Camping at Bedgebury Campsite

After months at home, we have been desperate for a change of scenery and decided to book a campsite in Bedgebury, Kent for a weekend alongside some friends.  The site came highly recommended and camping in its essence is outdoors and usually away from other people.  The site at Bedgebury was even bigger than we expected and we were allocated a wonderful field called 'Plum' with so much space to set up camp far from other families. 

The check in process was easy and we stayed in the car throughout whilst the staff in masks took our details and gave us directions.  The field we were assigned was surrounded by forest and had so much space we set up our camp far from other groups.  We were camping with some friends who also had children the same age as my older boys and it was nice to leave my little ones at home with Daddy and spend time with just the big ones.  

The site has many different areas but our field seemed to consist only of families.  There were several compost toilets which were kept clean, well stocked with sawdust and had sinks with anti bacterial soap.  There were washing up stations and showers too in each field.  It was a 5 minute walk to get to reception where there was a shop selling essentials and there was also a coffee truck there.  On the Saturday night there was both a pizza truck and a fish and chip van and you ordered food between 4 and 5 for collection that evening.  Unfortunately after queuing for 20 minutes we were told the only slots for Pizza were at 9pm so I would advise getting in the queue early (we got there at 4.03). It probably didn't help that it was raining and so campfire cooking was less appealing.

Our stay was wonderful and wild.  It rained from the early hours of Saturday morning into the early hours of Sunday without a single break but the children were unphased by it and continued to run free and barefoot, finding sticks, playing on the tyre swings that hung from many of the trees and tending the campfire.  The grounds are so well maintained and clean and the forest surrounding our field was perfect for little explorers.  

We cooked on the campfire the first night and toasted marshmallows both nights, trying to make the perfect smores.  The children forgot about everything and enjoyed just being there, we all did.  The feel of grass under foot, the smell of the air, the sound of light rain on the tent roof as you fall asleep, the exhaustion from spending all day outdoors (coming into the tent reluctantly to eat as it was raining being the only exception) and spending time with good friends.  It was exactly what we all needed and reminded me how we don't need our big travels all the time to get away from real life for a bit and relax.

There were some great sounding local places to explore but as we only had two nights booked, we were keen to slow down the pace and just enjoy spending time on the campsite.  It is definitely somewhere we plan to return to though and next time we hope to check out Bedgebury Pinetum and Scotney Castle.  At Bedgebury campsite you really feel miles from anywhere, immersed in the countryside and it is a brilliant place for families.  

Perfecting my Smores

The toilets were clean and well maintained 

The fields were all spacious and easy to camp away from others

We did eat in the tent due to the rain

I look a little frizzy after being rained on all day

The entrance to Plum field

The showers