Beach camping and wildlife spotting

ricky203 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 05:53 PM

hi all,

i've (bravely) decided to drag my kids on a Great British Camping Trip (!) for our summer holidays this year. Just been checking out some sites on beach camping, but was wondering if anyone could suggest the best sites/areas for some good coastal wildlife spotting. I'm sure an orca whale or two would appease my 8 year old son just fine!! ha, as nice as that would be, any slightly less ambitious beasts would also be fine, my youngest is currently obsessed with seagulls (if only we were all that easily pleased), so any seabird spotting tips/locations would be a great help!

cheers,

ricky.

tameblackbirds · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 06:10 PM

well we have three grown sons aged 16 -21 they have always loved Weymouth Do to it being a Jurassic coastline, loads of sea birds and beeches holding fossils and great rock pools lots of areas to explore and.... still want to go even now!

where ever you choose British coast line stunning enjoy it

ricky203 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 07:00 PM

thanks for that! just the word 'jurassic' will be enough to entice them camping!!

I mean to ask also if anyone has actually stayed at any beach sites? Any recommendations? We'd be in tents, no caravan.

cheers,

Ricky.

monkey · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 08:27 PM

Hi

I have stayed on a site at Burton Bradstock in Dorset (Jurassic area) and its wonderful for most of what you are looking for. It is right on the beach and has an area of water created by the banked beach which forms a sort of lagoon which the kids love playing in on inflatables etc as safer than the sea. Lots of great walks around and lovely scenery. While we were there we were kept awake all night one night by an eerie noise which we discovered in the morning was a donkey in the adjoining field giving birth so kids loved the baby donkey even if we were glad they didnt give birth every night

Hope you have good weather and then anywhere will be great

Linda

tameblackbirds · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 08:38 PM

Not stopped at the sights you posted. We always stopped at a place called Osmington Mills a small sight caravans and lodges. Camp sight take your own tents not camped stayed in caravan and Farm house and lodges

ron1863 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 11:07 PM

The north-west coast of Scotland, numerous camp sites and wildlife galore and excellent opportunities for spotting whales, eagles, dolphins and otters and especially the mighty midge.

Have a great time wherever you go

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 04-02-2009, 12:21 PM

These do camping as well as caravans and statics..
lots of wildlife around this area..

http://www.stivesbay.co.uk/indexalt2...FQxKGgodWTf_1A

It has its own private beech.

Jim Ford · #8 (**permalink**) 04-02-2009, 02:24 PM

With your childrens' ages it _has_ to be sand ('sea, sand and suffering!'), which rules out many suggestions so far. When our children were young we liked the Oxwich Camping site on the Gower. It's a short walk to a huge sandy beach - and if Oxwich beach isn't big enough, then Rhossili will be! Both beaches are gently shelving, so relatively safe. Swansea is also near enough for wet days and has a lot of interest.

Jim

coasty · #9 (**permalink**) 04-02-2009, 03:28 PM

Might I suggest the North east coast bamburgh / farne islands etc,,, Surely the finest sandy coastline in the country...

Jim Ford · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coasty

Might I suggest the North east coast bamburgh / farne islands etc,,, Surely the finest sandy coastline in the country...

I've camped at Bamburgh sveral times.

The problem if you have kids is that there's always a cold wind coming off the sea - and the sea is never warm. It really has to be the South or South West with small kids.

Jim

JoulesH · #11 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 09:00 AM

Shell Island nr Harlech in Wales is fantastic, although a bit developed now, it is still truly beautiful. Camping only (no caravans) and cut off at high tide (it's a peninsular not an island) it has glorious dunes and sandy beaches at the south end and rocky pools and a fishing harbour at the north end. Hours of rock pooling and shell hunting, great for birds, also seals and porpoises, wild flowers also spectacular. You can camp up to the edge of the beach. Unless it's closed now, the added interest for a youngster of a research air base over the estuary (can get a bit noisy but they restrict the flying hours).

coasty · #12 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I've camped at Bamburgh sveral times.

The problem if you have kids is that there's always a cold wind coming off the sea - and the sea is never warm. It really has to be the South or South West with small kids.

Jim

I can see the North Sea from our front door and can assure you that there is not always a cold wind coming from it,, The wind should be described as "bracing" and its purpose is to drive the southern softies, inland folk and other visitors from the beaches into the welcoming arms of the cafes restaurant and amusement arcade owners who are then able to legally remove the contents of their wallets.
This is all part of the process delightfully known as the "English seaside holiday". After a week the visitors are suitably refreshed to then enter into the life and death struggle known as "Holiday traffic jams" These are an interesting nature spectacle not unlike the great wildebeast migrations of the serengetti accept that the river crossing infested by crocs are replaced by " roadworks on the A1" "The A64 at York" the mystery of the "Bank Holiday Contra Flow on the M1" and last but not least particularly for the females of the species "Queing for toilets on the motorway services". This process aims to weed out the weak and infirm so that only the strong can return the following year.

Kayleigh · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coasty

I can see the North Sea from our front door and can assure you that there is not always a cold wind coming from it,, The wind should be described as "bracing" and its purpose is to drive the southern softies, inland folk and other visitors from the beaches into the welcoming arms of the cafes restaurant and amusement arcade owners who are then able to legally remove the contents of their wallets.
This is all part of the process delightfully known as the "English seaside holiday". After a week the visitors are suitably refreshed to then enter into the life and death struggle known as "Holiday traffic jams" These are an interesting nature spectacle not unlike the great wildebeast migrations of the serengetti accept that the river crossing infested by crocs are replaced by " roadworks on the A1" "The A64 at York" the mystery of the "Bank Holiday Contra Flow on the M1" and last but not least particularly for the females of the species "Queing for toilets on the motorway services". This process aims to weed out the weak and infirm so that only the strong can return the following year.

Lol that's brilliant Coasty..

coasty · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Lol that's brilliant Coasty..

I bet you can relate to the motorway services,,,Kayleigh I note your post 1.25AM at that time all good girls should be in bed,,,

Andy

Kayleigh · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coasty

I bet you can relate to the motorway services,,,Kayleigh I note your post 1.25AM at that time all good girls should be in bed,,,

Andy

I was working till 10pm and was relaxing with a glass of wine..I cant remember any posts last night is all a blur..

coasty · #16 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 03:12 PM

Kayleigh

I hope it was a red blur,,, Cant drink white unless of course its fizzy,,,

Andy

Kayleigh · #17 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coasty

Kayleigh

I hope it was a red blur,,, Cant drink white unless of course its fizzy,,,

Andy

Nope white..Oxford Landing..

marvin · #18 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:20 PM

hi

the kids will absolutely love camping. we take our three between ten and twenty times each year...they can't get enough of it! we have found the best way to find new sites is by searching The UK Camp Site for Tent and Caravan Campers in the UK you can search by location then read customer reviews of individual sites to get a sense of whether or not the site will suit your family's needs. there are some good sites around the jurassic coast but the ones actually on the coast tend to be a little exposed. if you're prepared to travel for your fossil hunting and rock pooling but would also like the chance to check out heathland wildlife try Touring Park in Dorset

good luck and happy camping

tim

bob b · #19 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 12:23 AM

one of the best sites I have ever stayed at for Wildlife, everything from cranes to dolphins, is Sango sands camp site at Durness in Sutherland Scotland. The site is actually on the beach, water is pristine. Rare birds are regular visitors to the Kyle of Durness. Its a long way but the whole area is beautiful.