We've stayed at The Orchards a few times. Last year we had hard standing with our TT, which was gravel with a large grass area next to it. It was level as they're terraced.
Having stayed many years back on a pitch which needed a moat, I can say from experience that the reception is at the top of a hill, and there are non hard standing pitches at the bottom of it
Our TT is pretty big 7.5m x 4.5m and we still had space to park our camper next to it, so you should be o.k. size wise.
As previous folks have said, it's in the middle of the island on the less populated side, so you may have to drive to a few attractions, but nearby beaches are stunning...try Compton Bay
The toilet/shower/washing up facilities are excellent, shop & take-away average. The indoor pool and area around it are very warm as it's quite a small space. Poolside cafe is being a bit optimistic...just the attendant doing tea/coffee etc with a few pre-packed biscuits.
Outdoor pool is much bigger, but we've never tried it, as we prefer the beach.
Views are stunning in the right weather though
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Thanks CamperClan. Are the hardstanding pitches for TT and caravan only?
Would prefer one of them if possible.
Poolside Cafe...Lol. Good job we don't tend to rely on these overpriced things. Luckily our kids are now old enough to take themselves swimming so we just pop by every now and then to check they are OK. Or if we do stay and watch we can pop back to make our own free cuppa.
------------- If you see a family struggling to put up the tent then it must be us!
Surfspud i now live on the iow, an while the sites you are on about do mean alot of driving nothing is too far away an driving the island is great. There is fort victoria a big country park over looking the solent has an aquarium , an observataroy, a model railway, plenty to do, its free to park an very cheap to get into the places, just up the road is colwell bay this is beautiful an if u walk just round the corner u can see the needles. Godshill is a must it is like stepping bk in time agasin free parking. We have lived her nearly a year an love going out exploring an we even go camping to this year we stayed at brightstone was like stepping bk to the 50s
ok.. from an islander viewpoint.. i would go with the orchards.. is a fantastic little site..really clean and tidy.. the play equipment at adgestone is a bit tired and aimed at littlies.. the bit for the older kids is even more tired and neglected. i stayed there at easter.
nice play area at pondwell campsite nr ryde/seaview is in pub garden that backs on to camping field.
avoid any sites that are on the cliff tops if the sea doesnt really hold your attention!
trying to think play area rather then campsite lol
then there is place in East Cowes called waverley park.. is good for outside pool and play stuffs
is there any other criteria??
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Good toilets and showers, lol. What most people want really. Flat pitch, clean facilities.
I would also say not overrun with trees either. Around the edge and dotted about fine but the last site we stayed at had loads and it seemed most tents never got much sun.
------------- If you see a family struggling to put up the tent then it must be us!
oh my goodness.. i had thought the island to be a very friendly place, obviously there a few out there that are not, i do think you are over reacting to one slip up on the key board... im trying to make a new life for myself an the children an do not need a bully like you upsetting the apple cart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
and yes surfspud i am that one, but due to a nasty marriage break up myself an the children needed to re-locate to a new area, chose the island due to having friends here an it feeling like a second home an its friendliness xx
Well I hope it all works out for you PP. I love the place despite very few visits.
My Dad lived there for 12 years in a Childrens hospital, which I believe is long gone. I have similar health problems so if it was best for him I'm sure it must be good for me.
Tinallkn4...We have pretty much decided on those two but always open for suggesions. I did look at Appuldurcombe but it works out at £45 a night!
Same with Ninham. It is £40 a night plus we would have to be out by 10am. Something I know we couldn't manage.
But Thanks for your help. Looks like we may well be off to the Orchards.
------------- If you see a family struggling to put up the tent then it must be us!
Quote: Originally posted by princesspickle2 on 12/9/2011
oh my goodness.. i had thought the island to be a very friendly place, obviously there a few out there that are not, i do think you are over reacting to one slip up on the key board... im trying to make a new life for myself an the children an do not need a bully like you upsetting the apple cart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
get your back down! its a mistake that LOTS of visitors make.. i was just ltting you know it makes us wince, thats all!! calm down, if i was a bully, i dont think i wouldve asked if you were happy here, and certainly wouldnt ask to camp with you???!!!
soo.. to start again
"please be careful with the way you pronounce brighstone.. it doesnt contain the extra 'T' and is pronounced 'bry-stun'. it is one that makes the locals wince!!!
i hope you have found happiness on the island, it truly is a fantastic place to live, especially with children. what area are you in? and how old are the kids??? it would be great to meet up and camp sometime. "
( hope that rectifies any misunderstanding!!)
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Thought I would update. I know I can write reviews but will add here too.
We ended up going to The Orchards and then Adgestone C&CC. In a nut shell there were things we liked and disliked about both. If we could merge the two (using the best bits) we would have a perfect site.
The Orchards was probably the better. As many reviews have stated the showers are large and modern. The cleaning wasn't perfect but being modern and also the design your eye wasn't immediately drawn to this fact. The kids didn't think much of the play area and only went there once I believe. They used the indoor pool once but the outdoor pool, which they loved, several times. Both pools require all under 16s to be accompanied. This was a bit of a pain and our nearly 16 year old daughter wasn't too impressed. However we did soon realise that outdoors no one actually checked that rules were being kept. Supervision was still given though!
The site has many rules, but didn't seem to enforce them. Despite a no noise after 11pm policy, we were kept awake most nights until the early hours.
Our sloping, but on a 'level terraced pitch' pitch wasn't that big. We could only fit our tent on it. Our car had to be parked in front. Most people had this problem and because every available space has been made a pitch this leads to problems. Our neighbours had to also park in front of our pitch as the people opposite would not be able to park either (again in front of pitch) There was no room to turn cars so we all had to reverse down the slope to park. It appears the middle area was not pitches previously. But I guess the fancy facilities need paying for!
Due to the size of the pitch we rarely sat outside as a) there wasn't the room b) someone would have to be on the slope c) a view of cars is not that exciting.
Our pitch at Adgestone was much bigger. However we were placed away from the main areas. But even those pitches had room for cars. We had asked to be near the facilities but were told that our tent was too big and we should have got a jumbo pitch. Oddly, we have never had this problem before.
The kids preferred the play area here. Our middle son spent a fair bit of time here and the others all found friends and often football games would be started up.
The pool has no cover, so had a number of bugs taking a dip. (Our daughter at 15 could go in unsupervised here) This put them off going back but as they did in the end and it was slightly better so must get cleaned from time to time.
All would have been fine here. Level pitches, good play area, OK pool, nice location, but, the facilities were the worst we have ever seen. They are old, the paint is peeling. There is no door and the roof has gaps meaning weeds are growing inside. They did get cleaned, but it was a case of sweep floor, wipe over toilets (I assume), mop floor. That was it. The tiles never got wiped down, and there was cobwebs everywhere. Of course, cobwebs don't come about by themselves. The place was filled with spiders. Large ones, small ones, dead ones. They were on the loos, in the showers, by the sinks. On the rafters above, dangling off mirrors. It was horrible! I saw and heard so many children pleading not to be taken in to the showers. I also saw many adults refusing to use the showers, and that included me. I'm afraid it was way below the standards we expect from a C&CC site, and way below the standards I'd expect from any site.
The Island itself is lovely and we shall definitely be returning. Especially if we have weather like the 3 weeks we got to enjoy!
------------- If you see a family struggling to put up the tent then it must be us!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Sites on the IOW
Supervision was still given though! 
