‘I watched the children uncurl’: people share stories of affordable UK camping holidays | Camping holidays

Parenting in London can usually be outlined by “don’ts”, says Jen Ablitt, 48, who has a four-year-old daughter – “don’t contact that, cease there, don’t run”.However every time they go tenting within the countryside, she finds, for a metropolis child it’s a totally completely different realm. “Off they go, and also you give them extra freedom,” she says.Ablitt is one among many individuals taking a tenting or caravanning vacation this summer time, choices that are usually considerably cheaper than another breaks whereas offering advantages corresponding to proximity to nature.Tenting and caravan holidays work out cheaper than different home lodging varieties. With 62% of UK adults saying they’re at present spending cautiously or reducing again because of the price of dwelling disaster, in keeping with the British Vacationer Authority, cheaper vacation choices are more and more enticing.Dozens of individuals responded to a Guardian callout asking for his or her experiences of UK tenting holidays. Listed below are a few of their inexpensive tales of pitching up and switching off.‘I don’t assume I’ve ever met a little bit child that doesn’t love tenting’Jen Ablitt and her daughter on their solution to their tenting journey. {Photograph}: Jen Ablitt/Guardian CommunityI was just lately made redundant, and hopefully I’ll get a brand new full-time job, so this is perhaps the final summer time vacation the place I can spend the whole six weeks with my daughter, who’s 4.I rented our house out on-line and deliberate almost three weeks staying with buddies and tenting: the Forest of Dean, the Peak District, the Lake District and north Wales. We camp rather a lot anyway – and began when she was 18 months outdated – so we’re used to it. I don’t assume I’ve ever met a little bit child who doesn’t love tenting.We’ve had a really low-cost vacation – about £20 an evening – greater than paid for by the house rental cash. However as a solo father or mother it has been exhausting to do all of the driving, packing, tenting, parenting, interspersed with home visitor changeovers.Total, I’m very glad I did it. Tenting is a terrific solution to see some really beautiful elements of the UK. Jen Ablitt, 48, south-west London‘I watched the kids uncurl’The youngsters loved toasting marshmallows on Rebecca Lovell’s tenting journey to the Lea Valley. {Photograph}: Rebecca Lovell/Guardian CommunityI went tenting for the primary time within the Lee Valley this August – three mums and 6 youngsters – to attempt to give our metropolis youngsters a style of outside dwelling, off their telephones and out into nature. They’re youngsters, and most of them are glued to screens.We had checked out a couple of seaside vacation lets, however the costs – one place was £1,000 every week – have been simply too excessive. Value was positively an element. It looks like UK seaside holidays are getting out of attain, whereas the campsite price £140, together with gear rent, for 2 nights per household. It was tenting for softies – none of us have tenting gear or tents, so we received to expertise it with out the stress of bringing countless bits.Solely one among us has a automobile, so she drove with the baggage, and the remainder of us received the prepare, which was solely 20 minutes. We then walked 45 minutes alongside the River Lea to the campsite. It was good that it wasn’t far.Rebecca Lovell, second left, on the tenting journey. {Photograph}: Trish Costello/Guardian CommunityThere have been the preliminary complaints from the youngsters: “How lengthy is that this stroll going to take? There’s no rest room within the tent. It’s chilly at night time. The store doesn’t promote any good snacks.”It took about 24 hours, however I watched the kids uncurl, and by the top of our keep they have been all out enjoying frisbee, making fires, happening river walks, watching the geese and climbing bushes to get apples. Rebecca Lovell, small enterprise proprietor, east London‘On clear nights you may see the Milky Approach’Nick Norton, 70, in Orkney. {Photograph}: Nick Norton/Guardian CommunityThis summer time, I’ve reacquainted myself with low-tech tenting and had two wonderful weeks in Dumfries and Galloway. My household want extra consolation and now have much less spare time, so I went solo.I stayed at a family-owned farm campsite, which is within the Galloway Darkish Sky space and near a lot of attention-grabbing sights.That is my pleased place. Every day was an early rise, together with watching an uninterrupted dawn on Midsummer Day from my tent. Most days I cycled across the quiet roads and trails. On clear nights you may see the Milky Approach and hundreds of thousands of stars.For £17 an evening, I received my pitch, free scorching water and showers, a freezer for ice packs, and mains electrical energy to cost my telephone and electrical bike. It was wonderful worth and I had an awesome reception from the house owners.The carbon footprint of those holidays was tiny: two cans of butane gasoline every week and 50 litres of petrol. The climate was type, however then being retired I might decide my weeks to make the most of the sunshine.As a solo vacation, there have been many folks round to speak with and share suggestions. I feel these are one of the best holidays I can keep in mind. Nick Norton, 70, retired enterprise analyst, Glasgow‘Tenting gives the chance to be near nature’Rachel Hardy together with her household. {Photograph}: Rachel Hardy/Guardian CommunityWe took our two kids to Coniston Water within the Lake District tenting, We’re eager paddleboarders and kayakers. It didn’t disappoint and was solely a two-hour journey from our house.All of us loved the water, with spectacular views. We performed ball video games on the tenting pitch, made a stunning campfire beneath the celebs and toasted marshmallows. Our kids additionally loved the good tree swing every day. It was completely excellent, and all for £34 an evening.As a household, we now have loved holidays to France, Finland, Scotland, Tunisia, Spain and Cornwall. Every vacation is exclusive so it’s laborious to say how our tenting journey compares, however we had simply as a lot enjoyable within the Lakes and felt actually linked as a household.Tenting gives the possibility to be near nature, and it’s a nice studying expertise for youngsters. We love that these sorts of holidays construct character and resilience.Different holidays, you may find yourself fretting a few missed departure, getting misplaced or questioning whether or not you may afford to eat out. However after we received house from tenting, we felt refreshed and relaxed. Rachel Hardy, instructor, northern England