Choosing a Campsite
It's a question of personal taste. Some campers want full comfort, sports facilities and all-night entertainment; others like to stick close to nature, and don't care if shower-block is primitive. Here are some pointers to help you choose.
What do you want?
Camping offers a fantastic range of choices. You can shape your holiday exactly how you please. Picture your ideal, then see where you can best hope to find it. Do you want:
- To visit a particular region?
- Coast, lake or mountains?
- A beach holiday or walking holiday?
- A large camping site, or a small one?
- Nearby visitor attractions?
- Top-quality bathroom facilities, or just adequate ones?
- A swimming pool on site?
- Sports and games facilities?
- Electric hookups?
- Wifi or other internet access?
- A laundrette?
- To be able to light campfires or barbecues?
- To take your dog?
- To go fishing?
Listings
There are numerous guides and websites that list campsites. These will contain the basic details, from which you can deduce what to expect: electrical facilities, showers, the existence on an on-site shop etc. Some independent listings also give midge/mosquito ratings. A key factor is the number of pitches: some people prefer the intimacy of small campsites, with very few pitches (under 50), but the facilities may be basic. The presence of a large number of static caravans for hire has (to some minds) a negative effect of the character of a site. But statistics are one thing: the charm (or otherwise) of the site, the warmth (or otherwise) of the welcome, and the conviviality (or otherwise) of other campers are also going to play a major part in your enjoyment. Such things are difficult to glean from listings alone, so listen out for the recommendations of friends and other campers, and study the comments of selective, independent guidebooks, or reviews in the press, or websites - some of which include evaluations (and criticisms) by campers who have used the sites.
www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Price
The cost of a campsite, per night, is usually based on the number of tents, people and cars. Expect to pay around £12-£20 pounds for two people with a tent and a car, and about £2 each per night for children.
Book ahead
Note that in the summer months, the most popular campsites get booked up well in advance. Book early to avoid disappointment!
Pitching your tent
Choose a piece of flat ground, free of stones. Ideally, you want to be at least 10m from your nearest neighbour. Find a place that is not too near - yet also within easy walking distance of - the shower-block/toilets. If pitching on a slope, face the door down the slope, provided that this is not also into the prevailing wind.
Comments on this article
Betty 13 July, 2011
I recommend Hurley Riverside Park www.hurleyriversidepark.co.uk
We've stayed at Hurley a number of times over the last few years and it's fantastic. It's really popular with other families and they allow groups of families to book together which is great.
The park is split into different fields and we've stayed in different parts, some are quite open and some are small and enclosed. Some take caravans some take tents and some take both.
The shower blocks are always clean and there are family shower rooms which is perfect when you've got young kids.
The best thing about Hurley is that there isn't a club house or noisy playground and the park has a policy of no noise after 10.30 so you can get some hard earned sleep.
There is loads of room for ball games and running about and there's a pretty nature trail through the wood next to the park. I recommend taking a picnic and sitting next to the river to feed the ducks!
I cannot recommend this place highly enough! We've already booked for a week in August and it gets fully booked quite early for bank holidays so we've booked for next year as well.