Sam1859, is it crucial that you have a campfire? If not, and you're willing to travel to North Wales (Anglesey)then Golden Sunset camping fields at Benllech should tick your boxes.
Open until the last weekend in September, they don't mind groups - various owners clubs often have meets there - rally fields for large groups or smaller areas can be set aside by prior arrangement for smaller groups who want to be pitched together. No designated pitches, just pitch where you want so ideal if you have a large tent, charge per person (£7 per night) 5 minute walk to shops and pubs, 5 mins drive/15 mins walk to a great beach. At the end of the season it won't be very busy so they MAY be willing to let you use a raised firepit if you can guarantee you won't burn the grass - it would be worth an ask.
As for first impressions of young people - I was camping at that site a couple of years ago when my quiet week was interrupted by the arrival of a group of five 18/19 year old lads. My heart sank, thinking I'd be in for a lot of noise, especially when I heard them all discussing how many cans of beer each of them had brought. Nothing could have been further than the truth though - they were all friendly and polite lads having a few days break after the end of their A levels. They made no mess, kept their music volume down, invited me to join them in the evenings for a couple of cans (very little noise other than normal conversation and laughter)they didn't get drunk and they were all in bed by 11pm, earlier than me! So far from being the troublesome teens I first thought, they were a great bunch of lads - youngsters get so much bad press these days that it's easy to assume they are all the same, so this just shows how wrong you can sometimes be.
Sam1859, you sound like a very level-headed and considerate young person, I hope you manage to find a suitable site and you and your friends enjoy your September break.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Sam1859 - my eldest & his friends went to a place in Woolacombe Devon, all 18 at the time as celebrating finishing A levels, around 15 of them in 3 tents, they had a great time & were respectful of the other campers & were joined for the day by their head of 6th year who was a good mentor for them, was retiring & wanted to see all his lads before they disbursed to Uni's around the country - my son is in Oz but when I chat to him I'll find out the site if its any help
as for people being respectful of other campers, yes people don't appreciate loud noise after 11pm, the same goes for keeping the squealing kids quiet at 6 in the morning, but I'm not making a sweeping generalisation, I took my boys from the age of 10 months & they were taught to keep the noise down & to play ball games in the designated area & not around other peoples tents & caravans so I know not all small children are left to run riot
------------- rescue - my favourite breed of dog :-)
I think you may mean Europa in Woolacombe which allows rowdy young groups, i.e. groups of youngsters who want to 'get it out their system' so to speak.
This site is far from ideal for the family camping lot though (myself included), although I may go surfing down that way without the kids later in the year and may try it just to see what it's like - even though I'm seemingly 20 years older than its usual clientelle.
Sounds like OP doesn't require this sort of site though and it does detract from certain positive qualities of camping which you'll find in more traditional campsites.
There'll always be the issue of what's right for one is not for another.
Best of luck finding a campsite Sam. I wouldn't specifically target campsites that charge per person. I'd invest in a few smaller tents and spread out over a few pitches - I know someone last year who bought a perfectly usable 3 man for £11 off ebay - you take risks of course buying this way but if you're careful etc.
Sorry,not "coastal" ,but in the past we've attended several pre-festival season "get togethers" (30+ people, in umpteen tents, a few campervans) at Rocks East, just a few miles NE of Bath....
Very "rustic"...but it was pretty easy going, with folk up all night chatting/laughing/drinking around the fire(..which owners will sell you trailers of wood for).
We did always hire the whole of one of the fields though, so we weren't mixed in with/disturbing others..
I've helped out with several Duke of Edinburgh groups over the last few years and we've never had any complaits. However, we have had a couple of camps disturbed by families who see camping as an excuse to get drunk while their children run riot...
It may be worth contacting campsites that take Scout / Guides groups or DofE groups as they will be used to well behaved, larger groups of young people.
This has brought back great memories of my teenage camping days with my pals, oh we used to have a ball when camping, but still respectful of others and always welcomed back.
Sorry can't recommend anywhere for you as I am in Scotland, but would love to hear how you get on and hope you find something suitable.
------------- I'm working class, I do what I have to do, to get by.
I seriously hope that our two boys (currently 3 and 4) want to go camping when they are "grown up"!!. Good luck in your search. I am sure you are going to have a great time.
------------- August 2013 - Kingsbridge, Devon
April 2014 - Ladram Bay,Devon
May 2014 - Whitehill Country Park, Paignton
July 2014 - Rivendale, Derbyshire
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I have to say that as 2 adults with no children we would rather a group of 'adults' on site being 'noisy' until 2300 than Children that are allowed to be shouting and screaming at all hours of the early morning and night.
Why was I not aware of how good camping is, when I was in my late teens?
It would have been an absolute riot with my gang of mates... although they were a bad influence, of course!
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 29/4/2014
So in real terms, you are looking for a campsite that allows a large group of noisy teenagers who have no respect for other campers and allowed to ignite open fires whilst everyone gets into a drunken stupor.
It's been mentioned on this forum before whereby respectable family campers have had to endure this sort of unwanted behaviour and eventually become abusive when respectable people complain to the site owner.
I find it's old people who are worse!
They have big tin tents, drink too much merlot, are always using the toilets because of their incontinence, are always shouting, have tv on loud, because they forget to turn on their hearing aids, probably because they are drunk from the merlot, snoring loudly and generally moan about youngsters playing on the park, which they have chosen to pitch next to.
At least us youngsters have respect for the older people and don't jump to conclusions!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping - Booking Per person not per pitc
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