Camping

WITH all this warm and sunny weather, has there ever been a better summer for a camping staycation?

Known locally as Mochras, Shell Island in North Cardigan Bay, Wales, sits in the Snowdonia National Park and is the biggest campsite in the UK – and even one of the biggest in Europe.

To get to the campsite, you’ll need to check tide times, as it is accessed via a Tidal Causeway – a raised road that can only be driven on at low tide.

With 800 pitches, there is plenty of space for campers across the 450-acre site, or if you don’t fancy sleeping under canvas, you could opt for one of the chalets on site.

Guests have access to three large, golden sand beaches that look out across Cardigan Bay where you can even have a campfire on.

And what makes the spot even better is that the sunsets are some of the best in the country, painting oranges and pinks in the sky above the peaks of Llŷn Peninsula and Snowdonia.

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At the park there are loads of things to do for guests including heading to the Tavern Bar for a tipple.

And for forgotten items, there is a useful supermarket on site as well as a gift shop, camping shop and off licence.

Kids can let off steam in the playground and football pitch or watch boats bob in the Mini Boat Pool before heading to the strawberry picking site.

There’s a large games room as well, next to the bar, where you can play pool, have a go on multiple arcade games and try and win on the penny machines.

Or head to the sports room, next to the games room, where you will find three TVs showing different sports.

The beach is just a few minutes’ walk away as well, which is a great spot to head kite-surfing, fishing and sailing.

The beach is known for having a large variety of shells, with up to 200 different species.

Little ones can also enjoy exploring rock pools.

Along the beaches, there are a number of paths for walks as well as recommended swimming spots.

During the peak season, camping costs from £14 per adult per night and children cost £7 per night.

Dogs are welcome too, costing £2.75 per night.

And one of the most unique things about the park, is that you get to pick your pitch as there is no pitch allocation.

This means you could opt for an area hidden in the sand dunes that overlooks the sea, to camp at.

One recent visitor said: “Shell Island is a fantastic campsite in an unbeatable location with a great mix of campers, mostly experienced old‑school types who know what North Wales coastal camping is really like.

“It’s great value for money; they keep pitch prices cheap.

“Loved the whole experience, can’t wait to go again, and the pub on site has great options on tap.”

Around Shell Island you’ll also find 13 species of wild orchid, amongst other wildflowers and crabbing spots.

Slightly further afield, there are a number of other to explore too, including Harlech Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage medieval fortress that’s just 10 minutes away.

And keen hikers can also head to Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain.

The seaside town of Barmouth is nearby too, where you can explore cosy cafes and independent shops, as well as a large shingle beach.

THERE are plenty of campsites around the UK, but some of them are so beautiful, it feels like they could be hundreds of miles away.

Sun Travel has teamed up with camping experts at Pitchup.com to find ones in the UK that look like they could be abroad from coastal escapes to secluded lakes.

Ardlui Holiday Home Park

The first from Pitchup.com is Ardlui Holiday Home which looks over the marina on Loch Lomond in Scotland.

With its position on the lake and mountain backdrop it doesn’t look like it belongs in the UK.

The campsite welcomes families and dogs too – the nearby Ardlui Hotel serves up homemade food and Scottish whiskies.

The site offers camping, touring pitches, lodges and its waterfront glamping pods – tent pitches start from £18 per night for two adults.

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Portmeirion Motorhome Park

Portmeirion in Wales is known for looking like an Italian village with bright coloured buildings and pretty gardens.

Staying at Portmeirion Motorhome Park, the pitch price includes entry into the village itself.

You also get complimentary use of the heated outdoor swimming pool – so on a hot day you’ll feel like you’re paddling in Italy.

The campsite has pitches for motorhomes and campervans from £65 per night for two adults.

Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site

On a bright summer‘s day, a stay at Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site on the most western tip of Pembrokeshire could look like it could be abroad.

The campsite has direct access to Porthsele Beach and has incredible views of St Georges Channel.

The sea and bay are safe for swimming, kayaking and there are plenty of rockpools to explore at low tide.

There are pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes starting from £34.80 per night for two adults.

Seaview Gorran Haven Holiday Park

Set on the Roseland Peninsula this campsite is surrounded by green fields and the Cornish blue sea.

It has a heated outdoor pool with a large patio and sunloungers that’s open to guests in the summer months.

Nearby attractions include the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.

It has grass and hardstanding pitches which start from £50 per night for two adults.

Atlantic Beach Resort

Thanks to its enormous swimming pool and proximity to some of Cornwall’s top beaches this campsite has the potential to feel like it’s in Europe.

Found on Cornwall’s north coast, it’s within minutes of some incredible beaches from Watergate Bay to Fistral Beach and Lusty Glaze Beach.

The campsite also has plenty of facilities like a playground for kids, segway adventures, laser tag and 80 classes per week at the gym.

It has grass and hardstanding pitches as well as bell tents – rates start from £36 for two adults for two nights or £9pppn.

Portavadie Loch Fyne

Portavadie Loch Fyne sits on the shores of a loch known as the ‘Secret Coast’ on the Scottish islands

It’s less of a standard campsite and more of a spa and leisure resort and it even has a heated infinity pool that looks out over the water.

There are indoor pools too, a gym as well as cycling trails through the forest.

Electric and grass motorhome pitches start from £28 per night for two adults.

Cornish Tipi Holidays

This peaceful campsite is found in a woodland valley and sits by an on-site lake which guests can swim in or take a small boat out.

The wild camping site is remote and suitable for anyone wanting a quiet break in nature.

It’s not far from the coast either – it’s a five-minute drive away from the nearest beach.

There are a variety of pitches as well as Tipi tents which can be booked out from £192 for two adults for two nights.

“Are you mad?” says a fellow guest over dinner at our campsite. “I heard you’re here on a long-distance cycle ride with your toddlers.”

I am in Orne, a region in Normandy, with my sister Issy and our three-year-old sons, Sid and Ralph. The landscape folds around us in green-over-green – hedgerow, oak, mossy manor wall – then opens into meadows where Percheron horses graze, knee-deep in wildflowers. Deer leap from the bocage. Cidre and poiré have been pressed here since the middle ages. The villages are sandy stone, blue- and green-shuttered; roses against the boulangerie.

And yes, we are biking through it with the boys in child seats on the back, camping along the way in places found through the France Vélo Tourisme website. Over five days, we’re travelling 130km (80 miles) from Rémalard-en-Perche to Domfront, mostly along the Véloscénic – a 450km voie verte (a “greenway” car-free route) that runs from Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris – but looping off it to explore the fairytale chateaux and villages of the Perche, a historic former province. Issy is intrepid and a serious cyclist (the Lycra kind) but the best I can say is I cycle Sid to nursery, and I haven’t slept under canvas since, well, Glastonbury. So two or three hours’ cycling a day is probably enough …

Slightly rumpled from the overnight ferry to Caen from Portsmouth, we pull into Forest View, a campsite three miles south of Rémalard. Jean-Louis from the local bike hire shop is waiting with our ebikes. He’d insisted. I’d resisted: they can’t carry both a child seat and panniers so we’ll rely on Jean-Louis and a patchwork of kindly hosts to move our bags between stops. We test our bike legs on La Route Royale, an intermediate-level 25km circular route, and within an hour of leaving the campsite, climbing the hill to the pretty church of Moutiers-au-Perche for lunch, I realise Jean-Louis was right. The ebikes are the difference between a holiday and a heart attack.

The route is flat, but to really see the Perche you have to venture off it, and once you do, the land begins to roll and hills come without warning. The boys, strapped in behind us, are not light. But they are also loving it: pointing, laughing, bursting into Old MacDonald every time they see a horse, cow, tractor or sheep. It’s going so well that Issy and I are debating another few hours cycling or even a cider tasting on the way home, when a pause in the singing alerts us to the fact that both children have been lulled to sleep, heads wobbling from side to side, and so we take them back to the campsite to rest.

Graham Allen bought Forest View three years ago and built wooden camping pods especially for cyclists after watching them arrive “laden like donkeys”. Inside there’s a cosy bed and a skylight that we watch the stars through. Across the field there are hot showers. And in the informal restaurant, more like a kitchen/living room, home-cooked food at a shared table. Along France’s greenways, the number of Accueil Vélo accredited stops (accommodation for cyclists that offer breakfast, basic repair kits and help with luggage, among other things) has tripled since 2019.

After some seriously good sleep, eggs on toast and frantic sorting of stuff, we spend the next day on the Dîtes-le Avec des Fleurs loop: through the oak forest of Réno-Valdieu and past the Manoir de la Moussetière, one of the fortified manor houses typical of the Perche. Even on the open roads, there are just a handful of cars, and some steep climbs reward us with wonderful views. The freewheel back down leaves the boys shrieking with delight. At La Chapelle-Montligeon, a church rises out of the fields, and here we picnic on the bank of a lake.

Denis Hurtaud was also cycling this route when he took a detour from the greenway and stumbled on Café de la Place in the sleepy village of Courgeon. “The terrace was full of yellow flowers and there were old-fashioned oilcloths on the tables. Dappled sunlight fell across the courtyard,” he says. Over lunch, he overheard the owner say he was planning to retire and, by the end of the meal, he had decided to buy it. Today it is a bistro, village shop, bike repair station, art gallery, music venue and a lifeline to locals.

It’s Accueil Vélo-accredited too. No shower yet, but we pitch our tent in the garden and Denis has saved us some dinner. We sit at a long table in the last of the light, doves cooing in the church tower, eating chicken cooked in cider, a Perche speciality. Locals drift in and out. A neighbour’s child arrives with a plate of warm crepes for us.

The next day, we ride 8km up the greenway to Mortagne-au-Perche for the market. The queue for the season’s first strawberries goes around the block. A man turns dripping chickens on a spit. The radishes are obscenely pink, the asparagus oh so plump. At the Bar du Marché, locals drink coffee and scratch scratchcards in the sunshine. We join them. Our boys are knackered; both have absolute meltdowns and it’s hard work getting them back on the bikes, so we head directly to Carrouges, where we are to camp at the Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine, in an orchard behind the moated, red-brick Château de Carrouges.

The Parc is Accueil Vélo too, but the woman at the office says only five or six tents pitch up a year and we have the orchard to ourselves. Just us, a roast chicken and some baguettes, with the kids playing dinosaurs in long grass. Once Sid is snoring I pour myself a cidre – from local apples – and write. It is so quiet you can hear the flapping of birds’ wings. Then the storm comes. I’m a tent pole down (Glastonbury?) and the rain hits canvas like gravel. I lie clinging to Sid as the thunder tears the sky open above us, questioning every life choice that has led me to a walled orchard in Normandy with a small child and half a tent.

By morning, the rain has stopped. The orchard glistens. Issy emerges from the next-door tent having not slept either. We push on through the spa town of Bagnoles-de-l’Orne to Domfront, a town on a rocky outcrop dominated by a medieval keep. The sun bursts out again and the kids race up the ruined stones. Our home for the night is the Cabane des Deux Chênes, a handbuilt cabin on stilts between two old oaks. A secret room for the children in the rafters. A Nordic bath on the terrace, a hug after the rain.

On our last morning, we stop at the Ferme de l’Yonnière, Jérôme Forget’s farm just down the road, where he makes AOP Poiré Domfront. Pear trees take decades to mature, Jerome tells us, which is why most people stopped planting them, and why poiré went out of fashion. But he has planted a thousand. Next spring, he’ll start taking cyclists, too.

Back at the cabane, Jean-Louis comes to pick us up in his van and drives us, talking in French the whole way: about the pear trees and horses and the lanes we have just cycled. The most beautiful place in the world, he says, and I don’t disagree. Against the odds, it’s been a brilliant family holiday and Issy and I are already planning to come back next summer and do the whole thing. Perhaps we are mad after all.

The trip was provided by Orne Tourism, with travel to France by Brittany Ferries. Bike hire with Les Vélos Perchés costs €35 (£30) a day. At Forest View a pod sleeping two costs from £38 per night; campsite pitches start at £25 per night. Cabane des Deux Chênes sleeps 2-4 and costs from £138 per a night.

IF you fancy a camping holiday but don’t want to skimp out on a bit of luxury, you’re in luck.

Sun Travel has found six campsites across Europe that definitely don’t qualify for a classic camping break with beautiful swimming pools, beach access and pretty lodges.

Alannia Guardamar, Spain

Eurocamp does tend to pull it out of the bag when it comes to its campsites, and this one is very impressive

On the Costa Blanca coast, Alannia Guardamar has palm tree-lined swimming pools, wellness areas, restaurants, and you can try out sports too.

The most impressive part is probably its tropical aquatic zone with water jets, splash park, mini slides and hot tubs.

Guests can choose to stay in large Safari Tents to premium cabins.

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For seven-nights, a family of four can stay in a Safari Tent at the Alannia Guardamar from £502.86 – or £17.95pppn.

Amadria Park Camping Trogir, Croatia

If you want everything in one, check out Amadria Park Camping Trogir which you can book with Jet2Holidays.

The Croatian getaway has views across the Adriatic Sea with secluded beaches minutes away.

For those who want to get on the water, you can take a punt on the enormous inflatable obstacle course just off the coast.

There are three restaurants and five bars including a beach bar, cocktail bar, pool bar and sports bar.

For seven-nights a family of four can stay here in a Standard Mobile Home from £546pp – this includes return flights to Leeds Bradford.

Cambrils Park, Spain

This beautiful Eurocamp Costa Dorada looks like a sprawling resort with its five pools – one of which is a recently opened Mediterranean pool.

There are plenty of sunloungers dotted about and for drinks, check out the poolside café and bars with sun-trap terraces.

For activities, it also has a tennis court, full-sized football pitch and even trampolining.

If the resorts pools aren’t enough, the huge waterpark PortAventura is just a few miles away.

For seven-nights a family of four can stay at Cambrils Park in a two-bedroom bungalow from £691.33 – or £24.69pppn.

Camping Estival Vendrell Platja, Spain

On the Costa Dorada, or Golden Coast as it’s also called, is this campsite with a long swimming pool with a children’s play area and slides.

It is self-catering but there are still restaurants, bars and snack areas.

There’s also entertainment during school holidays from organised team games to arts and crafts

Guests can stay in a Classic Bungalow all the way to a Gran Safari lodge which comes with outdoor decking – perfect for al fresco dining.

For seven-nights a family of four can stay here in a two-bedroom Classic Bungalow from £417pp – which includes return flights from Birmingham Airport.

hu Park Albatros Village, Italy

You’ll never want to leave this Eurocamp with its six swimming pools, one being a lagoon and another Olympic-sized.

It’s considered one of Tuscany’s largest and best quality parcs – it’s spread over 30 acres and is surrounded by a pine forest.

It has plenty of places to eat too from its rustic Italian pizzeria to a snack bar and gelateria.

The campsite isn’t far from the beach with walkways and a cycle path leading down to the shore.

For seven-nights, a family of four can stay at hu Park Albatros Village in a Comfort Lodge from £175 – or £6.25pppn.

Camping La Forêt, France

For a luxe stay, head to Camping La Forêt on the west coast of France.

It has direct beach access to Pont d’Yeu Beach, a swimming pool as well as spa facilities from a sauna to a hammam, hot tubs and a quiet outdoor sun terrace.

The villas on-site have hot tubs, a bath, private entrance, with separate bedrooms and a terrace with garden views.

As it’s a small site it won’t be especially noisy either.

For seven-nights, a family of four can stay at Camping La Forêt in a Comfort Mobile Home from £523 – or £18.67pppn.

Alannia Els Prats Camping & Resort, Spain

Found on the Spanish coast, this campsite looks more like a Mediterranean-resort with a large outdoor swimming pool and pretty gardens.

On-site it also has a gym, spa, supermarket, bars, restaurants, sports pitches, a mini club, a teen club, a games room and children’s playgrounds.

Guests can stay in the wooden cabins, some of which come with small verandahs and sea views.

The nearby beach is a great spot for sunbathing and it has watersports facilities too.

For five-nights, a family of four can stay here in a Superior Bungalow from £405 – or £20.25 per night.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

ONE couple ditched pricey holidays to Thailand, Costa Rica and the Maldives for staycations – after renovating a carpenter’s van.

Andy and Claire Stocks, who hail from Barnsley, opted for UK road trips after deciding to buy a run-down van to convert.

The couple now go away every week and document their travels on their YouTube Channel – and they’ve just published a book It Started with a Van detailing all of their staycation adventures.

When the pair first ditched far-flung destinations for the UK, it’s safe to say their friends were dubious.

Andy explained: “People that knew us from before doing this would have never thought we’d be fans of motorhomes.

“We were always going to exotic places rather than staying at campsites.”

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But since owning a van, which has since been traded in for a newer motorhome model, the pair have ventured all over the UK.

Claire admitted: “I don’t think we ever appreciated how beautiful the UK is and we go everywhere – one of my favourite places is actually Hartlepool.”

“We went with no real expectations but we saw dolphins in the sea there – it blew our minds.”

Andy added: “We’ve found some great waterfalls in the UK too – which we actually went all the way to Costa Rica to see.

“But actually there are loads in North Yorkshire like Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove.”

Other places they’ve explored are Glastonbury which Andy described as an “amazing spiritual town”.

In the Yorkshire Dales, the couple stopped by The Strid which as Claire explained is one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world.

When it comes to campsites, Claire and Andy like to mix it up from five-star sites to cheaper options with beautiful sea views.

Talking about one of their most memorable stays, Andy said: “There’s a campsite on the Isle of Mull called Fidden Farm.

“You turn up and can park wherever you like, but as it’s coastal, you stay right on the white beach.

“It has the best sunsets that you could possibly wish for and so wild – you get every season within around 15-minutes.”

Pitches start from £14 per night per adult, and £7 per night for children.

When it came to five-star stays, the couple said the Concierge Camping in Chichester was one of their favourites.

Claire admitted it’s “one of the best campsites I’ve ever been to”,

The campsite even has ‘award-winning washrooms’ which is perfect for those who don’t enjoy the classic camping toilet situation.

It has granite-topped wash areas, complimentary toiletries and lots of the facilities have underfloor heating.

Sun Travel found pitches from £73 per night.

On occasion, Andy and Claire head over to Europe. At one point they explored seven countries including Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, France, Belgium and Italy in two weeks.

And for anyone driving across to France in a motorhome, they suggest you check into an Aire.

‘Aire’ is short for the French term ‘aire de service’ – which essentially is a free or cheap motorhome camping area.

Andy explained: “We used Aires on a trip to Normandy, they’re really basic campsites but they’re about €10 a night so it’s a really cheap way to get around.”

Claire added: “You don’t have to book either, and they’re spotlessly clean and lots of them have beautiful views as well.”

“There’s a lovely one outside of Honfleur,” said Andy. “And from there you can just walk into the town.”

Talking about whether it’s made travelling any cheaper, Andy confessed it hasn’t as he never saw any return on his original van.

But he added: “I don’t talk about money – but it’s all experience. That’s how the book ends, it’s not about money, it’s about your life.”

THE kids will really dig fossil hunting, seal spotting and making a splash in this off-grid Dorset farm, says Art Director Laura Cunningham.

Here’s how a safari tent adventure will turn into the ultimate family staycation triumph.

THE PAD

When I break the news to my workaholic husband Barney and our kids Ellis, 10, Nate, eight, and six-year-old Violet, that we’ll be without electricity and Wi-Fi for four days, I’m met with horrified faces.

But Feather Down’s East Shilvinghampton Farm offers a wholesome family escape that means screens are fast forgotten.

The spacious safari tents have proper beds, a wood-burning stove and a well-equipped kitchen, and the kids spend hours feeding the goats and climbing trees – even walking the alpacas with farmer’s son Henry, £20 per animal.

Toasting marshmallows on the campfire and cooking pizzas, £12 each, in the communal pizza oven also creates magical memories.

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Worth the 45-minute drive is Dorset Adventure Park and its giant 200m inflatable water course.

Adults will have just as much fun as kids, who won’t tire of launching you off the flipbag!

Tickets cost £22 each (Dorsetadventurepark.com).

We love feeding monkey nuts to the cute otters and watching penguins waddle around at nearby Sea Life Weymouth, before a round of pirate mini golf.

Combo tickets cost £27 for adults, £24 for kids (Visitsealife.com/weymouth).

And be sure to follow Weymouth’s Fossil Trail, from Alexandra Gardens to Hope Square, to hunt down fossil sculptures and learn more about the prehistoric creatures this coastline is famous for.

It easily fills an hour for us (Weareweymouth.co.uk).

At the beach itself you may be as lucky as us and spot a seal basking on the shoreline.

And if you fancy hanging out with 250 rescued primates, from gibbons to orangutans, in 65 acres of parkland, hit Monkey World.

Adult tickets cost £18, over-threes £12 (Monkeyworld.org).

REFUEL

Follow the queue of people along Weymouth’s waterfront to Rossi’s Ices.

They’re freshly made throughout the day, and we devour the hazelnut ripple and cherry flavours, £2.50 per scoop (Rossisweymouth.com).

Meanwhile, at Watch House Cafe in Bridport, we tuck into delicious crab focaccia with fennel salad and aioli, £14.50, while overlooking picturesque West Bay, AKA the cliffs made famous by Broadchurch (Watchhousecafe.co.uk).

And when hitting the golden sands of Hive beach, don’t miss the crispy chilli and lime squid, £19.50, at Hive Beach Cafe (Hivebeachcafe.co.uk).

Closer to the campsite, The Sunray pub in Osmington has a great outdoor play area and dishes including duroc pork loin served with bubble and squeak cake, scrumpy apple compote and garden sage jus, £23.75, while the kids’ sticky toffee pudding, £4, doesn’t disappoint either (Sunrayosmington.com).

BOOK IT

Safari tent stays for six at East Shilvinghampton Farm cost from £399 for four nights (Featherdown.co.uk).

FORGET Cornwall, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. When it comes to UK holiday counties, one truly has it all.

As a travel writer and devoted local, I’ve explored the country’s top destinations – but nothing beats my home county.

Imagine the coastline and charm of Cornwall, but without the summer crowds.

Devon truly has it all – from the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark and a stunning National Park to endless coastal paths and top-tier beaches.

And thanks to the Government’s new Great British Summer Savings scheme, spending time in Devon this summer is cheaper than ever.

If you’re planning a staycation, read on for my favourite spots. As a travel writer and a local, I’ve pulled together the ultimate guide to the hidden gems you won’t want to miss.

There are even some of The Sun’s £9.50 holiday parks in here too…

Best pubs

The Drum Inn, Cockington

Nestled in the picture-postcard village of Cockington, The Drum Inn. is a must-visit.

While its giant thatched roof feels like something straight out of a fairy tale, the real magic happens on scorching summer days, as its expansive garden is the ultimate sun trap.

If you need a break from the heat, head inside, where the pub manages to keep its cosy, historic charm alive all year round.

Church House Inn, Marldon

The Church House Inn , set in the village of Marldon, is one of my favourite watering holes.

Steeped in 14th-century history, this award-winning inn is a Devon legend.

It was the first pub in Devon to be listed in the Michelin Pub Guide and has been voted Devon’s Best Country Pub by readers of Devon Life magazine.

While it has a pristine beer garden ideal for soaking up the sun while sipping on a spritz. You can also get cosy and enjoy a roast by the fire in the winter.

Court Farm Inn, Abbotskerswell

The Court Farm Inn in Abbotskerswell has to hands down be one of the prettiest pubs in Devon.

The boozer used to be a farmhouse, built back in the 16th century.

Today, you still see exposed stone walls inside.

Make sure to grab one of the local ciders and head to the garden to enjoy the architecture even more.

The Thatch, Croyde

On a day trip or staycation in Croyde (see beaches section), make sure to drop into The Thatch, which boasts a rather impressive 2,000 four and five-star reviews.

The pub sells both classic dishes and dishes with a twist, and makes for the perfect spot after a day at the beach.

Samuel Jones, Exeter

When exploring the city of Exeter, head into the Samuel Jones pub which sits on the edge of Exeter Quay.

The slightly more industrial-style pub is a great spot for enjoying a pint and either watching sports games on big screens or the swans swimming outside.

The Highwayman Inn, Sourton

The Highwayman Inn is located near Sourton, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

often dubbed Britain’s most quirky watering hole, – it has a horse-drawn carriage for a front door and is home to a sunken galleon.

The pub, which was first built in 1282, features a Tudor-style exterior and on the inside hosts a fairy tale pumpkin house and a fire breathing dragon.

Inside the hallways are covered in an array of eclectic artefacts and objects, collected over several decades by former landlord Buster Jones.

Oh.. and it’s meant to be haunted too.

Old Fire House, Exeter

In the city centre you should pay a visit to the Old Fire House pub which used to be a 19th century fire station.

You can expect an original vaulted wooden-beamed ceiling and exposed stone walls.

And it hosts great late-night events with oversized 14-inch square pizzas.

Best hotels and holiday parks

Hotel Indigo, Torquay

Hotel Indigo Torquay by IHG is one of the newest hotels on the English Riviera and cost £23million to develop.

Having recently stayed, it is easily in the best location to explore the English Riviera.

The hotel itself looks like a giant cruise ship and sits just across the road from the beach.

Inside the hotel is super stylish, with a modern Art Deco luxury vibe.

Make sure to head to the rooftop bar if you are staying there, with amazing views across the sea and coast.

A standard king-size room for two people including breakfast starts from £83 per night.

Golden Coast Holiday Park, Woolacombe

Woolacombe is a great spot for a family staycation thanks to its expansive beach.

And Golden Coast Leisure Park, which is just five minutes from the beach is a top spot to stay at.

At the holiday park there are high ropes, a climbing wall, adventure golf, go-karts and a whole host of other activities.

If you want to test your surfing abilities, there is even the Wave Surfer.

And running until August 10, you can even book the holiday park with The Sun’s Hols from £9.50 – sign up by joining Sun Club for £1.99 per month, then go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols from £9.50 page.

Best walks

South West Coast Path

Growing up halfway between the coast and the countryside, I’ve never struggled to find a spectacular walk.

The South West Coast Path – which recently featured in The Salt Path film – can fill an entire day out with tonnes of beautiful beaches to explore.

While some of the path is rocky, most is accessible and one of my favourite things to do is drop in and out of the path to explore different parts of the coast at a time.

Dartmoor National Park

Despite all the incredible beaches Dartmoor National Park is always my preferred spot for a walk.

You could visit hundreds of times (which I have) and never experience the same walk twice.

For an easier or more accessible walk, head to Haytor – it takes about 10 minutes up to the rocks from the lower car park (where you’ll also find a visitor centre) or a few minutes from the smaller, higher car park.

For something more challenging, venture away from the roads and you’ll find stone circles and the abandoned ruins of ancient villages.

Note – if you do venture away from the roads, you should be a confident hiker as the terrain is rough and unpredictable.

But there are also many small car parks on the roads with quick walks to nearby Tors.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the famous Dartmoor Ponies as well.

The best villages & towns

Cockington

Cockington in Torquay was recently named one of the prettiest places for a day trip or staycation in the UK this summer by The Independent.

The publication dubbed it a “chocolate-box village” and said the “old thatched cottages, rural countryside and Cockington Court manor house are sure to charm”.

I always head here in the summer and enjoy looking at the pretty cottages and pristine gardens.

It is only a five minute drive from the seafront as well.

Sat at the crossroads in the middle of the village you’ll find a low-roof thatched cottage selling traditional horse brasses – an item that links to Cockington’s long history as a blacksmith’s forge.

Opposite is Sanctuary Coffee – a small coffee shop that also sells gifts and doggy items, from adorable bandanas to handcrafted toys.

And for my fave spot, head to Weavers Cottage Tea Garden, which sells the best afternoon teas around.

A cream tea costs £7.95 for a fruit or plain scone, with strawberry or handmade raspberry jam and a pot of tea.

Then if you want a cheese tea, this costs £8.45 and you get a choice of cheddar or cream cheese to go with it, as well as either chilli jam or red onion chutney – or without the tea it costs £5.50.

Just remember the golden rule of a Devonshire cream tea is to pop the cream on the scone first, then the jam.

There’s also a visitor centre where you can learn about the history of the village and Cockington Court, which is full of local makers selling everything from baked cakes, jewellery and handmade lamps.

Totnes

Totnes in south Devon is a pretty market town that is full of independent shops and cafes, a thriving market and a motte-and-bailey castle.

Wander up the high street and you will find multiple bookshops, charity shops with great finds, cosy cafes and pubs and a tonne of unique homewares shops.

There’s also Totnes Castle, which is one of the best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in the UK.

Don’t miss the market on a Friday and Saturday either – it brings the town to life with antiques stalls, rug makers, food vendors and more.

Topsham

Topsham is like stepping into a village straight out of Harry Potter, but with a Dutch nod.

Every corner of the town is full of charm and is the ideal place for those who love hunting for antiques.

For example, there’s Quay Antiques which is a huge warehouse with 65 antiques sellers spread across three floors.

The town used to be involved heavily in the wool trade during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and houses along Topsham’s Strand look like Dutch merchant houses.

Babbacombe

Between Dawlish and Torquay, make sure to head to Babbacombe.

Often overshadowed by its more popular neighbours on the English Riviera, Babbacombe used to be a fishing village and today remains a quaint town.

Below the town’s cliffs you’ll find Babbacombe Beach, which boasts shingle and calm waters.

Babbacombe Downs sits above the beach and has a promenade which is thought to be the highest in England.

You can also head to Oddicombe Beach, by hopping on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway, which has been operating for a century.

As a kid, I loved heading on the 200-metre cliff railway that feels like you’re stepping back in time.

Biggest Attractions

Kents Cavern

Explore caves that date back millions of years in Kents Cavern.

Inside the caves, you can learn about their history and even their early inhabitants including woolly mammoths.

And you can sneak a peak at bones discovered in the caves as well.

The best part of the tour? When the guide blows the candle out to reveal just how dark the caves are…

Tickets cost from £21.50 per person.

Crealy Theme Park

Just outside of Exeter, make sure to head to Crealy Theme Park which has over 60 rides and attractions.

My personal favourite is Tidal Wave Log Flume – but be warned you’ll get soaked.

There are also animals to meet and shows to enjoy at the park.

For when the weather isn’t great, you can head indoors for a number of play areas as well.

And to make this summer even better, there is a new ride opening on July 31 called Rotor which will be the South West’s first inverted ride.

Tickets cost £18 per person.

Woodlands Family Theme Park

Woodlands is the largest family theme park in the South West of England, stretching across 100 acres.

And despite having been 20 plus times, I never got bored of the attraction.

Do you know what is even better? The theme park is great whatever the weather.

Inside you will find a number of play areas including a giant soft play for little ones.

Then outside you can expect water coasters, toboggan runs and toddlers’ rides.

My favourite part was always the barn where you could meet farm animals up close.

Tickets cost from £20 per adult and £15 per child.

The Big Sheep

In North Devon, head to The BIG Sheep which is an animal-themed family amusement park, near Bideford.

You can expect funny live shows and large indoor play areas.

The best part is of course, as the name suggests, the sheep sheep racing, live shearing and lamb bottle-feeding – which I can confirm is one of the cutest activities for kids.

For those who like to have their adrenaline pumping, jump on Rampage Rollercoaster which is North Devon’s biggest rollercoaster.

Tickets cost from £14.95.

The Milky Way Adventure Park

The Milky Way Adventure Park near Bideford, also has a great mix of indoor and outdoor attractions.

The theme park boasts a number of outer space-themed rides, including The Cosmic Typhoon rollercoaster which spins around.

There is an interactive play area too called Ziggy’s Blast Quest, which is a laser-shooting ride.

Tickets cost from £17.46 per person.

Splashdown Quaywest

One of my favourite summer days out on the south coast of Devon is at the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark – Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark.

The waterpark sits on Goodrington Sands Beach in Paignton and is home to 11 slides as well as a giant pirate-themed water playground, which is perfect for kids under 12-years-old.

Shipwreck Island has seven smaller slides, tipping buckets and interactive water features such as spray arms.

Tickets cost from £27.15 per person.

RHS Rosemoor

Who doesn’t love exploring a pretty garden in bloom?

RHS Garden Rosemoor in North Devon is spread across 65 acres, between Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks.

These are 250 different rose varieties in the gardens, as well as the exotic garden which feels more like a jungle.

There is a canopy walk too, with a stream running through it.

Tickets cost from £15.70 per adult and £6 per child.

Free things to do

House of Marbles

The House of Marbles near Bovey Tracey is a great rainy day out.

The visitor attraction is actually at a toy manufacturer that was founded back in the 70s.

Inside, there are traditional board games, glass marbles, classic toys and workshops.

As a little girl I always enjoyed watching the marbles run around different tracks including one of the largest marble runs in the UK.

And you can spend endless time in the four museums which showcase the history of marbles, board games and glassworks.

There’s a great gift shop and an outdoor play area too.

Haldon Forest Park

For more outdoorsy families, Haldon Forest Park is a must.

Around 15 minutes from Exeter, Haldon Forest feels like being somewhere in Europe.

The forest is home to a tonne of trails to explore, among the towering trees.

Lots of the trails are for cycling too and you don’t need to bring your own bike either – you can just hire one.

For those more adventurous there’s also Go Ape courses, play areas and picnic spots.

The Donkey Sanctuary

Who doesn’t think a donkey is cute? And what is cuter than a load of rescued donkeys?

216 in total, to be precise…

Found in the countryside near Sidmouth, the sanctuary makes for a wholesome day out.

After meeting the resident donkeys, you can explore the gardens or head to informative talks.

There is of course a shop and a cafe too.

Geoplay Park

Right on Paignton Seafront, you can head to Geoplay Park, with climbing frames, trampolines, a climbing net and sand and water play areas.

There are a number of picnic benches scattered around too for parents to sit back and keep an eye on their little ones play.

And in addition to being next to the beach, the pier is just over the road for more free fun with lots of 2p slot machines.

Decoy Country Park

In the town of Newton Abbot, you’ll find Decoy Country Park which is a Green Flag awarded nature reserve.

In the middle of the reserve is a huge lake, that used to be a clay quarry and has a depth of 33 metres at its deepest point.

There is a circular walk around the lake which is nice and shady so ideal for hot summer days.

And if you then want to cool off even more, head kayaking on the lake (and enjoy knocking people into the water).

There is also a large playground at the park with ziplines and a splash pad.

And then for older kids, there are a number of BMX tracks to venture off on.

Fossil Hunting

Devon is home to some brilliant spots for fossil hunting thanks to its dramatic coastline.

And one free activity I loved growing up (and admittedly still do now) is fossil hunting.

There are several spots that are well-known for it in the region including Hopes Nose, Croyde Bay, Daddy Hole.

I would recommend checking out ukfossils.co.uk for some great guides on the best spots and what they have to offer.

Lidos

Teignmouth Lido

Recently saved from possible closure, Teignmouth Lido is a great addition to a day trip in the town of Teignmouth.

The lido is surrounded by a patio and grass area ideal for sunbathing and picnics.

The pool measures 25-metres-long and between May and September there are usually a whole host of events on.

If you just fancy a dip, then a two hour block costs £8.40 per adult and £5.40 per child.

Though you can also get a full-day swim pass costing £15.10 per adult and £9.70 per child.

Tinside Lido, Plymouth

Tinside Lido originally opened back in 1935 and is a Grade II-listed Art Deco.

And recently a number of spaces have been refreshed at the lido, including the sun terrace, which now has a café pod and a pop-up event space.

The pool overlooks the sea too and is right by Plymouth Ho making it the ideal end to a day exploring the city.

Beaches

Bantham Beach

When it comes to surfing spots in the county, there aren’t many destinations that are better than Bantham Beach.

Found in the South Hams, the beach is great for both families and budding watersports enthusiasts.

You won’t need to bring your own board either, as you can book lessons and hire boards at the Bantham Surfing Academy.

I’ve been to the beach many times for its waves, and failed many times at managing to stay on my board – but that’s all part of the fun.

The beach also has all the facilities you’d need for a great day out, including cafes and restaurants.

You can even make a trip across to Burgh Island via a sea tractor.

Budleigh Salterton

Budleigh Salterton Beach stretches over 2.5miles long and thanks to being a pebble beach, it has its very own sound as the waves crash against the stones.

It also marks the end of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast in East Devon.

As a result, this has long been a favourite of mine for walks thanks to the dramatic red cliffs and traditional charm.

Sidmouth Beach

Sidmouth Beach is a great option for families, thanks to its long esplanade and watersports activities.

Oh, and the fossil hunting!

At the western end of the beach you’ll find sand which is a great spot for children wanting to play.

Don’t miss the wooden steps from the beach to Connaught Gardens either – they will make you feel as if you have stepped back in time.

Croyde Beach

If you didn’t already have enough spots to head to for a good surf session, then add Croyde to that list.

The sandy beach has great waves that bodyboarders and surfers love – and trust me, part of the fun is falling off.

Around the beach you can venture through the sand dunes as well and explore some of the nearby surfing shops.

Saunton Sands

Beaches don’t get much more spectacular than Saunton Sands – which stretches for over 3.5miles.

Once again, it is another great spot for surfing, but is also dog friendly, so your pooch can have fun too.

It is well-worth extending your time at the beach as well by staying in one of the onsite Saunton Beach Villas which cost from £71 a night.

Woolacombe Beach

Woolacombe is my top pick for families, without a doubt.

The golden sand beach is right by a number of holiday parks, so makes for the ideal staycation.

In fact, there are some you can stay at in Golden Coast Holiday Park from just £9.50 (see hotels and holiday parks section).

As for things to do at the beach, you are spoilt for choice – the flat sand is great for walks and running around alike, as well as building sand castles and you can also have a go at bodyboarding or surfing with one of the local schools that offer lessons.

Torre Abbey Sands

Whilst I do normally avoid this beach in the summer, due to the flocks of families, there is no denying it is great.

The large sandy beach is usually really flat and is right by the road which makes it a great place for being near the car as well as other facilities like restaurants and loos.

Often, you’ll find a local sand artist drawing in the sand, creating some amazing image which can be viewed from the pedestrian bridge overhanging the beach.

Make sure to walk around from the beach to Pier Point to grab some fish and chips, which have previously been awarded the best in the UK.

Preston Sands

Preston Sands is great for those who love beaches with softer sand and spectacular views.

From the beach you can look across the English Riviera bay, which comes alive at night with glowing multi-coloured lights along the promenade.

The beach has colourful beach huts – great for photos.

And make sure to check out the rock pools, where you will often see little fish and crabs.

Anstey’s Cove

Popular with the famous crime author, Agatha Christie, Anstey’s Cove is a spot that most people have no clue exists.

Hidden behind the now abandoned Living Coasts, the small cove features a mix of pebbles and sand but boasts a tonne of history.

It actually used to be the preferred spot for crime writer Agatha Christie to head on a sunny day.

She even once nearly drowned at the beach.

Around the beach you will also find recently installed information boards that tell you about the history, but also the ecology of the area.

Elberry Cove

My absolute favourite beach is Elberry Cove – it often feels as if it has been plucked from a Greek island instead of England’s southern coast.

It’s between Paignton and Brixham and isn’t the biggest of beaches.

It also features pebbles so make sure to bring a chair with you.

There are crystal clear water, with views of a tropical-looking forest on one side and towering cliffs on the other.

The secluded spot doesn’t really get busy, which always surprises me as it has been popular historically.

At the end of the beach you’ll find its main curiosity – a ruined bath house, that used to be three stories tall and was used by Lord Churston in the 18th century.

The sea would freely wash in and out of the ground floor, which allowed the Lord to swim directly into the sea.

It later then featured the early version of the hot tub, with the seawater being heated by a fire.

Brixham Breakwater Beach

While Brixham Breakwater Beach isn’t huge, it is one of the best spots for a beach walk in the county as you often get to see seals playing in the sea.

The breakwater itself has amazing views of the bay and town as well.

This spot also has a blue flag for cleanliness.

Take a wander back to the harbour and you can see a replica of the famous Golden Hinde boat.

Quirky things

Babbacombe Model Village

Babbacombe Model Village is over 60 years old, spread across four acres and boasts hundreds of scenes depicting British life.

From iconic landmarks we know and love, to slightly more tongue-in-cheek scenes, there is something for everyone to see.

One scene is an ‘unaffordable housing development’ and then there’s also a celebrity mansion with the Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Incredibles family playing in the garden.

Included in your admission ticket, you can also watch a film in the attraction’s 4D cinema.

Tickets cost £21.95 per adult and £17.95 per child.

Local Loves & Hidden Gems

Gandy Street, Exeter

J.K.Rowling went to Exeter University, and for years many thought this quaint, cobbled street off of the high street was the inspiration behind Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, sadly the famous author has denied it.

But for me, it remains the most Harry Potter Diagon Alley-style spot I’ve ever seen.

There are some vintage shops to spend some hard-earned cash, as well as great gift shops and cosy restaurants.

Castle Drogo

Sat on the edge of Dartmoor, Castle Drogo is famously the last castle built in England in the 1930s.

It doesn’t look like your usual old stone castle, but instead blends both old and new architecture.

You’ll not see anything else quite like it.

It costs from £9 per child and £18 per adult to visit.

Royal William Yard

Once a 19th century Royal Naval depot, Royal William Yard is now a bustling 16-acre waterfront attraction thanks to years of refurbs and new openings.

You’ll find amazing independent shops and restaurants, galleries, bars, a cinema and of course, the marina.

It is a great place to explore thanks to having Europe’s largest collection of historic military buildings and just marvel at the architecture with a cuppa in hand.

Round Robin Experience

Without fail, if you spend money on one experience in Devon, make it the Round Robin.

Admittedly, it is not the cheapest – and adult ticket costs £43 and a child ticket costs £27.50 – but it is the best way to see pretty Devon town.

Starting on a bus trip from Paignton, you’ll head to Totnes where you then head on an hour-and-a-half cruise to Dartmouth, before hopping on a five-minute ferry to Kingswear.

Then for the final part you’ll jump on a 30minute steam train back to Paignton.

Across the journey you’ll see pretty towns and villages, see the countryside, spot wildlife and have a chance to explore.

Greenway House

Agatha Christie – who was also a born and bred Devonian – has left her mark across Devon.

And one top spot to see associated with the famous crime writer is her holiday home, Greenway House – which she dubbed “the loveliest place in the world”.

Sat on a riverbank in Kingswear, the home is full of items she used to cherish from both her childhood and travels.

Tickets cost from £9 per child and £18 per adult.

CAMPSITES are getting cooler – letting you have a family holiday with all the frills but without the expensive costs.

One of the most fun ones on the block is Alannia Costa Blanca Resort in Spain, one of the largest of it’s kind in the country.

The five-star camping resort isn’t one where you’ll be pitching tents, but instead with holiday lodges instead.

But the main attraction is its huge tropical waterpark, with Indonesian Island stone heads overlooking it.

It has loads of pools (one of which is heated) as well as slides and splash zones.

Adults can head over to the spa centre or gyms, if they want a break, or take the kids to the many sports facilities including tennis and padel.

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You won’t have to leave the resort for anything – even with a hair salon and supermarket on-site.

Otherwise the main restaurant has both local and international dishes, or grab drinks and ice creams from the poolside bar.

When the sun goes down, there is lots to do as well with a vast programme of activities including discos, shows and bingo.

While the resort isn’t on the beach, the nearby Costa Blanca coastline is around 20 minutes away by car.

If you’re visiting in the peak summer season, expect prices to be around £1,719 for a week’s stay.

Visit outside of the peak summer season and you’ll pay just £554 for a week’s stay – and with lodges sleeping five, this works out to just £16 each a night.

Rooms range from premium two and three-bedroom holiday homes to larger lodges and chalets.

Families have raved about the campsite online, with one saying it was the “best camping site they had been to”.

Another said the pools “make you think you’re in Thailand“.

A third added: “The Tahiti pool is out of this world. Felt like we were in the Maldives.”

Check out the full list below – and here on Campsites.co.uk.

East Crinnis Holiday Park – East Crinnis, Par, Cornwall

Park Cliffe Windermere Camping and Caravan Park – Windermere, Cumbria

Lee Meadow Farm – Lee, Woolacombe, Devon

Wooda Farm Holiday Park – Bude, Cornwall

Hill Cottage Farm Camping and Caravan Park – Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Hampshire

Highlands End Holiday Park – Bridport, Dorset

Harford Bridge Park – Tavistock, Devon

Barn Farm Campsite – Matlock, Derbyshire

Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping Park – Fort William, Highlands

Bank House Farm – Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire

Lakeside Caravan Park – Brecon, Powys

Trwyn yr Wylfa Camping Site – Penmaenmawr, Conwy

Treloy Touring Park – Newquay, Cornwall

Skelwith Fold Caravan Park – Ambleside, Cumbria

Plas Gwyn Caravan and Camping Park – Llanrug, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Wallace Lane Farm – Caldbeck, Wigton, Cumbria

Oaklea Camping and Glamping Park – Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Twll Y Clawdd Touring and Camping Park – Llanrug, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Cheddar Bridge Touring Park – Cheddar, Somerset

Thornbrook Barn – Ingleton, North Yorkshire

Tollgate Farm Caravan and Camping Park – Perranporth, Cornwall

Lynmouth Holiday Retreat – Barbrook, Lynton, Devon

Pen y Bont Touring Park – Bala, Gwynedd

Back of Beyond Touring Park – St Leonards, Ringwood, Dorset

Cummins Farm – Charmouth, Bridport, Dorset

Glyncoch Isaf Farm – Llangrannog, Ceredigion

Tehidy Holiday Park – Portreath, Illogan, Cornwall

Burton Springs Holidays – Burton, Bridgwater, Somerset

Llys Derwen Caravan and Campsite – Llanrug, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Parkgate Farm Holidays – Irton, Holmrook, Cumbria

Shieldaig Camping and Cabins – Shieldaig, Strathcarron, Highlands

Tregarton Park – Mevagissey, Cornwall

Laneside Caravan Park – Hope, Hope Valley, Derbyshire

Ty Cochyn Caravan and Campsite – Holyhead, Anglesey

Presaddfed – Druids’ Rest – Holyhead, Anglesey

Cwmdu Campsite – Crickhowell, Powys

Greenacres Campsite – Coleford, Gloucestershire

Gatton Waters Caravan Park – Hillington, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

Silver Sands Holiday Park – Lizard, Helston, Cornwall

Mena Farm – Bodmin, Cornwall

Manor Caravan Park – Happisburgh, Norfolk

Howgill Lodge – Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Little Acre Holiday Park – Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Brynawelon Caravan and Camping Park – Llandysul, Ceredigion
Catgill Farm Camping and Glamping – Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Thorpe Hall Caravan and Camping Site – Driffield, East Yorkshire
Waterrow Touring Park – Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset
Cardinney Caravan and Camping Park – St Buryan, Penzance, Cornwall
Bonnie Park – Bonchester Bridge, Scottish Borders
Low Greenside Farm Campsite – Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
The Hen’s Dens at Orchard Organic Farm – Stokeinteignhead, Newton Abbot, Devon
Sherwood Pines Campsite – Edwinstowe, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Treveague Campsite – Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall
Somers Wood Caravan Park – Meriden, Coventry, Warwickshire

Westgate Carr Farm Caravan and Motorhome Touring Park – Pickering, North Yorkshire

Pomeroy Caravan Park – Pomeroy, Buxton, Derbyshire

Bryn Ednyfed Caravan Site – Holyhead, Anglesey

Bryndu Caravan and Camping – Llandefalle, Brecon, Powys

Coxhill Camping – Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent

Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park – Gower, Swansea

Bryn Ffanigl Ganol Caravan and Camping Park – Abergele, Conwy

Riverside Caravan Park – Bentham, North Yorkshire

Cobleland Campsite – Gartmore, Stirling and Forth Valley

Linwater Caravan Park – Newbridge, Edinburgh, Edinburgh and the Lothians

Woodovis Park – Tavistock, Devon

Old Oaks Touring Park – Wick, Glastonbury, Somerset

Plassey Holiday Park – Wrexham, Wrexham

Porthtowan Tourist Park – Porthtowan, Cornwall

Higher Trevaskis Caravan and Camping Park – Connor Downs, Hayle, Cornwall

Hallsdown Farm Touring Park – Barnstaple, Devon

Hartington Hills – Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire

Haw Wood Farm Caravans and Camping – Saxmundham, Suffolk

Ael y Garnedd – Star, Gaerwen, Anglesey

Wildings Holidays – Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

Eden Valley Holiday Park – Bodmin, Cornwall

Hale Farm Campsite – Chiddingly, East Sussex

Abbey Farm Rhuddlan – Rhuddlan, Denbighshire

Brick Kiln Farm Campsite – Campsea Ashe, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Balloch O Dee – Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway

Machrihanish Holiday Park – Machrihanish, Campbeltown, Argyll

Rydal Hall Campsite – Ambleside, Cumbria

Dwell On The Moor – Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, York, East Yorkshire

Wallsend Guest House and Glamping Pods – Wigton, Cumbria

Ravensdale Glamping Retreats – York, North Yorkshire

Cliff Farm Holidays – Pickering, North Yorkshire

Quarry Park Camping – Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

The Galloway Steading – Newton Stewart, Glenluce, Dumfries and Galloway

Folly Farm Holiday Park – Begelly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire

Pods Pwll Coch – Amlwch, Anglesey

Little Kelk Glamping – Driffield, East Yorkshire

Wold Meadow – Wold Newton, East Yorkshire

Gaerhyfryd Caravan Site – Corwen, Denbighshire

Eden Valley Glamping – Armathwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria

Balloch O Dee – Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway

Carrock Glamping Pods – Hesket Newmarket, Wigton, Cumbria

Cragg Farm Camping Pods – Cockermouth, Cumbria

Gambledown Farm – Sherfield English, Romsey, Hampshire

Newbourne Woodland Campsite – Newbourne, Woodbridge, Suffolk

East Thorne – Bude, Cornwall

High Oaks Grange – Pickering, North Yorkshire

Cwmllwyd Getaways – Carno, Powys

CAMPING is always fun for the family, but why not throw in some beach time as well?

New research has revealed the best coastal campsites across the UK.

Money-saving experts at Idealo have ranked the best UK campsites based on several areas including the nightly pitch price and proximity to the beach – read below for the full list.

Machrihanish Holiday Park, Argyll

Coming out on top was Machrihanish Holiday Park in Argyll Scotland.

Sat on the Kintyre Peninsula, the holiday park has non-electric pitches available from £26 per night (working out to £13 each a night).

Machrihanish Beach is less than half a mile away too.

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The beach stretches on for three miles and is often said to be a good spot to go shell and sea glass hunting.

One recent visitor said: “This is a beautiful beach with stunning views across to Islay and the Paps of Jura.”

At the campsite, visitors can expect hot showers, toilets, an onsite shop and even Wi-Fi.

Your furry friend doesn’t have to be left out either as dogs can stay for free.

Beryl’s Campsite, Devon

Coming in second place is Beryl’s Campsite in Devon, which is tucked down a lane and sits on a meadow surrounded by trees.

Not too far from Beesands Beach, a pitch costs from £27 per night (or £13.50 each) per night at the campsite without an electrical hookup.

At the site visitors will find hot showers, toilets, an onsite shop and a fire pit area.

Dogs are also allowed at the site, for 50p a night.

If you are lucky enough, you might spot a deer while pitching your tent.

Beesands Beach features shingle and is backed by fields and even a freshwater lake.

The beach has previously won awards as well including a Blue Flag status.

If you fancy taking a dip in the water, it is a great spot for sailing and windsurfing.

The Hollies Leisure Resort, Suffolk

Rounding out the top three is The Hollies Leisure Resort in Kessingland, Suffolk.

A pitch at the site costs from just £23 per night (£11.50 each) without a hookup, or you can get a pitch with a hookup for £28 per night.

At the site there are also showers, Wi-Fi, a picnic area and an outdoor play area.

If you aren’t the biggest fan of pitching a tent then you could opt for one of the safari tents onsite sleeping up to four people and costing from £365 for four nights.

And Kessingland Beach is just 1.8 miles away, just south of the popular seaside town of Lowestoft.

The sand and shingle beach is backed by cliffs and sand dunes and is known for having fewer crowds than Lowestoft Beach and Southwold, which is also nearby.

Here’s the full list of the top 10 coastal campsites:

1. Machrihanish Holiday Park, Argyll
2. Beryl’s Campsite, Devon
3. The Hollies Leisure Resort, Kessingland, Suffolk
4. Llanungar Caravan and Camping, Pembrokeshire
5. Watermouth Valley Camping Park, Devon
6. Manor Farm, Norfolk
7. Beadnell Bay Camping, Northumberland Coast
8. Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite, Dorset
9. Watertop Farm, Antrim
10. Treveague Campsite, Cornwall

Skylarks call out a cascading trill as I pedal between the pink and white hawthorn blossoms that make my path look like a May Day parade. I’m on the outskirts of Oxford, a city I thought I knew well, yet as I follow the National Cycle Route 57 on the e-bike I’d picked up in Jericho, it feels as though I’ve discovered a secret passageway.

This year the Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) turns 125 – and I’m celebrating with a 60-mile cycling and camping trip, leaving from the city where the organisation was born and heading to Walton-on-Thames to stay at one of the oldest campsites in the CCC network.

The CCC began life as the Association of Cycle Campers before becoming the club it is today. It all started when founder Thomas Hiram Holding, already a keen camper, was visiting his friend Rev EC Pitt-Johnson’s Oxford home in 1901 and they decided there was enough demand and interest in the hobby to form a club. They elected each other president and secretary respectively and the rest, as they say, is history.

Back then, Holding had a “safety cycle” – not dissimilar to a modern-day bike, which replaced the tricky-to-master penny farthing. He proudly invented much camping gear, too, from early lightweight tents and folding poles to cycle touring bags. “Holding understood the health and wellbeing benefits people gained from camping,” explains Jo Cartwright, archivist at the CCC, when I tell her my e-bike plan, “so I think he would’ve embraced any new form of transport.”

While all-singing, all-dancing motorhomes and caravans are ubiquitous these days, and along with pre-pitched glamping options are squeezing the space left for regular campers, the CCC assure me that humble tents are very much still welcomed on its sites. So with mine firmly stowed on my e-bike, I set off, deciding to break my journey with an overnight stop at Bella Vista Camping in Radnage, a family-run club site that sits on the Chiltern Cycleway.

Quiet roads lead me east from Oxford toward Wheatley and Thame, where I stop at the Old Fisherman to grab a sandwich and coffee, before continuing on the Phoenix Trail (part of Route 57), its straight lines a nod to its former life as the disused railway track to Princes Risborough. Red kites replace skylarks as I glide on the easy track away from any road traffic, passing the old station building at Bledlow and going under the former railway bridge and past the abandoned platform where Towersey Halt stop, closed since 1963, would have been.

Before he started the Association of Cycle Campers, Holding’s method of camping – after a childhood wagon trek on the prairies of North America had him hooked – was by canoe in Ireland. That was until a friend of his in England announced that he and his wife were planning to spend a week camping by tandem bike in Britain, and asked him to come to help with attaching his kit to the frame – after which he wrote, “We succeeded,” and declared in his book, Cycle and Camp, published in 1897, “There was something in it.”

While more people arrive in motorhomes than by bike these days, I’m pleased to see that Bella Vista Camping still has a huge field for tents, next to a paddock of Soay sheep and alpacas, and there are hot showers and proper toilets in a big mess tent.

After dinner at the Crown Pub, just a five-minute walk away, and a quiet night’s sleep while my bike battery charged, I am ready for the next part of my cycle tour to Walton-on-Thames. Opened in 1913, the Walton CCC campsite was described in a Golden Jubilee Souvenir booklet from 1963 as a place full of “homemade tents, bamboo poles, hurricane lamps and wood fires”.

Curious at what I’d encounter now, I leave the highs of the Chilterns and Route 57 to bear south on country lanes that skirt the edge of High Wycombe, through the busy streets of the Thames-side towns of Marlow and Cookham, and on narrow cycle paths between Maidenhead and Eton. When I stop for lunch at the Crocus cafe in Dorney, I’m amazed at how curious people are about my set-up. I feel a little like Holding, showcasing another way of holidaying in Britain.

Windsor Great Park is an unexpected highlight – its easy roads contrasting starkly with the quite hairy gravel tracks I descend into Egham. But then designated bike lanes through Staines and Chertsey see me ticking off my remaining miles with ease.

A final treat is a ferry crossing over the Thames at Shepperton to Weybridge – fitting given that the very first campsite in the CCC network used to sit on one of the islands here (it closed in 1909).

Given that the Walton campsite has no facilities, it’s primarily frequented by motorhomes and caravans that have their own chemical toilets. I’ve brought my own eco-friendly option, though, in the form of a Poopaloo dry-powder toilet. My pitch was next to a small hut filled with sepia photographs of tents from 100 years ago.

That night I read Holding’s The Campers Handbook, published in 1908, and chuckle at the description of the correct attire for female cycle campers including a skirt “that finishes three inches off the ground, with no slippery lining to avoid catching on the knickerbockers”.

The next day, without a knickerbocker (or skirt) in sight, I undertake one of Holding’s favoured activities: canoeing. Swapping pedals for oars, thanks to owner Andy of Hampton Court Paddle Sports, which is located just a 10-minute (3-mile) cycle from my tent, I spend most of the day on the water, sightseeing at a slow pace, stopping for falafel at Mezzet Box (beats the fried herring and boiled trout of Holding’s day), and ending with a drink at the Anglers, built on these banks in 1870, my canoe tied up beside my table.

Things have undoubtedly changed for campers over the past 125 years. The tents – A-frames and “wigwams” made of silk – have been swapped for nylon tunnels with inflatable poles, campervans have overtaken bicycles, and even, at Walton, the Thames itself has been rerouted so that it no longer sweeps by the pitches. But not all change is bad. Back then, strict gender rules meant that, as a lone woman, I wouldn’t have been permitted to do this trip, never mind in leggings. And an e-bike made the whole experience (and hills) much more enjoyable.

Holding called cycle camping a “power” that helped popularise camping – and the CCC’s membership reflects that, having grown from its initial 150 to more than 300,000 households. And though camping using a bicycle is now a minority pursuit, after my weekend tracing old routes and visiting the first campsite, I like to think that within the secret passageways of towns and cities, there are those of us who realise that the best journeys are still powered by pedals and curiosity.

eBike hire was provided by Bainton Bikes in Oxford (e-bikes from £65 for 3 days). A pitch was given by Bella Vista Radnage (from £19 a night) and Walton-on-Thames campsite (from £20 for two nights members, £35 non-members). Annual CCC membership from £56.95

WITH the weather warming up, could you name a better time for a campsite stay?

It’s no lie that the UK is full of campsites, but when it comes to choosing a spot – what about being right next to the beach?

With amazing beaches across the country, here are some holiday parks right by campsites ideal for a family staycation.

Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame Holiday Park, Scotland

Up in Scotland, you could head to Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame Holiday Park with direct access to the beach.

The beachfront park is ideal for families with both kids and teens clubs for when parents want some alone time.

For family fun together there is also bowling, a pool and crazy golf.

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As for the beach itself – Embo Beach boasts white sand and isn’t too far from Dornoch, in case you want to explore further.

Sometimes people are lucky enough to see dolphins from the beach as well.

A pitch costs from £9 per night, which works out at £2.25 per person, per night.

Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site, Wales

If you fancy heading to the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales instead, then you can book into Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site.

The family-run campsite has direct access to Porthsele Beach and is a mile from Whitesands Beach.

In fact, the campsite even overlooks Porthsele Beach – which is ideal for swimming and kayaking.

If you stay for multiple days, you can also venture to Whitesands Beach, which is a mile away along a coastal path.

Onsite there’s a shop too, for essentials such as food and logs.

During the peak season, you can also enjoy a tipple and pizza freshly made onsite as well.

A pitch costs from £34.80 per night for a family of four, working out at £8.70 per person, per night.

St Ives Bay Holiday Park, Cornwall

With direct access to the three-mile long Hayle Beach, St Ives Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall has everything for a great family staycation.

The park itself also has views of the beach and coastline.

Onsite you’ll also find a shop, bar, bistro and an indoor pool.

And if you fancy venturing further afield, just 20 minutes away is the Tate St Ives gallery.

A pitch costs from £42 per night for a family of four, working out at £10.50 per person per night.

Morfa Bychan Holiday Park, Wales

Perched on top of the cliffs that back Cardigan Bay, you’ll find Morfa Bychan Holiday Park in Wales.

Just 15 minutes away from Aberystwyth, the holiday park has direct access to the pebble beach below the cliffs.

As for things to do onsite, kids will be easily occupied with a park, ship play area, heated outdoor pool and even a games lounge with a TV, pool table and air hockey.

A pitch costs from £35 per night, working out at £8.75 per person per night.

Ruda Holiday Park, Devon

Sitting right next to the popular Croyde Beach, Ruda Holiday Park has everything for a top family break.

With direct access to Croyde Beach, guests can head surfing with lessons available at the beach as well as surfboard and wetsuit hire.

The holiday park even has its own surf shop…

Back onsite, guests can also enjoy a tropical indoor pool that boasts water rapids and underwater geysers.

The site has both indoor and outdoor play areas as well as a cafe and a kids club too.

And for a treat, make sure to grab an ice cream from the parlour.

A pitch costs from £12 per night for a family of four, working out at £3 per person per night.

Unity Beach, Somerset

Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach, Unity Beach in Somerset also has a lake onsite and a play area.

Around 25 minutes away you can head to Weston-super-Mare as well, for more beach fun.

Back at the park you will also find an indoor pool as well as an outdoor pool with splash zones, flumes and waterslides.

If that isn’t enough to keep your family occupied, then there’s an indoor play centre and golf course to explore as well.

When it comes to having something to eat, you can try out the onsite restaurant, serving meals as well as snacks and ice cream in the summer.

A pitch costs from £10 per night for a family of four, so just £2.50 per person per night.

Harlyn Sands Holiday Park, Cornwall

Cornwall has tonnes of lovely beaches, so it is even better than you can stay right by the beach at a holiday park.

Less than a 20-minute walk away from Harlyn Sands Holiday Park, you’ll reach the beach but the vibrant towns of Padstow and Newquay are both within half an hour’s drive.

At the park, there is a play area for little ones as well as a kids club for when parents want some alone time.

In the evening, families can also enjoy events and entertainments, with a tipple from the bar.

Forgotten something? There is a small shop onsite as well.

A pitch costs from £30 per night based on a family of four, which works out as £7.50 per person per night.

EVER looked at an airport runway and thought how cool it would be to walk it?

Well, now you can as later this summer an abandoned airport in the UK will be hosting a huge music festival, that you can even camp at.

Love on the Runway music festival will take place across two days between August 29 and 31 at Manston Airport in Ramsgate, Kent.

There will be house, techno and DnB music across two stages for guests to enjoy.

The festival will also have food and drink stalls, for when you need a bite to eat or drink between dancing.

To add some fun, there will also be a fairground ideal for families.

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Other features of the festival include chill out zones and a number of VIP areas.

Little other details have been revealed about the festival yet.

Visitors can book camping passes for £103, which allow for a pitch with up to 10 people (so £10.30 per person) or a camper van.

And with each camping pass, one weekend festival pass is included (so other guests camping at the pitch will need to purchase their own festival ticket).

A regular weekend pass costs from £37 per person or you can get four for £112.50.

If you fancy heading to the festival for just one day, you can do so for £22 and kids go free.

And the festival will have a cheap shuttle bus from Thanet Parkway Station if travelling to the festival via train.

Manston Airport closed back in 2014 and was used as a former RAF base and a regional hub, flying Brits abroad from the 1960s.

Airlines that used the airport included Monarch Airlines, KLM and Flybe.

However, there are current talks to see if the airport could reopen, with the return of flights scheduled for 2029 – however this will be for cargo aircraft only.

Initially, the airport planned to reopen in 2025, but this has been pushed back.

The children were asleep in the little tent behind us, wrapped in two sleeping bags, each with an extra helping of wool blankets. Earlier, all I could see were their little faces half-lit by torchlight as I read them a book about rivers to the sound of rain on canvas. They fell asleep as fast and thick as the fog pooling in the valley below.

My partner and I sat outside, huddled together under a waterproof coat, cheek to cheek, perched on our daughters’ foam swim vests because the ground was saturated. We were laughing. As parents, absurdity and beauty make for familiar bedfellows.

Just a few days earlier, it had seemed impossible we would go anywhere; every affordable campsite, yurt and cottage was booked up for the Easter holidays. Then I remembered how last year, tagging along with the Right to Roam crew, I ended up sleeping on the floor of the Beeches, a former Quaker residential community house in the village of Bamford, on the edge of Derbyshire’s upper Derwent valley. Its new stewards had amazing plans – a space for community health, social justice and ecological regeneration, all in collaboration with local people and grassroots groups.

I pinged them an email – “Can we stay on your land for one night?” – and, feeling inspired, contacted a few other initiatives, too.

We were in luck. Our hosts, Vanessa and Max, welcomed us into the Beeches, which was just as beautiful as I remembered. At the end of a wildflower path, past allotments and woodland, are two outbuildings: sheds on the outside, cosy cabins on the inside. “A family of deer lives here,” Vanessa said to my daughters, five and three, holding one hand each.

By the firepit, we unloaded still-hot pizzas, still-cold beers and marshmallows for roasting. As the dark set in, the children set the ends of sticks on fire, drawing shapes in the air.

In our cabin, candles, fairy lights and a wood-burning stove cast flickering shadows. The sofa beds were pushed together to make one giant bed. As I told the kids a story beneath the covers, I felt I was in a story myself.

By morning, we were a tangle of limbs. Light filtered through egg-patterned curtains. A train rumbled past and the sound summoned adventure. I opened the doors to birdsong while my partner prepared instant coffee and porridge. “I wish today would never end, Mama,” said my eldest.

We ate lunch at the nearby Anglers Rest, Bamford’s community-owned pub, with a cafe and post office in the same building. I dropped my sacred local texts, Wild Swimming Walks Peak District and The Upper Derwent: 10,000 Years in a Peak District Valley by Bill Bevan, on to the table. There was so much to explore – reservoir, ruin, gritstone edge – but the sun was calling.

The River Derwent was just down the road, its banks dotted with bluebells, cow parsley, clover and stitchwort. A mandarin duck watched from a patch of brambles as we quickly changed into our swimming costumes. Wading in upstream from the stepping stones at Bamford Mill, I was instantly ecstatic, while the children sat in the shallows, covering themselves in river mud.

That evening, we followed a winding road up into the hills above Ladybower reservoir. Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre is a hill farm now run as a residential education centre by Woodcraft Folk, a national youth charity promoting education for social change. “We will make an exception,” they explained in their email, “because the camping field is empty.” They don’t usually rent camping pitches to individuals who are not on their courses, but have a cottage on the site available for rentals.

The friendly warden showed us around: field, sink, toilet, the most stupendous view of the high moorlands and deep cut of Derwent valley. The field was on an incline and, while we set up camp, the children bickered over which molehill was theirs. A group of cyclists passed above: “You’re very brave!” shouted one, and I thought he meant the children until my partner pointed out the dark clouds bruising the horizon.

“I’m hungry, Mama!” I went to light the camp stove. It didn’t work. Drizzle turned to rain. The packet of macaroni cheese said it would be edible with cold water. It wasn’t. I ran to beg the warden for boiled water and found a scene of pure bliss – young people cooking together in a warm cottage. One hot flask, two pots of apology-porridge and countless-kisses later, the children were asleep.

And so, this is how my partner and I found ourselves pressed together outside the tent in the dark, in the rain. “Next time we must bring a waterproof blanket to sit on,” he said.

“And an umbrella,” I said.

“And test the stove,” he laughed. “And then maybe we’ll be ready for a wild camp!”

We were giggling, shushing one another, when a female tawny owl screeched, quickly answered by the male, echoing from what seemed to be all the trees: ke-wick hoo-hoo, ke-wick hoo-hoo.

The next morning, we packed up early and drove down to Fairholmes car park, where the Refreshment Kiosk was waiting with hot drinks and pasties. From here, there’s a family-friendly trail featuring carved wooden creatures on the shores of Ladybower reservoir. I told the children about the lost villages beneath its waters. They were already there, one foot always in the imaginary.

We smelt of mildew, wildflower, woodsmoke, river water and sweat. Dandelion seeds were caught in my daughter’s curls. I blew the wishes free.

The Beeches has cabins sleeping four from £125 a night; camping £10pp per night. Lockerbrook Farm is predominantly for large groups, but the Warden’s Cottage sleeps six from £33pp per night. The weekend is accessible from Bamford train station for those who love hiking: the Beeches is a 15-minute walk; pub and wild swimming 20 minutes; Fairholmes is two hours; and Lockerbrook Farm a further 30-minute uphill hike from there.

IF YOU are trying to pick your next staycation while the temperatures are set to rise, the top five family-friendly campsites across the UK have been named and they have farm animals and scenic views.

New research conducted by Pitchup.com has revealed the best campsites for families across the UK based on ‘child-friendly’ ratings from nearly 200,000 reviews.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said: “Camping and glamping holidays continue to be a popular choice for families looking to spend quality time together outdoors, particularly as more people seek flexible and affordable UK breaks.”

Trefach Holiday Park, Pembrokeshire

Scoring 9.3 out of 10 on the child-friendliness scale, Trefach Holiday Park in Pembrokeshire, Wales, has been named the most family-friendly campsite in the UK.

Just a half-an-hour drive from Cardigan boat trips and popular family attraction Folly Farm, the campsite sits in the Preseli Hills and features an outdoor pool, play area, games room, clubhouse and bar-restaurant with entertainment.

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Around the site, families can head on a number of scenic walks as well as explore local fishing villages and towns such as Tenby, Haverfordwest, Dinas Cross and Fishguard.

Stays cost from £40 a night.

Jubilee Camping, Hampshire

Following closely in second place with a child-friendliness score of 9.2 out of 10, is Jubilee Camping in Hampshire.

Just 15 minutes from the New Forest, Jubilee Camping has heaps of fun for the family with tractor and trailer rides, barbeques, campfires, woodfired pizza and animal experiences.

In the surrounding area there are a lot of things to do as well such as walks in the New Forest National Park and visiting the city of Salisbury.

Bournemouth is only half-an-hour away too in case you want to hit the beach.

Onsite, there is also the Shepherd’s Hut Bar which serves local ales, ciders, Prosecco and G&Ts.

A stay costs from £32 per night.

Panoramic Camping and Glamping, Swansea

In third place with a score of 8.9 out of 10 for child-friendliness was Panoramic Camping and Glamping in Swansea, Wales.

Found five minutes from Pontlliw and off the M4, Panoramic Camping and Glamping is a smaller site with pitches on a hilltop meadow, overlooking the Glamorgan hills.

The site is also a working farm so you can expect to see hens, cattle and Llanwenog sheep while staying.

In the surrounding area you can head to the beaches of the Gower Peninsula as well as head off on a trek in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

A non-electric grass tent or trailer pitch costs from £25 per night and a glamping tent, sleeping up to five people costs from £80 per night.

Little Thornham Holidays, Wiltshire

Also scoring 8.9 for child-friendliness was Little Thornham Holidays in Wiltshire.

Overlooking Salisbury Plain, Little Thornham Holidays can be found on a small farm with friendly hens, goats (named after Harry Potter characters), sheep, pigs and ducks.

The village of Melksham is just a 10-minute drive away in case you want to head to the pub or need to pick up supplies.

However, the farm does sell its own produce on site such as wood, sausages and eggs.

As for other things to do in the area, Longleat Safari Park is just 30 minutes away and if you want to explore a city, you can reach Bath in 40 minutes.

There are three types of accommodation at the site including tent pitches, lodges and bell tents which cost from £120 per night for four people.

Magical Malpas PYO Farm, Cheshire

And rounding out the top five was Magical Malpas PYO Farm, in Cheshire, scoring 8.8 for child-friendliness.

Not only is Magical Malpas a working dairy farm, but it is also a pick-your-own farm and has views of the Cheshire countryside.

Guests can stay in a small field, where they will also find picnic tables and a children’s play area (though, it is worth noting that there are no showers, electricity or drinking water).

While staying, families will be able to meet Wilma and Betty – two Valais Blacknose sheep, as well as goats and two donkeys.

As for things to do in the surrounding area, you won’t be short for choice with BeWILDerwood – a family adventure park – just 10 minutes away.

A pitch costs from £22 per night.

THE sun is making more of an appearance and the temperature is warming up, so there couldn’t be a more perfect time than now to book a camping holiday.

And what better place to go to than a campsite that is right by the UK’s best beach?

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel. 

Henry’s Campsite is family-run and can be found at the most southerly point of Cornwall and some visitors have even said it feels like being in the ‘Caribbean‘.

On the site, there are a variety of different pitches including ones with a sea view.

Each has an electrical hookup, with some also surrounded by exotic plants.

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As for facilities, the campsite has four showers, seven toilets, hot water, washing up facilities, a large washing machine and the showers cost 40p for three minutes.

For some quick essentials, there’s an onsite shop too that sells BBQ charcoal and even local cider.

Each pitch also comes with bricks, in case you want to create a firepit during the warm summer evenings.

To book, keen campers will need to email Henry’s Campsite directly with as many details as possible to secure a spot.

For those who would opt for glamping over camping, there’s the option to book the Bell Tent which comes with either a double bed and single beds, a lamp, rug, and a trunk.

The seaside campsite and its location is such a hit with travellers that it’s even been said to look like it belongs elsewhere.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “A campsite with a real difference – designed with thought, flair, and so many little touches that make you smile.

“We stayed on the 16th and 17th of September when the wind was howling and the rain pouring down, yet the ambience around the site (especially the main facilities) transported us to the Caribbean!”

Another called it an “outstanding site… such a gem I don’t want to share it!”

Adding to its beauty is the fact that it’s under half an hour away from Kynance Cove.

The beach was recently named the 26th best beach in Europe, according to Europe’s Best Beaches 2026 awards – and was the only one in England to make the list.

The beach is known for its soft white sand and bright blue waters – and it’s also one of the warmest stretches of coastline in the UK.

Aside from beaches, guests nearby can visit Lizard Village – it’s a great spot to grab a bite to eat whether that be the seaside staple fish and chips, to Cornish pasties or a cream tea.

The fishing village of Cadgwith Cove known for its pretty thatched cottages and shingle beach is just three miles away.

As we edge closer to summer, camping holidays are even more appealing, whether that’s by the coast or amongst woodland, and an expert has said there’s one item everyone needs to pack

It’s that time of year again when I’m thinking about packing up the car and pitching up the tent for a weekend camping escape, but there’s one item that canvas enthusiasts shouldn’t forget.

While the British weather is somewhat unpredictable, when it does bless us with sun-soaked rays and warm temperatures, it’s the perfect time to head out on a camping trip. After all, what’s better than waking up to coastal vistas or the backdrop of enchanting forests and exploring the nearby surroundings before dining al fresco with a BBQ?

Yet before heading out on any camping adventure, there’s one packing essential.

Forest Ranger for Forest Holidays, Gerry O’Brien, told the Mirror: “My number one tip for everyone is to pack comfortable socks. If your feet get cold, the rest of you is going to be cold as well. So bring appropriate clothing for the time of year, but as we know, we can get all sorts of weather in Britain. Be prepared for all weather.”

As a forest ranger based at the Forest of Dean, Gerry has a wealth of knowledge about the otherworldly scenes of ancient woodland, rustic bridges, snowdrops, and spiralling rivers that make up the UK’s area of enchanting landscapes. There’s even an abundance of campsites in and around the Forest of Dean, which make for an ideal weekend escape or half-term break.

For those looking to spend time in the woodland, Gerry advised not to pack too much into one itinerary. “It’s great to pre-plan activities or to visit certain areas you’d like to see and do, but it’s good to weave in some non-scripted time because that’s often when you find the magic.

“So have a bit of time where you can tune into yourself and do what you feel in the moment, be spontaneous.” For those who might opt for a stay with Forest Holidays in one of their woodland cabins, rather than camping nearby, the expert added: “You might want to relax on your decking with a cup of tea and a good book.

“Or you might fancy a walk in the woods or something more high-energy, you can read off that if you have unplanned time. We’re so wired to be so busy all the time, but it’s good to take it back a bit and slow down.”

The forest ranger added: “One of the most magical things is just stopping. Maybe sitting in the forest for a while, we’re always going from A to B, so just stop and sit somewhere. Having a little sit mat with you is always handy, and just put your phone on do not disturb.”

In another piece of advice for people looking to appreciate the great outdoors, Gerry said: “It sounds a little corny, but tap into your inner child. You can create a little scavenger hunt with the children, go on a mini-beast hunt together, or make a den or fairy house in the woods. There are lots of hands-on, immersive experiences you can do together.”

To discover a magical corner of the country, you might want to book a stay at Forest Holidays in the Forest of Dean, which provides an array of lodges, cabins and treehouses, some boasting outdoor hot tubs for relaxing beneath the towering canopy. Meanwhile, accommodation providers such as Sykes Holiday Cottages and Holidaycottages.co.uk also offer various properties throughout the area, not forgetting the camp sites nearby and those trusty cosy socks for any UK trip!

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

THE best family-friendly campsite in the country has been revealed, and it has a heated outdoor swimming pool and games room.

Trefach Holiday Park tucked away in Pembrokeshire topped the ranks when it came to the most family-friendly campsite in the UK – and it’s not hard to see why.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel. 

Pitchup.com, the UK’s leading outdoor accommodation website, has found the best campsites for families across the country.

The rankings are based on ‘child-friendly’ ratings from nearly 200,000 customer reviews. 

Trefach Holiday Park is tucked away in the Pembrokeshire valley, but is well-worth a visit for any families this summer and scored 9.3 for ‘child-friendliness’.

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When it comes to entertainment during the summer, Trefach Holiday Park’s star of the show is definitely its swimming pool.

The outdoor that’s heated pool makes for a refreshing dip in the summer and is open between May 25 and September 4.

Adults can watch as their children splash about from the courtyard terrace.

One visitor said: “The pool was a big hit with the kids and kept them entertained for hours.”

Another described the campsite as a “little gem” which was great for their “family trip.”

On-site is its own restaurant and cafe which in the high season (July and August) is open every day from 10am until late for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It also has a play area, games room, TV room, laundrette as well as toilet blocks and showers.

Location-wise, the campsite is close to the hills of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park so it’s a great base for those who like to take scenic walks or want to explore seaside villages.

The nearest fishing villages are the likes of Tenby and Fishguard, it’s also close to the town of Cardigan.

Around Cardigan Bay, visitors can take boats out to do some dolphin-spotting.

Pitch types vary from electric grass tent and touring pitches to electric gravel motorhome pitches. Tent pitches can sleep up to six people for £46 per night – or £7.60pppn.