Camping and caravanning

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
We bought a caravan a year ago almost to the day and so far we have spent less than two weeks enjoying it.

I'm not a happy camper, I like my creature comforts and not having to walk across a muddy field in the middle of the night to take a small child to the loo, I like ice cold beer and being able to read a book at night without a head torch, I like the fact that we have everything in one place and don't have hours of packing and unpacking at either end so on the spur of the moment trip we stumbled across 'Bessie' and 'she' seemed to tick all of the boxes.

I can't tow and hubby works silly hours and can't sit still for two minutes but I am determined to use it more this year. Weekends away are often planned hours before departure, last year we had a weekend in Penkridge, which was nice enough but found the site to be a bit money grabbing (my parents took the kids swimming and were asked to pay £10 to be able to drive my tired toddler down a half mile track from the gate to the site) and a bit rough round the edges. Then we had a weekend in Northwich which was nice but we want to see a few other places before we head back there.

Hoping to have a weekend over Easter and looking for recommendations around an hour away. Clean showers and loos are a must, electric hook up is a bonus and ideally something to occupy the kids within a short walk if not on site.

As the weather gets warmer, I'd appreciate recommendations for sites a bit further afield that hubby can leave me and the kids at during the week, that one would need more activity and everything within walking distance as I would more than likely be carless.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
You're going to struggle getting anywhere decent for easter now. The good sites book up quickly.

But I would recommend looking at camping and caravan/ caravan club sites. They aren't the cheapest but generally are a good standard.

We're going to the Kingsbury water park site easter that would fit your requirements. We've actually been to quite a few that would but I can't think of any of their names off the top of my head.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
Wolverley camping and caravan club sites is also ok. Right next to a pub and a 30 min walk down the canal into kidderminster.
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
For a proper break, I highly recommend Golden Sands (haven site) at Mablethorpe. This year will be our 7th! Although we go in their holiday homes, I have camped there too. Kids park in the camping area, very very good showers and electric hookup etc. The on site pools are really good especially for the little ones, and it's only a couple of minutes across the road to the beach where you can catch the sandtrain up to the town. www.mablethorpesandtrain.uk
It's about 15 miles north of Skeggy - but far less commercialised. We love it!
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
Can anyone recommend a camp site (tent) suitable for dog and kids within an hours drive ?
I'm also looking for a local site too for the test run lol iv never camped in a tent before and I'm dreading it
 

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
Caravan was sold last year, we had a week in Newquay (Wales) and a weekend in Blackpool but in reality we weren't using it and it was wasted on us, so above post about not being a happy camper - I'm going to give it a go, a friend has invited me along on a girly weekend to a cider farm (3 nights) downside is I'm taking the kids.

I don't have a tent yet, I don't know what tent I need, I don't like tents. I don't know why I'm doing this to myself.

Recommendations please for something easy enough to put up, with two separate sleeping enclosures, one for the kids and all their crap to go and one for me!

What else do I need - air beds and sleeping bags obviously and I've got table and chairs. I can utilise cooking facilities that the other ladies have, am I missing anything else obvious?

Also budget friendly as it will more than likely never see the light of day again.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
We bought this new tent on Sunday, tested it in the garden and I think it's pretty good. If you want a cheap one with 2 bedrooms this looks okay.

We're off to Flamborough next week.
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Caravan was sold last year, we had a week in Newquay (Wales) and a weekend in Blackpool but in reality we weren't using it and it was wasted on us, so above post about not being a happy camper - I'm going to give it a go, a friend has invited me along on a girly weekend to a cider farm (3 nights) downside is I'm taking the kids.

I don't have a tent yet, I don't know what tent I need, I don't like tents. I don't know why I'm doing this to myself.

Recommendations please for something easy enough to put up, with two separate sleeping enclosures, one for the kids and all their crap to go and one for me!

What else do I need - air beds and sleeping bags obviously and I've got table and chairs. I can utilise cooking facilities that the other ladies have, am I missing anything else obvious?

Also budget friendly as it will more than likely never see the light of day again.

Just sent you a message
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
Caravan was sold last year, we had a week in Newquay (Wales) and a weekend in Blackpool but in reality we weren't using it and it was wasted on us, so above post about not being a happy camper - I'm going to give it a go, a friend has invited me along on a girly weekend to a cider farm (3 nights) downside is I'm taking the kids.

I don't have a tent yet, I don't know what tent I need, I don't like tents. I don't know why I'm doing this to myself.

Recommendations please for something easy enough to put up, with two separate sleeping enclosures, one for the kids and all their crap to go and one for me!

What else do I need - air beds and sleeping bags obviously and I've got table and chairs. I can utilise cooking facilities that the other ladies have, am I missing anything else obvious?

Also budget friendly as it will more than likely never see the light of day again.
I brought a 6 man pro action tent from Argos for £80 for our trial runs .Has 2 bedrooms and a centre bit. It's great for the price and it didn't leak even with a ton of rain. I didn't want to spend a lot on our first tent because it will probably end up abandoned in she'd being eating by mice lol
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I've got a similar one to the Beta, the Metis. We went for that as you can stand up in it, which you can't in the Beta. We might be selling it too.

They hydrostatic head on the Argos tent is a bit low.
 
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