how do you find out about those secret, 'word of mouth' basic campsites

[poppyboo]

It seems like there are no places online which list very basic,simple,rustic out of the way camping places.

Is there any websites which list farms which offer very basic camping (basic = tap and a toilet?)

I don't want to camp at a camping and caravan
park, it's just not my thing, and just don't kknow how to find the sort of camping places we are after!

No idea, if there isn't a fridge (for my icepacks), a washing machine, (because I have a laundry problem), a very nearby shop and spotlessly clean showers and loo's then I'm not stopping.

I really admire the minimalists, but I think I am from another camping planet

I agree in part, WTWTW, I need a decent shower to kick start me in the morning a clean loo and a freezer for ice packs, not so bothered about the washing machine tho.
Poppyboo- hope you find what you are looking for, I know of one near dolgelau in wales that has a composting loo and no showers, amzing views of the estuary.

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/ukcampsites/smallsites/
www.ukcampsites.co.uk/

You have to be a member of the C & C Club for their small sites, but have a look at their website.

I've relied on answers here, mainly. It might be a bit bigger than what your ideal place is, but that new book "Tiny campsites" (I think that is what it is called) might give you a couple of options.

poppyboo those are the kind of campsites I always camp in. Basically I find them by googling "campsite in instert place name" and always find one that is basic.

Lots of small basic campsites (mostly fields on farms) have websites. It's just a matter of looking.

I had his problem last week. We wanted to go somewhere local-ish for Saturday night.

Only site we knew of was Billing aquadrome, which is a holiday park really now. Cue me hunting the net Thursday evening looking for small quiet sites nearby.

I actually found quite a few, including the one we ended up at. It was great, although busy. It was a farm that has turned one of their fields into a year round campsite, they have 7 toilets and showers in total, a couple of water taps,a small play area for the kiddies , 20 elec hook ups and run a small farm shop, which amazingly sold everything you'd need for your stay.

It was a great site, 45 mins tops from where we live, the owners are great, friendly and very helpful and last but not least only £10 a night.

MisSal, thank you I will be checking out that book ♥

Overmydeadbody, I will definately try that, thank you for googling hint, I am a bit rubbish on computers!

moonmother, £10 a night sounds wonderful, and the place you stayed in sounds great, seriously, if there was a single tap, clean toilet and shower we would be sorted!

thank you all for being so kind and helping me!

This is a good basic place in Cornwall www.themeadowspentewanvalley.co.uk/

I used the UKCampsite website to find a site for a quick one nighter this weekend. We knew where we wanted to be, so did a search that showed everything within a 20 mile radius of that location. Loads popped up, including several that were just a basic field with tap and loos. It took a while to trawl through them, but we're sorted.

The site we stayed at is Top End Farm , in Little Staughton in Bedfordshire .

It really was lovely- it gets quite busy at weekends but everyone was packing up really early Sunday.

I found it on the dreaded ukcampsite but have just found this here

www.caravancampingsites.co.uk/bedfordshire/topend.htm

This is very, very pretty, close to fab beach, but very basic. Long drop loos and a cold (but powerful) shower in the open air! www.aunemouthcamping.co.uk
There is also a large communal fire pit with surrounding bench seats for evening chat/warmth.

Tiny Campsites, Poppyboo.

Have you tried to book anything in that book MisSal? Although it's a lovely idea, I figured a listing in a mass-market book like that would be the kiss of death in so far as being able to get a pitch on any of them. There are some very nice small sites near me in Sussex - but I should be booking them now for next summer and I'm afraid I just don't work that way.

I really need to make friends with some farmers.

Thromdimbulator, no, I don't actually own the book (yet), but from the summary and Amazon reviews it just seemed like the type of places we'd like.

Oh, and with you completely in that mentioning somewhere once would almost guarantee no availability next year anyway, sadly.

I wish I knew farmers!!!

Let's buy some woods and a meadow. I'll chip in the first fiver.

I'm loathe to share but here is my idea of camping heaven. Six pitches, I think and the owner is absolutely lovely A proper old hippy.

I'm in with a fiver!

Smugmumofboys, that looks lovely!

It was. And has rather spoilt all other sites for me now.

DH we managed to forget our tentpegs and the man lent us some for the week. He helped us pitch our tent because it was raining.

You can have campfires, it's quiet there's free hot showers and a washing machine that was only £1.

And, best of all. No caravans.

Duloch Hamlet in Fife, Scotland, is an eco-campsite with two compost loos and running cold water only, no showers. The pitches are all large and well away from anyone else, either in the woods or up on the meadow. Each has an area for a campfire with wooden benches round. There is an open area for kids to play too. We have only stayed once but it was lovely .

smugmumofboys, I grew up in cardigan bay. Beautiful Beautiful beautiful!

wiggletastic, Fife is a bit far for me, but eco-campsites are comepletely my cup of tea

Thanks for the book link MisSal! ♥

thanks smugmum and cabanon they both look fab - just need to get some for camping in!

Stubcroft Farm in the Witterings, West Sussex sounds like it might be a place you'd like.

www.stubcroft.com/campsite/index.html