The Camping Forum

[yotes]

Hello All,

I am wondering if you can help me. I am going camping with my wife and 2 small kids for the first time in England. I used to go camping when I was a single 12 years ago in Washington State. As it is my first time camping in the UK, I am hoping that you can give me recommendations.

I am planning to go camping fro 4 to 5 days at the end of this month. I am thinking of going to Devon or Cornwall and go to a campsite near a beach. I am interested in doing some fossil hunting as well. Any recommendation?

I am not too interested in going to a very commercialized campsite nor a a campsite without shower and toilet. It would be great if there is some vegetation. It seems like most places are hilly without trees.

Also, I was wondering if it is okay to get the tent up and leave the site for the whole day to visit beaches and other places. I am assuming that there would be no stealing of camp equipment... Let me hear your experience.

Thank you very much.

[Curlyminx]

Have you tried camping ninja or ukcampsite site search? You can search for campsites on beaches. Your tent should be fine on a site all day, we've never had a problem.

I've just had 5 days at Summer Valley in Truro, neat to Perranporth Beach. Lovely quiet site with a small play park for children.

I know lots of others have camped in Cornwall so they should be able to help you with recommendations.

Have fun :-D

[Camp Moose]

Welcome to the forum.
No worries about leaving stuff in campsite though I would pack the really valuable stuff in the car.
Fossils, I'd suggest somewhere near Lyme Regis in Dorest, that is the fossil capital.
http://www.lymeregis.com/camping-and-caravans/index.htm
Afraid I can't recommend any campsites there though,we don't camp in the UK much.
Interesting to read you're from Washington State, went there a couple of times back in the 1990s.

[Curlyminx]

Oh yes, I forgot that Lyme Regis is *full* of fossils - god call!

there are some nice campsites in purbeck

[yotes]

Love this Forum! Thank you for your comments. I just checked out Summer Valley in Truro. Looks great and they have Wifi too... Maybe I should go back to nature and live few days without the internet

I really miss camping in the grand nature of Washington State. When I was little, we drove from Arizona to Alaska and back. We camped so many times and also fished along the way. Camping is so awesome.

[Curlyminx]

It does have wifi, and a little room to sit in if it rains

Maybe Scotland would be a good place for you to camp, plenty of wild country up there. oh and midges!

[Rob-merlin1973]

Hi
End of next week we are going to Witehill Country park in devon


Has a small club and pool and is 10 mins from the beach.
Went last year and are going back so cant be bad

[yotes]

Thank you for the recommendation. I just visited the site and it looks great. Does it have a shower facility? What is a typical shower facility in the UK? I assume there are single shower rooms?

[Rob-merlin1973]

It has 4 shower blocks around the site and they all have seperate cubicals.

Nice flat site with loads in the area to do and a nice pool and bar if you want a quiet day in

[yotes]

Thank you very much! Now I know what a shower block looks like in the UK.

I just went to the site and seems like there is still some space. I guess campsites are much easier to book compared to B&B. I remember trying to book a B&B in Devon/Cornwall last year and it was very difficult.

Thank you again.

[in-a-tent]

We're off camping near Lyme Regis the week after next, I'll try to remember to post a review of the site when I get back.

Hope you enjoy your foray into UK camping, I get the impression it's quite different from the US version.