Your Favourite Campsite for Tent Camping

We are the proud new owners of a tent. I did a quick search and did find one other thread about camping, that focused mainly on difference between US and UK camping.

As new campers we are eager to try out our new tent. I know what each person wants in a campsite might be a bit different and I have checked out the good website that was posted in the thread with reviews.

I just was wondering-- What is your favourite campsite and why?
Thanks

Just thought I would give this one bump, in case some missed it over the weekend. Was hoping for some inspiration- but that's okay, I will stick with the website reviews that was mentioned on the other thread. I have bookmarked a few that look good and will hopefully be able to add my own favourite campsite to this thread before too long .

Sorry you've not had much response on this yet.  We're not campers, but some friends of our have camped near Settle (North Yorkshire) & thought it was really nice - not sure which campground it was though.  So that's not really helpful at all! 

Sorry you've not had much response on this yet.  We're not campers, but some friends of our have camped near Settle (North Yorkshire) & thought it was really nice - not sure which campground it was though.  So that's not really helpful at all! 

Nope, not too helpful...but thanks for trying 

What areas are you looking to go to?

I lurve camping! We go with the Landrover society all across the UK and sometimes on our own.

I avoid the big family sites such as Haven Holidays for example and focus on the small independent sites...If I can find Adult only sites...then even better.

We camp quite allot across the UK and have not come across a bad one yet.  As long as you stick to the theory "if it has a toilet and shower" then thats ok..the rest is what you make of it    I will camp anywhere if there is a loo handy! 

I have stayed on some good farm sites in the Lake District, plus I enjoy camping near the seaside.

We tend to open up Google maps and find somewhere we fancy going then search for local campsites for that area.  I always request brochures from the internet..I have a stack of them..good reading material.  If you have a good news agents near you, they should have a camping and caravan monthly magazine which tends to be better the "camping guides" you buy in a camping gear shop.

Perhaps also look at joining The National Trust for areas of interest..they send you a bi monthly mag with ideas on where to go and recommendations on where to stay.

Me and the hubster are doing a camping road trip around Cornwall and Devon for our anniversary this year. 

I found that its not the campsite that can make camping unenjoyable..its the lack of decent equipment.  Biggest problem I found was the cold..even on a hot day..at 2am in the morning, it can be freezing! So we are investing in some fisherman fleece lined sleeping bags..which are far better.

Here is a list of equipment we take with us and always stays in a large plastic box so you don't have to keep thinking about what to pack everytime:-

Tent
Tent Pegs
Rubber Mallet
Sleeping Bags
Two Pillows
Foam Mats to lay our sleeping bags on
Small portable table
Torches & Lights ( preferably l.e.d)
Washing up equipment..
Stove
Stainless steel plates, pans, spoons and a kettle, Cheapy mugs.
Hot Water Bottle.
Small £10 BBQ and Briquettes ( you can cook or use it just for heat )
Windbreaker
Toilet Rolls
Towels, Shampoo & Shower Gel, Deodorant.
Wind up radio or sound system
Extra Socks
Antibacterial Wet Wipes
Coffee, Tea, Sugar and Powder Milk.
Spare Batteries
Flip Flops ( great for the middle of the night toilet dash..nothing worse than trying to put your trainers on in a hurry ) plus you can wear them whilst showering..
Ibuprofen
Folding Camping chairs - we got two for £10 in Tesco..cheap and cheerful but really good.
Buy a large bottle of water.
Hair Scrunchies
Brush


Also..if you use your tent for a festival..invest in a folding canvas wheelbarrow..great for lugging you beer across fields 

One thing I wouldn't bother with as you will soon be sorely dissapointed are those inflateable beds..they dont last and they go down all the time! waste of money and effort..

Hey I didn't see this post last time HG. I'm going to add a couple of campsites, because I love them for different reasons! I'm not sure how useful they would be to you, as these are all in the south.

For me, I want a bit of space and a decent sense of privacy, ie no one can hear every word of our campfire conversation! I tend to avoid sites with set pitches, as these seem to be focused on cramming in as many campers as possible. I also like it if there are walks accessible right from the campsite.

In the New Forest I really like Roundhill, it's right in the middle of the forest and there are cows and wild horses wandering through the campsite. There are loads of great walks right from the campsite. Dogs are allowed, but only in a specific field so that's good if you don't have one! The facilities are minimal, no showers but toilets and cubicles where you can wash. I don't mind that for a couple of days but I wouldn't like it for a week.

The other New Forest sites also look good, but some don't have toilets so beware!

In Hertfordshire (just outside Hatfield) I really love the Mangrove campsite, it is huge, with loads of space and the nicest, cleanest toilet block ever. We use this one to have family gatherings, and they allow visitors for free so our non-camping friends and relatives can come for barbecues. There is a small wood and a playground for the kiddos, and lots of little shrubby areas that are perfect for kids to build "forts" in. Highly recommend for families. For sightseeing you can walk along the canal to Ware - I think it's about 3 or 4 miles.

Acton Fields campsite in Langton Matravers near Swanage is also good. It is basic but clean, and there is a great pub that you can walk to for dinner through a sheep field. You can easily get to Corfe Castle from here, by car, which is an awesome place to sightsee. When we were in Corfe Castle village we passed a little table in a lane which was covered in jars of honey and preserves. There was a can on the table and a list of prices so that you could just take what you wanted and leave the money! Really nice honey.

For what it's worth, I think the inflatable mattresses are definately worth it, so comfy. They can let you down but most come with patches. I'd recommend getting single sized ones, as it is annoying to be bounced around whenever the other person rolls over.

Hope you enjoy your new tent!

Hey Caligurl

If you like camping in the South..I can recommend www.theoldoaks.co.uk

Campsite in Glastonbury.  It very well maintained..extremely clean. The toilet and Shower blocks are immaculate.  They have freezers for your food and a free laundrette.  They have a shop and a games room.  There are lots of chickens and ducks that walk freely around.  The campsite has a small lake you can walk around and also has walks to the Glastonbury Tor..very peaceful..cheap..they allow dogs...and its adults only. 

Oh and best of all, the owners are really sweet and the lady makes homemade Coffee & Walnut cake that is to die for 

Thanks Duckyfuzz, that looks like a really nice place!

This summer we are planning to do more exploring in the East, we're considering Thetford Forest this weekend, weather permitting. This place looks nice: http://www.siteseeker.co.uk/aspx/details.aspx?id=9020

HG, I find this camping review site really useful to research sites. www.ukcampsite.co.uk/

Thank you both! The list of items is a great help getting us started....we already have an air mattress for extra guests, we think we will give it a try to ease us into the wilderness.

Will check out some of those sites..we are hoping to head south some this summer. I saw the camping review site on another thread and am addicted to it already!

Thanks again for the input!

Thank you both! The list of items is a great help getting us started....we already have an air mattress for extra guests, we think we will give it a try to ease us into the wilderness.

Will check out some of those sites..we are hoping to head south some this summer. I saw the camping review site on another thread and am addicted to it already!

Thanks again for the input!

Just have fun!

We are off to this site in Brixham in July, meeting up with some of my cousins:-

http://www.galmptontouringpark.co.uk/

I will report back if its any good.

Perhaps we should start a thread of campsites that people have actually been too and can recommend personally on here ?

I can recommed this group as well...altho they can be a bit pricey..and some sites have no toilets which is a no no for me  so double check first..

http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/camping_and_caravanning/our_sites__locations.aspx

We tend to go camping in the Lakes. The best campsite is a National Trust run one, Low Wray. It's beautiful - if you get there early enough to book a site at the lakeside it's even MORE beautiful. The only drawback is that you can't book in advance so you have to be there when the doors open at 12:30 to book in.

Other places have been random farms in North Wales, any of them are super!

Happy Camping!