How much fun is camping in Devon? Is there are any joy to camping or is it all a load of hard work? Let’s take a look and see how my first camping experience went. Was it as bad as I had expected?
How much fun is Camping in Devon?
1. Packing up 2 cars with enough stuff to last 2 adults and 3 children 5 days is fun – 2 CARS!!! I might be an amateur camper but really?? 2 cars
2. Driving for 4 hours is fun in the heat, especially knowing you have to unpack not 1 car but 2 CARS on your arrival, plus put up the tent. I was giddy with excitement the whole way.
3. Reading the reviews of the campsite a few days before and realising they were great except for the bit about being next to a busy A road was really FUN especially as I was the only person who knew this little secret!
4. Sleeping within nature, under the stars, in changeable weather conditions, knowing that the risk of storms were pretty high is super fun!
5. The thought of 3 children who would be unable to hide from each other, charge up their electronics easily and all while being in a confined space together is probably the most fun ever!
And then we arrive…. And it’s tiny, and not too noisy and we have a huge pitch and the shower cubicles and toilets make our home one look second rate. The sun was shining, the kids were free and YAY to inflatable tents. I did take a porch pole to the head which I think will be an ongoing joke for some time…. See FUN!
With everything we needed unpacked, beds inflated and kids settled it’s time for our camping adventure to really start…..
Day 1.
Once we’d set up we all agreed we needed food and fast. We looked at the local area and found a pub. I didn’t really think it through and being a bank holiday they’d stopped serving. We headed to Westwood Ho! By the way, I’ve decided that all places should be followed up by an exclamation mark.
This little town had all we needed at that moment, chips, ice cream and somewhere for us to put our toes in the sea. As the sun was setting on the first day, we were full of seaside yumminess and ready for our first night under the canvas. I’d like to say it was smooth sailing and they were all so exhausted from a day of doing nothing in the car that they crashed out at 8.30pm but it was closer to 11pm and took some bargaining. But us adults slept like a dream on our double airbed. If not a little cold. Thank you to Rob for bringing my dressing gown that I said I didn’t need because I was worried about taking up space in the 2 CARS!
Day 2.
I think given the fact that the sun was out and shining bright from about 5am we did ok to not see a child much before 6am. But with the aid of charged up electronics we bought ourselves some extra sleep time which is never to be snubbed at.
The children had been nagging just a little (A HUGE AMOUNT!) about going to the beach, they’d even bought nets and buckets and spades the night before, no pressure at all then!
Rob suggested Woolacoombe beach which was about an hour from where we were staying, we left early to make the most of the day. The children were very excited, although I am not sure who was more excited to make a start on the sandcastle, Rob or the children.
It was a little cooler than I had been led to believe by the sun and my cardigan was on and off more times than I get asked for food by the children in a day (That’s a huge amount by the way!) But the children didn’t seem to find their coats restrictive. Hole digging was top of their agenda and the digging just got more fun once they reached water.
Castle building
Rob set about making the castle to end all castles. The children helped a little, in a controlled, supervised manner and I watched from the side lines in awe of course. On seeing the finished article I have to admit to thinking Rob may have missed his calling in life. Do you think there is much call for Chartered surveyors in the world of sandcastle building?
Woolacoombe is a huge beach well maintained which offers refreshment vans and toilet facilities. The area the children used for rock pooling was beautiful and the children had a fantastic day.
I do often wonder though, why there has to be so much sand involved in beaches? I am pretty sure I’ll be finding sand everywhere for weeks to come!
Day 3.
It was clear that today, the weather would not be in our favour. We’d already decided to visit Tintagel castle in Cornwall and a little rain couldn’t spoil that for us, could it?
It was another lovely day. We wondered around Tintagel and stopped for a Scone. We could hardly visit Cornwall and not have one. And just so you know, Jam first then cream and I won’t hear any different!
We had a brief stop in Bude, a pretty little town with a few shops to look at. The children managed a few rides at the fair before we spent a civilised evening playing Monopoly. I can’t tell you who won, but I can tell you we had no falling outs. We eventually abandoned as we were just all so damn good we’d of been playing all night!
Day 4
Now we were not promised good weather for today, but the campsite owners had said different. We decided one last visit to the beach was the plan. We hadn’t bothered packing a picnic or swimming costumes because we were only expecting an hour of nice weather….. Let’s just say I am glad I packed the sun cream, a drink and a snack.
This at least bought us some much wanted beach time. The beach is possibly one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The children dug, and paddled and explored the vast rock pools. Covered in sand and soaked through but happy and hungry we headed back to the tent for some food.
We picked our moment well as it soon turned to rain. I was relieved as being so unprepared for the nice weather, I felt disappointed to be leaving the beach behind. We spent the afternoon in the tent. The children and Rob played killer bunnies while I took the opportunity to do some blog writing. Rob took the children for dinner and an evening of arcade fun while I began the task of packing up. (2 CARS!!!!)
I could already feel a bad case of the post camping blues ready to kick in. We really did have the best time.
Camping verdict?
I am completely sold on camping and can’t wait to be under the canvas again. The freedom of it felt incredible. I love being able to sit outside until it’s dark and the slower pace of life it offers. The children had the best t. It felt like a good chance to reconnect with each other and just enjoy all the small things in life.
I really enjoyed this post. We camped some when our children were smaller, but this feels like a great adventure!
I’m most impressed that you tent camped and went sightseeing. When we used to camp, I looked like death!
It seems you had a perfect family holiday. I travel alone and love camping in the mountains. https://www.daisyandthyme.com/thyme-to-cook-daisys-kitchen-vegan-sweet-potato-buns/
I’ve actually never been camping. We’ve slept in a tent in our yard when I was a kid. And stayed in cottages by the beach. But never camping! There’s lots to arrange and think about but you’ve made me want to do it :). Thanks for sharing!
I am more into glamping than camping, I am envious at how you all got on and the 2 cars definitely perplexed me.
This made me chuckle. We are avid campers and go often as a family of 6. The prep is the worst bit just making sure you have all that you need.
It’s hard work but it’s totally worth it x
I’ve never fancied camping and even though the kids would like to go. It’s definitely the amount of stuff you have to take, and I can’t imagine it being much fun in the rain. It does look like you had a great time though x
Yeah it is most definitely not much fun in the rain, but actually hiding away listening to the rain is kinda lovely too x
Wonderfully written. We camp quite regularly and can fully sympathise with how much is needed to camp for a family of 5!
Just the thought makes me sweat!
I think the whole idea of camping just puts people off! We have been often and we love it.
I agree! It’s so worth it though x
my first camping trip was a compete disaster – the tent leaked and allour clothes got wet – i need to get better tent and try again x kind regards Pati Robins
Mine was much the same many years ago. In fact the tent collapsed on us!
I really never really thought of try camping. But I know that it is something that my kids would really love to do.
It’s a lot of fun x
I love camping too – there is certainly a freedom to it and kids love it which makes it easier. Sound like you had a great trip even if the weather was a little up and down
Laura x
In the UK you really just get used to the weather 😂
I love that area of the UK, Woolacombe beach is stunning and a perfect sandy family beach. Glad you loved camping!
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