Camping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but, for some, it’s the perfect holiday. Three families tell us why they love it…

Tent
Emma Perry, 37, and her two young daughters, Flora, five, and Polly, two, love to camp in the traditional way!

‘I’ve got a large family tent, with two bedrooms and a living area. You can stand up in it and it’s big enough to inhabit for a whole day of rain! ‘The best thing about camping with children is that they’re happy all day – there’s no whinging! They’re outside all the time and there’s always something to do. They love putting up and taking down the tent, cooking outdoors and collecting water from the tap. When you’re camping, the stove and the bucket to wash up in are on the floor so they can really get involved. And the great thing is that the adults don’t get stressed about the mess because everything goes on the grass!

‘Camping appealed to me initially because I really liked the idea of experiencing a simpler life and getting back to nature. It’s lovely to wake up in the fresh air and to be up and about straight away. Camping is also really cheap – I’m going to Southwold this summer and it’s £30 for three nights! ‘On a beautiful day, you really can’t beat camping. At the end of a day, it’s lovely to be able to put the kids to bed, sit outside and really appreciate the light, the quiet and the birds.’ Emma’s tip: ‘Vital camping equipment includes a flannel torch, bucket, washing line, and blow-up bed.’ Emma’s recommended read: Time Out Camping: Our favourite sites in Britain (£12.99,Time Out Publishing).

Glamping
Kate Yelland, 38, her husband, Mike, 43, and their children, Charlie, nine, and Grace, six, have been officially converted to camping – all be it with a touch of glamour thrown in!

‘I wouldn’t have considered myself a camper – I was scarred by a cold, wet weekend at Girl Guide camp – so when my friend Kate suggested a family weekend under canvas, I was far from enthralled. But Kate promised this wasn’t just any kind of camping. Canvas was still involved but over the top of a solid timber frame. We were to sleep on real beds with feather duvets. There would be running water; a log burning stove and, wait for it, even a flushing toilet. I was sold and our first weekend at a Featherdown Farm in Lincolnshire was booked.

‘The tents were as amazing as they sounded but most special of all was seeing our children experience a complete sense of freedom. They had morning-to-night entertainment without a plug in sight! They were woken by the cockerel, collected fresh eggs for our breakfast, fed milk to the calves, helped shear a sheep and gathered wood to make a bonfire. They went off for hours at a time. We felt anxious at first but soon began to enjoy their liberation – especially once the wine was flowing!’

Kate’s tip: ‘It’s not a budget camping holiday – we paid just over £400 for a three-night stay in July – but it’s worth it for the extra bit of luxury!’

Caravan
Michael White, 72, and his wife, Yvie, 68, enjoy escapades in their two-berth Swift Challenger caravan

‘We used to caravan with our children, Claire and Sam, 35 years ago. Back then, it was an economy drive, a case of needs must, but now we do it for pleasure! Yvie says it’s the only time she really relaxes! ‘We decided to give it another whirl a couple of years ago so we could see parts of the UK we hadn’t been to before. This year we plan to go to Durham and Filey in Yorkshire. ‘I love the freedom of it – you can just go where you want, when you want! A bonus for us is that we can take our dog, Bess, with us – most sites accept dogs.

‘Our caravan is very comfortable and cosy, has a gas cooker, hot water, gas or electric fire, shower and toilet – we can be totally self-contained.
‘We’re members of the Caravan Club for all the benefits it offers – insurance, advice and its well-maintained sites. We actually prefer their Certified Locations, which only allow a maximum of six vans so are less hectic. They’re only around £7 to £10 a night so it’s excellent value. ‘Nowadays every pitch has an electric mains hook up so you plug your van in and you’ve got mains power. It’s all mod-cons now!’

Michael’s tip: Pre-book sites well in advance to avoid disappointment. Yvie’s tip: Take meals you’ve cooked already so you can just heat them up.
Family membership to the Caravan Club is £37.