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