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OK, so there are always compromises to make – especially between a beautiful location and decent facilities. The ingredients of the perfect site will also differ for a family or a dog-owner, a pub-goer, a walker or a socialiser – as this snapshot of our comments shows!
Eunice Mason: Bus or train into town – oh, and no kids
Jimmy Johnstone: No dogs, no children, no noise. Clean toilets and showers with no extra charge for showers.
Cherrie Morris: Plenty of dogs, no people, a lake, ocean or mountain. Heaven!
But, here’s the list we’ve arrived at. Below that, you’ll find some suggestions for favourite campsites that fit the bill.
The ingredients of a perfect campsite?
Howgill Lodge in the Yorkshire Dales has good facilities AND a great countryside location. See more on Dales camping.
Location, location, location
Privacy – space between pitches, hedges or trees
Good free showers – none of that inserting coins malarkey
Alice Parker: No young boy racers doing doughnuts in the car park in the early hours.
Nick Rich: Did everyone forget..reasonable prices?
Mandi Trout and Abi Clayton: Campfires allowed
A campsite right on the water at Coniston. Pier Cottage is basic but what a location! More on Lake District camping.
Sandi Leir-Shuffrey: A pinned-up OS map so it can be photographed for walking etc (Ed: Brilliant suggestion!)
James Baldwin: Somewhere the temperature is between 75 and 85 degrees.
Buck Aroo Niedersachsen: No caravans.
Richard Hudson: Campsite to use a mower with grass collection, so grass doesn’t get in the showers and all in the tent.
Rosemarie Cragg: Some type of water – sea, lake, river or canal. I’m not fussy.
Jane ‘Major’ Richards: Good dog walking areas.
Pieter Dirk Bruinsma: Absolutely none of that list. No campsite at all, no people, no electric. Just simple off-grid relaxation. I have a camper to get away from being a sheep in the day-to-day drudgery. I’m a shepherd not a sheep! (Ed: If you agree, have a look at our articles on wild camping.)
Lee Brady: Staff with local knowledge. Nothing worse than going to reception and asking a simple question like the nearest vet or hospital and getting the ‘no idea shrug’,
Your campsite favourites
Sarah Knight: For us, it’s usually good, clean, FREE toilets and showers, then the rest is a bonus! We went to Wooda Farm in Bude and it was the best site we have ever been to. It has a restaurant and bar on site, the food was delicious! (Ed: Big site with lots of facilities.)
Poppi Fields: Being able to use a firepit. Pitches look too regimented for me. I like an open field and pitch where you like. My recommendation is Westdown Farm on the Devon/Cornwall border. (Ed: Very pretty site.)