Having never been camping in our lives, last October we went to stay at Fron Farm for 2 nights. We borrowed a tent which was very basic and bought airbeds for about £10. each and then I ended up sleeping on the damp grass because mine had a puncture. Anyway, I learnt from that experience what I needed to enable me to enjoy the camping experience. With the recession, camping is our holiday whether we like it or not. I have bought a Vango Tigris 600xl and two queen size airbeds, as well as great chairs to sit on. Now I just need to know where and when to go camping. And how long do you go camping for. I have no idea. Do you book in advance and go regardless of the weather? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Depends on where you are and how for you are willing to travel? I find this site excellent for site reviews etc, just take your time and think carefully about what you want out of a camp site.British weather is unpradictable to say the least but when we have good days it`s well worth the effort. I usually go in the summer school holidays and then at least you may get a bit of fine weather BUT most sites have a low,mid and high season chart for their tarriffs so be warned it can work out expensive especially if you go for a week in high season.
If you give us a bit more info, I am sure we will be able to help.
* How many people? Adults? Children?
* Where abouts do you want to go? Coast? Country? Town?
* What sort of things do you want or need on site? Electric hook up? Play area? Showers and toilets? Dog walk?
* All action site? Family friendly? Quiet? Adult only?
* What do you like to do? Walking? Cycling? Climbing? Fishing?
There are hundreds of sites listed on here and you can search for the things that are important to you.
My boys (11 and 6) really liked Sleningford Watermill near Ripon where they could paddle and fish in the river and the site is close to Lightwater Valley theme park.
I personally book in advance, especially during peak periods and school holidays as sites tend to be very busy at these times.
I camp from about March to October.
How long you go for is entirely up to you depending on your finances/circumstances...Some folk are happy with just one or two nights away...Some wouldn't pack the car for anything less than a week..Some are quite happy with one trip(main holiday) per year..Some would be off every weekend if possible...
Booking in advance is advisable for most sites especially in the spring/summer months school holidays etc as it can be quite hard to get a pitch at these times...
Type of site is again your choice...All singing All dancing sites with every amenity is not for me...But suits others...Some like to potter about on site all day...Others are off round and about as soon as breakfast is finished...Some use their tent and camping to pursue hobbies like fishing or kyaking etc..others use the tent as a base to explore areas they want to visit....Hundreds of sites on here in the campsite search section...A wee bit of research could find you your perfect site...
Happy camping however and whenever you decide to go...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
As said a lot does depend on where you want to go. Last year we booked a small site just days before we went away and had no problem getting in. We hung on until the last minute so we could go when the weather was less wet! However we don't have EHU and it was a very basic site. A bigger site with lots of facilities is going to get booked up quite early on.
You will also find in the school summer holidays that it is quieter at a lot of sites during the week and easier to book last minute than at weekends. Though this again is quite dependant on what sort of site it is.
Thank you so much for your help and advice. We live in Liverpool and love the Lake District and Wales. I have seen a few campsites where you can select your plot, which I like the idea of, but would hate it if it was pouring down with rain so it's putting me off, a little, booking in advance. For work purposes though, I would prefer to. It's so hard being a newbie. I may book Monday to Friday for a week in July/August, and then get away last minute the rest of the time. I'd prefer there to be things to do, with good facilities so any favourite campsites, let me know as I'd rather go by recommendation. Thanks for your help again.
First thing to remember is that everyone has been a "newbie" at some time and you have the advantage with this site of picking peoples brains for all the advice we wish we had when we started camping.
Notice you are from Liverpool and said you love the Lakes and Wales. If you are limited to school holidays i.e. July/August you may well have to book no matter where you want to go.
if you can take a long weekend before then can I suggest you look at the Camping and Caravan Club site at Eskdale in the western Lakes. Its a beautiful site and location and is away from the most "touristy" areas of the eastern lakes such as Windermere and Ambleside etc, yet has has some lovely places to visit and a couple of great pubs in the village which are just a short walk into the village from the site. Check the reviews on this website and you will see what I mean.
Just to tempt you further I attach a couple of photos of the site and the nearby dales to whet your appetite. First is the site itself, second is the Eskdale to ravenglass railway (within easy walk from the site) and third Wastwater which is the next "dale" to Eskdale.
Whatever you decide I hope you enjoy camping for many years to come.
John
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
It's not too far to Anglesey from you, it's a lovely area and there are quite a few campsites to choose from. You could maybe try Bodewran Bach or Valley of the Rocks, both a bit on the basic side but have loos and showers.
Hi,
When we first went camping in summer 2011 we chose somewhere not to far away from home, just to get the 'feel' of camping (we live in Wigan and chose Southport - only an hour away and just for 3 nights). I'm glad we did as we had never pitched a large tent before or put up all the tables, chairs, airbeds etc and we didn't know whether our kids would take to it and it was great to see if we had got everything we needed for camping.
That first camp really helped and we are so glad that we started camping
------------- Camping trips for 2013...
*May half term, 5 nights - Black Bull Caravan Park, Pickering
*July/August 13 nights - Invercoe, Scotland
*October half term 6 nights - Beech Croft Farm, Buxton
The majority of people on here would probably make you laugh at their stories of their '1st camp' Ours was rediculous to say the least.Were invited by other family members who were experienced.
Beautiful day when we set off, lovely and warm ( when was that day!!), didnt even take a coat!! Huddled together in a small tent on a single airbed frozen. No sleep, so cold, and NEVER AGAIN,but did we learn fast! Now have all the camping equipment and love it. We laugh about that 1st time every trip we go on.
My best bit of advice would be to always expect poor weather and be prepared for it. I.e have boots, fleeces, waterproofs extra blankets - even in summer. Try not to be a fairweather camper from the start. You can still walk, barbeque, sight see, fish, in the rain (under a tarp etc). We've had some fun times in poorer weather. And if its dry, hot, sunny - well, what an absolute bonus! That way youre not obsessed by weather forecasts and miss out on weekends.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I'm already enjoying 'camping' just by the sheer enthusiasm of you all on here.
I didn't want to book in advance because couldn't guarantee the weather but got a kick up the bum before after one of you told me not to be a fairweather camper. You're so very right. We would never go anywhere if we waited for the good British summer and, in a way, guess it adds to the fun???
So, I have now booked:
Easter holidays: Manorafon Farm, Abergele
Last week of August: Fforest Fields, Powys
I also intend to book this week, for the first week of August, Eskdale, Lake District.
The rest of the year is, indeed, in the hands of the weather and I will be in the hands of God as to whether we have some weekends away.
BUT.....3 holidays booked/about to be booked, for £300 - why isn't everyone camping!!! It is amazing and I cannot wait - :)
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: I need help on where to go camping
