In May, I was lucky enough to win 2 nights Camping in the Forest for my Tent review.
I would firstly like to thank UKCampsite for this, and I will be writing a review shortly.
Due to other commitments, this weekend was the first opportunity that we could use this break. Despite being C&CC members, we have never used one of their sites, and I was interested to see what gives them an edge over other sites. We Choose to go to Christchurch in the Forest of Dean.
My initial choice was in New Forest, but with a requirement of EHU, this was not an option.
I am happy to say we were delighted with our Choice, there was also Bracelands, 1/2 mile further down the track, but it was also half a mile further away from Berry Hill and Coleford.
We arrived at Friday lunchtime, and quickly put our tent up, and relaxed for a while, watching the world go by, and a group of young lads struggle to put their tent up (we were going to offer our assistance, but it looked as if they had they had their own little competition to see who got their's up first.)
We then walked into Coleford (2 miles) to get provisions, and have a diet coke or two. A delightful village, and we tried out all the pubs (as it was now raining quite heavily).
Eventually we reluctantly braved the rain, and walked back to the camp site, stopping at "The Globe Inn", Berry Hill. This is one of the friendliest and welcoming pubs I have been into for a Long time. Seeing that we were Drenched through, the first thing they did (after providing us our drinks) was put the Radiators on to dry our jackets out, and as it was still tipping it down, the landlord kindly gave us a lift back to the camp site.
On Saturday, The Storm had passed, and we woke up to beautiful Sunny day. (The wife and our Friend, had the benefit of also waking up to a hot mug of coffee and a full english too ) After breakfast, we walked to Symonds Yat Rock,
and Symonds Yat,
before following the river to Biblins Bridge and back to the site.
Back at camp, My wife cooked me My Favourite, Chilli Con Carne, I return the favour by cooking her favourite, Freshly Made Pancakes with Rasperberries Maple Syrup and a generous amount of clotted cream - Even though I do say so myself, they were gorgeous - exceeded my expectations, hence why I am shouting about them
In the evening, we walked back and had another great night at The Globe, where they had live music on.
This morning, we were blessed with nice weather, so we could pretty much dry everything out before heading on. Could of done with a little bit of a breeze to speed things up. I will be putting out over the sofa over night to give it a proper airing before next season.
If we do go away again, I will take our Quechua Bionnassay T2+, but I expect it will be the last trip, which is quite sad.
Lovely pics.always like to see pics from peoples holidays.Bracelands is only half an hour from home for me so I've been there a few times .Love it that the children have so much space to run around (we usually stay at the further campsite ,Bracelands in the summer its quite a nice little stroll from the campsite up to Christchurch with the shop)That pub sounded amazingly friendly!The personal recommendation from you will guarantee him some more business from campers who read your post in the future.
Quote: Originally posted by cllr_gyppo on 08/10/2012
In answer to the Question:
"What the hell is that mess directly in front of your tent?"
This was bear Earth/Mud. Obviously where everyone else had pitched their tents on the Same spot all summer, and has killed the grass.
Whilst it wasn't raining when we arrived, it was certainly a bit damp and messy, so we decided to Pitch up the hill a bit further.
In front of the Mud, the Field got Waterlogged over night, so I am glad we made the decision to move up the hill rather than down.
Well, I guessed the first bit, at least! The fact that it was the footprint left by previous tenants. I admit to being baffled as to why you chose to face it, rather than turn your tent around, so the mess was behind you. Now a hill has been mentioned (I hadn't noticed it in the pics first time round), I can fully see your reasoning.
I sincerely hope that you didn't mind me asking, but as a complete newbie, not only do I need to keep shopping, I also need to keep learning. So thanks for the explanation, cllr. Much appreciated.
Looks and sounds like you had a great time at Christchurch, Im lucky enough to live in this wonderful area so its very gratifying to hear others sing its praises too. I did have a little giggle though when you called Coleford a village, to us locals a place that size is called a town,lol.
------------- Dec- Bath Marina
Dec- Chertsy ccc
Dec- Oxford ccc
May- Apple Orchard Forest of Dean
July- France TBC
Aug- La Grenouille Hautefort
Nice pics. Takes me back too many years to mention when we spent many summer holidays canoeing down the Wye valley from Monmouth to Chepstow no campsites just pitching the tent in farmers fields next to the river
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 08/10/2012
Well, I guessed the first bit, at least! The fact that it was the footprint left by previous tenants. I admit to being baffled as to why you chose to face it, rather than turn your tent around, so the mess was behind you.
Aah...I see why you were asking the question now, my mind wasn't thinking in the same direction of yours :-( sorry if my original response seemed flippant or sarcastic, it wasn't meant to.
And to expand further, there is Little stone Plates in the Ground with Arrows on pointing alignment of the tent, and we were told to put the stone in the middle of our tent, this ensured all tents were kept at least 6m away from everyone else.
If we faced it up hill, we would have had a nice view of the Toilet block, to the Left (which you can just see in pic 1) was a collection of Wheelie bins to admire, and to the the right it would have been looking straight into a camper van. Once you looked over the mud, facing down hill was the better view all round.
we spent rather little time in our tent, and it was only a couple of nights, so it didn't really matter.
BTW I regard myself as a newbie, Only been camping 2 years, but unlike most, who started off by camping in UK then going abroad, we started of by camping in Europe, and this year is the first time we have camped in the UK, and so far, no longer than 2 nights.
IMHO, Things seem to be a lot more relaxed in Europe, as to where and how you pitch your tents, in the UK, it is very much more regimented.
Quote: Originally posted by cllr_gyppo on 08/10/2012
.....And to expand further, there is Little stone Plates in the Ground with Arrows on pointing alignment of the tent, and we were told to put the stone in the middle of our tent, this ensured all tents were kept at least 6m away from everyone else......
And my learning continues..... that's something I had neither come across, nor even heard mention of before!!
Seems a good idea though, as far as keeping tents evenly spread out (ish).
However, "regimented", I do not like!! Hence our insistence, for now at least, to remain non-EHU, and to camp on sites that will give us the opportunity to "pitch where we like".
Thanks again, cllr..... tomorrow, I will quiz you on how to make pancake batter, and whether I'd get away with strawberries instead!!!
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: Just back, Last Trip - With Pics
You needed those pancakes after all that walking 
