camping types

We quite often go to the national parks campsite just outside Hathersage in the Peak district - lovely place.

Am currently getting cross with lots of the campsites having minimum 3 night bookings over the bank holidays - we can't get away until Saturday morning.

Ah, you mean proper camping, not lazy-arse-camping in the Ardeche. Sorry, can't help then ?

Just contemplating now if/where we'll be going. Am torn between wanting to go somewhere quite far south to get decent weather, or somewhere nearer to home to make it not quite such a mentalist schlep with a 3 year old and a baby. So thinking either Norfolk, or Northumberland atm. Not been camping to either so no recs for either, sorry.

Would you come up to Scotland or is that too far?

Your camping kit sounds a bit basic for my liking although Mr R would love that. I had to negotiate electric hook up and a fridge before Mr R could persuade me to set foot under canvas ?

We have plans for Cardigan Bay (Poppit Sands) and the New Forest (Holmsley). Both are beautiful with lots of walks. Though of course neither are near the lakes ?

Camping? seriously? ?

Please god, MrP has started making "can we go camping" noises. I keep distracting him by taking my top off but that will only work for so long before he cottons on ?

MrP loves wild camping and I think you can do that in Wales and Scotland (or maybe it's only Scotland). Trail is a great magazine for locations. I'll ask for the name of the place he goes to in Wales as they allow real fires, which he loves <child>

North Wales sounds like just the place to try that sort of kit out. I love pembrokeshire for basic camping and walking coast paths too, depends how hilly you want it!

Yep we're off to Lanefoot farm nr Keswick in May and then down to Penzance In July. What about Peak district for some proper wild camping and walking?

We're caravaning it in Scotland - near Oban. There's tons of good mountains and places to walk near there. And you could get across it the islands easily and really rough it!

waaaahhhhhhh! ??

Wow, I never imagined you as the camping type Nick. We went to loads of places as kids with my parents and that really was basic camping and LOADS of walking, mainly in Lake District/Peak District and Wales.

that would be fab. you cant do fires in the lakes or the trough of bowland which i go to regularly.

i also have a hexamine stove which makes me feel like lofty wiseman ?

last time we went to the lakes we went to the borrowdale valley which is fabulous, and walked up High Spy and Great Gable. bit busy when the weather is warm tho - pooch, get mr P to put the following coordinates into his gps - N54 degrees 26'27" W3 degrees06'14" theres an excellent walk from there upto bow fell past angle tarn and upto scafell pike

oh and if he doesnt have one, point him to satmap.com - the dogs bollocks of gps.

i might have to tweet this to him as i dont think you ll show him ?

We've done Lakes, North Devon (Lynmouth area) and are off to N Yorks Moors in half term, but we don't do wild camping with three kids, but they are all good walking areas!

you learn something new everyday. madam wants luxury, ie a fridge, chilled wine, a huge tent, a pub nearby, great showers etc, whereas i m happy with my expedition tent, a small stove and some dried stuff. oh and a fire ?

Oooh, went to Arran few (cough, far too many to mention) years ago - that would be fab for camping / walking.

There's a rather nice simple little campsite in Keld - North Yorkshire

it's got a shower and toilet, and in the field next to the river you can have fires - which you need as it helps keep the insects away
There's some really nice walks along the gorge and in the general area, but it's possibly one for just you as there's not much in the way of luxury and the nearest pub is a good few miles walk away

This website is quite good and has a wild camping section, as well as a list of campsites which allow fires:

https://www.thehappycampers.co.uk/

This is our problem, I even suggested those fabby tents you can hire that have beds. he rolled his eyes and said I really wasn't getting it ?

Beds ?

well i ve tweeted it to him as i know you wont ?

cheers foo, at least two there which allow fires, one in particular is in a great spot for a climb up helvellyn

Look up feather down farms - it's 5* camping

I think you may be at home as you get a wood fired traditional oven on each farm, to bake bread.

We have been twice & I will say we are going to do this each year.

This is exactly how to go camping, but somewhere hot, like the south of france. with much wine and cheese. (6 weeks and counting, oh yes). Mr P could take his own little tent, and have his own pitch, and you could have the double bed to yourself.

Ooh Arran, yes. Lovely. Not been for years (and not been camping there) but it's lovely esp if you get good weather. Nick could wild camp at the bottom of Goat Fell or somewhere, and Mrs Nick could stay here ?

i think she d rather camp. that looks like a travel lodge

mrsjmp, no thanks, camping is camping, hotels are hotels, i dont want "luxury" camping and she can...well, she can bugger off ?

Currently planning a long weekend in Snowdonia at the end of the month, at one of these two places:

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4780

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=3010

Might pop down to the South Downs this weekend. However, we might not make it that far, if we want a lazy campfire-filled weekend we ted to head up to Debden, not much to do apart from climb trees and chill out (it's in the middle of Epping Forest), which is sometimes exactly what's called for.

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=1697

I'm absolutely a basic camper. We're making summer plans at the moment and it'll probably be a two rucksacks and a trangia kind of holiday, who knows where.

It has a flushing toilet inside the tent . That's the luxury.

[nods sagely]

A man's got to have a fire.

And a stick to poke it with.

And maybe a mug of tea.

Sounds to me as if the only solution is for Nick shack up with Mr P and Poochanna and Mrs Nick can go "glamping" (that's what luxury camping is apparently called doncha know!) together

Exactly! I agree entirely that is the best way of camping and i'm off to the riveria to enjoy exactly that in a little over 8 weeks myself ?

Sounds like MrG's sort of camping ?

Although I am going to Glastonbudget this year, but we are staying in a luxury motor home ?

in my experience women do not seem to grasp the need for a fire and simply complain about the smell of smoke and it getting in their eyes, and "why do we need one anyway?"

Clearly I'm not a woman then ?

Nor me. I love a good fire. ?