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With Brits increasingly opting for UK staycations instead of overseas trips amid the ongoing jet fuel crisis, camping is becoming an appealing option.
Sales of tents and sleeping bags are soaring as a result, as British families take to the great outdoors for a bit of summer fun.
Wilko has said tent sales are up by 300 per cent compared with last year, while outdoor carts are up by 200 per cent.
So, is this year set to be the summer of camping?
Here, the Daily Mail has compiled the ultimate guide to camping as bookings skyrocket.
We have also revealed the best campsites for families across Great Britain according to Pitchup.com, so you can live the life of luxury in the great outdoors.
This year’s highest-rated family-friendly sites span the length of Great Britain, from Pembrokeshire and Swansea to Perthshire and Lancashire, reflecting the continued popularity of outdoor holidays for families.
Here’s a rundown of the top spots – and everything you’ll need to pack with you, according to camping experts…
1. Trefach Holiday Park, Pembrokeshire
The number one family-friendly site is Trefach Holiday Park
The Pembrokeshire site boasts an outdoor pool that’s heated, perfect for days when the UK weather doesn’t cooperate
Topping the list is Trefach Holiday Park in Pembrokeshire, which achieved a score of 9.3/10 from guest reviews for child-friendliness.
Featuring an outdoor heated swimming pool, bar and restaurant on site, as well as a courtyard terrace, the campsite has a luxurious feel – and you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in the UK, in fact just minutes from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
It also boasts a calm, quiet ambience, with a remote location and plenty of walks to enjoy in the surrounding area.
Nearby attractions include the Castell Henllys Iron Age Village and The Dinosaur Park Tenby, but the real appeal in this part of the UK is the range of animal activities on offer.
From the Pembrokeshire Llamas to Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo and Manor Wildlife Park, there’s no shortage of wildlife fun in the area.
At Trefach, you can book a seasonal touring pitch, or opt for a one-off holiday – standard pitches start from just £40.
2. Jubilee Camping, Hampshire
In second place is Jubilee Camping in Hampshire, where you can book a pitch for just £32
This is followed by Jubilee Camping in Hampshire, with a score of 9.2, where you can book a pitch for just £32.
The rural site is a 15-minute drive from the New Forest, making it ideally placed for families seeking nature and adventure in one of the UK’s most adored staycation spots.
Open fires, group barbecues and a welcoming atmosphere are all on the cards here, as creating a friendly vibe is part of the aim of the owners, the Burrough Family.
Jubilee was even the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award winner in 2021, and has gained many other accolades, including a certification from the Wanderlust Camping Club.
‘This is such a friendly site with a positive vibe where everyone is welcome. We loved the bar, outdoor cinema, early morning bacon rolls and fire-pit hire. The pitch was really generous and the site never felt overcrowded even at capacity,’ one visitor wrote.
3. Panoramic Camping and Glamping, Swansea
Panoramic Camping and Glamping takes the bronze medal in the ranking
The interiors of the tents here scream ‘glamping’, with fresh sheets and cosy decor
The clue is in the name here – Panoramic Camping and Glamping offers expansive views across the Welsh countryside, overlooking the Loughor estuary to North Gower.
The camping site in Swansea came in third place with a score of 8.9, as families continue to seek outdoor holidays here that combine freedom, nature and space for children to explore.
Hilltop meadow glamping is the order of the day at this spot, with views over the Glamorgan hills punctuating your visit.
The site is also a working farm, with more than 100 cows, a flock of sheep and chickens.
The site is open seasonally, this year from April 1 to October 31, so there’s plenty of time to book a pitch still.
It’s easy to get to as well – just 30 minutes from Swansea. Pitches start from £25.
4. Little Thornham Holidays, Wiltshire
Little Thornham Holidays, situated in Wiltshire, takes spot number four
If you like the sound of camping but don’t feel like roughing it, this could be the option for you.
Little Thornham Holidays is a family-friendly campsite with a twist – you can stay in a cosy bell tent, kitted out with beds.
It is slightly pricier, at £120 for a tent, but is well worth it for a unique experience.
With views over the Salisbury Plain and nearby attractions including the Avon Canal, here you can blend comfort and ‘glamping’ with a real taste of the outdoors.
Visitors raved about the site, praising its views and equipment.
One explained: ‘Wonderful little place, clean, private, comfortable and a great hot shower. Everything you could want was provided. Host fabulous.’
5. Magical Malpas PYO Farm, Cheshire
Next up in the list is Magical Malpas PYO Farm in Cheshire
If you have animal-loving children, this campsite is for you.
Located on the site of a family-run working dairy and pick-your-own farm, any visit here will invariably include making new friends – from Wilma and Betty the sheep to Trevor and Lola the donkeys.
There’s also a role play village open at the site inside the barn, filled with 21 play areas including a hospital, construction site, supermarket, garden centre and post office, ideal for young children.
It has also been running a Pumpkin Patch since 2000, popular during the autumn months.
‘Nice open site with lovely views, good little play area for the kids. Being a working farm, they have some of the animals roaming around for the kids to see, which was a big hit,’ one visitor wrote.
Pitches start from £22.
In sixth place is Auchingarrich Wildlife Park in Perthshire
At £19 for a pitch, Auchingarrich Wildlife Park comes in as one of the cheapest campsites on the list – and it’s well worth a visit.
An animal haven and wild-style camping site at the same time, the Perthshire countryside spot is perfect for exploring the outdoors, as well as nearby attractions such as Drummond Castle.
Activities at the park include otter workshops, sunflower growing competitions and many opportunities to meet the more than 40 different species of animal living in the parkland.
Plus, every year Auchingarrich Wildlife Park adopts a number of lambs from farms.
They are either orphans or part of large litters that the ewe found difficult to feed – and this is sure to be a hit with children.
7. Puddleduck Glamping, Lancashire
Puddleduck Glamping in Lancashire came in at spot number seven
Puddleduck Glamping is as friendly and cosy as it sounds – although with two-person bell tents to rent from £85, it’s on the pricier end of the scale.
But the unique and well-maintained bell tents are charming, and the chickens roaming around add to the rustic ambience.
If you’re looking for a beach holiday to combine with your glamping, this camping site is ideally placed.
Southport and Formby beaches are half an hour’s drive away.
‘We stayed for one night and what a delight it was! The site was perfect as it only has three bell tents,’ one delighted guest wrote.
They added: ‘There is everything you could need to help make your stay as easy and relaxing as possible. We all loved the chickens and gorgeous friendly dog that live on the site.’
8. South Ford Farm Camping, Devon
Next up is South Ford Farm Camping, filled with greenery as far as the eye can see
This riverside campsite located on a Devon farm is just a 20-minute drive from Exmoor National Park.
The highly recommended spot was subject to many positive experiences.
One visitor wrote: ‘South Ford Farm is such a special place. The setting is truly beautiful – so peaceful and green, with the river right there creating the most relaxing atmosphere. The kids had the best time between the playground, the sandpit by the river, and feeding the animals.
‘The whole site is wonderfully maintained and the surroundings just make you feel completely at ease. We loved being so immersed in nature.’
Pitches start from just £25.
9. Poplar Grove Farm Caravan Park, Lancashire
Serene Poplar Grove Farm Caravan Park joined the list in ninth place
Poplar Grove Farm Caravan Park is hailed as a quiet site – ideal for families with young children looking to avoid noisy teenagers and gatherings while on holiday.
It’s also a 160-acre working family farm, just 12 miles from Blackpool, so plenty is on offer in and around the site.
You can opt for one of 20 caravan pitches, eight shepherd huts and five camping pods, glamorous tiny ‘glamping’ spots that are ideal for a luxurious romantic getaway.
Walks nearby are all but unlimited – it is on the edge of the forest of Bowland, so walking and cycling trails are everywhere you look.
Plus, a pitch could set you back as little as £36.10.
10. Riverside Holiday Village, Somerset
Rounding out the top 10 best campsites for families is Riverside Holiday Village
Play areas for children and a pool make the site family-friendly and appropriate for little ones
Riverside Holiday Village, just around the corner from popular beach town Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, is nestled in the heart of greenery.
It’s great for kids – it even has a heated indoor swimming pool, games arcade, adventure playground and regular themed entertainment such as bingo in the fully licensed clubhouse.
Fishing is also on offer here seasonally, as the River Axe runs near the park.
If camping is not for you, there are also motorhomes available – Riverside recently underwent an extensive refurbishment which has seen the addition of a number of brand-new, top-of-the-range holiday homes and lodges to the park.
But for campers, there’s good news for your wallets – you can book a pitch from £44.
The ultimate staycation equipment checklistThe best tents
All experts agree – a good tent is the number one priority.
Oliver Browne, the founder of True Summit Adventures and an expedition leader, told the Daily Mail: ‘A tent that can handle the conditions you are using it in is essential. It will keep you dry at night and won’t blow away.’
He advised: ‘My main thing is “buy it once”. If you plan to camp regularly then do not buy the cheapest items. They don’t last, are not durable, the quality is terrible, and the temptation to abandon them when dirty or damaged is very high.
‘It’s better to invest in branded equipment. If you are on a budget, then wait for the sales – in particular Black Friday, when the big stores offer great discounts.’
But even for keen campers, putting up a tent is often a struggle. Luckily, plenty of options are nice and simple, and these tents – although easiest to set up with two people – could be done alone if need be.
Both are spacious and comfortable, and are great options for a group trip.
The best sleeping mats
Sleeping mats while camping are essential for ensuring a comfortable stay – although can be an additional cost.
However, they are a great investment, in particular for any camping fanatics looking to upgrade their trips.
The best car tent
Aldi’s new £69.99 has been hitting the headlines – claiming to snuggle up to the rear of any SUV, transforming it into a campervan, with a roomy additional canvas area and awning.
The supermarket tent has been gaining traction – read how it fared when we tested it.
The best sleeping bags
Christopher Bellamy, who worked as an outdoor gear designer at French outdoor brand Salomon, told the Daily Mail: ‘A good sleeping bag is essential – this is one area where it is worth choosing carefully.
‘Make sure the bag is rated for the temperatures you’re likely to experience. There is nothing worse than being too cold at night, but being too hot in an over-insulated bag is also miserable.
‘Check the comfort rating rather than just the extreme rating, as that gives a much more realistic idea of how warm it will feel.’
Fjällräven is best known for its fabulous backpacks, but that should change – its sleeping bag is one of the comfiest.
It’s easy to zip yourself up to stay warm, but the biggest perk is how soft and padded it feels, without being too heavy.
For a more budget-friendly alternative, try one of Amazon’s bestsellers.
Amazon Best Seller
ShopThe best camping backpacks
If you’ve got all the gear, you will certainly need some way to carry it.
Osprey’s Kestrel backpack is spacious, easy to carry, has comfortable straps and plenty of compartments – perfect for any camping or hiking trip.
But if you’d like something more budget-friendly, the Vango Mitra Air 20L Day Rucksack is designed to be functional and comfortable for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s certainly an impressive bit of gear for any adventurers out there. It has lots of storage space, as well as external mesh pockets, which are convenient to access.
Essential lighting
Lighting, while camping, is perhaps one of the most important factors – if you need the bathroom in the middle of the night, you don’t want to find yourself immersed in darkness.
Christopher added: ‘A rechargeable LED head torch – this is a must-have.
‘You’ll use it for everything: reading in bed, finding your way to the toilet, sorting your kit in the dark, or cooking after sunset.
‘Look for one with variable brightness, ideally including a low or red-light mode, so you don’t blind your fellow campers, and so you can read. A super-bright beam is useful outside, but much too harsh inside a tent.’
The 24 LED Hanging Lantern is a great solution.
It’s super light and fully portable – and the big draw is that it can be used continuously for up to 30 hours.
For serious campers, you might want to try BioLite’s head torch – it gives you complete visibility, with power adjustment options.
Camping cooking gear
A lightweight stove or travel barbecue for whipping up a delicious meal while camping is one of the best high-tech investments to make if you go camping a lot.
OEX’s model fits directly onto a gas canister and comes with plenty of features to help you get the most efficient and safest flame possible while out and about. It’s the perfect size for solo camping adventures without weighing you down.
If you’re happy to stick to sandwiches and drinks, you’ll still need some food gear – a mug is the best place to start.
Umbrellas
This is the UK, after all – waterproofs and umbrellas are essential.
Christopher explained: ‘The unexpected thing I always recommend is an umbrella – it sounds almost ridiculous, but an umbrella is brilliant when camping. It keeps out both rain and sun, and it means you don’t always have to put on layers of heavy waterproof clothing.
‘It is especially useful around camp, when you’re cooking, walking to the loos, or just sitting outside in bad weather. I always take them mountaineering in the high Alps too.’
Fulton’s Titan is an extra-strong all-weather umbrella with an oversized canopy – it’s no ordinary, pocket-sized item, but rather a strong, powerful piece of gear.
It’s heavier than cheaper, smaller models, but that’s to be expected. With its weight comes a sturdiness and durability that’s hard to replicate.
But plenty of smaller, lighter options are available on the market, too.
What is the most forgotten item when camping?
If you’ve got your core equipment, you’re all set – but plenty of small items can easily be forgotten on a camping trip.
The most forgotten camping items are small essentials such as a lighter or matches, or a torch.
But plenty of even the most experienced campers might forget essential personal items such as toothbrush and toothpaste.
Here’s what to avoid…
Joe Hill, the outdoor living brand manager at GO Outdoors, said: ‘Where people can waste money is on overcomplicating the trip.
‘Oversized furniture, decorative lights, novelty cooking tools and bulky accessories often are nice to have, but not essential, especially for a short break.’
Instead of prioritising complex tools, Joe suggests keeping things simple.
He explained: ‘My advice for anyone camping on a budget is to focus on six things: shelter, sleep, warmth, food, water and light. Get those right first, then add comfort items later if you have leftover budget, or want to elevate your stay.’
Oliver Browne added: ‘Avoid camping gadgets – “14-in-one tools”, folding shovels etc, too much kitchen equipment. Mostly clutter that is never used.
‘Also, avoid cheap sleeping mattresses – they always leak and never last more than one or two camping trips. If you’re camping and it’s cold then you need to be off the ground. Buy a decent insulated mattress, which offers greater durability.’
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