It may be tempting to opt for a large campsite where your kids will have plenty of room to play ball games, where perhaps there will even be a pool and where there are plenty of showers and toilets. However, the reality can often be disappointing. Big is not necessarily beautiful: the pitches may be so close together that letting off steam is impossible and the queues for the loos can be every bit as large as the blocks where they are situated.
It was the disappointment of a site that looked more like an internment camp than a campsite that motivated Dixe Wills to write his book “Tiny Campsites”. Being a bit of a camping aficionado but believing that small is beautiful, Dixe Wills quickly realised that there was no book giving details of small campsites. Spotting the gap in the market he set about writing his own and stayed in each of the 75 sites appearing in the book. What is even more impressive is that Dixe Wills covered the two thousand miles on his bike.
Each of the sites is one acre or less and they are situated in England, Scotland and Wales. Because he was writing his own book he was able to include all sorts of information that he felt he wanted to know as a camper, such as where to get a good pub meal and what change you need for the showers.
Sadly the author discovered that it is not just large sites that can be grim. There are a few tiny horror stories out there too but following Dixe Wills’ recommendations should guarantee a good camping experience. Whether you are looking for somewhere in Cornwall or Yorkshire, Gwynedd or Galloway it is likely that Wills will have done the homework for you.
Ultimately, whether your campsite of choice is big or small, take along your best waterproof clothing and waterproof trousers, as we all know how quickly the British summer can turn!