The Camping Forum

[xlynskeyx]

Hi, I've been camping for many years usually with my Dad, I'm 19 nearly 20 and finally got round to buying my own tent (Vango Icarus 500), recently my friends asked if we could all go camping and I thought great idea I get to use my tent for something other than going to Leeds festival. We've been looking for ages and keep getting turned down becuase of either our age or the fact the campsites only accept families. Does anyone know of any campsite prefferably in the Lake District that would accomodate me and 3 other friends?

Thanks

[OutdoorRambo]

My Nephew has the same problem when he and his friends go camping. He's a respectful camper and doesn't cause any problems but, like you, being honest with the campsite owners gets him turned down.

Coniston Hall in the Lakes was renowned for groups partying all night but when he tried to book himself and 3 friends a few weeks ago he got turned due down to the 'no groups' rule.

......but where there's a will there's a way, he and his 3 friends now book as two's and arrive 20-30mins apart so no one is the wiser

[OutdoorRambo]

Damn it , i forgot again ...... to the forum

[CrazyCamper]

Firstly - a warm to the forum

We're a friendly lot on here, and full of advice and humour too

I've just had a quick look around that area for suitable sites but to be honest it's hard to know whether an individual site would be funny with you until you contact them? I've searched for adults-only sites as I wondered whether your own experiences have been that they thought you were going to be a rowdy group of "teenagers"?

Try this one:

http://www.rosegarthfarm.com/ It looks rather small though? Difficult to find anything actually in the Lake District from what I checked out.

I do feel it unfair that sites seem to continue this attitude towards EVERY younger person, as if you're ALL likely to be trouble for them? Yes I'm sure you're aware that the minority have spoilt it for others in the past, with some sites shutting down as a result (Pillaton springs to mind), but not every person under say-30 is rowdy...

It's my feeling that it's admirable that people your age want to do more camping than just the festival kind - we should be encouraging you (you should get that on here as that's what we're all about )

Hope you find somewhere anyway

[Wayne]

Hi and a warm welcome to the forum

Years ago I had shingles on my face and as I was recovering and starting to feel better I had a stag night to go on down Derby. My face was still quite a mess and it looked like I had been fighting the weekend before. Just as I expected i was stopped by the doorman at the nightclub door and refused entry as a trouble maker. I quickly pulled out my doctors note for work and explained i had been suffering with Shingles but was better now. The doorman was impressed and explained he had never been presented with a doctors note and let me in. He said no one could make that up.

My point is, sometimes its worth going the extra mile to explain your case and to be prepared. Call round to one of the campsites you would like to stay at, ask if you could make an appointment with the manager. All 4 of you go and try and show a small amount of proof of your camp history (especially if there is any DofE proof) and also offer a deposit refundable when you leave.

Once you have done it and got in with one site you could then even ask the site manager if he would do you a written proof of trust for other local sites.

[xlynskeyx]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and help, I'm still searching but I think the idea of meeting with a site manager before hand is a brilliant idea and the letter of trust would be a great idea. I'm starting to look for different locations such as Wales in order to find somewhere that will accomodate us. The only problem with the idea of turning up in 2's is paying for both pitches as my friends would be staying in my tent but I see the idea in that

If you have any other idea's id be really greatful thanks for all your help

[CrazyCamper]

Doh... talk about forgetting the bleedin obvious Forgetting the Lake District for a moment - if you and your group fancy somewhere a bit further South and dead easy to get to - why not sort out coming to this forum's September Meet down at Hopley's site in Bewdley? Chance to meet a lot of faces from on here (sadly I won't be there but then I didn't want to scare loads of people away ) - plus seeing how everyone buys trailer loads of camping kit etc, which is very handy to get ideas from should you want to camp even more?

Reason I suggest this - well i know Hopleys well, and the site owner (Justin) is very welcoming and takes everyone without any questions. Very nice site, very nice area, and (I hope ) very nice crowd on here to meet up with

http://www.hopleyscamping.co.uk/ if you're interested?

September Campout is 9/10/11 September

[TerryV]

No good for Lake District but the place we are currently staying at in Wales, a young group turned up yesterday just opposite us.

Don't know how they'll get on as lots of young kids running about at the moment!

[Donnelly69]

Both Grange and Rosthwaite camp-sites (in the Lakes) allow groups, there's many more also. What they don't allow though is booking, you just need to turn up and no noise after 11.00pm. Any late night revellers are usually managed by the other campers

[xlynskeyx]

@TerryV what campsite are you staying on in Wales?
@Donnelly69 - Cool, I'll look into those thanks for the suggestions
@CrazyCamper - I'd love to join in a meet but unfortunately I'm starting university in september and will be a bit inundated with things to do, I'll look into joining in another one later this year/early next year if there are any

[badger]

try Skiddaw House in Keswick. Its run by the YHA. Its only £6 pppn... Wherever you do find don't forget to get a reference and pretty soon you won't come up against such 'hostility'. Once you get a few sites under your belt you be okay... I just found skiddaw yesterday for myself.

[TerryV]

We are staying at Dinlle Caravan and Camping site in Dinas Dinlle. Just south of Canaerfon. Its well placed for Snowdonia walks and I did Snowdon this week. But its also on the coast.

Last day today but we are definitely planning to come back. Feel sorry for the young group though as there are currently 4 families with young children pitching in the same field LOL!