We are a family group of 14 with age range 20+ to 60+. We enjoy long family weekend breaks and need space close together for one caravan, one motorhome and five tents all with electric hook up. We also place a large gazebo in middle for all our cooking and social activities. We need ten minutes or so walk to nearest town/village with pubs, shops, restaurants.
We have been accommodated on some fabulous sites over the years but now looking for new ideas. Since our homes are midlands, south, north west, we are looking for somewhere central county-ish (lot to choose from).
Any suggestions please.
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How about you join the Camping Club and block book a whole CS site? You would even be able to take a few friends too to make the numbers up to their limits.
I’d second the suggestion of hiring a complete site: I’ve done this (at a CL) because I didn’t want our group of 11 to disturb others in the evening as we had a birthday to celebrate.
You may find some sites are reluctant to book a group as large as yours, fearing late night parties or whatever. Some times it can be better if everyone (or family groups) books their own stay, though that doesn’t necessarily get you adjacent pitches.
The sites I could suggest are far too far away for you, so I can’t help there.
Thank you for your idea. We always liaise with site owner to get a space all to ourselves and been successful but it does take a lot of searching and discussion to overcome site owners fears.
An event field would suit a group of that size just right, you hire the whole field, they are not as common as they used to be but some site still have them.
I've hired entire CC CS sites for rallies, you don't have to utilise all the pitches (just pay for them! - we've negotiated a discount for the block booking!) if you've hired the entire site, and often don't have to conform to normal pitch layouts, but 3m between units firebreaks may still be imposed.
Dedicated Rally fields would suit, but often they are very basic without many/any EHUs and remote from main site toilets/showers. Again, we've hired them for our rally group. What you get will vary wildly between different sites.
Seem to recall seeing CAMC are now operating a scheme whereby adjacent pitches to first arrival (they don't reserve pitches in advance!) can be reserved for family/friends, but AFAIK tents are usually on a separate area to Caravans/MHs/Campers, and tents are only accepted on small number of sites, but recent stays on their sites have shown car roof tents mixed in with Caravans etc. on standard pitches.
Smallish privately owned sites can be flexible and accommodating, but likely no published details, you'd have to ask and explain your need.
All that said, some sites BAN groups outright - usually on grounds of noisy/rowdy groups likely disturbing other campers!
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Thank you Monty for a detailed reply. We have found prior discussion with owners absolutely essential to organise a good family camp. The usual problem is getting us all pitched together with sufficient EHU and reasonable distance from facilities. They do take some finding
Quote: Originally posted by TonyT1 on 11/9/2025
Thank you Monty for a detailed reply. We have found prior discussion with owners absolutely essential to organise a good family camp. The usual problem is getting us all pitched together with sufficient EHU and reasonable distance from facilities. They do take some finding
I'm ALL too well aware that booking for a group is an uphill struggle and fraught with disappointments, been doing it for years! I organise an annual rally for rescued dog owners/fosterers, and we need around 12 pitches, with a mix of tents, caravans, MHs, campers all together, not in separate fields which is often the norm for tents, and with a bit of social 'mixing space' for our traditional BBQ. We also need EHU and site showers/toilets for those without onboard facilities. We like to book the entire site for at least a long w/e with option for some to stay longer. I look at dozens upon dozens of sites to whittle it down to choice of one or two that tick boxes AND will accept us! - It's bloody hard work and takes weeks, even months of research! Done it enough times not to want to do it too often!
If you want to camp in Derbyshire Peak District, we've booked this site for past few years The Waterloo Inn Pub grub and beer is good, Landlord is brilliant and accommodates our needs so well. Bugger all in the village apart from pub/camp site, but local shops in next village a mile or two away, and the big towns a short drive away. Fantastic walks in the region if that's your thing.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 10/9/2025
I’d second the suggestion of hiring a complete site: I’ve done this (at a CL) because I didn’t want our group of 11 to disturb others in the evening as we had a birthday to celebrate.
You may find some sites are reluctant to book a group as large as yours, fearing late night parties or whatever. Some times it can be better if everyone (or family groups) books their own stay, though that doesn’t necessarily get you adjacent pitches.
The sites I could suggest are far too far away for you, so I can’t help there.
Another drawback to everyone booking their own pitches is that on some sites you can be asked/made to leave if they realise you are part of a larger than permitted group.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
There's a campsite called the White Lodge in Great Haywood (Staffordshire), they have a Rally field, some hard standing pitches and there also a lower field, off the top of my head, I think the lower field is all grass but has a certain amount of EHU points.
Might be worth giving them a ring, although I think they shut the lower field at a certain point in the year to allow the grass to grow back.
Really nice site and Carly and Dave are good owners too
Have a look at The Field Camping site in Coleford Gloucestershire.
I don't think they have much in the way of facilities but they seem to have groups and is easy walking distance to Coleford Town Centre or you can drive with first hour free parking.
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: Large Family Camping Weekends
via mobile 10/9/2025 at 10:42pm
