As the name of this blog suggests, a fire is one of my essentials when choosing somewhere to go, but it's interesting to have a think about what else makes a difference.
Getting there
Being in London means that proximity to wide open spaces is not good. The result is that there's some hard yards to go before we get anywhere. So high on my list of good things is a site that's accessible and easy to get to, particularly at weekends. Hardly any sites fault, but having spent nearly 7 hours getting to Eweleaze Farm in August, nothing kills the joy of tents like a long time stuck in the car. And that includes decent parking and trolleys etc when you get there. The guys at Wowwow memorably gave us a lift in a trailer on the back of a quad through the snow when we went there a couple of years ago.
The space you're in
There seem to be 2 types of site:
- The big field - rolling fields where you simply find a space that's not occupied
- The individual suite - usually with a comedy name
The Eweleaze view |
A stand of tough-looking trees |
The facilities
It's a sad fact that the British are somewhat toilet obsessed (blame Thomas Crapper I suppose) and therefore their state is more important than anything else. For the cost-conscious campsite owner, it's a lot easier to dig a few deep pits and plonk a small garden shed on them than invest in many miles of pipework. To my mind the long drop or composting is infinitely preferable to the portaloo.
But whatever is there or not there, the crucial point is that the staff regularly visit them - to clean that is rather than use! A judicious use of woodchips is particularly welcome for the average long drop - particularly at the end of the season.
Some kind of shower is also a boon - though most of the kids (and some of the adults) tend to develop acute hydrophobia under canvas. These are bound to be a bit on the spartan side, especially if they rely on solar power. But there are bonuses. The sound of birdsong as you get in the open top shower at Blackberry Wood is particularly lovely.
And finally some kind of washing facility should be high on your wish list. You can of course make do with heating your own water and using your own washing up bowl (a builders trug is great for that). But you will have to accept that you will simply be moving dirt around an item rather than actually getting it clean.
The staff
Campsites are basically service businesses. So any site that has staff who understand that will be going to the top of my list. By that I mean staffed by people who know the site inside out and have all the vital knowledge - just how far is the walk to pub and what is the food like there? And staff who will take the initiative and sort stuff out. It's inevitable that there will be double bookings and pissed groups - it's how the campsite team deals with them that makes the difference. Britchcombe Farm near Uffington is a lovely site run (or was as I've not been there for a couple of years) by a woman who understood that perfectly.
You
The most important factor in what makes a great campsite is you.
Yes, you.
Campsites bring us all together cheek by jowl like nothing else. And without wanting to come over too John Stuart Mill, thinking solely about yourself will seriously impact on others.
So, maybe lay off the bongo drums and that rendition of Land of Hope and Glory after say 11.00pm. Don't leave your rubbish strewn around or drive your 4x4 around the campsite. Lend or given someone stuff they may have forgotten.
Because what really makes a great campsite is great people.
I've booked a night or two at Embers. I'll let you what it's like.
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