Cool camping

Hello, 

I do love being outdoors and the urge to go camping again has been steadily 

growing over the last few months. I probably haven't been camping for 2 years and

 besides barbecues in the back garden, I can't remember when I last cooked outside. 

So with a half term looming I decided it would be an ideal opportunity to spend a 

couple of nights camping, but as this would be the first time we'd be away with daughter on her own, and not even one brother to keep her company, I decided it had to be something a little bit different. It had to offer daughter a little extra - and I found the ideal place. 

I found this great campsite, with the main attraction being a wood fired hot tub!

And while you are warming up the hot tub  

you can also boil water for your tea. 

The idea is so simple. You keep a fire burning in the bin and the water from the hot tub

 circulates round the coil that circles round the bin. Once the hot tub was 

full and the water started to circulate it heated up very quickly. 

Of course when it came to cooking dinner, the kettles 

on the hot plate of the hot tub stove were replaced with sausages and baked potatoes. 

Why is cooking sausages by head torch so much more entertaining than

cooking under a grill?!

Daughter remained sitting in the tub to eat her dinner - I waited until I'd finished 

eating before I joined her!

The other great attraction about this campsite was the sleeping arrangements. 

Daughter got to sleep in a VW campervan!!

Husband and I slept in the tent. And there was also a campfire and pizza oven!

This is the outdoor cooking/washing up area.

   Hammocks to while away a few lazy hours in the summer - but perhaps for 

just a short time in the cooler British autumn.  

However, the first night we were there the temperature was incredibly mild 

for late October, helped by cloudy skies.

Steps up to the dry compost toilet. 

The tress this autumn have been particularly stunning - I think because we have had so

 little wind the leaves have stayed on the trees longer and given us a truly beautiful display. 

It really was a wooded wonderland...

...with a covered eating area.  

This site had no electricity but it takes more than that to stop a teenager from using her ipad.

Our water carrier. 

Firing up the hot tub for our second night!

Daughter in the hot tub by torch light. 

The second night we had clear skies - what joy to sit in the hot tub and look at the stars. 

But oh boy, was it cold for camping. Hot water bottles, extra duvets and plenty of 

blankets kept us snug. In fact husband and I had so many blankets on our bed I

 struggled to turn over under their weight! 

A fabulous couple of nights camping. 

And did it fulfil that urge I had to go camping? Most definitely. 

And did everyone enjoy the little adventure? Again, most definitely. 

But guess what daughter would now like in our back garden?!

xXx