Everyone’s idea of the perfect camp-site is very different. One person’s idea of heaven is another’s idea of hell and getting it wrong will make for interesting stories afterwards but may result in complete sense of humour failure at the time. The UK offers an incredible choice and it is almost certain that somewhere out there is your ideal camp-site waiting to be discovered. So, how do you go about finding that little gem? Before you even start trawling the many resources and camp-site listings, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Knowing what you don’t want is every bit as important as knowing what you do.

Are you seeking peace and quiet or somewhere lively with accessible entertainment options?

This is an incredibly important question and may make or break your trip. And don’t just take words and descriptions at face value. ‘Quiet’ and ‘lively’ are two words very open to glaringly different interpretation. Ensure that a camp-site described as quiet and secluded can quantify exactly what they mean by that. If you have come from central London then a camp-site close to a main road with traffic roaring past may not particularly bother you but would be awful if you had dreamed of waking to the dawn chorus. Transversely, ‘on-site entertainment’ may mean two fruit machines and a karaoke evening once a week. Play it safe and check.

What facilities are essential to you?

Camp-sites come in all shapes and sizes, from a farmer’s field to huge holiday parks. You may want something a bit smaller and more personal but this sometimes may mean compromising on facilities available. If you absolutely and positively can’t get through a week without using your hair-dryer, then you need to be certain that using a hair-dryer is possible at your chosen site. What about laundry? Shower facilities? A swimming pool? An on-site shop? If you are totally self sufficient and happy to rough it a bit then these things won’t matter but if you are expecting some home comforts then make sure the camp-site caters for them.

Beach-side, mountains, forest or close to towns?

What surroundings are you looking for? Do you want to be far away from everything or close to shopping and tourist attractions? Perhaps you want the best of both worlds? If you can’t decide between one environment or another, you may be lucky enough to find a camp-site that offers one or more of them.

For some people, a holiday isn’t complete without being by the sea. Again, check carefully with this. ‘Close to beautiful beaches’ can mean many things. ‘Close’, as in five steps and you’re there? ‘Close’ as in ‘only a ten mile drive’? Or ‘close’ if you don’t mind a half day hike over the dunes?

A great starting point, and something which really helps narrow down the options, is deciding which area of the country you want to be in. It is very rare to find an area completely bereft of camp-sites even in the middle of a moor or the wilds of the Outer Hebrides.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty

Once you have answered these vital questions, you can start getting down to finer details:

• Do you need the camp to be child friendly? If so, are there any obvious environmental hazards such as a lake or a cliff edge nearby? Is there a large open area for your children to play on? Is there a playground? Is it a very quiet site that is inappropriate for children wanting to play and yell?
• What about privacy? Are the pitches separate and secluded or is it one big area?
• Are you considering taking the family pooch? Lots of camp-sites will allow this but many won’t and you will quite possibly be charged for it.
• Consider your need for shelter. If you are considering an area that is exposed to winds then be sure that the camp-site offers shelter in the way of shrubs and walls for example or that the equipment you are taking can withstand a bit of a blow.
• If you are planning a trip longer than a few days the chances are you will need to top up on provisions. What, if anything, are the nearby options?

You may well have your own set of camp-site ‘must-haves’ and if so make a list to be sure you have covered them all. Holidays are precious things and a bit of careful planning, especially where there are young children involved, will make a dream holiday much more likely.

Where to find camp-site choices

Once you have fully compiled your list then you can start looking for that perfect camp-site. You may end up having to compromise on one or two of the less important issues but the chances are, with so much choice, you will be able to find something that exactly matches all your listed criteria. Especially if you are prepared to be patient and put in time and effort.

The Internet is a wonderful resource for camp-sites. Just type in ‘camp-site’ and the name of your chosen area into a search engine and you will be given many, if not hundreds, of options. Try www.ukcampsite.co.uk for a good starting point as a camp-site finder. Most sites over a certain size will almost certainly have their own website and availability checks and booking is often available on-line. Area tourism websites will often have huge amounts of details on local camp-sites.

If you are looking for something basic,  quiet and very cheap then consider joining the Camping and Caravanning Club who offer members exclusive access to ‘certificated’ sites. These small sites will allow only five caravans/ motor-homes and limited tents at any one time on a site. Annual club membership is £37 (2010) and a week long holiday for a family could cost as little as £35. Members get issued with a huge brochure if they so wish covering every single one of their affiliated camp-sites in the UK.

The British Holiday Park Association (BHPA) have vast details of camp-sites too.

If you are still unsure as to whether a camp-site fulfils a particular item on your must-have list then ring the camp-site to clarify. Don’t be scared of asking too many questions. If you only get vague answers then you can be fairly sure that the camp-site won’t suit. Ask about rules and camp-site policies to get a good overview of the atmosphere of the site. Some sites have beautiful settings and are perfect in every way but are run like a military camp which doesn’t make for a restful holiday.

Everybody’s perfect camp-site is out there somewhere and all that is needed to find it is a little homework, patience and a bit of luck.