By Nick Maes
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Camping has changed dramatically. There's no guaranteeing the weather, of course, but the choice has never been greater, and in these straitened times, it's outstanding value for money.
Here are ten top campsites around the country...
Family fun: The popularity of camping has surged in recent years as cash-strapped holidaymakers have looked for ways to save and still enjoy a break
Burnbake Camping Site, Dorset
The vibe: Full-on family escapades.
Highlights: This is the camp for those with children who enjoy fresh-air and mud. It sits snugly in a forest, beside a stream. Bring your bikes for family jaunts on the many cycle paths; likewise, buckets and spades for the nearby Blue Flag beaches in Swanage and Studland. The South-West coast path is close, as is beautiful Corfe Castle.
Dog-friendly? Yes.
Details: Pitch price from £8 per person per night. Contact: 01929 480570, www.burnbake.com.
Duddon Valley, Cumbria
The vibe: High energy.
Highlights: Budget-conscious walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and families will be thrilled by the beautiful Duddon Valley. On clear days, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are visible from nearby peaks such as Scafell Pike and the Old Man of Coniston, although not all the local hikes are as demanding. Other activities include cycling, fishing (£5), scrambling, climbing and canoeing down the Duddon rapids. A historic 16th-century pub, the Newfield Inn, does lovely grub, and nearby Ulpha has a village shop for basics. Plus, the village has a thriving acoustic music festival.
Dog friendly? Yes.
Details: Pitches from £5 pp per night. Contact: 01229 716420, www.duddonvalley. co.uk.
Solid choice: If you don't fancy being under canvas but you do want to be at one with nature, an ecopod could be a good choice
Ecopod Holidays, Derbyshire
The vibe: Comfort with a heart.
Highlights: An ecopod gives you a sense of being outside in a camp environment without the canvas. Built from sustainable materials, it might look like an oldfashioned shepherd hut, but each unit has hotel-standard luxuries. The surrounding countryside is brimful with outdoor pursuits, including hang-gliding and rockclimbing. Alton Towers and Gulliver's Kingdom are easily accessible if the children get bored. Chatsworth House, the Blue John caves and Uttoxeter race course aren't far, nor is the lovely Carsington RSPB reserve.
Dog-friendly? Yes.
Details: Ecopods from £60 per pod per night. Contact: 07929 616282, www.ecopod holidays.co.uk.
Henry's Campsite, Cornwall
The vibe: Boho barnyard.
Highlights: Weird and wonderful sculptures mark out individual pitches in this arty garden-cum-campsite - there's even a flock of wooden seagulls. It's also home to free-range rarebreed chickens and farmyard animals youngsters will love. For teens, there's surfing, cycling and horse- riding, plus there's golf for dad. This friendly, family-run concern backs onto bracing cliff-top walks and great beaches; evenings can be spent cooking freshly caught fish on a hired brazier, relaxing with neighbours by the communal fire pit and drinking cider under the stars.
Dog friendly? Yes, but not during the school holidays.
Details: Pitches from £9.60 pp per night. Contact: 01326 290596, www.henryscampsite. co.uk.
Back in time: These vintage caravans add a touch of American glamour to the Isle of Wight
Grawen Camping and Caravan Park, Glamorgan
The vibe: Action packed.
Highlights: On the edge of the rugged Brecon Beacons, this is perfect for those who enjoy trekking. Diverse mountain, valley, forest and reservoir walks (look out for the trout fishing) are all close by and suitable for most abilities. Garwnant Visitor Centre, which has family-orientated forest trails, is near, as is the Big Pit Mining Museum. And if the Welsh elements get the better of you, head to the bars and restaurants in trendy Cardiff Bay.
Dog friendly? Yes.
Details: Pitches from £12 per tent per night. Contact: 01685 723740, www.walescaravanandcamping.com.
Sussex Safari, South Downs
The vibe: Into the wild with exotic creature comforts.
Highlights: Can't afford Africa? Head to Sussex and get back to your roots. Skilled foragers, botanists, ornithologists, falconers and bush-craft experts will show you an otherwise hidden wild Britain, teach you how to whittle or find supper in a hedgerow. The private camp in the South Downs sleeps up to 20, but welcomes smaller family groups, too.
Dog friendly? No.
Details: Costs from £1,700 for the whole site, phone for small group prices. Contact: 07908 352090, www.safaribritain. com.
Exotic escape: If you can't afford to safari in Africa, do it in Britain and enjoy the Sussex countryside as well as learning a host of bush crafts
Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
The vibe: Tents with a view.
Highlights: This four-star, award- winning campsite overlooks the Gower surf beaches - you can book lessons at one of three local schools. There are plenty of friendly local restaurants and pubs nearby. Pony trekking across the beautiful beaches, woods and cliffs is easily arranged (from £35 pp) and beginners are welcome. For those with stamina, the Gower Way winds its way for more than 30 miles, affording stunning sea views.
Dog friendly? Yes.
Details: Pitches from £22 per night (family tent). Contact: 01792 371218, www.threecliffsbay.com.
Vintage Vacation, Isle of Wight
The vibe: Retro revival.
Highlights: This vintage caravans and American Airstreams campsite is a pebble' s throw away from beaches, perfect for picnics and sandcastle building. The Victorian seaside town of Ryde - where the traditional esplanade boasts a boating lake, bowling green, ice-rink and swimming pool - is nearby.
Dog friendly? No pets.
Details: Costs from £445 per trailer per week (extra tent space £75) Contact : 07802 758 113, www.vintagevacations.co.uk.
Troy Town Farm, Scilly
The vibe: Robinson Crusoe does canvas.
Highlights: This remote, traffic-free campsite is perfect for carefree family adventure. It's only yards away from the uninhabited island of Gugh - reached via a sandbar at low tide. Seek out deserted coves and magical rock-pools or go kayaking, snorkelling or diving from nearby St Agnes.
Dog friendly: Yes.
Details: Pitches cost from £7.50 pp per night. Contact: 01720 422360, www.troytown.co.uk.
Red Squirrel Campsite, Glencoe
The vibe: Soaring mountains and perfect solitude.
Highlights: Squirreled away in an isolated valley beside the River Coe and under dramatic mountains, this romantic spot takes some beating. Mountaineers will love the 20 high Munros - including Ben N evis - in the immediate area. But the biggest draw is peace, quiet and raw nature. If you're lucky, you might spot a stag, or a namesake red squirrel.
Dog friendly? Yes.
Details: Costs from £9 pp per night. Contact: 01855 811256, www.redsquirrelcampsite. co.uk.
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