Red Shoot Camping Park Archives

June 17, 2020

Why go Camping in 2020?

Well, 2020 has been fun so far hasn’t it?

Hmm, that might be stretching it somewhat! What with Australia burning, endless Brexit, a global pandemic and mass civil unrest to mention just a few of the fun times we have faced this year, you feel like ripping the year up and starting again at 2021! However, here we are, managing as best as we can with more than half of the year left to limp through. So, whilst Covid-19 is still raging, why on earth would we want to go camping in 2020?

Well, the fact remains that camping or glamping are simply the best types of holiday full stop (not at all biased). Many people are so committed that they have even camped during lockdown! No, not by breaking any rules but by the beauty that is…

1. Camping at home

Who else can remember the excitement of camping in your garden as a child? Well, camping at home became a thing this year and looks set to continue through the summer. Whether camping indoors, in gardens, on balconies and even on a trampoline – camping can happen anywhere with whatever equipment you have. Kids find it magical and it’s a real chance for family bonding and fun. You might even break a world record! Our family took part in the Scouts’ #CampAtHome record on 30^th April and we couldn’t get the kids out of their shoddy blanket tent for another week!

For those that are desperate to get away from it all when camping in 2020 but simply cannot or do not want to whilst the threat of Covid-19 remains, why not try glamping at home? Tinkers Bells usually provide their gorgeous bell tents for use at weddings, festivals and other large social gatherings, so obviously, their business took a huge hit in the last few months. But have they come up with the perfect solution? After their initial shock, they took stock and diversified sublimely to now provide garden glamping whether you want the ultimate staycation, celebrate a birthday, anniversary or just have a change from your own Groundhog Day. You will be provided with a simply fabulous 7ft bell tent fully erected and furnished to your request in the safe confines of your own garden. Ali and Darren are wonderfully friendly to deal with and you can expect professional, meticulous standards.

Camping in 2020 - Garden Glamping — Garden Glamping with Tinker’s Bells

2. This Beautiful Country

For those that do wish to venture further for camping in 2020, without the pressure to go abroad, it is the perfect opportunity to explore this beautiful country. From the rolling hills of Devon at Langstone Manor Park to the stunning lakes of Cumbria at Park Foot Holiday Park , we are incredibly fortunate to have such diverse landscapes and fabulous campsites to view them in comfort. It might also be a chance to discover new parts of the coastline that you would not normally visit such as the sand expanses of Suffolk whilst staying at Haw Wood Farm. Or you might to choose to venture inland and meander through the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds whilst relaxing at Cotswolds Camping.

Camping in 2020 - Haw Wood Farm — Camping in Suffolk at Haw Wood Farm

It goes without saying that camping in 2020 and any exploring needs to be done particularly responsibly at this time – talk to your campsite owners about different places to go where crowding should not be an issue and report any evidence of the recent mob madness of leaving litter everywhere!

3. Change of Scenery

Most of us are proud of but thoroughly bored of our herbaceous borders, new fence, seats made out of pallets, fairy gardens, mud kitchens and other lockdown classics and simply need to see something/somewhere else. A fantastic site to explore the dramatic Jurassic Coast is The Dorset Hideaway who have come up with a comprehensive Coronavirus policy to ensure the safety of their guests whether camping, caravanning or in one of their fabulous glamping options.

Feeding the ducks at The Dorset Hideaway

Perhaps you are feeling adventurous about the type of accommodation you seek and decide to go for something really different like a Hobbit Hole in Hertfordshire, courtesy of Guilden Gate Glamping.

Hobbit Hole at Guilden Gate — The Hobbit hole at The Guilden Gate Glamping

4. Budget Friendly

David at Yurtcamp Devon, believes that camping or glamping could be the perfect holiday to turn to this year as many will be very wary of travelling overseas, and will be looking for a more budget friendly option to get away. Let’s face it, you immediately do away with expensive air fares and the costlier hotels, not to mention car hire, etc. And although prices may have to rise a little this year to take account of the additional changes campsites have to make, you still get incredible value for money. For example, you can camp in Cornwall at the picturesque Lower Penderleath Campsite for as little as £9.50/night/adult or in Somerset at Withy Water from just £10/tent (adult only).

Camping in 2020 - Lower Penderleath — Cornish camping at Lower Penderleath

5. Less People

There is no doubt that our holidays will look different this year and that campsites will have to limit numbers in order to ensure greater spacing. This is likely to mean that you will need to book in advance rather than turning up and hoping so you will need to be organised this year! The greater space will help to maintain social distancing and thus increase your peace of mind. It could also mean that camping in 2020 might be perfect for those who struggle with places that get too “peopley”. The spacious site at Hale Farm, East Sussex has no set pitches, thus allowing plenty of space between tents and benefits from a separate glamping area. Similarly, Longacres Camping is set in 30 acres of peaceful Surrey countryside and offers different areas and fields to suit different tastes, ensuring campers can spread out with ease.

Camping in 2020 - Hale Farm — The huge fields at Hale Farm

6. Self-Contained Accommodation

You will be safe within your own family bubble whether in a tent, caravan or glamping option such as bell tent or yurt. Plus, the beauty of camp and glamping sites is that most have their own grounds and facilities. This means campers don’t have to worry about crowding local beauty spots, finding a car parking space and figuring out where to buy food. For example, at Yurtcamp Devon, there are 40 acres of beautiful woodland ready for exploration. You can easily return to your yurt for an open fire cooked feast, or a meal prepared inside your yurt given that you have full cooking facilities as well a cosy log burner. In addition, their onsite Woodland Café will be open for take out at least.

For those with caravans or motorhomes, you might decide to opt for the wilderness of the Yorkshire Dales and venture to Thornton Hall Country Park. Here, Chris and Emma have diversified their onsite Farm Park into a Farm Safari Drive Thru to keep all their guests safe but still provide a change of routine. They also have quad biking available, ensuring each session is everyone from the same household with all helmets and gloves disinfected after use.

7. Mental and Physical Health

The good news about camping is that you will be in the fresh air, which we know lowers the risk of transmission of coronavirus, hence why some schools have adopted outdoor classrooms and why socially distanced small meet ups are now permitted as long as they are outdoors.

For those that need a touch of luxury to assist their mental health, The simply amazing range of glamping accommodation at Longberry Farm in the Garden of England, Kent is guaranteed to help you unwind and forget about your problems.

Ian from Big Hat Bushcamp, Devon is a firm advocate of the health benefits of nature particularly in this digital age. His business is another that has been hit by the Covid-19 outbreak and has pivoted to offer single-household bushcraft sessions. These provide excellent problem-solving challenges and allow families to develop confidence, teamwork and leadership skills as well as learning survival techniques in the fresh air. And do not fear, as they are run by the friendliest of folk, keen to help you understand and be happy.

After weeks spent at the beck and call of electronic devices, a bit of “cold turkey” wouldn’t go amiss. It would certainly help people’s battered mental health.

With all this on offer, camping in 2020 might not be so bad after all!

June 20, 2019

Taking Your Dog Camping

For some people, taking your dog camping with you is the most natural thing in the world – after all, they are part of the family, so it makes perfect sense. Others might break out into a cold sweat at the idea of coping with another “person’s” needs on top of everyone else’s.

Well, there are a number of things you can do to ensure you will all have a great time and there are lots of wonderful camp and glamping sites out there that will cater to Fido’s every need.

Will My Doggy Cope? (And Will I?!)

A lot of people think of dogs as hard work. And let’s face it, some can be! A lot depends on breed, age, living arrangements at home, etc and behaviour can therefore be variable.

We have always been fans of terriers (or terrorists, depending on which way you look at them!) and have found them to be great characters, very personable and almost human in some cases. Also, being petite is handy for fitting in around the small mountain that you need to take with you and manoeuvring around in the more “cosy” dimensions of your living quarters.

Taking your dog camping — Taking in the views

Having said that, we have friends with much bigger dogs and they all cope well and enjoy the company of each other. This is an important factor to consider when taking you dog camping with you – Does your dog socialise with other dogs regularly? If they don’t, going away and mixing with strange dogs will be stressful for you and them so try to integrate opportunities for this at home before embarking on a trip with them.

Most dogs do really enjoy going camping because they are with their best buddies (you) and of course, spending lots of time outside.

Taking your Dog Camping at Haw Wood Farm — Dog Walking Field at Haw Wood Farm

Campsite

It sounds obvious, but make sure your destination is dog friendly when booking. Some sites don’t allow dogs, or they do but have a gigantic list of rules suggesting that they are not that keen on them and will keep you under close surveillance for the duration of your “relaxing” holiday!

So, check out what is available at your campsite: A big designated dog walking area, doggy wash points or even doggy showers are all good signs that the campsite understand the needs of dogs and their parents.

Most campsites, whatever their take on dogs, will require that dogs are tied up whilst on site. This is an obvious health and safety precaution because of feral children on the loose, other animals on site, etc. So do make sure you take an extra long lead or perhaps even set up a zipline, so they do not feel over-restricted.

Taking your dog camping to Red Shoot Camping Park — Relaxing at Red Shoot Camping Park

Entertainment

When taking your dog camping, do make regular use of the “dog walk” areas and take the opportunity to explore the area around you with your faithful friend. Involve your children as well – many won’t need asking as they love to play with their best pal, but take toys and balls and play fetch for as long as you can manage. Of course, the more purposeful exercise you do with them, the quieter and happier they are likely to be at camp (this applies to children as well as dogs!)

You may have some family days out planned away from the campsite. Always check that where you are going is dog friendly be it the beach, nature walks or particular family entertainment spots such as theme parks, castles, museums, etc. For some of these it is highly likely that dogs would not be permitted so prior to your trip, it would be worth checking if your campsite is able to help or if they know of local, reputable “dog-sitting” services to save someone missing out on the trip.

I know it sounds obvious, but don’t leave dogs in the car for day trips such as this – they can cope for short periods, but longer ones make them miserable and, in the summer, the temperature quickly rises inside cars.

Taking your dog camping - Doggy friendly beach essential — Doggy friendly beach essential!

Packing

Dogs are simpler to pack for than children as they need far less clothes (lapdogs an exception), but this will still need some thought to ensure your trip is stress-free.

It is worth having a designated doggy bag with their stuff in so it’s easy to find and after all, they are a family member. The obvious inclusions are bed, lead, toys, food and bowl. Make sure you also take a bottle and bowl when you are mobile, so they have regular access to water when you are out and about. A good stash of old towels is useful after walks, beach trips, submerging in swamps, etc as you want to keep your tent as clean as possible. You might consider having a designated “wet area” in the tent if you all come in from the rain so that you can keep sleeping/living quarters clean and dry.

Oh, and poo bags. In every pocket. Of everything you own.

Selection of Lovely Camp and Glamping Sites that welcome dogs:

Stanley Villa Farm Camping, Lancashire

Herding Hill Farm, Northumberland

Point Farm, Pembrokeshire

Deepdale Backpackers and Camping, Norfolk

Haw Wood Farm, Suffolk

Greenway Touring and Glamping Park, Shropshire

Petruth Paddocks, Somerset

Stowford Meadows, Devon

Forest Glade Holiday Park, Devon

Red Shoot Camping Park, Hampshire

March 13, 2019

8 Beautiful Campsites for Finding Wildlife

These beautiful and picturesque campsites are set deep within the countryside allowing an abundance of wildlife to flourish. If you want to recharge your batteries amongst stunning scenery and catch a glimpse of a wild animal or two, then have a look at these 8 beautiful campsites for finding wildlife:

1. Red Shoot Camping Park

At Red Shoot Camping Park within the beautiful National Park of the New Forest, you can explore the rare and diverse wildlife habitats of the centuries old landscape and are highly likely to spot some of the famous wild ponies. We aim to help protect and enhance our local environment and are proud holders of the Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award. We boost biodiversity by managing existing habitats within our park and adding new habitats where possible. Within our park you will find hedgerows, wildflowers, trees, grassland and nesting/overwintering boxes and houses for birds and insects all attracting a range of wildlife. We have signed up to the David Bellamy Honey Bee Pledge and provide a home for several bee hives in a quiet corner of one of our private fields.

Surrounded by nature at its best and with a choice of camping, caravanning, glamping or a holiday cottage, the Red Shoot Camping Park is the perfect place to unwind, relax and escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Find out more here: Red Shoot Camping Park

2. Gorsey Meadow

Gorsey Meadow is at the very heart of Norfolk. Having kept it to ourselves for so long we now hope others will enjoy it as much as we do. Our wonderfully secluded meadow allows adults to escape the hustle and bustle and children to enjoy space and nature in a safe environment. Book individually or hire the meadow exclusively as part of a group of family and friends and have your own slice of Norfolk to build memories that will last a lifetime. We welcome camping, campervans or glamping within one of our five sumptuous bell tents.

You will share the meadow with an abundance of nature from inquisitive rabbits and strutting pheasants, songbirds in the hedgerows and tawny owls in the oak trees. We even have our own bug hotel! You are very welcome to picnic in the beautiful woodland glade and explore the surrounding area but take care with children as there are natural dangers in the woodland such as ponds and inedible mushrooms.

Find out more here: Gorsey Meadow

3. Forest Glade Holiday Park

Forest Glade Holiday Park in Devon is surrounded by 300 acres of forest and we are proud to hold a Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award. This is one of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK and we aim to preserve the environment around us so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. We manage our land as a haven for wildlife and have a self-guided nature walk on the park – Our leaflet at Reception or from the Tourist Information Room suggests plants and wildlife that you can look out for throughout the seasons including deer, hares as well as a variety of birds and wild flowers.

You can choose from camping, caravanning or motor homes as well as glamping in our camping pods or staying in one of our self-catering caravans to enjoy the tranquillity of these beautiful surroundings on the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Find out more here: Forest Glade Holiday Park

4. Walton Court Caravan and Camping Site

Walton Court is a small working farm in the heart of the welsh countryside. Our pool, which you will pass as you enter Walton Court has an abundance of wildlife. There are 2 mute swans that visit, moorhens, wild ducks, a kingfisher, woodpeckers and herons. During the spring the pool is filled with frogspawn. It is fed by natural springs and the Riddings Brook passes along the perimeter.

Choosing from camping, caravanning, our static caravan, glamping in our lovely shepherd’s hut or staying in our luxurious cottage, you can enjoy the fresh air, wildlife and fabulous views of the welsh countryside.

Find out more here: Walton Court Caravan and Camping Site

5. Porlock Caravan Park

We at Porlock Caravan Park are delighted to welcome you to our family-run, multi award-winning camping, touring and luxury Caravan Park, set in the beautiful vale of Porlock, in the National Exmoor Park. Our aim is to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. We are passionately committed to conservation and wildlife, including our Bellamy award-winning garden, and maintain our grounds and facilities to the highest standards to ensure you have a great and memorable holiday.

Exmoor is one of the most tranquil National Parks and offers some of the best star gazing in the country as well as being home to the tallest tree in England. There is an abundance of wildlife from the largest herds of Red Deer in England to the famous Exmoor Pony – the oldest breed in Europe. We offer the perfect location from which to experience and explore the stunning scenery of Devon and West Somerset.

Find out more here: Porlock Caravan Park

6. The Lost Brickyard

Photos By Trail Camera

The Brickyard Campsite is a unique spot secretly hidden on the North Norfolk coast. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty you’ll feel like you have the whole place to yourselves! If you love owls hooting, deer grazing and stoats racing this is the place for you.

We offer a mix of bring your own camping and full-scale glamping; you can even have friends pitch their tents next to your glamping tent. All our camping areas are secluded and private with trees and shrubs – it is truly wild camping. All pitches have a fire pit and we have a communal, wood fired pizza oven for everyone to use.

We are walking distance from Holkham Hall, Holkham beach and you can explore our beautiful scenery from the SUSTRANS cycle route system as well as the North Norfolk Coastal Path.

Find out more here: The Lost Brickyard

7. Haw Wood Farm

We are delighted that our passion for the environment, conservation and nature has been rewarded with a David Bellamy Gold award for conservation for a 3rd year running!

Here at Haw Wood Farm in Suffolk, you can bring your tent, caravan, motorhome or campervan and enjoy the beautiful rural scenery and wildlife. From our newly planted woodland of over 3500 trees, and dedicated dog walking field, you can weave through the wild grasses and feast your eyes on a magnificent array of flora and fauna. In the late spring and summer months you will see our wild flower meadows in bloom. We have a strip for the birds and a strip for the bees and butterflies. As a bee-friendly site, as well as planting lots of flowers that we know bees love we also have our own bee hives. We make sure we leave the little lovelies plenty of honey for themselves but any extra we extract, and you can buy in our shop.

Find out more here: Haw Wood Farm

8. Chapel House Farm

Welcome to our hideaway at Chapel House Farm in the little village of Craswall close to the book town of Hay-on-Wye. Our camping pitches are spread over 15 acres of wildflower fields bordered by ancient woodland. Children can make dens, run in the woods and play games in the long grass. You can bring your own tents or stay in our beautifully furnished bell tents or yurts.

The pastures are a spectacle throughout the spring and summer with a show of bluebells and a host of other wild flowers. Watch out for the Red Kites and Buzzards that wheel over the campsite and listen for Curlews on the road to Hay where you might also spot a Fallow deer or tiny Muntjac deer crossing the road.

Find out more here: Chapel House Farm