Has anyone "camped" in a Pod?

[orienteerer]

Has anyone camped in a Pod? If so what did you think?

camped here and they had a few Pods. Looked very civilised! The insulation keeps them cool in the summer as well as warmer in the winter.

Oooh - watching this! Just found out about pods and really liked the look of the Quiet Site which I discovered a few days ago... if anyone's been there/done this, would love to hear how it went (esp anyone with small children). DH and I only have a 2-man tent from his cycle-touring days, so I thought a pod might be a way to trial camping with toddler DS and imminent DC2 come the autumn...

Quiet Site looks good, unfortunately they don't alllow dogs in the Pods so that rules it out for us .

Bumping for you as I'd like to know if anyone HAS camped in Pod, and how the space worked out and what they did about cooking (the ones I've read up on say no cooking indoors, which is FINE if it's good weather...)

Yes, we stayed in a pod in Eskdale last year. There were four of us; DH and two kids then aged 5 and 3. Room enough for our (massive) double camping bed and their two ready beds, as well as our rucksacks/towels/clutter etc. Not loads of room but sufficent.

You can't cook inside them, no, there is a very small porch/roof under which you can cook. It rained a bit when we were there but we managed to cook alright. Take lots of containers for food etc (we didn't) to stop stuff getting wet outside.

Would really recommned a pod. We loved it. We used them at easter as we thought it'd be still tooo chily for camping (we were right).

Thanks Mummyisamonster

We stayed here

The pods are great! We only stayed for one night (visiting family who were already there) and didn't fancy pitching the tent for just the one night. They were ideal

There was plenty enough room for our 2 double airbeds and a single, and enough room for our clothes etc. Everything else stayed in the car, which was fine because it was parked right next to the pod.

There is a little decked patio area just outside with a small covered area. Perfect for sitting out on/chatting/watching the children play etc, but not a great deal of space to cook on aswell. A family in the pod next to us had a table and bench set up with their cooking stuff and they seemed to manage perfectly well, so it can be done.

The pods were toasty warm at night, and we didn't use the heating at all. In fact, they were so warm I had to get up and open a window in the middle of the night! They'd definitely prolong the camping season

I'd definitely recommend the pods, but as a family of 5, I wouldn't want to spend longer than one, maybe two nights in it.

Firstly I need to declare an interest in the Quiet Site!
In answer to your question Orienteerer, the camping Pod are certainly having a big impact with us. We have increased out flock of Pods to 12 this year. They tick all the boxes for us; locally made, fully sustainable (wood and sheeps wool insulation), weather independent. The guy who makes them is lovely.
They have a 'womb' like quality that children love when the doors are shut. My daughter had her 8th birthday party sleepover in 3 of them and it was wonderful. The decks make this a real inside/outside experience even when wet AND there is no mud!

Hope this helps.

We do not allow dogs as the Pod would soon start to have a doggy smell, particularly when the dog is wet. This is a shame as we welcome dogs in tents.

ok i want to stay in one now - is there a link to areas that have them?

Yes - it's fab! I stayed at one at the Great Langdale National Trust campsite in the Lake District.

Dp doesn't like camping so I tend to take ds's on my own and although I can put the tent up by myself, it was wonderful to just be able to walk into the pod and not spend an hour 30 minutes wrestling with the tent!

There was plenty of room for the 3 of us and I really liked the decking bit outside - got myself set up nicely making coffee while ds's played. Sorted!

It was warm at night - except for 3am when I don't think anywhere's warm TBH.

Really want to go to another one over the summer - it's worth paying a bit more for a pod (IMO) to have a stress-free camping experience

Oh i have been completely carried away here - we off to iow and i had booked a premier inn for on way down but now have booked a pod here. Am sooo excited and a bargain at £38 for the night - we were going to take tent for on way back and all those sites were £32 with ehu so i think i am going to try and find a pod for on way back

Question for Anteater-
I have been looking at the pods after numptymum mentioned them. This may be a silly question but is there electricity in them and do you allow them to be hired out for one night only during the summer?

Pod people tell me will my 2 season sleeping bag do or does it still get chilly - debating chucking in the duvet to as we would if normal camping?

Anyone been to the dalby forest one? Just seen availability is still there for end august when dh birthday.

gibba8,
at present ours do no offer mains electric, although some parks do. Ours will be electrified in time for the winter .
We allow 1 night bookings through the summer except for a Friday and Saturday where ther is a 2 night minimum.
Pods here

Thanks for that Anteater. The pods look great - just need to persuade my husband now!

Dot, I thought of you when I saw this thread! Incidentally, were there any spiders?

Oh, just noticed you're near Ullswater, Anteater! We were in Centerparcs for the first two weeks of July and I really wanted to go there! But ds4 being grumpy on one day out and all the activities the older boys were doing meant we didn't get a chance. Don't know when I'll get to Cumbria again, either.

Ha! No, I'm pleased to report there were no spiders at all - hurrah!!

How did you enjoy Centerparcs Chipmonks?

We have stayed numerous times at wigwams which look very similar in both summer and winter. Many have heating inside and are very cosy. Some of them had a kettle inside so you could always make a pot noodle or the like.

I'd defo recommend. At some sites you can have a campfire outside too.

Those wigwams look fantastic - have booked one in Cumbria for a night in September with ds's - thanks for the link!

A little update (as on jollys now but in a hosue) we stayed in a pod on thurs night - 4 of us the double airbed and 2 singles fitted exactly so the slightly bigger size would have been better as i admit it was a warm night and i did feel a bit claustrophic so slept nearest door with it slightly open. It was warmer and more sound proof without a doubt and i would not rule it out again but would wnt the 6 berth one, We stayed on cotswold view site and it was beautiful and they have elec light, elec socket (for straightners) and also a picnic table each so even less to take in car. We did not get much sleep and i am actually dreading proper camping next week on our way home (never thought id say that!)

I think with camping you never sleep on the first night but then sleep like the dead on the 2nd...!

i must admit when we got to our house yesterday i could not even keep my eyes open to watch corrie and was in bed by 8 and yes i slept like the dead till this morning!