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It's a small and cosy camping, but rather a glamping site with wooden bungalows for hire. Very well designed and natural, with plentiful flowers and plants: unique in the Costa Brava.
Between s'Agaro and Sant Feliu de Guixols, www.campingsantpol.cat
We were going to visit Oman and wanted to use four days for a snapshot of the country. Arriving in Muscat is a shock as frankly it’s so much cleaner than our cities. We visited the Sultan Qaboos Mosque on the way in and it is a jaw dropping experience – a mélange of different Islamic styles that perhaps because of the space do not overwhelm. However, that apart, for us the best was out of Muscat and our safari through the mountains and desert. They are so barren that each village seems as though it could be the only one – but no, around a corner there would be another one. Camping in the desert gave us the chance to lie back and drink in millions of stars above in an almost religious experience. It’s difficult to get used to so many shades of brown but in their own way, they are beautiful. A great visit for non-touristy experiences.
Trekking, biking, climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering etc. This outdoor company, founded by local Lion Xu and Scot Lee Mclaughlin will set up/guide trips for you in Sichuan, based on your detailed requirements.
Recent events in the north of the province mean those areas are out of bounds for leisure, but contact them for recommendations for other areas.
The company are into nature and cultural type holidays, we did a trip down the coast to Salalah in April. You need to except that there are no five-star hotels on the trip, only in the big towns, so we camped sometimes. The Omani guide was great, he cooked great meals and was a safe driver. We ate in some local restaurants and visited a true bedu family. The beaches were endless and had to dip our toes in on many an occasion.
When we arrived into Salalah it was a surprise to feel a difference in culture, it had a tropical African feel with some Yemen style thrown in. We liked it because it's still real.
www.holiday-in-oman.com, tel 00 968 24485663
Near to Radisson hotel in Al khwuair
A working farm between Tiverton and Barnstaple - really lovely family site for relaxing. If you're a walker, it's a good spot for walking the moors or equally for local walks.
West Middlewick Farm, Nomansland, Tiverton Devon Ex16 8NP, www.westmiddlewick.co.uk , 01884 861235
When heading north out of Kerikeri most people will turn off to visit or camp at Matauri Bay. This place is fantastic for swimming, fishing, walking and diving amongst other activities. But make sure you follow the road around to the next bay for a visit. Te Ngaere Bay is a quieter and more secluded area which has lots to offer. There's easy access for boats so it's a great place to go fishing, kids will enjoy the rock pools for exploring and the beach is perfect for swimming. Allow a full day to properly enjoy the surroundings.
The Kai Iwi Lakes in the Taharoa Domain reserve are an absolute gem. The area itself feels like you're off the beaten track but it's not too far north from Dargaville township. Perfect for a day- or week-long trip. The campsite has great basic facilities but can get busy in summer so book ahead. The freshwater lakes are perfect for any watersports and there are great walking tracks around the area too.
Perfect position at the foot of Helvellyn. Great for walking, and close to Ullswater.
Gillside Campsite, Glenridding, CA11 0QQ. 017684 82346
www.campincumbria.com/gillside_campsite_glenridding.html
Great alternative trek to Machu Picchu and it takes in it all. Just book when you get there, you can usually go next day. Oh, and please don't take any notice of the Guardian's advertised £3.95 price (do they earn commision from this agent?). It costs around £120 pounds, all meals included with camping.
Any agent in Plaza de Armas
A campsite/hostel for nature lovers. Perfect place to start nature walks all over the Tayrona park and its surroundings.
2 km from the main entrance you find a sign Castilletes on your right-hand side. After 200 metres you get to the beach where the campsite is located. On request they supply good information on the park and its surroundings through email.
See their website: www.campingtayrona.com
A couple of fields overlooking the sea with tents already erected and complete with very comfy bedding, tea and coffee making facilities and wonderful breakfast brought to your tent each morning. Washing facilities are very civilised and the whole experience is an ideal introduction to camping for beginners. The best campsite I have ever been to!
Broad Meadow House, Quay Road, Charlestown, St. Austell PL25 3NX
broadmeadowhouse.com/
If you want a break that gives you peace and quiet, beautiful Scottish island scenery, a pristine beach, sparkling sea and masses of outdoor space to let the kids explore, this is perfect.
There is no formal camp ground. You pitch your tent on the grass next to the beach and put some money in a box in the local village. There are public toilets to use but other than that, this is pretty wild camping.
The area is really safe so the kids can go off and explore the beach and rock pools whilst you relax and get the camp fire going. Long summer days, lovely walking, swimming, fresh air and starry skies. This is a wonderful, memorable place to take the family.
Ardroil Beach
on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis
Scotland
Surf Shanti is an ecological nature retreat located on the west coast of the Algarve. There you can learn to surf and practice yoga. It is a rustic unique outdoor camp environment. Great for nature lovers and outdoor people. Really amazing beaches!
Comillas in the region of Cantabria, northern Spain, is a gorgeous little cobble streeted seaside town, loads of lovely cheap family friendly places to eat, a fab fun family atmosphere in the square at night (sometimes there is even a free outdoor cinema) and the most perfect beach and sea.
The very basic campsite is within walking distance of both the town and the beach - so no worries about evening drinking. The huge beach is great for swimming, bodyboarding, rockpooling and sandcastle building. In Comillas, you can get up late, have late lunches and late dinners, just really chill out - and there's not too many British travellers! The climate is perfect for camping - you won't be boiled out of your tent in the morning!
Get the ferry to Bilbao or Santander and drive there - the ferry journey is great fun - kids love it and it's so relaxing! There is plenty to see and do in the area apart from just lazing on the beach. You can visit the fantastic nature park of Cabárceno, palaeolithic rock art caves, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the oceanographic museum and aquariums of Santander, Gaudi's only building outside of Barcelona or the perfectly preserved medieval village of Santillana del mar - there really is something to please everyone in this area of Spain.
Just don't everyone rush there and spoil it!
www.campingcomillas.com/
www.comillas.es/
english.turismodecantabria.com/default.asp
Great campsite on the edge of the city, 15 mins to Dam Square on a tram. Cheap tent rates or hire a little cabin, central heating and bedding included in the cost of these. Good breakfast can be bought from the bar in the morning, and food all day at not extortionate prices. Good clean showers, if a little cramped when you are taking one. Bike hire on site as well, and saves you having to find parking in the city centre at very expensive rates, you just leave your car at the campsite!
The San Juan Islands, a two-hour ferry ride out of Anacortes, Washington, are a great destination for outdoor recreation.
Moran State Park on Orcas Island has lovely scenic campsites with excellent access to hiking, biking, swimming, and boating. The view from the lookout on Mt. Constitution is well worth the hike (or drive).
Orca whale-watching is best off of nearby San Juan Island, where you can also visit the charming village of Friday Harbor.
For more information, and to make reservations (recommended!), visit the Washington State Parks Website:
www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Moran&pageno=1
What? Europe's largest sand dune at Pyla in south-western France. Not only is there a mountain of sand to run, roll, or slide down, pretend you're Lawrence of Arabia in, and generally fall about laughing on because you can't walk properly (parental supervision maybe required), but there are also miles of sandy beaches and smaller dunes to muck about in too.
Why? Because it is one of the most fun, memorable, exhilarating things the whole family can do together, and it's free. (Our four-year-old still talks about running down the Pyla dunes last summer.)
When? Any time between May and September should give you good weather. August is predictably busy, but the sheer expanse of the sands means it's never going to be packed.
We stayed at:
Le Petit Nice (Sunelia - camping)
Route de Biscarosse
33115 Pyla-sur-Mer
Arcachon
Tel: 33(0)556227403
www.petitnice.com
This is one of the few campsites (on the edge of the Pyla dune) which offers stunning sea views (many sites are hidden behind the massive dune). Tent pitches, mobile homes, swimming pool, daily children's club, paragliding and watersports nearby (but watch out for the very strong currents), not to mention miles of pine forests.
We took our car on the Brittany ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo and drove the 600 odd km (about 7 hours) to Pyla.
Nearest train station: Arcachon (15 km)
Nearest airport: Bordeaux (50km)
Bon Voyage!
This place was amazing! It is a surf and yoga camp modeled on an African safari camp. Very 'eco' in feel and a great place to totally unwind, you can't help but totally relax. Practice yoga and learn to surf - what a great combination! Myself and my partner totally enjoyed it. Yoga always appealed to her and I always wanted to do a surf trip. We both loved it and would recommend it for couples for sure. Also the area and beaches around are stunning as well.
Rather a gentle old-fashioned seaside resort; the magnificent hills of Exmoor sweep up directly behind the town. The vast Butlin's camp is more or less invisible from most other vantage points.
Beaches are shallow and muddy, with a huge tidal range; I can't recommend them for anything. We camped a few miles along the coast at Blue Anchor Bay, which also has little to recommend it (except for the picture-postcard steam trains of the West Somerset Railway, which pointlessly and uselessly goes almost all of the way into Taunton) - and more muddy beaches.
The nearby Quantocks are great for walking and more fantastic sea views where the line of steep hills hit the coast.
A small settlement on the west coast of Australia where Ningaloo reef is just a short swim from Paradise Beach.
I'd recommend it for those on a budget as the snorkelling rivals any organised trip on the Great Barrier Reef and can be done to your own schedule.
Stay at the nearby campsite for a few days and you can venture out on to the reef as many times as you like and see reef sharks, turtles, trumpet fish, octopuses, you name it. It's also handy if you fancy doing a diving course without being out at sea for days, or if you want to take in a leisurely glass-bottom boat tour. It's best to visit outside of the school holidays.
Visit www.coralbay.org/
Google map: tinyurl.com/luo9cn
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