Last weekend we hit the jackpot in camping terms. We ventured out of standard Parent Playlist territory and travelled east to Surrey, where we spent a pretty much perfect weekend camping with friends at Embers, a campsite situated at the beautiful National Trust estate of Polesden Lacey.

Our family isn’t new to camping. Both of our girls had spent their first nights under canvas well before they reached six months of age. But this weekend was different. Hubby and I really felt like we’d nailed it. Not only did the children have the most fun ever with their friends but hubby and I had the most brilliant time with ours. And we even managed to relax (which as all parents know, is nigh on impossible whenever the kids are in the vicinity). Embers Camping, we salute you. Not only did you host a great weekend; you also won round our friends who were previously a little dubious about camping with children (and there was rain, so it was a big ask).

Following this successful camping adventure, here are my top tips for camping with kids.

Free range camping is where it’s at. Find a campsite with lots of space for children to roam free. What you want is for your kids to have the space to run and the freedom to go. The set-up at Embers was perfect for this – a large field with pitches around the edge, leaving the area in the middle free. The children could be let loose but adults had eyes on them at all times. Some campsites (Embers included) also have a no-vehicle rule (not ideal for setting and packing up but perfect for creating a safe environment for kids to roam in).

Ditch the routine. The light evenings and constant buzz of noise around a campsite doesn’t create the ideal sleep conditions for small children. Rather than worry about keeping to our normal nap and bedtime routines (to be honest, bedtime is really the only one we’re pretty strict on), we relaxed the rules and went with the flow. The Not So Tiny One napped in the pram and when it came to bedtime, we were guided by the girls rather than putting them down at their usual time. Our whole family unfortunately suffers from FOMO so this did mean that both girls were up way past their bedtimes but once hubby and I had accepted this fact, it actually made for some really enjoyable evenings (much more enjoyable than spending hours in a hot tent fighting to get children that don’t want to sleep, to sleep).

Embrace the magic of camping. The best thing about keeping the children up past bedtime is that they get to experience the best bits about camping; I’m talking huddling around the campfire and stargazing (yes, on two out of three nights both girls were still up with us after dark, which as you know at this time of year is LATE. I’m telling you, serious FOMO). We started the campfire early – lighting it as the children finished their dinner – and dessert consisted of toasted marshmallows (there’s no way under normal circumstances, I’d give them that much sugar after 6pm but it’s all part of the magic isn’t it). The children sat in their cosies and enjoyed snuggles around the fire while us grown-ups opened the wine and caught up. And hubby’s stargazing app came into its own as the children had a lesson on constellations and even did a bit of planet spotting.

Take a trip with other families. The best thing about this holiday was that our children had a bunch of other children to play with – as a group, we’d come with a grand total of 9 kids between us. There really is nothing better than watching your little ones happily playing with your best mate’s little ones and seeing them collectively welcome other kids into the fold and forge new friendships. You see, that’s the joy of camping. With so many families in one place, children can’t help but attract other children. And in the safe space of a campsite, where you can see what’s going on, parents can sit back, relax and catch up with their own friends too. Perfect.

Communal space is key. We weren’t so lucky with the weather on this particular occasion but one quick-thinking member of our group had the foresight to purchase two basic gazebos so that we had somewhere to shelter from the rain. This covered area became our hub – it was where we prepared and cooked our food, where we gathered to eat meals and where we positioned our campfire and huddled on one particularly wet evening. And on the sunnier days, it gave us a shaded area to sit in, keeping the kids cool.

So there you have it. Camping is the way to go. While it takes quite a bit of organisation (there’s a LOT of stuff that’s needed for a night away in a tent), once you’ve arrived and got set up, it really is a great holiday for all. Even in the rain.

Where to find great family-friendly campsites

So where to look. Cool Camping is a great website for finding places that offer camping as it should be (we’re talking all of the above). A lot of campsites also offer a glamping option, so if you’d prefer to try before you buy all your gear, it’s worth taking that route.

And here are a couple of my own recommendations:

Embers Camping, multiple locations across the UK
Embers campsites are ideal for families. They’re all about creating space for children to play; they encourage campfires; most sites have pizza ovens so you can pre-order your evening meal; and they are all located at stunning spots – national parks, by the sea or at National Trust sites – so you don’t even need to drive anywhere once you’re there. At Polesden Lacey the campsite fee includes entry to the property so there’s plenty to see and do right on your doorstep. All this comes at a price though, and they to tend to be quite a bit more expensive than other campsites.
http://www.emberscamping.co.uk/what-we-offer/

Petruth Paddocks, Cheddar
A favourite of ours, Petruth has a similar philosophy to Embers – to offer a true free-range camping experience. And it’s just up the road from Wells so makes for a quick and easy weekend away. We’ve stayed there two years running.
www.petruthpaddocks.co.uk