

PavlovtheCat · 22/03/2010 20:41

oh, better loos! now that is something. given that we are lucky if we have loos when we camp (used to do wild camping, now we need running water at least). I am not good with proper camping places, as there tends to be too many people there. I like it quiet. I am not good with tons of caravans around me. I feel sandwiched in. And cars. Not great with cars either. I like DD to be able to run without fear of being run over.

bilblio · 22/03/2010 20:49

Hello,

I'm going to be haunting these threads a lot this year hopefully getting advice from you all. My DD is 2.8, so we're planning on putting the tent to good use this year after 3 years off.

First trip will be a couple of nights in Bakewell I expect. It's not too far and we know the campsite has everything we need. Then maybe another weekend in Anglesey, then whatever else we can afford. I'm lucky enough to get 3 days off every other weekend.

We're going to the Isles of Scilly for a week in September to a cottage (MIL is paying). So if we can save enough I'd like to spend the week before camping at a few spots on the way. DP doesn't drive and DD will just be 3, so I'm not doing the whole journey in a day.
I've never camped anywhere down south, so recommendations of any sites between Manchester and Penzance would be greatly appreciated.

toomanylayers · 22/03/2010 21:03

I want to go back to Dan-Yr-Ogof Showcaves campsite in the Breacon Beacons. Last time the campsite was deserted apart from the animals in the fields next door. It's got a dinosaur park there too and a warm room in the campsite loo block to dry out your wellies! (I'm easily impressed)
I also want to go Hillend at Llangennith for the beach which is just over the dunes.

dreamingofsun · 23/03/2010 10:18

toomany - I can recommend a trip down the usk canal - there's a lovely pub you can moor up at for lunch

ebayaddict · 23/03/2010 11:17

Sorted so far is Scotts farm at witterings for easter. Staying anywhere between 3 and 7 nights depending on the weather.

We have also booked river Dart country park for a week in mid August.

Apart from that I paln to use the camping & caravan club sites for weekend breaks and mid week summer hol jaunts depending on dh's shift work and the weather.

trice · 23/03/2010 15:42

We are doing low wray in july and eurocamp in provence in august.

Before that we are camping in MIL's back field in easter hols to test the new tent.

I really like the look of that festival but we are away that weekend. Such a shame as I love moomins and knitting.

SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 23/03/2010 16:37

I'll pop back later (hiding from ILs at present) but can anyone recommend a french campsite drivable from Cherbourg? I want to camp ala lucycat !!

Other plans are dorset for a long weekend and maybe the new forest again (was Latestincarnation last year )