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Camping is the original “green” holiday. Its very appeal lies in its contrast with our modern lives, in the chance to lose electricity, the traffic, the television and telephone for a while.
Chilling in the countryside, sleeping under the stars and breathing clean, fresh air, is a rich and recharging experience – but it’s also the ultimate low-impact break, on which your biggest contribution to greenhouse gases is likely to be from that tin of baked beans you finally managed to open.
Camping is incredibly popular again, but this has less to do with how green it is than with how much fun it is. So, throw a tent in the car and head for the hills with this special selection of Cool Camping sites.
* denotes no tent required
STUNNING VIEWS
1. Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
Pick up a brochure or guidebook to this part of Wales and, chances are, it will feature a picture of Three Cliffs Bay on the cover. Justifiably so; it’s one of the finest beaches on the Gower Peninsula, an almost-round, sandy playground encircled by unique rock formations, with a series of limestone peaks rising dramatically into the air, then disappearing into the Bristol Channel like a retreating monster. Perched on the high ground behind the beach sits Three Cliffs Bay Caravan Park. The sloping ground and an occasional whipping wind may put off some campers, but the pitches overlooking the bay surely rank among Europe’s best camping spots.
01792 371218, www.threecliffsbay.com; pitches from £12
2. Side Farm, Cumbria
Side Farm, on the eastern side of the Lake District, might just be one of the most scenically situated camp sites on the planet, sandwiched between the steep slopes of Place Fell and the sylvan shores of Ullswater. The view across the lake to the Helvellyn fells is one of the most compelling and beautiful in England, and to be able simply to open the tent every morning on this stunning scene is reason enough for a visit. The site has flat pitching and adequate facilities, though they are far from luxurious. But bring a pair of walking boots, or a canoe, and the idyllic location will more than compensate for any minor niggles.
017684 82337; £5 adult, £3 child
3. Hooks House Farm, North Yorkshire
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forty years ago I spent a week at whitesands, it is, after all these years, the most delightful out door experience I have had. Although the slugs were a bit off putting.
peter, palmetto, fl, usa
@ dianne you should find what you are looking for here ;-
http://campfires.co.cc/html/south_west.html
its a good list
julian, portsmouth, uk
a great camp site to stay s craigielands country park beattock nr moffat scotland tents campers touring caravan static holiday homes and lodges big loch great pub and entertainment walks wildlife views woodland hills the people are very nice food nice [roast] very good,always lots going on
jan, reading, uk
I've been given a tent as a present. My boyfriend and I are looking for a nice campsite.... don't want a busy one .. somewhere quiet and beautiful. Could someone suggest a few places?
Amrit Kaur, Northampton, Northamptonshire
I am looking for a nice camp site down in the cornwall area has anyone got a tip or two where to go
diane mcdermott, burnley, lancashire
Some other nice campsites can be found on http://www.bigfreeguide.com/ - they are rated by the public so you can check on other peoples thoughts of each site which is quite nice.
matt, wales,
I go camping all the time via public transport. True it's not entirely reliable but that just makes the whole experience much more exciting, though it might be more difficult with a young family. Also I think you're unlucky or just unduly pessimistic as I've never had a gang of bikers drive through, over or anywhere near my tent.
Philip, Cambridge,
Treen campsite is very good and easily accessible by bus direct from the Penzance bus and rail stations. Further local info on the move can be found at http://porthcurno.mobi . The campsite is next to the village and the coastal footpath.
Roger, Penzance, UK
Steve, I would much rather get stuck next to any gang of bikers than you. What a miserable sod you seem to be.
Paul Jackson, Warrington,
After many a year of not Camping the urge to take my young family away and give them the experience of what I experienced as a child became overwhelming this year, our children became excited the wife worried. The overall effect was amazing, sleep became better due to the fresh air the food tasted better when cooked in the open and the freedom, well was freedom. As long as you choose the right equipment and site the benefits from 'roughing it' can be amazing. You also get the feeling that it is safe for you children as everyone is in the same boat and are keeping a look out for everyone else and yours and their children. Get under canvas (or whatever its made of these days) and go for it.
Jason Hone, Bromley, Kent
Side Farm on the banks of Ullswater is fantastic and I have been going for years, though since the national press started promoting it a few years ago, it has become increasingly difficult to get on.
It's a shame, but the price of fame I guess. If you do go, get round to the White Lion in Patterdale for a sizzling steak - absolutely lovely!
Jamie, Wigan,
"Its very appeal lies in its contrast with our modern lives, in the chance to lose electricity, the traffic, the television and telephone for a while."
My parents took us camping every year when we were kids. Even then there was traffic and some sites had power points - thus most people hooked up the goggle-box and of course these days people take their cell phone with them.
Your misty-eyed depiction of a pastoral existence under the stars free from the trappings of 21st century technology is sadly off kilter I think. You still have to drive there since public transport is a joke, and you'll no doubt get stuck next to the gang of bikers whose idea of evening fun is revving their machines and drunkenly riding through everyone's tents.
Steve Lee, Gillingham, England
"It will be the end of our relationship if you ever find us camping". Is the quote my girlfriend (a camping nut) often sends back to me on a quite gorgeous Sunday morning as the bacon gently browns in the pan as the lovely aroma waffs around the campsite as we read the Sunday Times and listen to the dawn chorus. Oh how happily I eat my words and the bacon butty.
Mark Wakeling, London, England