Camping holidays with the kids aren’t the easiest to plan; all campsites are different, and all families are different. Do you need Wi-Fi? Is there a curfew? Do you need activities on site and attractions nearby, or are your children happy building dams and climbing trees? This is before you’ve even started to think about packing the camping essentials for a family trip.
Here at The Insurance Emporium we love the great outdoors, so now we’re coming to the end of the summer, and starting to look ahead to next year’s holidays, we thought we’d put together 10 of our favourite family campsites.
Let’s take a look!
1. PETRUTH PADDOCKS, CHEDDAR, SOMERSET
Ideally situated in the middle of the Mendips, Petruth Paddocks is the perfect base to explore Somerset, and the spectacular Cheddar Gorge. With spacious pitches, 18 clean, hot showers, bike hire and friendly staff, it’s suitable for tents, caravans and trailer tents; they even have a yellow submarine if you fancy a bit of quirky glamping. It has a real laid-back, relaxed feel to it and is great place to let the kids go off on their own; there’s an old Land Rover to play on, big cable reels to climb on and the site is surrounded by fields. Campfires are allowed and there are food stalls available and restaurants nearby – you can even get a kebab delivered. There’s an activity centre 15 minutes’ drive away and plenty of local beaches.
2. TREVORNICK HOLIDAY PARK, NEWQUAY, CORNWALL
Situated just 5 miles from Newquay ‘the surf capital of the UK’ and home to the Boardmasters Festival, Trevornick holiday park has something for everybody, whether you’re camping or in a touring caravan. It has a swimming pool and spa and live entertainment in the evenings, and if you want to sample some of that famous surf, there’s a surf school at the local Holywell Bay (famous for appearing in Poldark). There are even fishing lakes where you can fish for carp, rudd or tench; you can hire equipment or take your own (don’t forget to insure your fishing equipment). It has plenty of showers and baby changing facilities, and family bathrooms.
3. BIRCHAM WINDMILL, KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK
In the middle of the Norfolk countryside, Bircham Windmill campsite has a working mill and caters for tents, trailer tents, caravans etc but it also has a couple of shepherds huts for anyone wanting a bit more luxury. It’s a 15 minutes’ drive to the coast – the nearest beach is Brancaster – and has a games room and tearoom on site and its very own bakery; guests can make their own bread. It’s a beautiful site surrounded by fields and those big Norfolk skies with no light pollution. There’s very little traffic, just owls, oystercatchers and curlews. The showers and toilets are spotless and there are lots of nice touches, for example bathmats and ice pack freezing.
4. HILL COTTAGE FARM, FORDINGBRIDGE, HAMPSHIRE
Just outside the beautiful New Forest with its adorable ponies, Hill Cottage Farm campsite is a good base for exploring the best of Dorset. Just 40 minutes from the Jurassic coast, with Durdle Door and Old Harry, or half an hour from Bournemouth, the campsite is broken up with hedgerows, so feels a bit cosier, and there’s a play park for little ones and an on-site shop. There are great toilets and showers and family bathrooms, and there’s access to a chest freezer and laundry room, it also has an on-site coffee shop and a Thai restaurant. There are cows and ponies in the surrounding fields, and you might catch a glimpse of some deer and pheasants. There are also small fishing lakes for visitors to use.
5. BLAIR DRUMMOND CARAVAN PARK, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
Within easy reach of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the historic city of Stirling, the picturesque Blair Drummond caravan park is in the perfect spot, set in a beautiful sheltered, walled garden with lots of woodland walks. There’s a safari park next door, (you can hear the animals at feeding time) and plenty of castles in the surrounding area. There are plenty of toilets and showers, a laundry room with driers and an on-site shop. There’s a play area for kids with a zip wire, and Wi-Fi for the older kids; there’s even a pizza tent at weekends and a visiting ice-cream van.
6. GOLDEN CAP HOLIDAY PARK, BRIDPORT, DORSET
If it’s great scenery you’re after and close proximity to a beach, with 2000 acres of National Trust land on your doorstep, then the Golden Cap holiday park is for you. The South West Coast Path passes the entrance to the campsite and Seaton Beach, with its fossils, is just minutes away with a great pub, fish bar, pizza place and sauna van. Facilities include lovely clean showers and toilets, an on-site shop and a burger van. There’s also a dog field on site and fishing lakes. There are plenty of walks from the site, suitable for all abilities; maps are available from the site. Read our blog and check out some other great campsites near the sea.
7. TYN-YR-ONNEN FARM AND CAMPSITE, CAERNARFON, GWYNEDD, WALES
If you’re looking to get away from it all and reconnect with nature on a working farm, then Tyn-yr-Onnen farm is perfect. Set on the edge of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, surrounded by mountains, beaches and lakes, it feels a real privilege to stay here. There are plenty of beautiful walks and if you like your history there are plenty of castles too. You have the Welsh highland Steam Railway on your doorstep and, for the more adventurous, there’s Zip World with its zip lines and underground trampolines. There are plenty of showers, a utility room, washing machines, microwaves and fridge freezers and if you visit in the spring you get to see some newborn lambs.
8. BAY NESS FARM, WHITBY, NORTH YORKSHIRE
A stunning mix of countryside and seaside, Bay Ness Farm is set above the picturesque fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire coast, with its narrow, cobbled streets teeming with smuggling history, and beaches full of fossils. Whitby is just a short drive away to the North, or you have Scarborough a little further down the coast. You can be on the North York Moors in less than half an hour, walking on part of the Cleveland Way, or you can jump on the bus that runs between Scarborough and Whitby. Robin Hood’s Bay is also where the Coast-to-Coast Walk finishes. The site has clean, spacious showers and toilets, washing up facilities and freezers. Take a look at some of the other best campsites in Yorkshire.
9. HOLMESCALES CAMPSITE, KENDAL, CUMBRIA
Situated between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, you’re spoilt for choice with Holmescales campsite. You can have a laid-back trip where you do a bit of walking and check out the local pubs and restaurants, or have a go at archery, air rifles, crossbows, axe throwing or quad biking. You’re also not far from Lake Windermere with its many activities, including plenty of child-friendly walks (check out the Gruffalo sculpture), the World of Beatrix Potter, boat hire, treasure tails and adventure playgrounds. There are plenty of male and female toilets at the camp site, showers and washing up facilities.
10. NANTCOL WATERFALLS, LLANBEDR, GWYNEDD, WALES
Wherever you pitch on this amazing site, you’ll hear running water from the nearby river or waterfall. It’s at the foot of the Rhinog mountain range, and a couple of miles from the Golden Sands beach at Shell Island with its sweeping views of Cardigan Bay. The pitches at Nantcoll Waterfalls are generously sized, with male and female bathrooms, a laundry room, shops and play area, making it the perfect place for families. You could take a trip to Anglesey, go wild swimming at Cwm Bychan, maybe take in some history at Harlech Castle. If you’re feeling particularly brave you can even try your nerve at Zip World.
Camping holidays are a great option for families; there’s plenty of fresh air, less time looking at a screen, and they’re often more affordable too. It’s a great way to explore the country and everything is an adventure; even making breakfast and washing up is more exciting when you’re doing it outside. You also have a bit more freedom to make your holiday your own.
Life on the road can take the odd unexpected turn though, so you might want to think about insuring your touring caravan or trailer tent. Choose from 3 policy types, then tweak them with some optional benefits. This means you end up with a touring, trailer tent or folding caravan insurance policy the offers the right balance of benefits and affordability. Visit our website for more info and get a free, no-strings quote.
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