It would be a lie to say that all campsites in Cornwall are booked up. No doubt some of the sprawling megasites with lines of trimmed pristine pitches, gleaming bathrooms and well kept concrete paths do have space. There are so many of them it is hard to imagine that they ever all get filled up. However, the kind of campsite that you and I like, dear reader, are few and far between and almost without exception FULLY BOOKED for the summer holidays.

Now, this tells me something, doesn’t it you?  And these thoughts have sent me into a reverie of imagining how my own perfect campsite will one day be:

There will be views but also sheltered spots, there will be beautiful woodland and fabulous walks directly from the campsite.

There might be composting toilets but there will also be a few really good showers with enough space to get changed and plenty of hooks.  There will be a washing up area with a view and a roof  but open to the elements.

There will be huge pitches with some privacy provided by lovely stone walls with wild flowers growing in them or banks of tall unmown meadow grass. They will be flat.

There will be standpipes with a proper soakaway so it doesn’t get all muddy.

There will be lovely little rustic hand painted or chalk and slate signs so you know where everything is.

There will be space.

Of course there will be good generous sized fire pits, bounded by rocks, perhaps with a handy grill to cook on.

There will be stream, or fast flowing shallow river.  The sea might be nearby.

There will be a little shop selling good stuff like local meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, and string and kites and homemade cake.

There will be a few hideaway places to stay, like a treehouse, or a shepherd’s hut or a yurt. Sorry, but there will be no caravans.  (Except maybe those cute little teardop ones.)

There will be natural things for children to play on.  And ropeswings, scary ones over streams, gentle ones for the smallest and hidden ones to reward the adventurous spirit.

I will run outdoor activities in the woods and by the stream for the children, to give the parents a break.  He will run bushcraft courses for the older kids and adults, and make campsite furniture in his workshop.

And of course it will be FULLY BOOKED.

Oh what bliss it will be.  (I’ll get someone else to clean the loos).

Well, would you come?  Have I missed anything?

Fiamma Awning

The Fiamma awning is permanently attached to the side of your van using the roof gutter. Unless you are pretty handy you will do best to get a specialist to fit it.  When you have arrived at your campsite unroll the awning, add the support poles and voila!  The basic awning gives you a large undercover area. You can purchase privacy panels, which zip onto the awning.

Pro’s

• Very easy to erect.
• A good size covered space, will prevent rain coming into the van assuming it’s not too windy to use it!

Con’s

• Vulnerable to wind – you can buy a tiedown kit but that will add to your pitching time.
• Pretty expensive  – around £300 plus fitting (depending on size).

The Bus Shelter

The Bus Shelter is attached to the Bongo via the rain gutters.  It is supported using poles and guide ropes in a similar way to a tarp. The end result looks similar to the Fiamma awning but with more guide ropes! We currently have a Bus Shelter and I love the look and usefulness of it, but it does have a major downfall.  As it is not self supporting it has to be taken down each time you want to drive away.

Sunny day – Awning as shade set up

Pro’s

• A good price only £130 for the larger size.
• Provides good rain shelter especially for getting in and out of van in rain.
• The adjustable support poles and guide ropes mean that you can position it so it can be quite secure in relatively strong winds. Ours survived a fair test on Bodmin Moor but you do need the three pole option for the most adjustment options.

Con’s

• It is still vulnerable in strong winds
• It has to be re-erected each time you drive away.

Hunkered down with added guide ropes for wind and rain.

Quechua Pop Up Base Tent

We have just bought ourselves a Pop up base tent. We found the Base Seconds Full on ebay which has extra pod canopies on two sides so that a two man pop up can be slotted in creating either a modular tent system or,  a living space with storage space (in the two man tent). This model is no longer sold new, but models without the pods are available from Quechua.

The big attraction of this was the extremely quick pitching and striking time, and the fact that it conveniently fits pretty exactly with door of the Bongo creating a similar system to a driveaway awning without the hassle of unhitching and attaching each time you go away.

Base tent next to van, you can see the two man poking out the back.

Having used the tent now on two occasions, we are very happy with the set up time but we tend to use it as a seperate tent. We pitch it so that if it rains we can place the van next to it and use it as an awning.

Parked separately, you can see where the door canopy of the base tent juts out at the side.

Pro’s

• Very quick and easy to erect
• Free standing and no fiddling around with attachments to the van.
• Fits very well with the door of a Bongo (and VW’s I’m told)
• Good price

Con’s

• It does get blown out of shape in strong winds but it pings straight back into shape again.  Ok as an awning but I wouldn’t want to sleep in it!
• The packed tent is a large disc, quite an awkward shape to pack.

The Bell Tent

Of course the bell tent is not an awning but as it is fairly quick to erect (20 mins) and generally lovely, many people do use it as an additional space along with their campervan.

Pros

• Relatively easy to erect
• Creates a lovely living space
• Can be used by itself as a tent, party venue, garden den etc

Cons

• If it gets wet it is harder to dry.
• Quite expensive compared to other options (from £375 for a 4m bell tent).
• Does not provide shelter from weather when getting in and out of the van.

Drive Away Awnings

There are a huge number of different driveaway awnings available.  Kyham do a ‘quick erect’ system where you don’t have to thread the pole into sleeves and there have recently been a few inflatable pole awnings such as the Vango airbeam.  Having watched videos of pitching them I am not convinced they are particularly quick but can create a good large space.  They all still feature the fiddly attaching and detaching business! Perhaps it’s just me but part of the reason I choose to camp in a campervan is to cut out some of the tedious setting up time, I feel driveaway awnings take you right back to the tent pitching issues.

What’s your extra space of choice with your campervan?  I am feeling pretty happy with my Pop Up Base tent and I’m looking forward to trying it out for a longer stint on our summer holiday!

Where: Caffyns Farm, Nr Lynton, Exmoor, EX35 6JW

How much: Adults £6.50 per night, Kids £5.50 per night, Under 5′s free.

Fires: Yes, there are various fire pit locations all around, as always try to use a previous space.  A box of fire stones for edging your fire pit is available in each field.

Wood: Yes, sold at the site shop.  A bit on the expensive side though.

Facilities: On site shop, selling essentials, and a few non-essential – oh and wind breaks, more on that later! 3 toilets  3 showers (at present). Riding stables.

Dogs: Polite dogs welcome!

The review: Exmoor is rapidly becoming one of my favourite places, the combination of wild moor, verdant green valleys with tumbling rivers and amazing coves makes it pretty unbeatable in my view.  Caffyns Farm is owned and run by the couple who used to run Cloud Farm, it sits high up with panoramic views over the Bristol Channel. By night the lights of Wales twinkle on the other side.

The surprisingly flat fields occupy a large area, and even though it was busy over the May Bank Holiday, there was still plenty of space around.  The fields have been divided up using banks of soil. In some area the banks are well covered with grass, in others they are a little more rough and ready.  It would be lovely if some wild flower seed were sprinkled all over them!

To get the best views you pay the price of being exposed to the wind, there are more sheltered areas and in retrospect we should not have been seduced by the views on rather a windy weekend. We were not alone and our little area did become quite busy , no-one can resist a cracking sea view! However, it was a sunny bank holiday weekend and would be quieter at other times.

This campsite is great for camping with a large family group, there is so much space you can easily have a section to yourself.  However, it also works well for much smaller parties, you shouldn’t be disturbed by too many noisy children if you pitch wisely!

On site there are also some stables where rides of varying lengths and abilities are available.  My kids had a great time walking round the fields on a little pony called Freddie.

Do look out for the ‘Picnic Area’ it is worth investigating.  A small stream runs through it, and as it is down in a little valley it is much more sheltered. We had several lovely hours while the kids played in the stream and we basked in the sunshine.  Lush.

Walk down the footpath towards the sea and you will find yourself in the most beautiful woods, bursting with wild flowers, gushing streams and dappled sunlight. Keep heading downwards and you will eventually (25mins on way down) find yourself at one of my favourite beaches, Lee Cove.  At low tide the bonus of a secret hidden cove around the corner is revealed for a few hours each day.  We did see families with small children making their way back up through the woods, but be warned it is steep. There is also a car park at Lee Cove. ( We cheated and sent my husband down with the campervan so we could all walk down, then he ferried the kids back up at the end of the day!)

The one serious flaw at Caffyns  is the limited facilities. On a busy bank holiday weekend there must have been a couple of hundred people on site but there where only 3 toilets and 3 showers.  There was pretty much always a queue for the toilet and this did become rather vexing, especially as the facilities are a fair walk from the furthest parts of the site.  Fortunately, the owners are working hard on building a new facilities block in the beautiful old farm buildings.  They had hoped to have them finished before the (2013) season started but they have been delayed as the condition of the building was much worse than expected.  It would have been good if they had added a few portaloos as a temporary measure.

In summary, Caffyns is a lovely site, with lots of potential and very enthusiastic owners.  The views are outstanding though the wind is  an issue worth considering when pitching.  The local area is one of my favourite parts of the country and to top it all it is a campsite that does not require prior booking and will probably always have space.

Lee Meadow Campsite, Lee, Nr Woolacombe, Devon

Where:  Lee Meadow, Nr Woolacombe, North Devon.

How much: From £12.50 for tent and two adults, Kids up to 12 – £4 per night. Over 12 £5 per night. Further charges for extra tents, cars etc.

Campfires: Yes, in previously used fire pits.

Wood: Yes, available to buy

Types of camping: All

Facilities: Showers and toilets in permanent block, snack bar and shop in peak season.

The review: How much you like a place, how positive or negative you feel about it, is always going to be intrinsically linked to how great a time you had there, and for this reason, I wonder if I am best placed to write a review of Lee Meadow Campsite.

The fact is that, 25 m.p.h winds and lashing rain on the Friday night, and a murky start on the Saturday morning aside, we had a complete ball here. The winds and rain were, in any event, banished with the help of a chilli and a bottle of red, and the murky Saturday morning cleared, along with the clouds, as the bacon sizzled away. We spent 3 (it was a bank holiday weekend) blissful, sun-filled days on various beaches on the North Devon coast, and ate curry as the sun went down at the wonderful Barricane Beach Cafe – £8 for a plate of curry and rice – beef or chicken, al fresco, with one of the best views in the world (in my humble opinion). We cooked on campfires, we body-boarded, rock pooled, and had a BBQ on the beach. We didn’t want to come home.

No wonder, then, that I am going to find it hard to say a bad word about Lee Meadow.

I found the site thanks to Hazel (of this blog) when I put out a cry for help on Twitter. I was having real trouble finding a campsite in the Woolacombe area that accepted children and dogs, was open that early in the season and wasn’t a holiday park. It meets her criteria of low key campsite with campfires permitted, and that’s just how we like our camping, too.

Booking was very straightforward and the owners (Matt & Trudy, about whom more later) didn’t seem at all fussed or phased by the fact that we would be arriving late-ish on a Friday evening, and simply asked that we let them know how we were getting on during the journey. When we did arrive, just after 8 in the end, Matt was there to greet us. He gave us a quick run-down of the facilities, advised of the best place to pitch in view of the weather, and left us to it. Our camping buddies arrived an hour or so later.

The campsite is just outside Woolacombe, but off the beaten track. Matt & Trudy breed alpacas, and our near neighbours on one side were the male alpacas, who provided something interesting for the kids to run off and look at when we weren’t on the beach. The other side of the camping field were the chickens, who occasionally popped over the hedgerow to say hello, much to the quivering torment of the dogs in our company. According to Matt, it’s been known for campers to wake up to find a chicken laying an egg in their tent. More conventionally, fresh eggs are available from an honesty box at the entrance of the site.

The camping area is a large field, with pitches round the edge and a fenced area where a copse of trees is growing, in the middle. As the reviews on the UK Campsite website indicate, there was plenty of space. The pitches weren’t particularly demarcated that I could see.

There is a clean loo/shower block by the entrance to the camping field. 3 loos & 3 showers for the ladies, similar for the men. A spacious, covered washing- up area with plenty of room for all your children to engage in the washing up activities. A chemical toilet disposal point and water. Some of the pitches have electric hook up. Campfires are permitted, encouraged, even, in fire pits, and the site owners will supply decent sized bags of decent wood to keep the pyromaniacs in your party happy. Once the wind died down, we had the perfect conditions for chilled out evenings round the fire, and a little light stargazing.

There is no playground or anything like that. But there is lots of space, and places to hang out – a fence to sit on, an old tyre, a bench. We had 5 kids between us and they found plenty to do out of nothing – the way kids do best – on the site. If your kids are older, there’s also a track that runs from the campsite that they can go walking on – our eldest kids took the dogs off for walks a couple of times. And of course, you are no more than 10 minutes drive from some of the most fantastic coastline and beaches in the area.

This is the first year that the site has been open this early in the season. As a result, we shared the site with only a handful of other campers, which added to the sense of it being a special place. The snack bar and shop weren’t open, but we had plenty of bacon, and the relaxed atmosphere of the place more than made up for it. There are, in any event, a couple of well stocked stores in Woolacombe if needed.

Matt & Trudy turned up on the Saturday evening to have a chat, collect payment, and generally make sure we were OK. They were pleased to chat, and while we didn’t have any problems, I can imagine that they would be very helpful and anxious to make sure that any issues were resolved quickly.

I’ve already said that the site was very quiet. It is in a brilliant location, close to any action that you might be looking for but a relaxed and low key site where you wouldn’t be disturbed. I do wonder if the loos/showers would cope if the site was much busier, but the reviews on UK Campsite suggest that Matt and Trudy work hard to keep everything spotlessly clean. While we were chatting to them, it also became clear that they work hard to make sure that it’s not a rowdy site. People are encouraged to have fires, sit out etc but it’s not a loud music party type of site. Certainly when we were there, it was all great.

So there you have it. A site that we’ve added to our 1976 AA book of the coast (which we keep in the camper van) as somewhere we’ll definitely go back to. And thanks, Hazel for the suggestion!

Thanks so much Sally!  So good to find a low key campsite in an area that has it’s fair share of resort style sites!

Do pop over and have a good root around at

Recipe Junkie and The Attack of the Custard Creams,

Great writing and great recipes!

I steered the eager band of children towards an unused pitch among the trees a short distance from our pitch.  We selected a tree as the base of our den. On this occasion we found a tree growing at a slant which provided the perfect base for a teepee style den!  And then we set about searching out plenty of long sticks.

The pace was fast, the search area wide.  Hands were scratched as we wrestled fallen branches from the undergrowth, plans were made, discussions where frequent and sometimes oppositional.

‘the entrance should be here’

‘no, here’,

‘ok, how about that is the back door?’

‘den’s don’t have back doors’ etc,etc.

Team work, planning, co-operation, creative thinking, argument resolution.  Having fun in the outdoors provides so many learning opportunities plus you get a cool den at the end of it!

Busy making!

We found fallen fir-tree branches which made fantastic cover for the den.  A path was constructed to the entrance and ‘paved’ with more small fir branches.  Small logs were procured to create seats inside the den.  I had to laugh when one of the kids suggested one log was the TV!

The team!

Once construction was complete every opportunity was taken to make full use of the new accommodation.  Meals where trotted over and decorations were made.  I came back after they had been playing alone for a while and found they had constructed a forest mobile, searching out  interesting bits and pieces on the forest floor and tying numerous knots. It was really lovely!

The great thing about the den in the woods was that the children really took ownership of it. Showing it off to campsite friends, decorating, altering, making up role play games to play in it.  It was great for them and it was great for the adults, as we enjoyed some quiet moments while  they were busy with the den.  Bonus!

Lamb (or Chicken) Wraps

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!

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.

6.  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.

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!

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.

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!

View from Big Field

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

Making fire!

Somewhere to sleep!

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!

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!)

Poached eggs on a campfire grill!

Lamb Hotpot on a campfire grill!