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Home / Type of trip / Active / Embers: family campsites with campfires

Embers: family campsites with campfires

June 17, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 15 Comments

Campfire. Image courtesy of Embers Camping.

Campfire. Image courtesy of Embers Camping.

When Murray McPherson took his children camping for the first time in the UK he wasn’t impressed.

‘It was awful’, says the South African, who’s been living in the UK for fifteen years. Murray wanted his children to experience camping like he had as a child back home. He wanted lovely spacious locations where his children could play and explore safely and campfires are allowed. So he set up a campsite near Beaulieu in the New Forest in 2013 and then another at Bentley in Sussex in 2014. Embers campsites are aimed squarely at families with children.

We’ve been invited to stay at Embers Bentley during the summer holidays and I spoke to Murray by phone recently about the site.

Location

Murray tells me that he likes his campsites in great areas where people want to be rather than in unused fields in unsuitable locations. Embers Beaulieu is on a farm near the village of Beaulieu in the New Forest. It’s within walking distance of the National Motor Museum and a short drive to the sandy beaches of Bournemouth. Embers Bentley is in East Sussex on the Bentley Estate, home to the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum. It’s just a few miles to the South Downs National Park and a 20-minute drive to my favourite beach, Birling Gap.

New Forest. Imgage courtesy of Embers Camping.

New Forest. Image courtesy of Embers Camping.

Tents

Embers campsites are for tents only: caravans and motorhomes aren’t allowed. I’m sure this makes for a relaxing, natural camping experience. You can either take your own tent or stay in an Embers tent which is pitched and ready for your arrival. This is perfect if you don’t have a tent, if you’ll be arriving late or if your tent takes so long to put up that you can’t face using it any more (ahem – ours is a great tent though). If you’re staying in a pre-pitched tent you still have to take your own bedding and other equipment though. There are 35 pitches at each site but that may increase to 40 at Bentley.

Camp fires

I think that camp fires are the best bit about camping. It’s lovely sitting around a fire outside in the evening and it’s a great experience for kids to cook on a campfire. Many campsites don’t allow camp fires but at Embers they’re encouraged. Each tent pitch has a fire basket with a tripod so that you can have a camp fire and cook on it. Large bags of firewood cost £5 from the camp shop.

Camping at Embers. Image courtesy of Embers Camping.

Camping at Embers. Image courtesy of Embers Camping.

Facilities

Each site has a communal wash block with hot showers as well as a shop selling basic provisions. There’s no electricity on the pitches but Murray says you can recharge your phone or other devices at the shop. There are always staff on site and they’re trained to help and guide campers. If you get stuck when you’re pitching your tent they can advise you, for example.

Cars

No cars are allowed on Embers campsites. You can drive to the edge of the campsite to unload your stuff and then park it in a separate area. There are trolleys to transport your gear from your car to your pitch. This is excellent as there’s no need to worry about your kids getting run over while they’re playing outside.

The verdict

After speaking to Murray I’m looking forward to staying at Embers – it sounds perfect. I’ll write about our trip after we’ve been.

The lowdown

Camping at Embers cost £20 per adult and £5 per child per night. Children under the age of four are free. Outwell tents sleep up to five people and can be hired for £25 per night. Safari tents sleep up to six people and can be hired for £30 per night. Hired tents can be pitched and taken down by Embers staff for £20.

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Related

Categories: Active, Elsewhere, Where to stay
Tags: camping, Embers campsites, tents

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Bex Smith says

    June 27, 2014 at 11:36 am

    This sounds fantastic! I haven’t been camping since I was 10 – would love to go again
    Bex Smith recently posted…Working From Home: Some Home TruthsMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Shell Louise says

    June 24, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    This sounds lovely. I’ve never been camping where you can have a campfire and I’d love to go one day.
    Shell Louise recently posted…7 Tips for Gardening in the SummerMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Keri-Anne says

    June 24, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Oh wow! I camped a lot as a child and a few years back, we went camping and it was a nightmare. So so busy and cramped and cars everywhere. These places sound just perfect and i would love to have a family holiday here x
    Keri-Anne recently posted…Canals, wild flowers and strawberriesMy Profile

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  4. Sarah Bailey says

    June 23, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    What a great sounding camp site – the price is fantastic as well! x
    Sarah Bailey recently posted…Like Love Loathe #17My Profile

    Reply
  5. Zena's Suitcase says

    June 23, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    This sounds like a great place to camp! Will be looking into it more. Can’t wait to hear about your visit
    Zena’s Suitcase recently posted…#SilentSunday & #MySundayPhoto 22nd June 2014My Profile

    Reply
  6. Cass@frugalfamily says

    June 23, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    I love the idea of hiring a tent and having someone put it up for us!
    Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Monday’s Parenting Pin It Party….My Profile

    Reply
  7. Globalmouse says

    June 23, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    This looks lovely and great that it’s for tents only, it makes it feel much calmer and more exclusive that way I think.
    Globalmouse recently posted…War Tunnels, Jersey, Channel IslandsMy Profile

    Reply
  8. PinkOddy says

    June 23, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    I am looking forward to hearing about your visit. My boys would love this and my 10 year old is going off to learn how to start fires with scouts this week so he’s going to be wanting to do something like this.
    PinkOddy recently posted…California Almonds #SnackHappy Challenge #HealthHopMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Louisa says

    June 23, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    My kids are always on at me to go camping but it’s never appealed to me. I love the family friendly vibe on these sites and the the fact you’re not just plonked in the middle of a field.
    Louisa recently posted…Hunting for Gruffalos at Birches ValleyMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Mina Joshi says

    June 23, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    This looks like a great campsite. Looking forward to your review after your visit .
    Mina Joshi recently posted…Silent Sunday: Ondhwo/Handvo with quinea, bulgur and chickpea dallMy Profile

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  11. Michelle says

    June 23, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    I’ve always wanted to take the family camping – and my only experience of it was at Girl Guides when I was about 11 or 12 – it really was tents only, campfires and fun – as much as I would also love to go glamping (because I’m a tart like that!) I’d love to do that raw, get back to basics camping too! x
    Michelle recently posted…#BritMumsLive 2014 – My Experience! [Day 1]My Profile

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  12. Jen aka The Mad House says

    June 23, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Now this is the type of campsite I would like to visit, but it is really expensive for a camp site!
    Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…A Mum’s Guide to MinecraftMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Viccy Howe says

    June 23, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    This looks so quaint! My 4yo keeps asking if we can go camping, and this might be an excellent solution / idea
    Thank you x
    Viccy Howe recently posted…“How to have an Amicable Divorce” by Lindsay Harper BOOK REVIEWMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Audrey says

    June 21, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    This looks brilliant, I’ve saved the website & hopefully will get a chance to book!

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      June 22, 2014 at 12:55 pm

      That’s great – let me know how you get on.

      Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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