Campfire Cooking Recipes – Lamb wraps

19 May

Cooking when camping needs to be simple, filling and yummy! We have a few favourites so here is the first in a short series of our favourite campfire cooking meals!

Lamb (or Chicken) Wraps

Ingredients:
cubed lamb (or chicken breasts cubed)
tortillas
olive oil
salt and pepper
salad leaves
bamboo skewers
natural yoghurt
chilli sauce
 
Method:
Marinade the meat in olive oil, salt and pepper. If possible do this earlier in the day and leave it for a while – but don’t worry if you can’t manage that.
Top Tip – Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 5 minutes – to prevent them burning.
Skewer the meat and pop on the grill over the campfire (or barbeque!)
Once the meat is cooked, whack it into a wrap, add some salad leaved, a splash of yoghurt and chilli sauce or whatever takes your fancy – I do especially recommend the yoghurt.
Eat.  Yum. 

Told you it was simple.

NB: Be extra sure the chicken is cooked.  If you are a bit uncertain stick with lamb which is delicious flame grilled!

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10 Reasons to Take the Kids Camping

13 May

Silly

So, you are thinking about taking the kids camping but you are not sure if all the lists and packing and unpacking is really going to be worth it.

Of course it is! Here are my top 10 reasons why you should go camping with your kids.

1.   If you give your kids the chance to get up close and personal with nature they are much more likely to come to love being outdoors as they grow up.

2.  People who have a good connection with nature and enjoy being outdoors are generally happier, healthier adults.

3.  Camping encourages families to slow down and spend genuine quality time together.

4.  Camping relaxes adults, happy adults make happy children.

5.  An outdoor lifestyle engenders confidence.

IMG_50716.  Camping is a cheap way to have a family holiday.

7.  There is no better feeling than seeing the kids going a bit feral and really enjoying childhood.

8.  On a campsite kids get dirty. Dirt is good for developing immune systems.

9.  Kids get to explore their own country, developing a sense of  identity and heritage.

10.  Camping is a great way to spend time with extended family and friends, especially if you don’t have a house big enough to put them all up.

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Camping, however you do it, really is a brilliant experience for kids and adults alike.

So what are you waiting for?

Find a brilliant campsite on the Map of Campsites and get out there!

Please add any more reasons why you love camping with you kids in comments!

Kite flying
Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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Campsite Review: Inwood Campsite, Nr Basingstoke, Berkshire.

8 May

Where: Inwood Campsite, Farleigh Wallop, Berkshire.

How much: £12.50 per adult per night. Discount for families £10 per adult and £5 per child per night.

Fires: In firepits, encouraged to have fires in the site of previous fires, there are plenty.

Firewood: Large bags of logs sold for £5 each.  Delivered to pitches distant from reception by quad and trailer.

Types of camping: Tents and small campervans

Facilties:  Shower block and flushing toilets next to reception. Compost toilets and standpipes dotted around the site.

The Review:  You may, like me, be thinking ‘Basingstoke, that doesn’t sound very special’ and perhaps that is part of the magic of this place. I was expecting woodland, I was expecting campfires; but I was a little worried it might be busy, it was a bank holiday.  I was a bit worried the advertised woodland might be sparse. I was a bit worried it might be a bit, well, tame.  I needn’t have worried.  This is not woodland, this is forest.  Huge towering pine trees, give way to mature mixed woodland, interspersed with copiced hazel. Tame it is not.

Inwood

The entrance to Inwood is signposted with a couple of small, rather unprepossessing signs.  Then a longish track in until you come to a small meadow where the reception huts sit and the host greets you, suggests some possible camping areas then sends you off with a hand drawn map to choose your pitch.  We had a good drive around to find a good place.  The place is huge.

Several metalled tracks lead through the woods, you can stop anywhere really, sometimes you will see a car pulled up onto the side of the track and if you look closely you may spot a camp hiding among the trees. The tracks eventually lead to Small Meadow and Big Field. Small Meadow is like a woodland glade, space for about 10 pitches, and a tyre swing.  Big Field is huge but much of it is sloping so  people tended to camp along the top of the field, giving great views and a good spot for kite flying if there is a bit of wind.

The small meadow next to reception has a rope swing, the only washing up spot, flushing toilets and the shower block.  Some areas can be reserved for large groups, this would be a great campsite for family groups as it is possible to be far away from everyone else.  There are various other spots to find and explore, but I don’t want to ruin all your exploring fun!

Inwood campsite

View from Big Field

HIdden camps!

HIdden camps!

There are smaller tracks heading off into different areas but beware if it is a bit wet as cars will get stuck. As we were in a van we could not easily camp in the trees so we plumped for pitching among the bluebells in the meadow next to reception, as Small Meadow was full and Big Field was a tad windy. I was a tiny bit gutted not to be in the woods but as the weekend turned out sunny we were actually quite pleased to be able to bask in the sun while still being able to wander in the surrounding woodland.

Inwood

The edge of Reception Field

Camp was set and there followed two happy days of roaming the forest, building dens, stumbling across hidden camps in the woods, gazing at bluebells, swinging on ropeswings,  and frequently saying ‘ Wow, this place is amazing!’.

There are two portacabin style blocks near reception housing some decent showers and flushing toilets.  In the other areas there are composting toilets and standpipes.  Lots of people brought bikes with them to get around the site, the main tracks are roughly metalled.

Bell Tent camp
Forest tracks
Woodland games.
Composting toilet in the wood.
Little Meadow
Picturesque Bell tent camp
Spot the tent.
Fir forest
HIdden camps!
Bongo in the woods
View from Big Field
‘Best den ever’.
Spot the tents.
The edge of Reception Field
Bluebells!

So, is there anything wrong with this site?  In my opinion no, not a lot.  The smallest tweaks would include tarting up the reception area a little, maybe something more attractive than the portacabin buildings to house the toilets.  In some parts you can hear the distant hum of the motorway which is a shame but really very easy to tune out.  But that is it really.  The site is very organic as it grows more pitches will be ‘made’, but I can’t imagine it will ever become overcrowded.  It is wild, it is lovely. I will definitely be returning!

There is one more fantastic thing about this campsite, it is one of four run by the same team along the same lines. The most well known is Forgewood, near Tunbridge Wells. There is also Badgells Wood and Abbotstone Wood. Excellent news!

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Forest Holidays – Blackwood Forest

7 May
Lodges amongst the trees.

Lodges amongst the trees.

This weekend I went to my first blogger’s event, at Forest Holidays‘ new site near Winchester called Blackwood Forest.  Forest Holidays are part owned by the Forestry Commission and their cabins are situated deep in Forestry Commission forests.  I admit to being a little sceptical about whether this would really be my kind of thing. Of course, I love being in the forest but usually I am cooking over a campfire and wearing the same clothes three days in a row. This is certainly not what forest holidays are about.  The wooden lodges are spacious and luxurious with excellent eco-credentials,.  There are all kinds of luxury treats available – Chef in your Cabin, Family Movie Night, Flowers and Chocolates plus various health treatments that can be enjoyed in your cabin to name but a few.  Plus the rather delightful addition of a hot tub under the trees in many of the lodges.

As we drove deep into the woods and saw the lodges nestling among the trees I was immediately impressed. The forest is a managed beech plantation, beech creates a wonderful high, thick canopy with plenty of space underneath.  The Forest Retreat provides a central focus for the site with a shop selling some basic supplies, a few toys and gifts and a lovely cafe with a terrace under the trees serving good food all at reasonable prices.  Nearby is a small children’s playground.

The Forest Retreat

The Forest Retreat

We were shown around one of the cabin. There was a high quality finish, plenty of space and beautiful big picture windows looking over the balcony into the forest. I considered hiding in a cupboard to steal a free night, the beds looked so crisp and comfy. I certainly felt I could relax there.

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As impressed as I was with the accommodation the next part of the day was what really topped it for me, and I think it is a very important part of what Forest Holidays offers. It isn’t just about sitting around enjoying the lovely scenery, you are encouraged to get out and enjoy the forest. We were taken on a Ranger guided walk with added ‘survival skills’.

As we wandered through the wood David, our ranger, found interesting things to tell us at almost every step.  He engaged the children well and stopped to answer all questions and examine all finds with enthusiasm and good humour.  We munched on newly emerged beech leaves, looked for signs of deer, examined rotten wood for mini beasts, learnt about different types of woodland, saw a slow-worm, attempted to make fire using a fire steel and built a den.  Frankly, I was in heaven (and so was my daughter!).

Into the woods!

Into the woods!

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Making fire!

Making fire!

Somewhere to sleep!

Somewhere to sleep!

Our knowledgeable guide, David.

Our knowledgeable guide, David.

There are several different ways to enjoy the forest, including night time expeditions with a Forest Ranger!  You can also hire bikes to explore the area or just go for a good old walk.  The forest is open to dogs and the general public, it is not an enclosed location like Centre Parks and you are encouraged to explore the surrounding areas as well as the immediate forest vicinity.

In all I was really impressed by the whole experience.  It is certainly much more luxury than camping or even glamping! Not something you could do frequently, but as a treat I could certainly be persuaded!

NB: I was not paid but I did get a cracking day out in return for a review. 

After visiting Blackwood Forest we went for a spot of traditional camping at the brilliant Inwood Campsite very nearby!

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The Brilliant Campfire Grill.

30 Apr

Campfire grill

There is nothing like cooking over a campfire.  It can’t be done quickly, it takes time and patience to build up the fire to the right heat to get some good cooking heat.  Like all the best stuff to do with camping, campfire cooking means slowing down and getting in touch with your primal side.

Once your fire is ready for cooking the next challenge is what to cook on.

The simplest campfire cooking involves toasting things on sticks,  or bung a potato in foil and roast it in the fire. However, for a touch more sophistication you need a grill over the fire.  Until recently we have used an old barbeque grill, any rocks we find around and some ingenuity.  It works ok but there are limitations, you can’t control the height of the grill  from the fire and if you can’t find any good rocks you are stuffed.

Thus, we come to the Campfire Grill.  As you may imagine much research has been undertaken. There are  all kinds of kit for cooking over a campfire but when we came across this piece of equipment we were quickly convinced.

So what sold it to us?

  • It packs up tidily into its own bag.
  • The packed up grill is flat – easy to stow in the campervan.
  • It is fast and easy to set up.
  • It is sturdy.
  • Raised edge prevents food from rolling off
  • It can be swung away from the fire
  • There is a pot dangler option

In fact, I was so impressed I looked into becoming a supplier but in the end I had to satisfy myself with just owning a grill.  Ordering was easy and delivery prompt, we went for the Pioneer model which is the round one and we fell is plenty big enough for our family of four and possibly a few guests. We were able to take it on our first camp of 2013 to Nettwood Farm.

We were not disappointed.  Our fire pit was dug and our dinner cooked with ease. We realised the Campfire Grill would easily work over a fire in a brazier or off the ground fire pit owing to its adjustable height – another plus! I honestly can’t think of a negative about this grill. If you like to cook over a campfire buy one of these!

If you are still dithering you can go and have a look at them in action at one of several campsites that are demonstrating them over the summer. Look at the website for details.

NB: This is not a sponsored post, however, when I ordered the grill, Ginny agreed to give me a small discount in return for a review.  My review is completely honest and I would have bought one and even reviewed it even without this agreement (sorry Ginny!)

campfire grill

Poached eggs on a campfire grill!

campfire grill

Lamb Hotpot on a campfire grill!

 

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Campsite Review: Nettwood Farm, North Somerset.

28 Apr IMG_4185

Where: Nettwood Farm, East Harptree, Nr Chew Magna Lake, North Somerset, BS40 6DA.

How much: £12 per night for tents. £15 per night for caravans with EHU.

Wood: Not sold but the wood can be collected in the adjacent woodland. Bring kindling and own wood if it has been wet.

Fires: There are a number of cut down oil drums that can be used as fire pits or bring a spade and dig your own pit ( replace turf afterwards).

Types of camping: Tents, campervans and caravans. No hardstanding.

Facilities: One shower and two toilets each for men and women in a clean but utilitarian block.  A small cute summer-house houses a large fridge freezer plus a few barbeques available to use free of charge, also a couple of comfy chairs to sit and enjoy the pretty rural views from among the trees.

The review:  This was out first camp of 2013, a one nighter in April – our earliest ever camp! This area of Somerset is very pretty with its reddish, stone houses and two lovely lakes, Blagdon and Chew Magna, providing pretty views, walks and watersports.  As we pulled into the long driveway of Netwood Farm I was immediately impressed by the views. The farm is 900ft up in the Mendip Hills and there are some stunning views down to Chew Valley Lake.

The camping field itself is relatively small, roughly triangular in shape, surrounded by woodland and a small pasture.  The campsite is newly opened and also includes a static caravan in the woods and a refurbished WWII cabin with lovely views.

Nettwood Farm Campsite

The kids were excited to see a wooden climbing frame with swings – most campsites we visit don’t have playgrounds.  However, they ended up spending  most of their time playing in the woodland, collecting sticks and making fairy houses.

Having set up camp we started to dig our firepit.  We love this kind of thing, it makes us feel all Ray Mears and we were looking forward to trying out our new campfire grill.  The kids and I were able to find plenty of good stones in the woodland to edge the pit. Perfect.

Making a firepit

Our visit was early in the season and there was only one other pitch taken.  However, I liked the overall feel of the site.  The owners wanted to create a campsite without signs and rules.  It feels relaxed and incredibly tranquil. There was not even a hint of passing traffic although I did see the farm’s tractor once or twice, Nettwood is a working farm.

The views are pleasantly rural from the camping field, a short walk towards the farm house or down to the nearby public footpath reveals gorgeous views down a wide valley towards the sprawl of Chew Valley lake.  The owner did confide that the trees that restrict  this lovely view from the camping field are sadly dying and might be removed, if they are this site would be even better.

Admiring the view of Chew Magna Lake

The campsite backs into a pretty, mature woodland area, not large enough for walking but lovely for collecting wood for both fires and fairy house construction.  The owner said there will be some forest school activities taking place in the woodland over the summer which would be wonderful.

The public footpath which can be accessed right at the bottom of the camping field took us across a few fields of pasture with lovely views and onto a track that passes through a beautiful, bluebell strewn copse of woodland and on into further fields and copses. We didn’t manage to go too far as the kids where tired and dinner time beckoned.  An ordinance survey map would have been handy!

There is no shop of any kind on the site; the owners are unobtrisve though very friendly when I went up to the farm house to pay.  The nearest shop is in West Harptree a small, attractive village with a well supplied village shop.

For us Nettwood Farm was a perfect, tranquil one night camp.  But it could equally be a good base for exploring the area and enjoying the Mendip Hills.  As a campsite local to us we really look forward to seeing how it develops!

Campfire cooking at Nettwood Farm

Fairy House

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Getting it up! (chortle)

13 Apr

If you are a tent camper you will probably have experienced ‘The Tent Pitching Argument’.  All those poles, remembering which bit goes where, small children ‘helping’ and all after a long car journey.  It can lead to a fractious start to your camping holiday.

Or perhaps you are a single adult who wants to take children camping by yourself, but the idea of struggling with all that nylon and poles by yourself is stopping you.

So what are the alternatives to the fiddly fibreglass pole tents that most of us have?

The inflatable pole tent, several brands have produced one.   This is Vango’ s smallest version at a pretty steep £600.

Airbeam

It looks just like a normal tent but is easily erected by simply inflating the pole structure with a pump, they claim it can be erected in less than 3 minutes!  Check out this Youtube video to see if it’s true!  I must admit I would be a bit dubious about trusting anything inflatable but you can’t deny the speed with which it is pitched, although you will then need to attach the inner in the usual way.

Quechua are the original and best when it comes to pop up tents.  This is the  Quechua Tent Base seconds 4.2. A really great tent.  Here is a Youtube video of how it is pitched. It is simple even for one person to erect and the inner tent is already attached.  If I were a single adult wanting to camp with kids this tent would be a very strong contender for me. It is also a very good price at £169.99. The only slight worry is folding it up again, there is a knack to it but it isn’t that hard. Just practice before your first camp!

http://bermudarover.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dscn2491.jpg?w=317&h=237

Image from bermudarover.wordpress.com

Despite all this modern technology I still believe the best quick to erect tent  is the lovely, old-fashioned Bell Tent.    One person can erect a Bell Tent with ease within 15 mins (I do speak from experience!).  The space inside the tent is cavernous, and the experience of being under canvas is incomparable to sweaty man-made fabrics. One of the great attractions of a Bell Tent is the ability to roll up the side to creat a sort of floating canopy.

Image from Bell Tent UK

It really is very clever and brilliant to use as a den in the garden during the summer, or a venue for a kids party as well as being a practical and durable camping tent. Prices range from about £370 for a 4m tent. Can you tell Iwant one?

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Becoming Ray Mears.

12 Apr

There are a few things about camping that just give you that satisfying outdoorsman feel.  Yes, during the week you may be a computer programmer, stay at home mum or part time blogger but once you hit that campsite you become intrepid explorer, woodsman, botany expert Ray Mears!

In order to properly facilitate this transformation you are going to need some ‘tools’.

The campfire brings out the cave dweller in all of us, and the preparation is half the fun! Get yourself a good hatchet.  Oh the satisfying THUNK of good quality steel splitting those well seasoned logs.

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Last year we bought a random hatchet from a garden centre. It did not last.  So we have just ordered one of these swedish axes:

Husqvarna Hatchet
£29.99
Click to Amazon

Now to lighting that fire.  Lighter fuel? No way.  It has to be fire steel and some real satisfacttion!

Swedish Army Fire Steel
£13.99
Click to Amazon

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Now what about a bit of wood craft?  A stout hazel branch makes  a brilliant walking stick, so how about a lovely folding saw to cut the branch.  Overkill?  No way, you will find plenty of uses for it.  For instance, you could use it to cut elder branches and makes some elder bead necklaces plus it is a very useful pruning tool for back home in the garden. You really DO need one and this is the actual one ray himself uses (apparently).


Bahco Laplander Folding Saw
£17.63 (BARGAIN!)
Click to Amazon

There, now you are well on your way to becoming Ray Mears.  Go forth and be at one with nature.

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Kent and Sussex Campsites

11 Mar

My mental image of the south east of England, particularly the areas of Kent and Sussex, is rather a domestic one.  This is the area that I grew up in, and while I always appreciated it was a pretty area, I would have never imagined it as a holiday destination.  However, I have noticed many rather fine looking campsites in the area and I am being forced to re-assess my opinion.  Check these out:

The Secret Campsite

‘The Secret Campsite is a peaceful, tents only campsite for nature lovers, real campers and their families, who are looking to explore Sussex, Brighton or Lewes. Our woodland meadow camping pitches are large and secluded and come with their own camp fire pit and free hot showers.’  This place looks pretty special, a prime example of unexpected Sussex loveliness.  At this campsite you also have the opportunity to try out an amazing tree tent, you may have seen it on ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’ on  Channel 4.  As this site does not allow campervans I may be forced to try out one of their ‘Secret Shelters’, one of which is a Tree Tent. It looks so cozy!

Dernwood Farm

‘At Little Dernwood Farm we have one  of the largest blocks of coppice woodland in East Sussex. They are formally identified as semi-natural ancient woodland being the vestige of the dark and forbidding forest that covered The Weald in ancient time, and the camping field is set within the very heart of  these 70 acres of woodland.’ Brilliant!  Woodland camping plus the added attraction of a functioning traditional farm selling high quality products to cook over your campfire.  Car free, so no campervans again, but the opportunity to hire bell tents and safari tents.  Aiming to be real ‘Wild Camping’ so no showers, although you can borrow a solar shower bag – intriguing!

Blackberry Wood

‘The Campsite has a maximum of 20 tents and the camping pitches are in cosy little private woodland glades’. Blackberry Wood is possibly the original ‘wild camping’ campsite in Sussex. It was featured in the Guardian a few years ago and since it has been very popular, in fact people often book a year in advance.  One has to assume they do what they do very well.  They have now added a gypsy caravan, a london bus, a wooden lodge and a helicopter  (yes, I said helicopter!) to their accommodation options.  Sadly no campervans again – I am detecting a pattern here!

Image from http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Kitts Cottage Campsite

Located very close to the well known campsite WoWo,  close to the Bluebell railway and the Ashdown Forest (home of Pooh Bear!), Kitts Cottage offers woodland camping, views, campfires and a great family friendly eco-camping vibe.’The camping ground is set in and around  a natural glade – a forest clearing if you like, although in this case the open area that surrounds the site runs to nearly 20 acres. Pitches are set both in the glade itself or along the outside of its circular edge.’ And hurrah, they accept campervans!

Forgewood Camping

In Kent this time, not far from Tunbridge Wells, Forgewood has all the right ingredients – woodland, campfires and a laid back feel.  It is situated on the Eridge Estate, a large estate originally created by William the Conqueror, the campsite itself  covers a large area. I visited the Eridge Estate last year for a festival and I can vouch for it being a beautiful location and though I have never visited Forgewood myself it has often been recommended by friends.

Image from forgewoodcamping.co.uk

Nethergong Nurseries Camping 

Another Kent campsite, love it for it’s name alone!  The campsite is part of a fruit and vegetable supply business – the type that offers those weekly veg boxes, so you can get yourself some good quality produce to enjoy at the campsite. It seems to be a lovely spot for nature watching and has some stocked ponds, great for fishing, pond dipping and paddling. UK campsite reviews are positively glowing and The Independent says ‘Nethergong Nurseries is the perfect kids’ playground: full of secret paths that promise adventure, and nooks and crannies in which to hide‘. Very tempting!

Image from The Independent

Kent and Sussex are literally thick with great camspites!  Sadly for me many of them do not accept campervans. Campervan prejudice – so unfair.  Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to rent a helicopter!

UPDATE

Eco Camp UK

How could I have missed these very beautiful looking campsites! And they accept campervans by arrangement.  Hurrah!

 ’Beech Estate Woodland Campsite and Wild Boar Wood Campsite offer ‘off-grid’ forest camping through our Bell Tent ‘glamping’ experiences, with Beech Estate also offering Forest Tent Pitches. The Bell Tents and Pitches are set apart in the trees, giving solitude and privacy. The woodland campsites also provide the chance to meet and relax with friends, family and fellow campers around the campfire.’

Image from Trip Advisor

I have not included all the campsites I have come across because, well, I am supposed to have a life away from researching campsites but I have to say the area provides a rich seam!

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First trip of the season…

19 Feb

This year I have two camping urges I would like to fufill, one is to camp near the beach, the other is to experience a bit more wildness. I want to step out of the van in the morning and be wowed by the scenery.  A field and a bit of farmland  is not going to do it for me.

The closest place to me for this sort of wildness is the Brecon Beacons and I have come across the very promisingly named ‘campbyastream‘.

‘Cwmnanthir is a small, family run camp site on the western borders of the Brecon Beacons. The field based site is situated alongside the Nant Hir river adjacent to coppiced woodlands. Buzzards, herons, red kites and other wildlife complement our free range poultry, sheep and waterfowl.’

As you might expect the site allows campfires, is small and non commercial and is of course by a stream.  Additionally, it is possible to walk to Henrhyd falls (the tallest falls in Wales) from the campsite.  Sounds totally marvellous to me and I am itching to go. So it’s official this will be our first trip of the season, just need the weather to warm up a little bit…

Now, to decide on the other campsites I will investigate this year!

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