So!! We started our mini roadtrip / staycation “down south” heading to the New Forest. We went camping through Campmates – camping holidays for single parent families. We stayed on their Lepe Meadows campsite again. (They do have another campsite through their sister company, EazyCamp which is a similar concept, but on their beach campsite and aimed at groups, friends and families)
We only stayed for 3 nights this year as that’s all we could get booked as they were only doing a shorter season this year and got booked up quickly.
We arrived on the Monday and within minutes of pulling up outside our tent (we booked one of their pre pitched tents, but there is an option to bring your own) Charlie had already made a friend, so the first thing he got out the car was the all important football and they had a kick about whilst us parents unpacked and sorted our tents out.
The first evening is always a group meeting to be introduced to each other and for the owners to go through all the rules of the campsite. Then at around 8 / 830 pm they put on a a movie in the “den” for the kids and then light a campfire for us adults to sit around and chat.
Tuesday morning after breakfast we all headed down as a group to the beach to an awesome crabbing spot where the kids had a great time & caught loads of crabs. We then all headed back to the campsite just to chill out for the rest of the afternoon / evening.
Wednesday was our last full day & Charlie’s birthday. Once he’d gone to bed the night before, I put up some decorations and put his presents out. He had the main presents just before we left so we didn’t have to take them all with us! I took him for a birthday breakfast down to the beach cafe with our “tent neighbours”. We then went back to the campsite where the kids had a chill out then just played on the campsite. In the afternoon, I took Charlie for afternoon tea to New Park Manor Hotel – it was Wind in the Willows themed and was so yummy. Back at the campsite, Archery was set up for the kids, then in the evening they had a silent disco, so Charlie had a great birthday.
Thursday was check out day and as soon as I had the car packed up, we headed over to Paultons Park for a birthday treat for Charlie and to try out the new Tornado Springs (which was awesome). We managed quite a few rides including Storm Chaser twice in a row (was surprisingly walk on both times). If you haven’t been, its a must go to theme park, so well kept – rides & theming are great and the gardens are beautiful.
